Why is it so hard to find jobs? They say they want to help veterans get jobs but you have to have so much more experience.

I'm still looking too. It depends on the location as well, not just what you have to offer. I'm in AZ....land of retirement and the 24hr golf course. It isn't easy to lock anything down here. I'm 45, about 20 years too young for what everybody wants. I just interviewed for a position in Okinawa of all places. If you are willing, relocation will add to your available choices. Stay Strong and keep trying. I have over 300 applications submitted to USAjobs and have only been offered a position in Alaska. It's frustrating because in the military WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN!! We are used to control over our lives and being in limbo just sucks. All the best from AZ.

A few more thoughts on this: I've been out for 20 years, and believe me, I did some jumping around too. It honestly took me a while to get in a groove, starting with menial jobs, and working up to leadership (going from shovel-in-hand to construction foreman, to superintendent, to General superintendent). One of the hardest things was going from a responsible position in the military, literally with people's lives in your hands, to crappy work with crappy pay that means nothing and has no psychological reward.

That's the bleak end of it. The upside is that there's usually room to grow, and like the Military, whether you grow or get "promoted" is up to you and the jobs , once you find one, are really pretty darned easy. You've done something in your life that few (3%?) people can or will do. For me, it took some time. It took moving up. It took totally burning out at what I was doing. Then I found what I'm doing now. I love it and the money is pretty darn good. It has alot of stress and a fast pace, but that's actually what I need to keep from getting bored.

There are jobs out there. Sometimes it's a matter of what you're willing to take, but remember this: You may be an expert at being a soldier, but you're probably a rookie at most things on the outside. Don't be insulted or discouraged by that, but rather, take it as a challenge and rise above it like we both know you have done at some point (or many points) as a soldier.

Oh, and SFC Mark Merino I don't know if Corpus Christi, TX is on your radar at all, but we have CCAD here, which is the rebuild facility for military Helicopters. If you ever think about moving here, let's talk. I know a few guys there that might be able to open a door (maybe). Can't hurt to ask. There are military and non-military positions through USA Jobs and Sikorski and maybe other hosted companies.

I cant really say that to a point, I got out in 2006 and had a job while I was on my 30 day leave in 2 weeks and still have the same job. I live in Ohio and what I do for a living heavy diesel is good in this area. Other jobs are construction and power plants and some plant but you have to like unions for most of them. I am non union where I work. I am from Florida and I know that it isa hard to find jobs down there. I know in some parts of Pennsylvania jobs are hard to come by. I think depending where you are and what you are looking in to make things hard depending what it is. This country has had a bad job rate since about 2008 and we keep giving jobs or outsourcing them to outside countries when we could be doing some of those jobs here in the USA but then again that is our wonderful goverment.