Should psychologists, attorneys, and sociologists be part of a continuous out-process until you are "safely” a civilian?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 May 2019 10:30:31 -0400

[perspectives of a service member whose Family thinks he deploys too much].

Transitioning out of the military may be a breeze for some, but don’t be surprised when a small few need EXTRA help. Given the current “out processing” SOPs and all “taking a knee” Human Resources goodies from all branches and components (i.e. Air Force, Marines, etc. or Reserves, NG), should psychologists, attorneys, sociologists, be part of a continuous out process until you are “safely” a civilian?

Response by COL Dana Hampton made May 5 at 2019 10:39 AM

COL Dana Hampton — Sun, 05 May 2019 10:39:33 -0400

From my estimation and evaluation of the TAP checklist approach to transitioning, there are many area for improvement. Regardless any changes made by the program managers to improve resources and information available, the service member has to be an active, engaged and proactive participant in the process.

Waiting until the last few weeks or months to start seriously engaging in preparing for transition is a mistake most make.

Preparing and planning are vital to a successful transition. Get a coach / mentor whose successfully transitioned on a path or career you want to follow. Start seriously developing a gap analysis in your skills that exist in you new career path goals at least a year out. Gain training, certifications and/or diplomas needed to make you a competitive candidate.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made May 5 at 2019 11:08 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Sun, 05 May 2019 11:08:04 -0400

Unfortunately, no matter what the military offers, too many wait until the last minute to start the transition process.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 5 at 2019 12:27 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 05 May 2019 12:27:24 -0400

I am adamant all redeploying military members should be mentally screened. There is some inefficiency to the current process.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2019 12:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 May 2019 12:59:05 -0400

The problem with transition isn't the lack of time or resources. It's the fact that people don't take it seriously. I talk to people every day about their plan. You'd be surprised how many people don't know what they're really doing 90 days prior to ETS. Or how many believe that "going to college" is a life plan. Most of them haven't saved any money for the transition and are expecting their last pay check to carry them through. The Army mandates a year out to start TAP., but people don't take it seriously.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 5 at 2019 1:09 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sun, 05 May 2019 13:09:21 -0400

Sociologists exist only to give people jobs; they are legitimately useless. Now, as for the rest of the trio, there are already myriad resources available to vets. What needs to be done is streamline the availability of these resources and ensure vets understand that these are there and how they should be best utilized.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 5 at 2019 4:17 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 05 May 2019 16:17:30 -0400

They should be available, but not obligatory.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 5 at 2019 5:57 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 05 May 2019 17:57:42 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member how do you see the sociologists, attorneys, and psychologists integrated into this process? Is this a one sizes fits most tee shirt? Are you taking transition from AD or demobilization?

If there is a task and purpose aligned with a statistically driven need, I'm on board. If it is a self licking ice cream cone to check a block, I'm not on board. Military Family Life Coaches were value added, to bridge that gap between Command and documented mental health. What I'd rather see is for honorable discharges, a dedicated time allocation system where going to Pinion Canyon, NTC, JRTC, Yakima, Gunnery, etc are back burnered for separating soldiers to schedule transition events instead. It also flicks the booger on the soldier to commit to a plan.

What exactly would a sociologist do? How would designing studies on social institutions, cultures, groups, organizations, or processes of the interaction that develops when people work together help an individual veteran separating?

Separating soldiers have access to TDS and Admin Law already. What roles are we missing?

If they served as a bridging/validating mechanism for VA assistance, ok. How exactly would they accomplish that? VSOs fill some of that advocacy need already. I could see value added between soldiers with a high risk inventory and rapid infusion into VA services.

There are tons of vet services large and small, national and local. What there isn't is a lead organization that regionally aggregates, does gap analysis, gap filling, and serves as a One Stop for wayward vets with authority and resources to do so.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made May 6 at 2019 6:38 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Mon, 06 May 2019 06:38:06 -0400

You should have more than enough life skills after at least 4 years in the armed forces to transition to civilian life. You would be at a minimum, 22 years old and would have had a lot of training and development under your belt. After only 4 years, it is only a small portion of your life spent in the armed forces.

If you spent 10-20 years then you are significantly older and more mature and should need less help. Creating crutches in your life will only make you dependent or reliant on them. Moving from the armed forces to the civilian world is a job change. Perhaps if people approached it that way and minimized the complexity and mystique they would be better off.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made May 6 at 2019 8:02 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Mon, 06 May 2019 08:02:39 -0400

WOW!
Psychological Operations at its worst?

A small few need extra help? While on the surface this appears to be a certainty, it lacks a specificity as to whom the 'small few' are. I could hypothesize using the statement "..."safely" a civilian?"

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 6 at 2019 8:36 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 06 May 2019 08:36:28 -0400

Yes. 100 percent. My friend a combat medic died on the battlefield. Thousand oaks California. Huey pilot took off. Chicken shit.I have said this before. He should get the Medal of Honor.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 6 at 2019 8:37 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 06 May 2019 08:37:36 -0400

Now wonder I do not live in the usa

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made May 6 at 2019 2:42 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Mon, 06 May 2019 14:42:20 -0400

My answer may be unpopular, but I think it's honest... No.

I don't say that because I'm unsympathetic to those going through the process, or because I don't believe that for some... there are critical needs. I say it because part of the "transition" may in fact be realizing that "out here", even fewer resources of that kind exist.

I've been "fortunate" enough to have gone through this process not once... but twice. The first time, I had ZERO clue...and the second, I had no small amount of "luck". What I learned is that the "secret" to "transition" is learning to separate... not only fiscally and legally, but mentally and emotionally as well. This may be a lesson best "self-taught".

It's a pretty simple thing when you think about it... one day, you're "in", and another, your "out". Once "out", you're not a new person: your experiences, memories, skills, fears, doubts, regrets, pain... none of that goes away. What does go "away" is the obligation to continue to make decisions based on the needs (and inherent limits) of the Service. You're "free" to chart a new course, gain new skills, find new opportunities, overcome negatives, and mature into the next phase of life.

That, or you can keep trying to relive the past in search of... what exactly? A way to erase all of the mistakes, bad-calls, losses, failures? Maybe there are those who think if they "reflect" enough upon it, they'll change everything they don't like... or recapture everything they did, and couldn't seem to hold onto.

I won't presume to know others' minds and hearts (pun definitely intended), but one thing I personally didn't want to do is keep looking backwards for affirmation, support, or guidance. I'm probably a much "better" person now than I was then merely because I've lived longer and done more that was less focused on such a narrow frame of reference. Since leaving, I've become a husband, father, businessman, writer, etc... I've expanded on some of what I was then, and will doubtless add more in the future.

My service in the Military is just one chapter...maybe not even the best, and certainly not the whole book.

I think "transition" needs to be made more mechanical and less "esoteric". If that sounds harsh, I'm trying to speak from experience... remembering the weeks of mind-numbing classes, lectures, etc... NONE of which answered two very important questions: 1) What is your goal?, and 2) What are you going to do next to achieve it? There are functional, specific things transitioning personnel need to know, and at some point... the responsibility is on the member to put their plan into play.

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made May 6 at 2019 2:44 PM

SSgt Richard Kensinger — Mon, 06 May 2019 14:44:31 -0400

Given my experience particularly w/ combat vets and POW's during Vietnam that we evaluated at Andrews AFB during my tenure there as an ER medic, Indeed a biopsychosocial perspective is pertinent!
Rich

Response by PO1 Matt Maness made May 6 at 2019 8:56 PM

PO1 Matt Maness — Mon, 06 May 2019 20:56:18 -0400

Think some truth too that. One unit I was part of some had people to radicalize during their tour, that's not normal. One became a Militant Vegan and she does these road side protest at slaughter house's, others went to the Islam and other hate groups. Fact is one of those tried to kill 3 police officers with a hatchet. Think we need psychologists and sociologists to be in that process.