Ounce you learn the military lifestyle it is not easily forgotten. You can take a person out of the military, but you can never take the military out of that person. Once you have spent time in the military, the military will always be a part of your life. The things you learn from day one to your last day in the military will always be a part of you. It doesn’t matter whether you were a cook, a Cav scout, EOD, or IT. What you were taught, what you saw, and what you learned will always be a part of your life. The longer you spend in the military, the stronger that part of you will be. This is why so many service members find it difficult to transition from the military to civilian life and civilian employment. It is true that most civilian companies prefer prior or current military members as employees. They know they’re getting a truly dedicated, loyal, motivated, and disciplined person who will show up every day on time with no excuses. They know in most cases they’re getting an honest, hardworking, and intelligent person who they can depend on each and every day. And they know that veteran will be there no matter the circumstances, even if they are sick or it’s snowing. I don’t just mean jobs like police officer, fireman, postal worker, or government employee. In most cases, a veteran will get an interview over a more educated or experienced applicant. Your time in the military will give you better opportunities than most others.
Use Your Time in the Military Wisely
I have no idea why so many veterans find it difficult to gain civilian employment these days. There are so many opportunities available to you. There are so many companies out there waiting to give you preference over non-veterans. Many organizations will help you find employment, such as Hero to Hire and many others. You should not just look for a job that is similar to what you did in the military. There are not many companies out there looking specifically for an 11b. You have a broad and diverse amount of training no matter what your MOS is or was. You have the leadership skills that civilian employers are looking for and seek. You have the discipline to get to work every day on time, and believe me, many people can’t even make it to work on time these days without some lame excuse that their phone broke or their internet was down. You’re trained from day one in the military that on time is 15 minutes early. If you’re not early, you’re late, and civilian employers know this. There also isn’t a good excuse for not continuing your education by getting a degree because it is free!
Help Yourself by Helping Others
Do you know that not only are there opportunities available for you but for your spouse and children as well? You as a veteran can pass on your college funds to your spouse or children to use if you do not. There are scholarships available only to military spouses and children that will actually pay them to go to school or take employment training. I don’t know many civilian employers that will do this or even allow it. It is so much more gratifying to not only help others but especially your spouse or children. Use it and take advantage of it. You and your family deserve it. You all made many sacrifices during your time in the military. And aren’t we trained to help others? It’s called charisma or putting others ahead of yourself. Isn’t that part of the Army Values?
What Part of the Military Lifestyle Stays With Us
You will always be part of the military and it will always be part of you. Yes, the military lifestyle can be a struggle at times. We have this drive to get things done now and quickly. We have the mentality and discipline to want things neat and clean. We don’t like being asked “why” when you tell somebody to do something. We like to be proactive and have a drawn-out plan no matter what the task or situation is. We have this way of wanting to be addressed in a certain way, and we always trust but verify the truth. These are just a few things that have been instilled in us since day one. To some people, these are not good qualities, but I believe they are. There are so many people out there that say they almost went in the military but then didn’t because they didn’t have the discipline you do or the courage to do so. Therefore, I call it jealousy because you’re part of the 1 percent that did serve. You should never try to take the military out of you. You should continue to live by the values and discipline you were taught and use it every day. It is a great asset to have and never a liability. You can leave the military but what you learned and your experiences you will stay with you forever. You should pass on what you have learned to your kids especially because we all know it will make them better people and better employees.
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