Transitioning from Military to Civilian Two Years Out
There are many considerations to take into account before leaving
military service to
join the civilian world; even more if you have a family you need to settle as
well. Many service members go through
the required separations classes, but few really give my thought to what they
can expect once they get out.
For some, transition is easy; transition is difficult for
others. Service members sometimes find themselves unemployed; struggling in a
changing job market; short on skills, certifications and education; lack of
camaraderie; limited ability to adapt to market changes and/or the more
me-centric environment, etc. Some of these changes continue for the remainder
of your life, so a person needs to learn how to prepare for these kinds of
changes.
Each person is different. As a former transition
assistance
specialist and career planner, here are some considerations when you are two
years out.
Thinking two years out involves is to aid you in your strategic
thinking. Strategic
thinking is about developing sustainable capacity in order to meet long-term
critical goals. For most people, this means finding employment at an entity and
location of your choosing.
Identifying the environment and the capacity you need to
generate to be successful
1.
What
do I want to do?
2.
Where
do I want to live?
3.
How
much do I need to make to enjoy life on my own terms?
4.
What
is my growth potential?
5.
Who
can help me get to where I want to go?
6.
What
education do I need?
7.
What
certifications do I need?
8.
What
training do I need?
9.
Will
my job become obsolete/devalued?
10.If my job becomes obsolete/devalued what is my bump plan?
11.What is my bump plan?
·
A-If
I lose my job?
·
B-If
my job becomes obsolete?
These are just a few considerations to take into account two
years out; there are many more.
Post updated: 2Oct16