Don't Make the Same Mistake I Made

I retired in February 2008 in the Spokane, Wash. area. I received 30 percent disability and was approved for Voc Rehab. 

After receiving career change counseling from my Voc Rehab counselor, I was sent back to my DVA counselor where she received the Voc Rehab report instructing me to  receive more training or education to change me career.

My DVA counselor put together a rehabilitation plan and sent me to the local WorkSource employment office. I've been working with them for the past four months trying to find employment without the necessary training or education requirements that most civilian companies are looking for. 

My point is that I should have taken the time to further my education from a CCAF to a BS or BA. I planned wrong for my retirement. I bet that the Air Force would hire civilian logistics planners since the career field was critical  to sustain the AF mission. 

I gambled and lost, there are no position listing anywhere. Don't make the same mistake I made. Finish your education anyway you can. 

(Submitted by Richard Smith)

Following Gut But It's Tough

Here's my situation: My separation in January 2010 will put me at 11 years. My wife just commissioned and received orders to Ohio. 

My plan is to separate and finish my bachelor's ( I have six classes left) and possibly join the reserves and look at commissioning opportunities. 

I am A-10 Avionics, I'm separating because I want to cross-train and due to the manning constraints in my career field they rejected the request. 

Am I crazy? I'm trying to follow my gut but man it's a tough decision. 

(Submitted by Mike Fallorna)

Get As Much Education As You Can on Uncle Sam's Dime

Let me put your mind at ease just for a moment. For what it is worth, we all go through the same concerns that you all have — whether to stay or get out of the military service.

My advice to you is to get as much education as you can using Uncle Sam's money. Education costs are very high now and anything you can do to offset them is a blessing. 

Secondly, if you’re not happy in your career field, then by all means find something that will make you happy. 

If becoming an officer requires you to get into a field that you know will make you miserable, then disregard that option. Remember that you only have four to six years initial military commitment, but when you choose a career, it generally will be for a very long time, and you don’t want to hate going to work simply because you need the money. 

As you get older, you start to appreciate what we mean by “enjoying your job.” Be prepared if you decide to leave the service, and yes, it’s very difficult to get a good job now due to the economic situation, but even the best educated struggle, so be prepared to meet a major challenge looking for work.

If you get out and have to settle for something less than what you want, so be it, you’ll need to find yourself in the civilian world again and understand that the military takes care of you in everyway. But once you’re out, then you face a whole new business mentality. 

Lastly, if you want to maintain military ties, consider the reserve or guard units, explore the educational benefits you can get through them, and continue to get your education. 

I had to return to school after I retired at the age of 40 so that I could be marketable. Educational degrees are good to have, whether you get them at age 24 or age 40. That is now required criteria that you need to have before most companies will consider you for employment. 

Transitioning even in the best of time s is always difficult due to the unknown factors you will face, but at this point in time, it’s a bigger challenge. Be prepared mentally to deal with whatever comes your way. Don’t be discouraged by what you read and hear, you’re an individual and it falls on you to either succeed or fail based on your efforts.

When I left the military there was not a transition program available and I had to learn it all the hard way — the school of hard knocks. Good luck and I hope that this information helps.

(Submitted by Louis Alanis)