I'm not Wealthy, But I'm Happy

During the six years I served, I met some great people, some that I am still life long friends with today. When I was in the Navy, I was a Psychiatric Technician. As a specialty of the Hospital Corpsman, my training and job dealt with caring for members and their families that were having psychiatric or emotional issues. It was an exciting job that I wanted to continue once I was out of the military. When I began the process of getting out, I was shocked to find out that, at the time, I wouldn't make enough money to support my family. My dreams of supporting my family and going to school to become a full fledged Psychiatrist or Psychologist were dashed. I had to remake myself.

As I transitioned into the civilian world, I realized that I had a few other marketable skills that I could use to help me become gainfully employed. I was a BLS instructor. I taught classes in Basic Life Support as a change of pace to my regular job while I was in the Navy. In a way, I was teacher. Admittedly, not a very good one, but it was a skill. On the ward, I helped with the computers that had recently come into use. I helped some of the nursing staff learn how to use them and it was a hobby of mine. I had also had taken many Navy classes on customer service.

After I got out of the military, I wasn't able to get a job for two months. Those two months were full of despair as I fretted about getting a job and the future of my family. But eventually I got a few call backs, and found a job at a small company doing computer repair. My first bosses were all prior Navy, and I dare say that they hired me specifically because I was in the Navy. I worked hard for that company but after a few years left because I couldn't go any further. I began to search for work again, and for a while I had work at jobs that paid considerable less. I moved to a small ISP and then onto a support position with a small software company. In all o f these circumstances, I would say a key factor in my employment has been my military experience. It definitely got my foot in the door.

Now, almost a decade after getting out of the military, I have come full circle and I can't go much further in my pay without a degree. The economy is rough so I am working full time and going to school full time. My plans have changed and I want to get a bachelors in Computer Science. Even in this environment, my skills from military continue to help me succeed. In school, I am focused and experienced. I know why I am going to school. I don't give up easily. I know what the stakes are. Within two more years, I expect to have my CS degree from a local university.

I am not wealthy, but I can tell you that I believe I have successfully transitioned to civilian life. It was a difficult chapter of my life, but worth it. Here are my words of wisdom that I learned through those trying times:

1)Get a professional resume do ne. Hire someone to help you with your resume. It's the first thing your prospective employer will see. It should be generic for the work you want to do, but don't feel trapped by it. For each possible job you will want to tweak it for that job.

2)Join a professional/charitable organization. It looks good on your resume and helps you network.

3)Get good at talking about yourself. You need to sell yourself. In the real world you have to sell your experience. Go places and meet new people. Come up with an elevator pitch about your story.

4)If you can, go to school when you are able to. When I was in, some guys were maniacs, working 12 hour shifts, going to school for eight hours, sleeping for four hours some days. They are very successful now. Now with a family, I work eight hours, go to school for four, and am exhausted. Do it while you are young, able, and not a parent. After the military, you can even live on a friend's couch, go to school and survive on pitt ance that comes from the current GI Bill.

5)Semper Gumby: Always be flexible. I learned this in the military, but in civilian life, it always seems to be applicable. Every role is new and never the same. I feel like I have to constantly change to continue to be gainfully employed.

6)Exercise regiments that you learned in the military keep you mentally and physically fit throughout your life. Exercise will help you through those inevitably depressing times and being in shape lends itself to helping you get employed.

(Submitted by Mr. Jason Laprade)

Comments

[Larry Socie]

That is a lot like my story. Except I am almost Seventy. The main difference was I traded ME for WE at twenty three. It is our family and our life. When I got tired she carried the load. The Navy taught me that team works, and it is she and me and now ours that you can build a life around.