To the Veterans, have you been impressed or disappointed with how your military experience transformed over into the civilian sector?

2014-06-06T10:22:09-04:00

Response by SSG Robin Rushlo made Jun 6 at 2014 10:35 AM

2014-06-06T10:35:18-04:00

When I left there was no real transition program. Also other than police not many people looking for a SCOUT (11D) . The only good thing is that I had gotten my advance degree on active duty.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2014 11:15 AM

2014-06-06T11:15:30-04:00

I found military experience to be *almost* a problem when job searching. My job is not related to my military MOS. During my initial job search, GWOT was starting to become unpopular, as were GWOT vets.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 6 at 2014 12:13 PM

2014-06-06T12:13:49-04:00

Both. While serving I was not aware of how superior my experience was in the military was to what our civilian counterparts were experiencing. When I entered the civilian work force, I was shocked by how companies have run their organizations…I don’t want to say that the military is better, but there is no other way to say it?
Now here is my disappointment, the civilian sector either does not realize the value of veterans or is aware and are threatened by our skill set. Some of the things I have witnessed, organization claim to have veterans hiring preferences (Civilian and Government) but the people with hiring authority either are not aware of their own policy or do not follow it, and there is no additional enforcement by their superiors. Also, senior leaders leaving the military and thinking civilian will understand where they have come from and care, and they do not. I have also seen veterans coming out of the military and not realize what they have done…IF you are a motor transport operator and think you are just a truck driver, you are wrong but if you present yourself simply as a truck driver, that is how they are going to look at you.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jun 6 at 2014 12:23 PM

2014-06-06T12:23:05-04:00

When I was discharged there was no transition programs from military to civilian life. Many of the companies I have worked for did not consider my military experience. Of course, I was a battery powered grunt so much of my experience did not transfer to civilian life.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 6 at 2014 2:16 PM

2014-06-06T14:16:53-04:00

I been disappointed because so many civilian agencies put on a front like they all for supporting the military and veterans, there is horror stories in different locations about how Reservist and Guardsmen being harassed by their employer and even getting fired for deploying or having unit training assembly over the weekend. But when there is a foreign or domestic threat to our nation, than they want you to protect their rear end.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2014 2:47 PM

2014-06-06T14:47:02-04:00

I was personally disappointed as I was a medic some years ago and when I first got out, my eyes were opened. I went from starting IVs in the Army and giving meds to just being able to draw blood for a hospital lab.

I know now, that when you are trained as a medic at least in the Army, you have the option of becoming Nationally Registered EMT which can at least get you on a fire department or ambulance service.

Response by SSgt Robert Clark made Jun 6 at 2014 4:39 PM

2014-06-06T16:39:53-04:00

My military experience or veteran status have done pretty much nothing to advance any sort of civilian career. Then again, I've been out long enough and served in a period that when looking for a job the attitude was pretty much "oh, your a vet? so what!"

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Jun 6 at 2014 5:09 PM

2014-06-06T17:09:09-04:00

I left active duty over 18 years ago at this point. It was horrifying to see how the vast experience I had, and experience with a vast array of test equipment left me qualified for so few jobs because of civilian hiring practices which overly relied on civilian academic credentials which my Marine Corps training never quite lined up with. I could do much more than most of my competition for various positions but didn't have civil credentials which were at the time out of my reach due to all of the movement and deployment I had in my Military career.
Anyone who is still in should run to their Community College of the (insert branch of Service) office and start ensuring your Military Schools and Experience are being logged for Credit hours and trying to finish off a B.A or B.S. right NOW(or whatever the current program for doing this is, I know it changed like, well, something that changed often when I was in).
Even after consulting the D.O.T. manual for job equivalencies(which according to hiring managers I was able to talk to was the gold standard at the time for creating a civilian readable, military experience equivalency) it was hard to meet the exacting job listings and calling for overly qualified candidates to fill technical but less than professional paying positions.

Perseverance was the key then. I found a job in Electronic Scale Service (everything from Laboratory balances to Meat Wrappers and Labeling Systems to Industrial Hoppers and Control Systems to Motor Truck Scales and everything in between)(mostly because my family needed to eat), and kept looking for the future job while expanding my skill set in that industry. While it was a great and varied job with lots to learn and an interesting industry, the pay scale and it's long term potential for growth simply didn't match the work and skill set required.

The long term job showed up as a newspaper job posting and I jumped on it as fast as I could type a custom resume. My Military experience and training paid off and I've completed my 16th year with this employer, moving up 2 positions and making an above average wage for my area. Even so, It's a niche position and is only good as long as this niche exists, if it holds on for 10 more years(likely, but not certain) it's off to double-dipping land and hopefully some part-time consulting gigs to keep a hand in.
Still learning new things and obtaining new certifications because that is both fun and what the Industry requires. But I still haven't finished a Bachelors, and the Civilian world places way to much emphasis on that particular credential for far to many jobs that should not require it.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jun 6 at 2014 5:37 PM

2014-06-06T17:37:44-04:00

My transition was pretty smooth and many of the skills transferred directly into my new job. I realize that everyone's experience will be vastly different based on multiple factors such as what you MOS was, the job you are looking for, your location, your degree of experience, your civilian education level, you age (yes, I know you can't discriminate based on age - but I'm leaving it on the list - and often times too young is just as big a hurdle as too old) and, most importantly:
the amount of PERSONAL effort you put into the PLANNING and execution of YOUR transition. All too often I hear of veterans blaming the services for not preparing them for transition. While I agree that these programs can be very helpful, the don't relieve the SM of their personal responsibility to plan and prepare.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 6 at 2014 8:48 PM

2014-06-06T20:48:29-04:00

I've been overly disappointed. Considering many of the advanced military schools I have attended have given me credits towards Masters Degrees (that I have since finished) and I find myself working for civilian leaders that were promoted to management due to their time at the company (and not their ability to lead, etc). Its frustrating when the skills I have learned (and continue to learn in the military) feels like it is not desired or wanted in many environments, leaving me stuck working positions that I am vastly over qualified for and seeing promotions and pay raises laying stagnant for long periods of time.

I will keep plugging and chugging, time will tell.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2014 12:57 PM

2014-08-15T12:57:33-04:00

I am not impressed that colleges, for the most part, don't except military education. If they did, I would have AT LEAST an R.N. license! Things might have changed since I got out.

Response by Sgt Evan Proctor made Aug 15 at 2014 1:50 PM

2014-08-15T13:50:56-04:00

The best military experience veterans have to offer are their leadership skills. The leadership skills we have gained from leading in extremely fast paced environments, hostile environments and large scale environments is something more veterans should include on their resumes.

As a recruiter I do not hear enough about the leadership part like I know I should.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 15 at 2014 4:23 PM

2014-08-15T16:23:18-04:00

I've been disappointed to say the least at how military leadership/management does not equal civilian leadership/management according to civilians that have never served. When you tell a potential employer that you were responsible for the care, welfare, administration, training and oversight of 8 "employees" over the course of a year for an "overseas job commitment" and that doesn't impress them - you know you're in trouble. Then they turn around and tell you that you really aren't qualified as a manager because you don't have the experience in the civilian/commercial/retail sector - WTF??? I guess managing war and peace is not big in the civilian world.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2014 10:11 PM

2014-08-15T22:11:58-04:00

Military experience transfers to the civilian sector? Could've fooled me.

Response by PO1 Julio G. made Aug 16 at 2014 12:26 PM

2014-08-16T12:26:16-04:00

The Navy has a saying; "choose your rate, choose your fate".

In terms of what translates to civilian labor, that really depends on your goals or career path.

Soft skills like the leadership skills we gain in the military are priceless. However, as I learned during my transition, we need to "adjust" our leadership skills a bit in the civilian sector - and no, I'm not talking about management. Leadership and management are different.

Keep in mind that there is an expectation for a certain type of work ethic. One of timeliness, commitment, and integrity.

Now, to speak to the point of military experience translation to civilian labor, this again goes back to your goals.

I started my career as a Boatswain's Mate. I enjoyed that rate very much but I wasn't thinking of my future. Halfway through my career, I switched rates to IT (Information Technologist).

Five years post retirement, I'm still working in IT and it is very rewarding in many facets. First, I'm always learning new things, second, it pays extremely well, and third, most IT employers are very flexible with work schedules.

So for me, the transformation was almost transparent.

Response by CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR made Jan 1 at 2016 12:15 AM

2016-01-01T00:15:39-05:00

I have been impressed although I struggled for 4 months unemployed and having to move into my mother house. I utilized my military recruitment experience to help me transition into the Oil and gas industry and had no experience and they gave me a shot.

Dont focus on what you dont have focus on what you have and how you can add value to the organization. The civilian company will not tell you how you can solve their problems

Response by LCpl Rick Ponton made Jan 7 at 2016 5:26 PM

2016-01-07T17:26:55-05:00

IAM HAPPY NOW AFTER LOTS OF HELL AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TRANSITION OUT OF THE MILITARY AND I NO LONGER GET MARINE HAIR CUTS AND WEAR CAMIES AND BOOTS IN PUBLIC AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO TRANSITION AND IAM STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY AND I NEVER WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE MARINES BUT I WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1988. I NO LONGER FEEL GUILTY AND IAM HAPPY NOW AND I HAVE BEEN SUICIDAL AND WRECKLESS EVER SINCE BUT NOT ANY MORE I HAVE LOVE AND MEANING AND I DO MY DUTY AT THE VA AND I DO NOT EAT LUNCH TO GIVE THE MONEY TO HOMELESS VETS AND GIVE MY CIGARETTES AWAY BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IT FEELS LIKE NOT TO HAVE A CIGARETTE

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Mar 4 at 2018 5:46 AM

2018-03-04T05:46:07-05:00

Personally, I wasn’t disappointed. I Entered law enforcement luckily all the law enforcement agencies were veteran focused due to experience. You know being dependable is a very big issue as well as in the military. Many agencies are Qazi-Military and their leadership is rooted deep from being so. When veterans go through the state training and certification course, they score higher than their civilian counterpart and that’s a plus for the agency that sent you there. Another thing I find is that police agencies rely upon veteran’s comradery to draw them together. Too damn much individualism in agencies. But when you pair trooper’s off with veterans, they begin to realize just how valuable those veterans truly are. Entering as a basic law enforcement officer you make anywhere from 40 to 65 thousand not overlooking the opportunity to work overtime or on special assignment. Many agencies will accept those without law enforcement backgrounds and or degrees. So, if you miss the brother comradery, uniform wear, discipline and many other attributes of the military, look at a career in law enforcement.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Mar 4 at 2018 5:58 AM

2018-03-04T05:58:44-05:00

Well I was an 11B in Vietnam and I was offered a job in garbage disposal in the State of New Jersey.