After 6 long years my son will be out of the army. Will he be ok out in the real world.?

Question

I just worry about the Job situation out there for when he gets out....

I know i am worring MOM and Yes he can take care of him self...I still worry...

Thank you all for your Great answers..They really helped..
But I still Worry..

Answer 1

Ma'am-the job situation is not bad everywhere. His military skills may serve him well and my employer gives veterans a preference. I don't mean to offend or upset you, but if your son saw combat, the rate of PTSD is high as well as other serious mental issues. Please encourage him to rest for a short while then get back into the civilian world asap. He might want to have a session with a guidance counselor to help steer him towards appropriate jobs.

Answer 2

I am more than happy to give you some information having just gotten out of the marines myself. I already have a career by the way. WHen you get out of the military they have a program called TAMP/TAPS (Transition Assistance Program) through this program servicemembers are given interview tips, tips on public speaking, how to apply for VA disability and many other things. He should take full advantage of this program. If I could have I would have taken it twice even though it's a week long. There are several job resource sites he can use to search for jobs. And these are military specific. First there is DODjobsearch.com which is only for military. THen USAjobs.com and of course the lesser ones like monster.com and so on and so forth. Around the US there are multiple job fairs and trust me the people there love military. Just tell him to dress business casual and get some business cards made. There's a website where you can get, I believe, 1000 cards for $50 or something along those lines. If he's wanting to take some time off when he gets out don't nag him, it's his business and he will resent you.

Answer 3

The Army has a system to help soldier transition out and look for work on the civilian side called ACAP. They have a program to help with resumes and run a 3 day workshop. There are also plenty of veteran groups that can assist him.
I got out after 8 years and had no problem.
It might take a little bit to adjust to the real world again.
Between having a supportive family, VA and his own self, he will be just fine.

Answer 4

Its a hard transition going from military to civilian life. As far as jobs go, there is something he can do. Also he has the GI Bill and I am sure it was next to impossible to actually take advantage of his educational benefits while in, between deploying for 12 months (if not more) and more than likely working long hours when he was state side, so now is the time he can take advantage of. My husband and I both were in the military and are transitioning to being a civilian since July... I dont like it, I am ready to re-join.

Wow! I can not believe people are being so damned rude about this! I guess if you leave any vulnerability open there are always some people (that need to pack up and leave the country) that will kick you while you are down!

Answer 5

As long as he is taking courses with EARMYU and making sure he has some type of degree along with his military standing he should be ok. It is really hard in the "real world" looking for a job. I know of two soldiers who got back into the army because there was nothing out there to make a living. Just make sure he is taking full advantage of college courses right now. My hubby just finished up his Construction Degree at EARMYU. He doesnt plan to get out, going for his 20yrs for more retirement pay. I wish him luck.

Answer 6

Depends on if he went to the army straight out of high school or not.

Here's me general meandring explanation:

Military guys are disciplined, but being out in the real world without such 'chains' some military guys go off the rails as they are unaccustomed to such freedoms and alone time, especially if they have gone from being under their parents wing straight to the military then straight to their own pad.

In some instances what you get is a mid-twenties guy reliving or even experiencing for the first time things people usually experience in their late teens to early twenties.

The military teaches you to obey orders and follow them unquestionably, this may or may not be a good thing depending on the job he is after. In contrast, colleges seek people to think and apply reason and logic. One exception to this in the military is in the field of strategy which allows such thinking.

Employers seek people who are pro-active and work independently and can learn things quickly.

Also depending on which tour of duties he has done, post traumatic stress (PTS) is not uncommon. If he has been in the front lines, he may be particularly sensitive to loud and sudden noises which may affect his ability to work in some occupations. Also his reaction and perspective to the world will be different to civillians as he would have seen the darkest side of humanity than most people would ever be able to experience.

In essence, he may have learnt a number of skills while being in the army which will make him employable, however it is primarily his ability to integrate into normal society as seamless as possible which will be the key factor to whether he succeeds or not.

Some ex-servicemen usually end up in occupations close to the military whether working for the Defense Department, private contracting etc as these organisations need your son's skills and also understand where he is coming from. Such a transition may be better than a sudden change to a job far removed such as being a bank teller or accounant.

Answer 7

Depends on how he grew and what he learned from his experiences. My son has been in the Navy since age 18,he has just finished his Masters. and is now studying for his Dr's in medicine. I am proud to say he is an Senior Chief and has been in combat and received many medals and awards,helped to open up clinics in other countries that really needed help, at one time was loaned to the Marines for a year because they need experienced medical personal!

I am telling you this to show you your son has so many strengths and good job qualifications that he did not have before and can continue in his field of choice if he wishes to
continue his education for great employment opportunities
My son is now 44 stationed in Guam,married with 5 children and his wife and 3 of the younger kids are with him.
I know there has been a lot of negative news articles about Veteran's benefits lately, but please don't forget about the good benefits are returning guys are entitled to receive, and I say to you God bless them all!

Answer 8

There's plenty of work out there, especially for one having his military background.

Hardest problem in my opinion is the transition to civilian life from the structured environment where most are professional in every thing they do on a daily basis. Then, you're out and the next day you have to deal with someone like answerer ACANTHUS and you want to reach across the table and choke the crap out of them. Just takes an adjustment to essentially a different society than one you had dealt with while in the military.

Answer 9

Army training is no ordinary besides his 6 years experience goes a long way in his life as a hero of your country having served the country. His army duties will be a life of busy schedule and he can't remain idle.He must get a challenging good job with a good company and he must like the job which he likes.He will go up to be a real man.
God bless your son.
Good Luck will embrace him.

Answer 10

If he has seen active service he may need some time to come to terms with or make sense of what he has seen and done in that time. I am sure there is a lot of support there if he needs it. In the army he would have acquired many skills such as self-discipline, decision making, working as a team member etc. as well as any possible skills such as engineering, vehicle maintenance, cooking. These should be a great asset to him in his search for a new career path.