Robert

I too understand your dilema — I have had 2 jobs after 22 years of military service in the civilian market and see the hall walkers too.

I did not accept poor perfropmance as well but it has hurt my wallet.

I also cannot understand how my spotless service record cannot get me a job??

You Military Guys. Do you think that just because you put 20 yrs in the Military that you should be placed into a supervisory role as soon as you leave the service? Please. Your getting a retirement be happy with that. You are basically starting over. You may have to start at the bottom. Also it has been my experience that Military personnel are for the most part lazy. Not all but most. You’re in the real world now, best get used to it.

You military guys? These are not just military guys they are America’s Heroes.Until you have been in their boots you can not speak for them. These heroes have experienced more then just the real world they have lived and supported it so someone who has no clue can write something so insensitive, you have no idea.These guys are anything but lazy, I know personally I am a proud wife of a recently retired soldier of 22 years​.MY family experienced his laziness, when he was home which I might add which was hardly ever.I think that Quiet 1 needs to pay attention to their screen name and be quiet. You are truely ungrateful for your freedoms and maybe you need to get a grip on the real world, and respect those who serve and give you ALL your freedoms.God Bless America and God Bless our Soldiers and their families and thank you for your service.You are American Heroes.

Thank all of you for your wonderful insight. I have felt what each of you has expressed. I completed 20 glorious years and left so my children could finish their H. S. years in one place and make some lifelong friends, like I did at their age. I have found employment very hard outside the Army and wish I would have done 10 more. I have started from the bottom in two different construction fields. For some odd reason, an 11B Airborne Soldier doesn’t have alot of options on the outside. So, I got my degree with Troy St U., I have completed two apprenticeship program, and have done many tasks that my fellow peers have denied. Did it work? I have a beautiful family, wonderful memories, oh.…..and just recently got laid off, along with my entire crew. What does it all mean?Give everyone their right to express themselves, including yourself. You will never know who you are complaining about until you walk in their shoes. Continue to have faith in mankind, change what you can, help your fellow man within your means, and ALWAYS protect your family and God. By the way, for the writer who said “soldier up”, thanks for bringing back wonderful memories and giving me the strength and courage to get back up tomorrow and get back into the hustle. We Americans are resilient! To each of you who expressed yourselves so honestly, Godspeed!

To (quite 1), I’m almost sure you were trying to spell quiet. Try spellcheck. Do we think we deserve to go directly into management due to serving 20 yrs. In the service? No, it is because we have managed others in some of the most stressful situations that could be put upon us. It is because we managed others while bullets whizzed past us, while we took responsibility for their lives as we sent them out of an open aircraft door into complete darkness at 800 ft. AFL, it is because we managed them 24 hrs a day, in a foriegn country, while being able to see our enemy walking his post with our naked eye, while our families struggled along without us on the opposite side of the World. But, most of all, we believe we should be put directly into a management position so we can instruct our subordinates how to spell their own screen name, right “quite 1″? The next chance you get to ride through a military post at 0600 hrs(that’s early “quite 1″), roll down your window and yell to the many service members you see in fitness uniforms “you guys are lazy for the most part”! Make sure that you have your doors locked!

PS “Quite 1″, you are also in the REAL WORLD, maybe you could look into some real classes!

MS Appelbaum, would you please share more information about those web sites? I am very interested.

I like to share a particular truth concerning military retirees and veterans from our service branches. Regardless, of the aggregrate time which you have given service to this nation, civilians share a different mindset-themselves. They don’t care or even comprehend the sacrifices which you have made in defense of this nation. If you are looking for a handout, forget about it. Remember you have to earn it, so like MJ-“just do it.” You have reentered the other America which you had forgotten about. Unfortunately, you are perceived as a threat, under a competitive perspective which must be circumvented and at all costs neutralized. You have to beat them on the playing field!

And the only thing in which they comprehend are your credentials. If you didn’t take advantage of TA or Montgomery college tuition programs, then you can only blame yourself. Career planning for civilian life is a necessity,therefore, reinventing yourself for marketability purposes is an imperative. Upon separation, veterans should have at least 3-yrs of coursework or a bachelors. Moreover, if you retired as an E-6 and up, then you should at the minimum have a masters degree. There are no viable excuses in which you could present here. Why? Because of all those colleges/universites providing degree programs for military personnel/families. Especially, with the growth of online programs(stay clear of diploma mills & fake schools) that facilitate the means of acquiring a college education.

Remember, we have to be better than our civilian competition, and that means equaling or surpassing their academic credentials. And don’t be shocked that you discover, now and then, that some of these individuals playing the “insider game” don’t even have a BA or BS degree(because they were taken care of)both in private & public spheres of employment.

Fortunately, there are those who are taking advantage of college programs and preparing themselves beyond the military. In point, I met a 1SG and SGT while as a graduate student in NC. They were on active duty, with families and completing their professional degrees. Now within a years’ time both were headed towards promotion and contemplating doctoral programs at their next duty assignments. Now that’s being highly motivated!

Aggregrately, military individuals have more years of training than most professionals, therefore, we just have to redirect that focus, towards ourselves. Then you shouldn’t experience situations where you are the– odd person out. It’s never too late in reinventing yourself, the past is the past, however, you can build upon it and soar faster than others would have expected you to do so.

I reinvented myself, obtained several degrees, went to the front of the hiring pecking order and received some insults, but rather more of the “rock star” type. However, it was worth it because of the facial expressions that said it all, “he’s military and he has all these degrees.” Comparatively, getting what you want over those knuckleheads is just like playing football, be fair but firm and remember Hit’em hard and long and success will come.

Although I’m no longer serving in the military, I would like to rejoin and serve in the present fight. However, there will be one caveat, taking on my next two graduate degrees, an MBA and work towards a foreign D.Phil. Remember as Warriors we will always have to think “out of the box,” in terms of what’s next towards reinventing ourselves.

Well, lots of sour grapes, eh; I am sad the military ‘career’ is not worth more in transferring to the other government jobs, but it isn’t. It’s an insult to go from E-6 to anything less than say GS-9 or WG-11, etc. to another service section for the government. I know the military career is not worth much ‘outside’ but it would be nice if someone stepped up and said ‘that’s how it is!’(when I needed to know that). I was doing well in service but tired of the BS and middle-management squabbles; mostly I missed the craft and suffered from too much babysitting. The other philosophical difference I learned was I was ambitious and I decided I had to be a ‘producer’ instead of a ‘consumer.’ That’s another reason military service doesn’t tranfer well to the ‘real world.’ Too many trained killers sit and wait to be told what to do, just my observation; I also knew sailors that came in as E-1 and left at the same rank! My advice is if you can tolerate the military, stay in as long as possible; do well and earn the rates and ranks, learn to be valuable, above all be a team player, there are no stars on a real team. If you’re wanting to be a leader, be ambitious but be honest, we have enough jerks in high places!

Hey Retired Army/ Far From Lazy

Haaaaaa, Haaaaa
Sorry cannot stop laughing at your post. I took your advice; I ran spell check on your post. This is what I came up with.

1. Do we think we deserve to go directly into management due to serving 20 yrs. Should end with a?

2. Your sentence structure really needs some work, don’t you think.

3. It’ spell check two words, not spellcheck no such word.

4. It’s NOT foriegn, I’m almost sure you were trying to spell foreign. Right Retired Army/ Far From Lazy.

You supervisory skills are really shining through now son. You might have run spell check on your own post before poking me in the eye for my one misspelled word. Just to let you know I have 27 yrs for God and Country. So please spare me the rhetoric. Good idea on taking those classes though Retired Army/ Far From Lazy.

PS. Thanks for taking the time and setting me straight on that spelling thing.

Ronald,

I out in 22 years of service and have a incredibly decent job, still serving as a civilian. Education, it is nice to quote it to everyone an it is key. However, I had times of deployments and nonsupportive supervisors, that did not allow me to earn a Masters Degree in service. It was at the bottom of thier list.

quiet,

The answer is yes, I was recognized for having the supervisory skills learned in the servic. Maybe, I am one of the lucky few. I learned that the civilian world has prejudice to military retirees and there is resentment to our recieveing two paychecks. The retirement pay does not even may my mortgage, after serving 22 years. What was your rank? Most senior enlisted can just about make ends meet, in the average. I am a better person for have served and it shines through every day. You should be ashamed of the reply. I have many friends retired and struggling, especially in this days economy. I am happy to have a good job. If your doing well, shed soem wisdom to those that need help. Not put them down.

Chad,

I did more then just keeping my nose clean. Plus, you do not have to start at the bottom, when you leave the service. That is a bunch of crap. TAP’s on Ft. Meade helpe me a lot, I did a lot of research and asked the right questions. I took time in looking for the right job and had plenty of offers.

All,

You can translate experience to the civilian world. Just do not get discouraged, if you job is not right, keep looking. Ther eis a a prejudice that we are lazy, slow, uneducated, and inexperienced. Prove them wrong. I am still going to college at night, I joined toastmasters (they help with leadership and communication in the civilian world), and I work hard. After serving, your up against degrees and youth, versus experience. Loyalty and other things you learned does nto apply to those around you. I made the big mistake of trusting certain people. Luckily, my boss saw through it and I had the highest review. The bond in the military and trust is different in the outside world. You name it, I had been backstabbed, undermined, and llied to by colleagues. It was a rough transition. I am doing great and so can you.

Robert,

You and your family are in my prayers that things get better for you.

Elaine

God bless you Elaine and all our other disabled Vets. I am also disabled (60%) for hearing lose. People look at me and say “YOU disabled?” Sorry, but yes. Having to listen to the afterburners of F4’skick in, it was a kick in the %$%$%. Not one word in the State of the Union address about vets. I want EVERYONE to look in the mirror and ask “HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP ME?” I bet 80 % will say no way. I still lost my job, my house and will probably lose my wife and family. VOTE ACCORDINGLY

I don’t understand some of the “hater” type comments posted here. Robert said that it’s tough to be a hard worker when you’re co-workers aren’t. It is hard to see people get promoted for “doing the time” instead of being the best. I would say both sentiments are true! The military maintains its high levels of productivity by promoting a good work ethic through patriotism and discipline. Some people obviously didn’t learn that lesson…we recognize them as “dead weight.” Thank goodness dead weight sinks to the bottom in most cases. It is frustrating when it doesn’t. There is a “good ole boy” network established in many GS job locations…just as there is a “good ole boy” (or good old boy) network established in some civilian fields and even in some commands. That doesn’t make it right! It is inefficient! Now as for the prejudices both for and against the military…yes they are out there. Some employers “get it” and will value you. Others won’t and that is their loss! It is our responsiblity to explain just what our experience is and what value it has…in plain speak. Now, if some of you only “babysat” or enforced hair regulations, and that is the only valuable thing you got out of your service…then yep, you have a lot to learn and a long way to go in any career field. But, if you learned how to manage millions of dollars worth of equipment, and how to lead hundreds of men efficiently in a stressful environment, and how to represent your country proudly among different cultures while traveling to many different countries, then I would say you are a well qualified individual for most career fields. If you encounter a prejudiced individual who thinks that all people in the military do is march around in boots…once again it is their loss. You can engage them in a meaningful way and explain exactly what your value proposition is. I once had a man tell me that he didn’t think the Commandant of the Marine Corps would be qualified to run a company because he “marched around in boots for twenty years.” I would submit that the Commandant of the Marine Corps has already run the equivalent of a Fortune 500 company, but if that has no value to your business…that is your loss!