I just read an interview conducted in September 2008 and it really hits home.
"Eighty-one percent of returning military personnel surveyed last fall by Military.com said they did not feel fully prepared to enter the job market."
With the efforts and resources being expended on a transition program, something is being missed. As I do research for this blog, I find that there is an overwhelmingly disproportionate number of sites and companies that want to put you in an interview for a job. While there is no doubt that having a steady income is important, if you don't know how to market your skills and sell yourself in that interview, all you've done is practice at failing to make the most of the opportunity.
If eighty-one percent of military members don't feel fully prepared to enter the civilian job market, then nineteen percent will TRULY be competing for positions in an economy that is already strained.
Stay connected here for further information on how to put yourself in that nineteen percent. We will discuss a strategic plan that will have you prepared fro whatever the corporate world has to offer. Your transition is a work in progress that should begin when you make the decision to leave the service.
Until then...
KLB
Desert Storm/Shield Revelation
Sorry for the broken link. I believe it's working now.
It's been 20 years since we served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Upon return, many servicemembers had unexplainable illnesses. There was a lot of skepticism over whether or not they were truly sick.
The story begins to shed some light. You would think that after the 20 year Agent Orange debacle, they would have done a better job with this one.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36322279/ns/health-mental_health/
It's been 20 years since we served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Upon return, many servicemembers had unexplainable illnesses. There was a lot of skepticism over whether or not they were truly sick.
The story begins to shed some light. You would think that after the 20 year Agent Orange debacle, they would have done a better job with this one.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36322279/ns/health-mental_health/
TurboTAP
Billed as "Your connection to money, benefits and jobs", this is the official Department of Defense website for transitioning personnel.
It is vastly improved from the job posting board it once was. There are quite a few resources that are worth looking into as you prepare to seperate from the service. With this site in it's current state, the Department of Defense could save a lot of money by eliminating the face-to-face service that is provided. The information here is exactly what transitioning servicemembers will get in their 2-3 day crash course in their last two weeks of service.
I contend that there still is a lot of work to be done. There is more to the transitioning of servicemembers than how to find a job. It is an entirely new culture that our service men and women will face. If you are not prepared for that culture change, or have the resources or guidance to deal with it, you will suffer in the job market. You will find yourself trying to change a work environment that lacks discipline, training and loyalty (the values within the military that you have been programmed for).
TurboTAP is the right place to start. It is, however just that...a starting point.
Find TurboTAP here. TurboTAP
KLB
It is vastly improved from the job posting board it once was. There are quite a few resources that are worth looking into as you prepare to seperate from the service. With this site in it's current state, the Department of Defense could save a lot of money by eliminating the face-to-face service that is provided. The information here is exactly what transitioning servicemembers will get in their 2-3 day crash course in their last two weeks of service.
I contend that there still is a lot of work to be done. There is more to the transitioning of servicemembers than how to find a job. It is an entirely new culture that our service men and women will face. If you are not prepared for that culture change, or have the resources or guidance to deal with it, you will suffer in the job market. You will find yourself trying to change a work environment that lacks discipline, training and loyalty (the values within the military that you have been programmed for).
TurboTAP is the right place to start. It is, however just that...a starting point.
Find TurboTAP here. TurboTAP
KLB
First Installment
I have thought about where to start with my first post. I think that I should start with one of the hardest lessons I learned AFTER I transitioned out of the service. That lesson would be that I started to prepare for my departure entirely too late.
I knew about 18 months prior to my retirement that I was leaving the service. I should have started preparing for that day then. Little did I know.
The Army's Transition Assistance Program allows for departing soldiers to attend, and attempt, to get their civilian affairs in order when they receive their out-processing paperwork. That happens 2-3 weeks prior to your separation. Future posts will explain how this is a disservice to the servicemembers as well as explaining how to be more prepared.
Please do not fall into the trap of waiting until you are out-processing to take care of your life after the service.
Start asking questions NOW. If you can't find the answers through the readers here, I will do everything I can to find the answers you're looking for.
I have a book that I am trying to find support for through the government. My hope is that they are receptive of the need for better transition preparation and will make my book available to all transitioning Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen when they receive their separation orders. Future posts will list Congressional leaders' contact information so that each of you readers can contact your Representatives and ask for this service.
Until the next time,
KLB
Remember, go to the bottom of the page and subscribe to this feed so you never miss an update.
I knew about 18 months prior to my retirement that I was leaving the service. I should have started preparing for that day then. Little did I know.
The Army's Transition Assistance Program allows for departing soldiers to attend, and attempt, to get their civilian affairs in order when they receive their out-processing paperwork. That happens 2-3 weeks prior to your separation. Future posts will explain how this is a disservice to the servicemembers as well as explaining how to be more prepared.
Please do not fall into the trap of waiting until you are out-processing to take care of your life after the service.
Start asking questions NOW. If you can't find the answers through the readers here, I will do everything I can to find the answers you're looking for.
I have a book that I am trying to find support for through the government. My hope is that they are receptive of the need for better transition preparation and will make my book available to all transitioning Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen when they receive their separation orders. Future posts will list Congressional leaders' contact information so that each of you readers can contact your Representatives and ask for this service.
Until the next time,
KLB
Remember, go to the bottom of the page and subscribe to this feed so you never miss an update.
Hello
Welcome to your one-stop source for everything dealing with your transition from the military to the civilian world. It is my way of giving something back to those that have served and continue to serve.
On this page, you will find useful tips as you transition, web sites that can be of great assistance to you, experiences not only from my own transition but experiences of others and the job market and how to actively persue employment and how to effectively market your military experience to prospective employers.
I don't want this to be like most other 'HELP' sites, where the only thing that is discussed is job searches and the same old resume database uses that everybody else in the world is using. I envision this page to be a proactive site that allows others to post their experiences as well as a place where transitioning military members can seek help.
As with all sites of this nature, it will be slow to gain readership. But, as the miltiary is about to go through some changes (withdraw from Iraq, etc.), this site will gain in relevance. If all of you pass the word about us, we will make this a very powerful tool.
KLB
On this page, you will find useful tips as you transition, web sites that can be of great assistance to you, experiences not only from my own transition but experiences of others and the job market and how to actively persue employment and how to effectively market your military experience to prospective employers.
I don't want this to be like most other 'HELP' sites, where the only thing that is discussed is job searches and the same old resume database uses that everybody else in the world is using. I envision this page to be a proactive site that allows others to post their experiences as well as a place where transitioning military members can seek help.
As with all sites of this nature, it will be slow to gain readership. But, as the miltiary is about to go through some changes (withdraw from Iraq, etc.), this site will gain in relevance. If all of you pass the word about us, we will make this a very powerful tool.
KLB
