The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
From Active Duty to Civilian Life: Resources for a Successful Transition
Becoming immersed in military life is a massive adjustment from being a civilian. Unfortunately, returning to civilian life can be an even greater challenge, and many veterans struggle during this process. There are about 250,000 people who leave the military each year and become veterans in the United States, illustrating the need for more transitional assistance. While unemployment among veterans dropped from 7.2% in 2014 to 5.8% in 2015, there are still many veterans who need help returning to civilian life.
Challenges Veterans Face
Though most veterans are incredibly hard-working and have marketable skills, one of the toughest challenges they face when returning to everyday life is finding satisfying work. Many veterans haven’t had to create a resume, interview for a job, or write a cover letter in years—if ever. Additionally, many don’t know how to market themselves, or struggle to adapt to a slower pace and fewer set expectations in the modern workforce.
Finding Assistance
Fortunately, there are some great resources out there for veterans who want to reenter the workforce and further their education. The Department of Defense offers a Transition Assistance Program, which has helped veterans find work faster. Other private and government programs provide additional support, care, and training. The GI Bill allows veterans to get the education they need to be competitive in the workforce, and can even cover graduate programs. Finding the right assistance to make the transition back to civilian life easier can mean the difference between success and struggle.
To learn more, checkout the infographic below created by Norwich University’s Online Master of Arts in Military History degree program.
Ever since the United States established its independence with the Revolutionary War, the country has faced the need to help military veterans transition into civilian life once their military service has concluded. Those who serve maintain a rigorous, regimented schedule, often for years. After they serve, they face the same challenge as many before then, transitioning from military to civilian life.
The need to ease that transition is as relevant as ever today-in 2015, there were approximately 1.46 million active U.S. Military personnel. A host of government and private programs can help ease the transition, as can the advancement of one’s education with a master’s degree.
Veterans In The Workforce
250,000 active military personnel leave the military each year and become veterans
Unemployment rate for veterans is decreasing
Dropped from
7.2% in 2014
5.8% in 2015
Job skills veterans bring back into civilian life:
Communication
Leadership development
Culturally experienced
Global Outlook
Specialized Advanced Training
Clear-headedness under pressure
In-depth understanding of planning
Ability to quickly pivot when needed
Ability to conform to rules and structure
Ability to lead a team or work as part of one
Military experience can further help with:
Strategizing
Understanding change
Dealing with success and failure
Operations
Employers believe that veterans are:
Hard-working
Dependable
Flexible
Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Experienced
Proper self-marketing is crucial for employment.
Veterans should leverage:
Value they provide employers
Applicable skills
Stories or examples of their character traits
Leadership
Work ethic
Jobs and roles that veterans may take on:
Project management
Operations manager
Business operations specialist
Change management consultant
Team manager
Team strategist
Historian
Political scientist
Consultant
Research
Teacher
The Biggest Challenges
Findings of Pew Research Center survey of 1,853 veterans:
While more than seven and 10 veterans (72%) report they had an easy time readjusting to civilian life, 27% say reentry was difficult for them-a proportion that swells to 44% among veterans who served in the years since the September 11th terrorist attacks.
The lingering consequences of a psychological trauma are particularly striking: the probabilities of an easy reentry drops 82% for those who did not experience a traumatic event to 56% for those who did.
Some common difficulties and professional adjustment among veterans:
learning how to look for an interview for jobs- something the individual may never have done before entering the military
developing a formal resume
a formidable game of catch up with in a previous held job
adjusting to the numerous choices or opportunities presented in society may be overwhelming
concerned about possible job loss while transitioning back into a roll
a lower steak space at work, where civilian colleagues expect more flexibility than might have been granted in the military
getting used to civilian workforce vernacular, which may be completely different than it was in the military
difficulty relating to those that don’t know or understand military life
understanding how to properly market their skills
translating military strategies so that they work within the business world
Continuing Education
Schooling may help add structure to a veteran’s transition. Online flexibility and benefit for veterans, while also ultimately enhancing career prospects. Various programs exist to help veterans gain access to such opportunities:
The VA GI Bill®*
website describes the many educational benefits and programs provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs
one of these benefits is the yellow ribbon program, which is a piece of the post 9/11 GI Bill that covers all tuition and fees for a public or private school, including graduate programs
DoD Off-duty Voluntary Education Programs
each year, approximately 300,000 service members enroll in post-secondary courses leading to Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate Degrees
voluntary education programs include college courses (traditional classroom and online delivery both on and off military installations); college credit by exam; licensure and certification; tuition assistance (TA); and Navy College programs for afloat college education open friend to see NC PACE) for Sailors stationed aboard a ship
Programs That Assist With The Transition
Transitions GPS is a multi-day course that teaches future veterans how to put together a resume and apply for jobs
Moving Forward is a free educational and life coaching program that teaches problem solving skills
AfterDeployment is a collection of resources for veterans and servicemembers to help them make the transition to civilian life
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