Following Gut But It's Tough

Here's my situation: My separation in January 2010 will put me at 11 years. My wife just commissioned and received orders to Ohio. 

My plan is to separate and finish my bachelor's ( I have six classes left) and possibly join the reserves and look at commissioning opportunities. 

I am A-10 Avionics, I'm separating because I want to cross-train and due to the manning constraints in my career field they rejected the request. 

Am I crazy? I'm trying to follow my gut but man it's a tough decision. 

(Submitted by Mike Fallorna)

Get As Much Education As You Can on Uncle Sam's Dime

Let me put your mind at ease just for a moment. For what it is worth, we all go through the same concerns that you all have — whether to stay or get out of the military service.

My advice to you is to get as much education as you can using Uncle Sam's money. Education costs are very high now and anything you can do to offset them is a blessing. 

Secondly, if you’re not happy in your career field, then by all means find something that will make you happy. 

If becoming an officer requires you to get into a field that you know will make you miserable, then disregard that option. Remember that you only have four to six years initial military commitment, but when you choose a career, it generally will be for a very long time, and you don’t want to hate going to work simply because you need the money. 

As you get older, you start to appreciate what we mean by “enjoying your job.” Be prepared if you decide to leave the service, and yes, it’s very difficult to get a good job now due to the economic situation, but even the best educated struggle, so be prepared to meet a major challenge looking for work.

If you get out and have to settle for something less than what you want, so be it, you’ll need to find yourself in the civilian world again and understand that the military takes care of you in everyway. But once you’re out, then you face a whole new business mentality. 

Lastly, if you want to maintain military ties, consider the reserve or guard units, explore the educational benefits you can get through them, and continue to get your education. 

I had to return to school after I retired at the age of 40 so that I could be marketable. Educational degrees are good to have, whether you get them at age 24 or age 40. That is now required criteria that you need to have before most companies will consider you for employment. 

Transitioning even in the best of time s is always difficult due to the unknown factors you will face, but at this point in time, it’s a bigger challenge. Be prepared mentally to deal with whatever comes your way. Don’t be discouraged by what you read and hear, you’re an individual and it falls on you to either succeed or fail based on your efforts.

When I left the military there was not a transition program available and I had to learn it all the hard way — the school of hard knocks. Good luck and I hope that this information helps.

(Submitted by Louis Alanis)

Disabled Vet Help With Chapter 31 Voc Rehab

I'm a disabled veteran who completed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. The VA not only paid my way through college, but they paid for me to attend a "high cost" university. 

After losing my job due to the economy, within one year of finishing the program, they approved my re-entry into the program and a new vocational goal of “lawyer,” at yet another “high cost” university. However, this did not come easily. 

The VA misled me, failed to cover all health care costs, and provided incomplete guidance. Fortunately, there are little-known statutes the VA must follow with respect to its conduct. After holding various VA offices' feet to the fire, I was able to push through the process and graduate in the top 10 percent of my graduating class, from one of the top universities in the nation. 

Following this process, I have come in contact with numerous disabled veterans who have been unable to navigate the Voc Rehab system, or have been simply unable to get accepted despite of a disability rating and unemployed status.

I have assembled numerous guide tools to help veterans succeed in their pursuit of a rewarding career following the completion of an undergraduate education. Should any reader have any question regarding the process or entitlements relating to obtaining a four-year degree, additional schooling, self employment through Voc Rehab, employment law, writing to government officials, etc., please ask. This help is free to all who inquire. 

(Submitted by Benjamin Krause)

 

My Advice to You Is...

I served six years in the Air Force as a 3C0 and separated as an E5 in 2006. The Air Force was downsizing and my career field was over manned. I have not yet had the chance to re-enlist so that opportunity was closed before I got there. 

I was fortunate to land a job before separating and used terminal leave to transition immediately into a contractor job working on a military base. I held that job for a year before leaving for a civilian job with no affiliations with the military. 

I wanted to separate myself from anything military and see what it was really like. I've held that position now for 21 months and counting. 

However, I find myself in an interesting position. My Top Secret clearance went into inactive status after I left my last position. Now, I want to get back into military/government work in IT but the security clearance is my Achilles heel now. 

Every job I look at requires an active clearance. So I've been spinning my wheels for eight months now, trying to find a solution, Then I started thinking that I miss the military way of life. In my experience-- not that its that of a bad one -- the civilian sector is not better than the military. There is no uniformity. 

The rules are simply a fail safe in case somebody asks or gets out of hand. Promotion potential is never a guarantee and neither is increase in pay.

What's more, if the company you work for is publicly traded in the stock market then you'll see the direct effect first hand. Projects: gone. Pay Raise: don't think so. Training: on your own. 

I'm 11 classes away from getting my bachelor's and my goal after that is OTS. Though the pay is good for me, it's just not the same. You still wear a uniform: slacks and button up shirts. There are ranks: CEO, COO, CIO, CFO, VP, director. Everybody will experience something different and looks for something different as well. 

My biggest advice that I can give is to get your degree before you get out. Complete your associateand bachelor's. Get some certifications. Network with the people you meet. You'll just be thrown out into the resume pool of nobodys if you don't have somebody to point yours out. 

I never faced combat but I sure as hell wouldn't go without proper training and equipment. I hope this helps at least one person. If anybody has questions just ask. 

 (Submitted by Christian Ocasio Gonzalez)

Job Search Advice Needed

About three weeks ago I received a phone call from a reputable company regarding an international position. I admit that the call took me by surprise, but the recruiter mentioned that we had met at a job fair.

I was in the middle of an emergency trip, but I told him that I would look at the job and get back to him. After I returned from my trip (and was able to refocus), I realized that it was, for me, the closest thing to a perfect job (administrative work, overseas, lots of variety). I called him back and told him that I was very interested. 

I filled out the application on the website and continued to monitor it. That was two weeks ago. 

Last week, I forwarded him and the company a copy of my military resume (28 years) and noted the experience that would meld with the job. I have to admit that I'm new to this whole job search game (and my social skills aren't the greatest). But, right now I'm sitting at the computer wondering what my next step should be. 

I don't want to appear "pushy."  I'm a little nervous (maybe it's too early to panic). I'm staying busy with several house projects and substitute teaching until I hear back. I've also given myself a goal of applying for two jobs a day, which sometimes I make (and sometimes I don't). I just would like your comments, ideas regarding followup.

(Submitted by Jeff Swoyer)

Help Employers Learn That You Have Depth and Knowledge

The first time I transitioned was after eight years of active duty. I was 20 years old when I entered service, and already had a background in electronics. However, I didn't take an electronics MOS, I went to the 82nd for four years and then re-enlisted for computer repair. I was very good at it. I had 96 percent on my SQT (showing my age here), several awards, and great NCOERs. I thought getting a civilian job when I ETS'd in 1986 would be a piece of cake.

It wasn't a piece of cake. It wasn't even a stale cookie. I left service and applied for field service jobs all over the country. After three months I finally got an interview in a nearby city (Huntsville, Ala.). I was hired, but my salary was not what I envisioned.

Here is what I have learned since, and I hope this helps:

Most civilian employers don't know much about the military unless the person doing the interview/hiring process served. Many times they assume everyone is an infantryman. Even if they do understand, don't expect to get full credit for your military experience. The job I was hired for was an entry-level position. All of my background only qualified me to start, and this was a contractor position at a government lab. It didn't help that I was entering the workforce "cold," that is, I didn't know anyone in town and they didn't know me.

This job was for a major defense contractor, and I got the job by interviewing well. I beat out another ex-servicemember who was actually more qualified. I was told that he made the mistake of telling them how he was going to improve their operations, and he came off a bit cocky. 

On the other hand, I was confident and honest. They asked if I thought I could run certain items of test equipment. I told them that while I had no experience with the specific items they mentioned, I had to learn to use many different types of specialized equipment while in the service. I helped them understand that I had the depth of knowledge and experience to learn quickly and correctly how to operate unfamiliar equipment.

I thought employers would key on my experience as a computer repairer as they read my resume. I was told at the interview that they also noted my experience at inventory control for my repair parts. I had almost left that off of my resume. I thought it wasn't important to the type of job I was seeking. It turns out there were looking for an electronic tech who could also help the customer with inventory control.

I've had a long rewarding career in Huntsville since then. This story is from a long time ago, but the same principles apply.

1) Networking is very important. Don't just send resumes out. Try to get to know some people who work in the industry. Those large job ads in the paper are there for legal reasons, most of the time they already know who they are going to hire for the position. Network, network, network.

2) Prepare yourself for the interview process. Find out how people who work for your target company dress. Practice answering questions about your resume. Practice interviewing just like you would practice if you were going before a promotion board. Look good, be relaxed and quietly confident. As that famous Chinese guy said, "Know yourself, know the enemy and in a thousand battles you will be victorious."

3) Do not assume that employers will key only on the major parts of your resume. Tailor you resume for specific jobs, highlighting areas that are especially pertinent. Government jobs and some civilian employers look for key words. If these keys are not found in your resume, then it will not be considered even if you're the best qualified. They simply will never see it.

4) Don't lower your expectations, temper them. Study to find out what you can expect in your job field. 

5) Did I mention networking?

Good luck!

P.S. -- The National Guard is a great place to network -- just saying.

(Submitted by H.H., U.S. Army)

Never Stop Networking

I retired from the Air Force in February 1997. I had an interest in railroads that went back to my high school days. I decided that my career as a command and control systems operator would dovetail well into a career as a rialroad dispatcher. 

I started sending resumes to BN Railroad while I was still in Germany, to no avail. Fourteen days after my official retirement date I went to work for a company called Sperry Rail Service, as a resume builder. I worked for Sperry for eight months until the Air Force called and asked where did I want my household goods they had in storage sent? 

So, I quit Sperry and had my stuff sent to Fort Worth, Texas. And still got no responses to my resumes. So I took a job in a billiard hall. Then went on "practice interviews" one with American Eagle Airlines as a crew shceduler, they job offered me. Thinking American Eagle would look better on a resume than Wizard's Billiards and Games, I took the job, hated it, paid $ 9.50 per hour and left after three months and went back to work at Wizard's. 

One day a guy walks into the bar with a railroad t-shirt on. I commented on it, he asked if I had family who were railroaders, I said no, he asked where I wanted to work, I told him the Network Operations Center, he said that's where I work. I said, let me buy you a drink. He gave a telephone number for the head of dispatching practices and I guess I caught him on a good day, he referred me to Tarrant County Junior College where BNSF had thier classes. 

I called the head of the program there and within a week I had a hiring package in my hand. Two weeks later I took the most comprehensive battery of aptitude tests I had ever seen, this after 24 years in the military. Bottom line I was accepted and have worked for BNSF as a dispatcher for 10 years now. Bottom line is never stop networking, you never which connection is the one that will pay off.

(Submitted by Mike Gueterman)

Lower Expectations the Answer?

I retired as an Air Force cook 10 years ago. I attended two TAP sessions and quite frankly neither one met my needs to join the "real world." 

I swore I would be happy just digging ditches and painting lines on the road. My wish came true. 

For the last 10 years I have been working at my city's water plant. The pay, then and the pay now, isn't so great but I made a lot of friends. I have four children and we are happy with the simple life. Sounds crazy but lowering your expectations and not letting money drive you is the way to go.

(Submitted by Rich J)

It's Tough Out Here, Be Prepared

I had as great a career while serving in the Air Force for six years.

Awards, BTZ, making E-5 my first time and a distinguished graduate of my tech school. I feel I am what any employer in my field is looking for in the civilian world. In fact, I had up to a year left in my enlistment when I started submitting resumes to test the waters. I wanted to get a feel of what the job searching process would be like should I decide to transition back to civilian life.

I got four responses in two months after submitting a few resumes offering me more than I expected and they all told me my resume and phone interview made me stand out from the rest. Unfortunately, those positions were required to fill ASAP so I would have to apply for early separation which was something I was not willing to do. I wanted to fulfill my entire enlistment.

With that in mind though, it seemed like transitioning out would be fairly easy and I should land a position quickly. Well that was not the case as I transitioned in the worst time right at the start of this recession. I have been unemployed for seven months and have not heard from one employer in five months. It's really tough out here so if you are contemplating separation be prepared for the same. The great thing is the GI Bill so if you plan on separating to go to school full time that would be the way to go. Good luck to all.

(Submitted by Mr. TJ)

Advice Needed: Re-enlist or Get Out?

I haven't transitioned yet but I have one year and six months left before my major decision of re-enlisting or using my GI Bill and going to school.

I'm on my first tour. I've been in since February 2006. I'm a corpsman stationed in CP at the moment. The only thing I can really think of is getting out, going to school full-time and just being out of the military already.

I'm a little bit apprehensive at the moment. I don't hate the Navy, it just gets tiring sometime -- as does everything else, I'm sure. Overall I like it. I never experienced civilian life in a mature state or college because I came in straight from high school.

I would just like some advice from those that have been through or are going through the same decisions. Maybe there are others in my shoes as well that may benefit from any of your advice.

Here's the stuff I think about that I need some advice on:

I often think of getting out using the GI Bill and going to school full time. Possibly re entering as an officer. I was motivated to be accepted to the enlisted to officer programs like STA-21 but for that I have to stay within my enlisted field and I have no desire to become a medical officer.

I've only been in three and a half years. I feel it's too early to shoot for the 20-year mark.

If I stay in it will take very long to reach a bachelor's or master's degree in anything, compared to going to school full time.

As of late I've been hearing plenty of stories of people who have degrees not being able to find jobs due to our economy.

So, I'm a little lost.

Get out, go to school, get my degree and hopefully our economy is better enough to get a job a few years down the road or go to OCS.

Stay in, continue being okay and comfortable with my current life situation and security that being in the military gives.

Thank you for any of the help, good luck to everyone.

(Submitted by Danny Rodriiguez)