I served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force and got out nearly 20 years ago. While I was in, I went to school at night and earned an AA degree, an AAS from the Community College of the Air Force and a BA through St. Leo College (now University). I am currently an attorney in Miami.

I think the most difficult part of transitioning is putting military experience into civilian terms. Civilians don’t understand what a NCOIC is or how important it is to manage a squadron munitions account. Moreover, transitioning to the civilian work force oftentimes requires making a profit. We all know that military units don’t have to do that, they simply have to stay within their budgets.

Having earned my BA, I thought it would be easy to get a job upon separation. I was very wrong about that. I had to take a job as a sandblasting apprentice, which was horrible. I worked retail for a while in order to have a check come in while I tried to decide on long-term goals.

I tried to stick to basic, conservative interviewing suits. Navy or gray with white shirts and usually a bold red tie. I decided to get my hair cut shorter and take off my mustache. Clean cut hair cuts and no facial hair helped my interviewing. I then began highlighting my experience with preparing budgets, managing people and supplies. These are the same skills used in civilian jobs. I was doing well in retail, but was not happy doing it. So, I applied to law school, took out student loans and have been practicing in Miami since graduation.

The best advice I can give is to not give up. Clean cut works best. If you can network with friends to get an interview or introduction, that goes a long way. Every single job I have had since getting out has been as a result of a personal contact.

(Submitted by Mr. Franklin Cosmen, Jr.)