Braxton Taylor
I am getting out of the military next year (possibly SkillBridging out), and I was wondering if you had any tips or resources to aid me in this transition. I went through TAP, but I still feel just as confused and lost for my transition.
When you have a whole year before you get out of the military, feeling lost and confused about what you are supposed to be doing at this point in transition is pretty much normal — just like in that note I received from an Air Force E-4 this month.
Whether you are an E-4 or an O-6 or something in between, once you decide to get out of the military, job fever begins. It is even more intense in the current economic situation.
An inner voice calls out to you:
- “Even though you do not need a job today, you still need a job to miraculously appear a year from now!”
- “You need to step directly from your military job into your better-paying, more prestigious civilian job!!”
- “You need to never, ever, ever miss a paycheck!!!”
That’s a lot. As the transition master coach for Military.com, I’ve helped more than 25,000 transitioning active-duty service members, military spouses and veterans find their next job. What I see most often at this point in the game is a wild search online. Random calls to friends. Scattered versions of your resume. General freaking out from your mom and/or your spouse.
It doesn’t help that you have that one rando who simply must tell you that you should have started this process two years ago.
Which is just plain silly. No one in the civilian world is really ready to talk to you about a specific job until you are about two months out.
That said, there are some things you must start when you are about a year away from transition. To help you feel more confident that you are on time and on target, I put together this checklist for you.
Top 10 Things You Must Do One Year Before Transition
1. Make a No-Holds-Barred Decision
You think you made the decision to get out, because you made it in your head. For many of us, there is still a lot of dithering that goes on. As Tony Robbins points out, you know you really did decide because you will take action. This might be in the form of submitting your letter or packet, or it could be taking action on the things listed below.
2. Plant the Family Where You Want to Live
Location is often the easiest big decision to make during transition. If you only have one tour left before you get out, get buy-in from your spouse and kids if you have any. Ask them where they want to settle. Discuss pros and cons. Sometimes, a tour as a geographic bachelor at the end of your career provides more stability for you and your family.
3. Talk to a Veteran Adviser at a College You Might Attend
Talking (not searching online) is especially important if you are considering attending an in-person, bricks-and-mortar university. This is crucial if you are the first in your family to attend college or if you are a junior officer looking to get your MBA at an Ivy League school. Most in-person and online schools have a specific counselor for veterans, a veteran organization or a benefits counselor who can give you the scoop on getting into the right program.
For example, at our sponsor, Western Governors University, there is a real person whose job it is to answer your questions about accessing your benefits or getting military tuition assistance by calling 877-435-7948, ext. 3127, or by emailing military support at [email protected].
4. Document All Medical Issues
Military service can be hard on the body. Before you put in your letter, go to the doctor and tell the truuuuuuuuuuuuth. Tell them about everything that hurts. No reason to hold back anymore.
5. Get the Surgery
Do you really think that knee is going to last another five years? Have you been ignoring all the foot pain because you dread “the boot”? Are your AirPods turned up so loud that everyone knows you are listening to “Rebel Yell,” Gen Xer? It isn’t enough just to admit what is broken. Get the surgery before you leave the military. You want to start your military life fit and ready to go.
6. Apply for ACP Mentorship
The American Corporate Partners (ACP) mentorship program is especially good if you are looking to work for a Fortune 500 company. It offers 12 months of free coaching with a volunteer mentor who genuinely wants to help you move forward.
7. Attend a DoD SkillBridge Informational Event
All of your information about the SkillBridge program cannot come from YouTube, Instagram or someone you heard about from your wife’s brother’s dentist. You have to break the barrier and talk to someone who is paid to know the real answers. This is especially important since each of the services has a different current relationship with the program. Contact the SkillBridge point of contact, or POC, at your installation. They may be in the transition assistance office, education office or other installation support office. They usually have a Zoom event once a month.
8. Apply for a Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship
One of the SkillBridge programs that does good work is Hiring Our Heroes, which has internship programs for corporate, military spouse and skills-based fellowships. Hiring Our Heroes also offers industry-focused internships that build skills in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, project management, and solar and renewable energy.
9. Dive Deep into Licensure, Even if Working in that Field Is Your Backup Plan
If you are a pilot thinking of going to work for the airlines or a driver thinking of getting your commercial driver’s license, find out all requirements and certifications and special licensure processes now. Really dig in and find out the steps you need. There are things you can do in conjunction with transitioning that put you on track to that first paycheck.
10. Complete Your Certifications
It is not enough to intend to get a certification or complete your degree. Set aside the time to get it. I know of an O-8 who finished a doctorate while working nights and weekends (It helps not to have little kids still running around while you are studying). My favorite free program for certifications is Onward to Opportunity.
No matter when you get out of the military, it helps to make some decisions that set left and right boundaries one year in advance. If you can check off these top 10 items, you can sleep at night, knowing you are right on schedule.
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