Former grunts, what areas of employment have worked out well, and what areas have not? Any suggestions?

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:01:50 -0500

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Dec 22 at 2017 11:14 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:14:00 -0500

Unfortunately when I got out I found that almost nothing in my military experience, no how much sugar coated or polished up, lent itself to civilian occupational fields. Unless you had a particular military specialty that lends itself to the civilian sector you may be better off retraining and reinventing yourself through education and particularly training in a hard marketable skill. Being able to stay cool and solve problems in combat may be a highly regarded quality by the USMC, the typical employer wants to know what your skill and experience are in his particular type of business as he doesn't want to train you on the job on his nickel. While college is nice to get the ticket punched, a degree won't do you much good unless it is in a specific skill field, coupled with entry level experience. Some state jobs will give you partial experience in return for a degree however.

Response by PO3 Justin Hope made Dec 22 at 2017 11:53 AM

PO3 Justin Hope — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:53:07 -0500

I am not a former grunt, but operating anti-ship missile defense systems built in the 70's did not translate well into the civilian workforce. While I was going to college after I left the military I worked as a security guard. Two major things the Navy taught me how to do well were swab a deck and stand a watch, so I got a job standing a watch.

Response by SSG William Bowen made Dec 22 at 2017 11:54 AM

SSG William Bowen — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:54:46 -0500

Certain government jobs do not require a specific degree, and with this degree you can qualify for many jobs you otherwise would not have qualified for. A degree can also get you a higher entry level which means more money. There are no directly related civilian jobs for Infantry. You can be a cop, security, corrections, firefighter, truck driver, etc., pretty much blue collar jobs for the most part, and if you go to school you can obviously expand your opportunities.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2017 12:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:26:04 -0500

I went to a few Cop interviews didn’t get hired.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2017 12:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:26:17 -0500

Law Enforcement has been easier to adapt, before I worked in retail. Hated it. Was always depressed

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 22 at 2017 12:40 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:40:52 -0500

I've been in the agriculture field for 39 years, a little demanding, but keeps me busy.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2017 12:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:42:11 -0500

Redstone Arsenal, AL

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Dec 22 at 2017 1:36 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 13:36:54 -0500

I asked a similar question a while ago that had some good info in it:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-job-opportunities-are-best-for-an-infantryman-11b-after-being-discharged

What job opportunities are best for an Infantryman/11B after being discharged? | RallyPoint

What are some fields and occupations where others have been successful? Is there anything that an 11B has been particular good at once they get into the civilian sector? Or maybe even particular companies that really "get" what an 11B has gone though and taken the appropriate time and training to make them successful? Any guidance or thoughts about Infantryman transitioning back into the workforce is welcomed.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2017 8:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 20:49:53 -0500

Probation and parole, corrections, and/or state or local police

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Dec 22 at 2017 8:50 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 20:50:33 -0500

I have found that your former MOS should not define your civilian career,get an education whether traditional or technical,I wasted my educational benefits and paid the price of many years of physical labor,you proved you could accomplish any mission in the past ,make your civilian employment your next mission accomplished!

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 22 at 2017 10:18 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 22:18:41 -0500

Self-employment

Response by Sgt Kien Do made Dec 31 at 2017 10:50 PM

Sgt Kien Do — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 22:50:14 -0500

I found a great career in Project Management...I’ve found a lot of our leadership intangibles translates well in the Project Management industry.

Response by SPC Dave King made Jan 3 at 2018 10:43 AM

SPC Dave King — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:43:30 -0500

I went from security job to b.s. job before a marine buddy of mine pulled me to be a mechanic in the automotive field. I couldn't stand the lazy, unmotivated security lifestyle. I'm too beat up to become law enforcement and I found good friends that were just as twisted, foul mouthed and loyal in the mechanics world. Went to college under the post 9/11 at UTI Automotive school where a good population attending is veterans. Now I work for a dealership in PA