Posted on Mar 13, 2014
Things you quickly learn when you leave active duty?
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Funny or insightful we've all had some lessons that we learned when we transitioned when we left active service and had to relearn how to be civilians.
Posted in these groups: 
Transition
Lessons Learned
Transition Lessons Learned
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 35
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I have learned that most of my hair is still here and it is still gorgeous 26 years later lol, and I have learned that to most people away from a base, that 26 years and a $1.50 will buy me a cup of coffee. Also that most employment opportunities will not even give you the courtesy of a call back or an e-mail to inform you that you are not what they are looking for in an employee. I also want to throat-punch a great many individuals that I run across on a day to day basis, but my will is strong. :-D
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SGT Thomas Lucken
Figure it was one or the other! :-) You know the saying: "Once Cav, Always Cav". :-)
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That most employers and businesses really don't care for or appreciate the military as much as they try and claim they do.
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SFC James Baber
Respectfully to both 1SGs, the main issue with your theories and statements is that you are mainly talking about the younger veterans, the ones that have only done one tour of duty, the main issue of the past few years is the problem with retirees or older veterans with 10, 12, 15 years experience not being to be offered even entry level positions because the usual excuse is that they are over qualified or they can't relate to starting over at the bottom. Believe me, myself and many of my fellow veterans do understand we will have to sometimes, many times start over from the bottom and scratch, but we are not being given the opportunity, more talk than actions from most companies that profess to be veteran friendly or centric. If there were as many veteran friendly hiring taking place, why is the veteran community having the highest unemployment rate in the country, almost double the national average for everyone else, and many of us have the degrees, the technical skill sets, the managerial experience that can be translated to the civilian sector, and the discipline and integrity t follow through and fulfill the task and job at hand, unlike the fresh college graduate with no life skills or life experiences at all. Until there is a huge turnaround in the unemployment rate of veterans, the "dog and pony show" will be just that, all talk and no actual doing.
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LTC Donald (Don) Bachler
Agreed. I have applied to over 400 positions online, and attended over a dozen jobs fairs. I have yet to make it to an interview or, in fact, receive any feedback from any application. Every time I talk to a person via email, phone or at the job fair they all state that I must go through the application process online. This online black hole is rather frustrating. Luckily, the pension supports us well, but I still have a lot of fight in me. I realize I must start at the bottom, but businesses want a younger person to start out... not a broken 48-year-old. Hourly employers won't touch me because I'm too experienced/are overly educated. Good luck in your search.
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PO1 Raymond Sauter
I remember the bitter truth after I got out in '91 hoping to capitalize on my electronics training! GET YOUR DEGREE while you are on active duty! Your military experience AND a degree will get you hired.
Also, to the LTC, DO NOT depend solely upon online applications! EVERY job I have had, I got because I knew somebody who knew somebody! Human connection is critical even in this present digital age!
Also, to the LTC, DO NOT depend solely upon online applications! EVERY job I have had, I got because I knew somebody who knew somebody! Human connection is critical even in this present digital age!
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1. People in the grocery store who loiter in the middle of the isle do not react well to "Move out!".<br><br>2. People look at you sideways when you scarf down your chow and leave promptly.<br><br>3. Although civilian vehicles may be faster, people seem to drive them slower than a convoy of HETs.<br><br>4. People don't appreciate being told they need to "execute", "square that shit away", or that they "look like rag-bags".<br>
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Cpl Glynis Sakowicz
I also found that people tend to blink and stare if one bellows, "MAKE A HOLE!" in Walmart... I don't know why... I mean the store WAS near Lejeune...
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PO1 Raymond Sauter
LOL! Yeah, I remember my first job after getting out! I was still trying to be that hardass First Class! Doesn't go over too well around a bunch of unsat civilians! :)
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Sgt (Join to see)
I still scarf down my food all these years later. I learned to eat quickly because it might be your only chance.
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