Our sluggish economy has virtually turned against the current lot of veterans who’ve served this country. With an unemployment rate nearing 30% for young veterans (18-24), it can seem as if the call for troop support is merely bumper sticker deep. But in times like these, everyone faces hardships – and in actuality, veterans hold a special place in the job market. Although the private sector isn’t bound to preferential treatment towards our service-members, federal and state agencies are. Numerous options exist – the trick is, finding them.

Dating back to the Revolutionary War, veterans have been rewarded for service with employment by the federal government. As the years progressed, Congress passed the Veterans’ Preferential Act in 1944. Buoyed by several veterans organizations, what we know today as the “point system,” was established over a half-century ago. With up to a 30-point advantage over civilians, service-members regularly find themselves in top contention for employment.

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs has teamed up with state and federal agencies in order to better serve their clientele. From the Federal Aviation Administration, to the Treasury Department, and just about any acronymic agency out there, numerous job options are available. Here are some resources to help you find a job with a federal agency.

Feds Hire Vets

Feds Hire Vets is a “site for federal employment information for veterans, transitioning service members, their families and federal hiring officials.” It would behoove perspective applicants to digitally scan their DD214, resume, and if applicable, college transcripts. These items are regularly required for the application process. Generally, the Feds Hire Vets program is less reliant on service-members/veterans actually scrolling through job opportunities. Moreover, a counselor of sorts will gauge an applicant’s skill-set, degree, and former/current military occupation in relation to federal job postings. They purport to be “strategic partners,” with the departments of Defense, Labor, Veteran Affairs, Homeland Security, and the U.S. Office of Personal Management. Visit their site http://www.fedshirevets.gov/ for more info.

USA Jobs

With literally thousands of searchable job postings, USA Jobs is the U.S. Government’s official program for federal job data. As per their website, they seek to “specifically build and sustain excellence in the 21^st century workforce, thereby fixing federal hiring.” A stopping point for numerous federal agencies, USA Jobs works in conjunction with the Veterans Administration’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Also known as Chapter 31, this federal program assists veterans with a service-connected disability “prepare for, find, and keep suitable job.” You can out more about Vocational Rehabilitation here: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/.

More Veterans Employment Options – VA.gov

For those searching for an all-encompassing Mecca of veteran employment options, make sure to bookmark – http://www.va.gov/jobs/. There, you’ll find a smorgasbord of career advice and job opportunities. Although focused on full/part-time employment, one can also find internships. College students, graduates, VA employees, veterans and civilians, are eligible for numerous VA internships. According to the Veterans Administration, “VA internship [are] an excellent way to begin a long-term career with the Department that is rewarding, exciting and challenging. “ It’s definitely worth a try.

New Career Resources

The government recently created three new job search resources for military veterans. These aren’t specifically for federal employment, but they can open doors to a variety of opportunities in the federal or private sectors. They include: My Next Move for Veterans, the Veterans Job Bank, and the Veterans Gold Card. These programs are designed to translate your military skills into civilian terms, give you one one one career counseling, access to a job board, and more. You can learn more about these programs in this article.

Ultimately, we as Americans find ourselves in a precarious situation. Facing a stagnant job market, rising unemployment, an unprecedented rise in mental health issues, veterans – especially those of Iraq and Afghanistan, are in need of some assistance. Although phrases like “support the troops,” might seem like pure lip service under our current circumstances, there are people, organizations, and programs, which actually help. But it’s up the service-member and veteran to actively search out these resources. The Military Wallet and the Department of Veterans Affairs JOBS homepage are an excellent place to start.

The job market is stagnant. Unemployment is rampant. Nearly half of America is on some sort of public assistance. As a veteran returning home from some far-off clime, it came seem as if you’re doomed to tough times. But that’s entirely up to you. In times like these, one needs to think “outside the box” – economic guerilla warfare if you will, in regards to your career. One tactic in that battle lies with self-employment. More specifically, franchising. If you are willing to work long hours, can follow a system, afford to buy and operate a business, can manage people and are passionate about achieving success, a so-called “veteran friendly,” franchise is great option.

Military Mind-Set Leads to Success

Could Snap-On Tools Be a Franchise Opportunity for you?

In the military, service-members are taught to follow orders. With time, good conduct, and expertise, those receiving orders will soon transition into giving orders. It’s the soldierly way – and it works. I can remember the early days of my Marine Corps career – observing, memorizing, reading, and ultimately gleaning knowledge from my senior Non-Commissioned Officers. With time, I gradually understood what it meant to be a leader.

Following a script written many moons ago, I was able to properly instruct junior Jarheads in the Marine Corps way. My experience is not unique – through trial and error, the US Military has honed a very sharp system of troop management. And as such, the progenitors of this system – veterans, have been imbued with these qualities. For many searching for purpose in their post-military career, it would behoove them to capitalize on their unique skill set. For many, helming your own business can be an especially satisfying career move.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) operates an extremely helpful website for those interested in self-employment. Just about everything you need to know about owning and operating a small business or franchise can be located via the SBA. From writing a business plan, getting that first loan, registering your business, and even establishing a health care program for your employees, the SBA provides an invaluable service.

Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative

Recently, the Small Business Administration established the Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative. As per the SBA’s website, the Express program “offer[s] streamlined and expedited loan procedures for particular groups of borrowers, notably active-duty  military personnel, veterans, and borrowers from distressed communities.” Military members currently in the Transition Assistance Program, Reservists, National Guard members, and widowed spouses of the aforementioned groups also qualify for this new SBA initiative.

Shouldering start-up cost, the Express program also covers inventory, equipment, infusion of working capital, and a myriad of other essential expenditures required for the operation of a small business. Interest rates vary from 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent over prime, featuring some of the SBA’s lowest interest rates.

Veteran Friendly Franchises

Among the many self-employment incentives for current/prior service-members, includes a number of top-rated veteran friendly franchises. According to the International Franchise Association’s “VetFran” program, some of these franchise opportunities include:

• Snap-on Incorporated: The leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, diagnostics, equipment and service solutions for professionals. They offer honorably discharged veterans a $20,000 discount on the initial inventory purchase for their franchise.
• Liberty Tax Service: A low-cost tax preparation service. They offer a 10 percent discount on the franchise fee to military veterans.
• 7-Eleven Incorporated: The world’s largest convenience store retailer and the #1 franchise opportunity in the U.S. They provide a 10 percent discount off franchise fees for all honorably discharge veterans.
• Interim HealthCare, Incorporated: Provider of full continuum home care and healthcare for the past 45 years. They offer a 10 percent discount on franchise fees of $40,000.
• ACFN Franchised, Incorporated: The premier provider of ATMs in hotels and other travel and entertainment-based businesses since 1996. They offer $1,000 discount off franchise fee for veterans.
• CruiseOne: One of the nation’s largest cruise retailers and a part of World Travel  Holdings. They offer retired and active duty military member 20% off initial franchise fees.
• GoWaiter, Incorporated: Industry leader in restaurant marketing, food delivery and catering. Franchise fees are reduced from $19,500 to $17, 500 for veterans.
• Huddle House Incorporated: For over 47 years, Huddle House has been serving communities “Any Meal, Any Time.” Veteran incentives include a reduction in initial franchise fee from $25,000 to $12,500.

Rise Above

Starting your own business – be it an independent venture or established veteran friendly franchise, requires hard work and tons of determination. For veterans and active-duty military, the Small Business Administration and the International Franchise Association’s “VetFran” programs, are there to assist you. Despite a dreary economic outlook, remember the unofficial maxim of the United States Marine Corps – Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. The future is yours.

Photo credit: TOMTEC

It has been called the Great Recession. When 9.4% of the population is unemployed, and another 20% is on some sort of public assistance, it’s no secret America is in an economic rut.  Job seekers – highly educated and adroitly skilled, line up by the hundreds, pursuing meager vacancies. The scramble is on, gents. You’ve a new mission – and failure isn’t an option. As such, it would behoove veterans and those transitioning from active-duty, to utilize an old axiom regularly associated with the United States Marine Corps: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.

Improvise

Think outside of the box in your job search!

A guerrilla job search uses everything in your arsenal to help you find a job, whether conventional, or unconventional. Take the Internet, for example. We’re an online culture. From Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Craigslist, and the plethora of other social networks staking their claim on the web, it’s essential to tap this vast resource. In terms of websites specifically dedicated towards career building, visit Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, and Indeed.com. Literally thousands of job opportunities can be found on the aforementioned web pages. Make certain you check the dates of prospective job openings – unfortunately many are months/years old.

Along similar lines, Craigslist.com has a rather large employment section. With the ability to focus in on specific industries – and even snag a medical research gig, Craigslist offers a vast array of employment options. For those interested in the entertainment industry, EntertainmentJobs.com can provide veterans/active-duty members their big break. The United Talent Agency Job List is another means of landing a gig in the entertainment industry. Once a coveted insider-only source of Hollywood avocations, the UTA Job List is now readily available on the net. Cataloging full/part-time jobs, one can also land a sweet internship. Although the majority of these internships are un-paid, they occasionally lead to full-time employment. To learn more about the UTA Job List, check out: www.tempdiaries.com.

Adapt

The age-old practice of scouring your local newspaper’s “want ads” for employment has gone the way of the dinosaurs. Especially in times like these, one must take extraordinary efforts – guerrilla tactics, if you will, in finding gainful employment. Cold calling (typically a marketing process inherent to sales via the telephone) is one of those unconventional strategies. Scout successful companies. Learn what they’re all about – and remodel your resume accordingly. Simply call them up and introduce yourself. Request to speak to the Human Resource department. Invite a manager or HR rep out for coffee and interview them about their job, what is involved, industry trends, etc. Learn all you can about the industry. In addition, seek out local businesses involved in highly visible projects. Suggest an improvement or addition to said activity. In essence, create a job opening where there was none. Remember, research is vital when employing such tactics.

Overcome

Just because equally capable candidates are swamping the job market, doesn’t automatically mean you’re headed to the unemployment office. As a veteran/active-duty member, you’ve a unique set of skills. Assure prospective employers are made aware of said aptitudes. As cliché as it might sound – think outside the box.

Utilize MOS translators, contact the Veterans Administration, seek out veteran’s employment initiatives, reach out to friends and family, attend job fairs, and visit your local university’s employment center.

Let’s face it; you’ve confronted some mighty tough challenges in the military.

Accomplishing diverse missions – sometimes under the stress of hostile gunfire, enemy rockets, and unspeakable horrors. But guess what? You survived. Don’t let the dismal economy dictate your future – Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.

Civilian clothing – it’s not exactly a pressing issue for service members. As a matter of fact, it’s rarely a point of contention at all while on active duty. But once an Airman, soldier, sailor, guardsman, or marine transitions to the private sector, the art of civilian dress can seem extremely difficult. Gleaning uniform regulations from fiery-eyed drill instructors, a new recruit becomes well versed in the military dress code rather quickly. There are rules and standards. When “Irish pennants” (a loose thread on a uniform), and other minor imperfections in one’s Battle Dress Uniform, elicit streams of profanity, people tend to listen/learn. With time, most service members become outstanding examples of uniform taxonomy. But what about civilian attire?

Military bearing + professional attire = winning combination!

First Impressions Are Everything

A sharp uniform, close shave, polished appearance, and attention to detail can mean success in the military. Similarly, it’s no different in the civilian world. Instead of BDUs, Dress Blues, and flight suits, we’re talking blazers, blouses, and wool suits.  When the time comes to move on or retire from military service, one should be prepared to enter the private sector. One of those provisions should include a plan regarding appropriate civilian attire. Specifically, a wardrobe geared towards a post-military career. As in the military, first impressions in the private sector can make or break you. Job interviews are prime examples of this.

The job of your dreams or the unemployment line can hinge on your appearance during an interview. It’s a sad but true fact – looks matter quite a bit. Depending on your field of work, a well-tailored suit is a staple for your interview. Something dark, well tailored, and manufactured from quality materials (wool or silk), is a general rule for men’s suits. Assure the aforementioned garb is appropriate for the occupation sought. Remember, simple is better.

In regards to the female persuasion – slacks, conservative skirt and blouse, are suggested. When combined with an oxford shirt and blazer, you’re guaranteed a professional appearance. Keep the high-heels and stilettos for a night out on the town, and stick to something mid-heel for interviews. Make certain to go light on the perfume and traditional with the cosmetics. Of course, these recommendations are generally geared towards executive/managerial positions. Again, adjust your attire to meet the job you seek.

Professional Attire, Business Casual, and Campus Casual

The current culture of business today, allows for three main categories of attire. They include:

Professional Dress – as the name suggests, it consists of professional attire (i.e. suit, slacks, and tie). For women, business/pants suit is acceptable.

Business Casual – essentially a relaxed version of professional dress. Women should sport moderate length dresses or skirts, and men can go sans coat and tie.

Campus Casual – relatively new on the scene, campus casual is modern take on business attire. Although one won’t wear this often, it is in actuality, everyday apparel. Informal office gathering and networking events may call for this type of business wear. Lean towards the conservative side, such as dark jeans, polo shirt, clean sneakers.

Tips for Your Civilian Wardrobe

The most important thing to remembers is that you need to present a professional image. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on your wardrobe. Start by purchasing basic wardrobe items that work well with other items so you can mix and match. For men, that includes a dark suit, several plain colored shirts (white, off white, and blue are versatile), several ties, and a dark pair of high quality shoes. Women can start with similar items, and by mixing in a few skirts or pant suits.

Here are some wardrobe Do’s & Don’ts:

• Tailor your outfit.
• Invest in a quality wardrobe.
• A fresh haircut adds to a sharp look.
• Use a lint remover.
• Remove any political emblems from your attire.
• Learn what colors and clothing flatters your specific body-type.
• Cover visible tattoos and piercings.
• Polish your shoes.
• Keep a stain remover pen handy.
• The tip of your tie should fall atop your belt.
• Wear conservative jewelry.
• No overpowering cologne or perfume.
• Don’t combine horizontal lines with vertical lines.

And as always, make sure your clothing items are clean, wrinkle free, and serviceable. Once you nail down your wardrobe, you are ready for the interview!

The military equips its personnel to handle a variety of situations. It’s not uncommon to see a junior military member managing millions of dollars worth of equipment, or making life and death decisions. In many ways, military members handle decisions and responsibilities of a far greater magnitude than their peers in the corporate world. But how to do you get that across in a resume?

Translation is the Key

Times are tough. It’s no secret jobs are hard to come by, but as a service-member you posses a unique capacity that can set you apart. In order to highlight these wholly unique skill sets, you need to understand a few basic points. First and foremost, civilians rarely understand the scope that a military career field covers. It is your job to inform them. Secondly, you need to translate those military responsibilities into civilian friendly summaries. Limit your acronyms – employers rarely understand them.

Translating an infantryman’s skills:

It’s a late night on the dark streets of Sadr City, Iraq. Visibility is low due to heavy cloud cover. And for some odd reason, your GPS went black. But you manage to hit your final checkpoint utilizing a map and compass. Directing your section out the rear-hatch of an LAV – assuring a solid headcount, you stack against the pockmarked remnants of a cinderblock wall. Assuring the biometric iris scanner is good-to-go, you make liaison with air-support, lock/load a trusty M-16A4, and signal the flash-bang man to make ready. As a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, you’re moments away from leading a dozen young men into hostile territory – an apartment complex abutting the Tigris River.

The US Military labels such individuals as “Infantrymen.” But the breadth in which they operate demonstrates skills way beyond a simple one-word expression. Therein lies the rub – how can a service-member equate their military service into civilian terms? Whether writing a military to civilian resume or introducing oneself in the professional realm, the ability to convert the vast array of skills gleaned from military service is essential.

Types of Resumes

The three general types of resumes include: Chronological, Functional, and Combination.

• As the word denotes, a Chronological resume focuses on listing work experience in reverse order (most recent job first). This is perfect for service-members who’ve consistently been employed – military or otherwise. It’s important to account for lapses in employment, as companies tend to look for consistency.
• Moving on, a Functional resume highlights an individual’s skill and experience first and foremost. So-called “Skills Translators,” are great tools to utilize when writing a Functional resume. Military.com has an excellent skills translator. Also, www.onetonline.org offers another excellent free MOS decoder. For example, rather then simply denoting yourself as an “Infantryman,” the skills translator suggests you “operated weapons and equipment in ground combat operations.”
• And finally, Combination resumes are just that – a combination of both Chronological and Functional. Numerous examples of the aforementioned resumes can be found online here: www.resume-resource.com.

When writing your resume, be sure to include all specialized training received while serving. This can include your MOS training, NCO or officer training, computer or technical skills, etc.

Attention to Detail – The Military Way

All the effort you’ve spent polishing your presentation, won’t matter much if you don’t keep in mind the basics. We’re talking proofreading. Nobody likes misspelled words. It conveys a sense of incompetence and a lack of attention to detail. Plus, in this day and age, there is no excuse for grammatical errors. Two words: Spell Check – it’s there for a reason. Use it.

And don’t forget your contact information. A proper resume includes: name; address; apartment number; city; state; zip code; phone number (including area code); and email address. A small note on emails – save the pimpdaddy99@yahoo.com for personal correspondence. If possible, use your first and last name. A good example is First.Last@gmail.com, or any other free e-mail provider like Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc. Ultimately, professionalism is of utmost importance – your dream job could depend on it.

Putting it All Together – Further Resources

Transitioning to a new career can be a time-consuming task. It is a good idea to treat your job search as a full-time job, and dedicate as much time and resources to it as you can. Remember, you now hold the keys to your future in your hands.

For further reading on writing a resume, we recommend this excellent resume writing tutorial. The article is over 4,000 words and includes tips and examples for writing and improving your resume. You can see a great overview with this slideshow:

Combine these tips with your decoded military experience and your military bearing, and you should be in a good position to enter the civilian workforce.

High-stress situations. Quick decision making. Teamwork.

You make a fist; thrust your hand up high, and dozen a United States Marines snap to attention behind you. Reacting accordingly, the squad makes for cover, concealment. Moments later you’re on the “comm,” summoning the local Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, and posting security…

Members of the United States Armed Forces encounter situations like these on a daily basis. The adroit leadership, stony nerve, strong interpersonal skills, and high-stress decision-making exhibited by our service members, mirrors that of top CEOs’. With that being said, many a service person transitioning to the civilian sector, fails to convey their military experience into civilian terms. Soldierly jargon tends to get “lost in translation,” so-to-speak. Nevertheless, interpreting skills gleaned from your enlistment/commission is imperative when seeking gainful employment. Thankfully, all it takes is some creative thinking and a few online resources.

How to Translate Your Military Skills into Civilian Terms

Military veterans often have a wide range of skills and talents civilian employers are seeking. But sometimes the veterans and the employers don’t speak the same language. Today, we are going to show you a few resources you can use to help translate your military service into terms civilian employers can better understand – making you more valuable as a potential employee, and potentially helping you more easily get a job.

Skills Translation Example – Infantryman

The term “Infantryman,” covers a fairly broad category, encompassing several definitions, and a plethora of responsibilities. As a service member, how do you translate your wholly unique set of skills to civilian employers? Well, if your military occupational specialty is infantry, you can convert that into a civilian-friendly summary of qualifications. Instead of simply denoting yourself as an “infantryman who shot machine-guns,” take a second, grab some water, relax.

Very few employers are enamored with machine-gun management. They are, however, more apt to entertain the idea you “operated equipment in high-stress situations.” Think outside the military “box.” Deconstruct your responsibilities, pulling from individual acts, instead of an all-encompassing billet denoted by the Department of Defense.

Putting Your Skills in Civilian Terms

Continuing with the theme of “translation,” and DOD billets, it’s time you civilianize your job title. Let’s face it, as a “Company Gunnery Sergeant,” you basically managed a group of pugnacious young men, keeping them on schedule and saving their hides’ on a regular basis – essentially a high-level “Supervisor.” Similarly, a “Commanding Officer,” in the Air Force is responsible for scheduling training, directing operations, and a host of other executive decisions. In the civilian world, “Operations Manager,” parallels that of “Commanding Officer.”

Also, when compiling your resume, stay away from acronyms and abbreviations. We veterans may know what you’re saying, but the rest of America doesn’t. Translate them into layperson terms. Military training/schooling should be simplified into the real meaning of said education. For example, the job qualifications of a Naval “EMN ET” are rather intense, involving some of the most comprehensive high-tech training available in the world. If you gained certification as a “EMN ET,” explain the hodgepodge of letters (Electricians Mate [Nuclear Field]) and the months of cutting-edge schooling you endured. And don’t forget to spell-check – it’s there for a reason!

Tools to Help Translate Your Skills

The military has a host of jobs which don’t exist in the civilian world, and putting the skills you learned in those positions may seem difficult, and it can be if you are starting from scratch. Thankfully, there are a few online tools which you can use to help craft a civilian resume that will attract attention, regardless of your former military position.

• O*NET, the Occupational Information Network. This tool was developed for the U.S. Department of Labor and helps military members translate their skills into civilian terms. Simply enter your MOS, AFSC, Rating, or job title and the database will return a summary of your military job and some examples of skills you can use on your resume.
• Military.com MOS Translator. This tool works the same way as the above link. Simply enter your military job and you will receive a synopsis of skills learned on the job.
• Texas Veterans Commission Skills Translation. This page lists several additional resources which work the same way as the above two tools. There are several similar tools to be found online, and once you learn how to use one of them, they should all be somewhat similar in function.

There is also a list of new career resources for veterans on this site which can point you in the right direction.

Preparation is Key

When it comes time for the interview, don’t forget what they taught you in boot camp – look sharp. Dress in clothing appropriate for the job-type you’re applying for. Don’t look too fashionable, it’s a job interview, not a catwalk. Harkening to your days on Active-Duty, always prepare yourself. You get one chance at a first impression – do your recon (review the company’s website), take notes (write down questions you’d like to ask), analyze the data (review your resume and the company bio). In some aspects, hunting down a great job is like pursuing a cunning enemy – the better prepared you are, the more likely you’ll succeed.

Ultimately, equating your military experience to civilian terms can be a challenging task. It is an act that must be undertaken if employment in the civilian sector is your goal. Fortunately for this current generation, there are numerous resources available for transitioning service members.

As an Active-Duty service member, we tend to take things for granted – food, shelter, and even that direct deposit on the 1^st /15^th. When things are suddenly wrenched away from us – for whatever reason, it can come off as a stiff punch to the gut. Leaving many wondering how they’ll survive in the “real world,” and questioning the rationale behind their departure. But the fact remains, as a member of the United States Armed Forces, you’re an individual with a unique resolve and acumen for survival. In preparation for your departure, a few key elements should be addressed.

Preparing for the Military to Civilian Transition

Prepare in advance. What is it that the Boy Scouts of America say? “Be prepared?” Well, for whatever reason you’re leaving the military – be it voluntary, retirement or due to medical issues, anticipate your departure. Know your separation date and start preparing in advance. Inform family members, friends, possible employers, and whomever you feel in need of that precious information, in the loop. Also, know where you’re going. Once you are out, you’re out. Base privileges generally expire; you surrender room keys and Active-Duty identification. It’s a smart idea to have civilian I.D. readily available, along with pre-arranged accommodations.

Keep track of your service records. Similarly, it would behoove a soon-to-be civilian, to gather all records prior to separation. Military service records document where, when, and who you served with. Be it the streets of Fallujah, Edwards Air Force Base, or Joint Base Pearl Harbor, these reports essentially provide proof of service. School certificates, copies of your security clearances, and miscellaneous recommendations from Commanding Officers and/or supervisors should be collected prior to exiting the main gate. Shortly after separation, a service person should receive a DD-214 – probably the most important of all military records.  It is a service member’s official release or discharge from Active Duty. Make several copies and if possible, scan them digitally.

Medical Records – also a must have. This packet details all the sprains, colds, and ingrown toenails a service member may have incurred while Enlisted/Commissioned. These injuries may seem trivial at the moment, but further down the line, they may (unfortunately) come back to haunt you. Aside from physical pain from your ailments, medical bills in the civilian world can be quite costly.  Assure you’ve made copies of your medical records – preferably several. The Veterans Administration uses these files to determine your Disability Rating. A subsequent percentage assignment follows, equating to potential monetary compensation – and hopefully life-long medical care.

Although you may have served your country honorably, you need to have the documentation to back it up. When transitioning from Active Duty to civilian, assure to collect all your records – the financial and medical benefits are plentiful.

Over the next few days, we will share with you some tips on making the military to civilian transition, with the goal of giving you the tools and resources you need to better prepare for this major life event.