Be Wary of Promises
September 29, 2008
Be careful of what you wish for. Do not underestimate the power of a good education. If you didn't manage to get a diploma while on active duty, make it your first goal by taking advantage of the GI Bill and scholorships
I was offered a great job in Northern Michgan before I retired from the military. I bought a house and settled down. Then the bottom dropped out and I was stuck with a house I could barely afford and because Northern Michigan is not a hotbed for employment had to take low paying jobs. Two years later I was "rescued" by an employer who knew the value of a good military man. For the next eight years I traveled to 48 of our 50 states working and living on the road (I have yet to visit Hawii and Maine). This included three years in Manhattan. While I enjoyed traveling, being seperated from my family was difficult. I am now employed by a contractor who works for the Department of Defense.
I learned to be wary of promises. When I took that job in Northern Michigan I had no idea I could possibly lose my job. Civillians get fired for unknown reasons; it's simply governed by the power of money. Not having a Bacholer's degree kept me from applying for higher paying jobs and I was forced to take low paying jobs. Attend TAPS and keep your resume down to one page. Always wear a suit/dress to your job interview. Be a memeber of the look-sharp, be-sharp group. Be willing to relocate. Be proud of your military training and if you graduated from any of the PME schools, say so.
The one thing that got me the most was realizing its okay to walk outside without your cover in civillian life.
(Submitted by Mr. Jeff Morrell)
