How can you convert military skills into civilian job skills?

Question

I know people who struggle finding employment after 20 + years...infantry, artilliary, rangers, special forces. Those fields rarely get the opportunity to persue a degree while still in the military. Admins, medics, & officers have get made compared to the soldiers on the front line.

Answer 1

Most of the people I know suffer not from a lack of skills, but from a different environment. I had a field that translated easy. I was an Avionics technician, now I work in industrial maintenance. But it was a very different world, where very few of the people knew or cared what a military lifestyle was like.

Even if you are only a grunt, that makes you very hireable, and without realizing it, you have aquired a number of skill outside pulling the trigger. You have learned how to organize, because you are in the military, you are a leader (hopefully an effective one), you know how to budget time, people and resources.

Having a someone step from the front lines into a white collar job is really not that far fetched, based on the criteria I listed above. Sure, there will be ropes that have to be learned, procedures and such, but leadership and management are the same, regardless of where you go.

Unless you are an E-6 or above, you probablky won't start out with a management position, but because of discipline and work ethic, you will quickly stand out, and when promotion time comes, your resume will speak for itself.

Answer 2

It's called credentialing. The military actually has information available about how military specialties transfer into civilian life. Under sources I have put a link to the Army info, although other branches may have their own websites. The best way to prepare for for civilian employment is to have a plan and follow it. There are many available educational opportunities while in the military, including college. There are programs such as G.I. Bill, Army College Fund, and others that can be used after discharge to pay for college, vocational/technical training, and even on-the-job-training. The key is planning. No, special ops is not almost always officers.

Answer 3

If military and the government that runs it really cared about their special forces team members, they would offer them enough financial support to educate and train them for a new field when they retire out of the military.
If you are talking about men that have retired, their is schools that can train in the medical field, like ex-ray tech., Doctors asst., and many other jobs. They do not require a lot of special education. A year to eighteen months and you are a certified nurse, ex-ray tech, and so on. Check it out.

Answer 4

Criminal Justice system. Don't have to be a police officer lots of other jobs at the academy etc. Many police employers used to waive 1 yr on age requirement for every year on active duty also but have to be young enough to get minimum pension, which varies amongst employers. The fact that you have been drug and crime free for the time of your enlisment may be a bigger plus than you give it credit for.

Answer 5

There education office should provide advice on civlianizing their experience so that it looks marketable on a resume. Military training can also be converted to college equivalent credits. Beyond these tangibles, military men and women should focus their "sell" to employers around leadership, being trainable, integrity, honor, teamwork, cultural experience, etc. Generally, ex-military are better employees for these reasons.

Answer 6

I would speak with a career counselor to help you write your resume for transferable skills. You have more to offer than you realize.

Answer 7

setup a security company.