What did your time in the military do for you in civilian life?

Cpl Shane Cunningham There were two of us hired out of 100 people interviewed for two high paying jobs at a chemical plant. I was clean cut, squared away, and prepared. Two of the interviewers were impressed, while the third did not like the military based on his questions. I stayed calm and answered his questions. Once I had my degree, I started work on the Space Shuttle Program. I was hired because the military taught me to be disciplined and prepared, and I was. This discipline and determination helped me to endure the good and bad times during a 33 year career.

Never had a civilian job. 26 years active duty. 18 years as a DOD civilian.

Most employers know that when they see military on your resumé, that you're going to be disciplined and show up on time. For me as a teacher, it's also carried over into the classroom where I talk to my students about how the world really is. I don't sugarcoat anything. As one parent put it, I'm just real with them and I make everything relevant to the things they'll be facing.