Being Deployed Home : The last Mission.

What do I do now? It’s probably the most important question service members ask themselves when they are deployed home. The transition from uniformed duty to civilian status is not just a change of jobs. It’s the start of what could be the hardest mission: going home. According to a nationwide poll of veterans conducted by The Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation, more than half of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan said their adjustment to civilian life was difficult. They cited various reasons, from struggles in finding a good job to inadequate assistance from the government.

#DeployedHome is an effort created by Bama At Work to help share the stories of returning veterans and how they have made it through their struggles. This campaign is part of the Service Member to Civilian Summit’s effort to bring together service members, veterans, their families, and community stakeholders to meet with advocates, researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers from around the nation, They want  to better understand and explore ways that all stakeholders can improve the transition from military service to civilian life.

Veterans who have survived Al Qaeda, roadside bombs, land mines and death of their fellow soldiers are now struggling to put their lives back together. In the 13 years since American troops first deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 2.6 million veterans have returned to a country that was not fully prepared to meet their needs.

Through the use of #DeployedHome we hope that many of these veterans will see how their fellow soldiers have made it through and can see that they aren’t alone in this battle. If you are interested in participating, you can also submit your transition stories on our website militarytransition.ua.edu .

We invite veterans to tell us their story using #DeployedHome on Facebook and/or Twitter. We want to let our veterans know they are not alone, and there is still hope for them to overcome any challenge they may be facing.

Article by Leroy Hurt and Kevin Lake. Leroy is the Associate Dean for the Professional Development and Community Engagement at The University of Alabama.He is also a retired U.S. Army officer. Kevin is the Communications Specialist for The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies.

   

7 Tips for Veterans Looking for Jobs.

I can think of a few things offhand to get a veteran started on a job search based on my personal job hunting history over the years and from having scanned recent postings on popular military related newsletters.  This article represents my extemporaneous thoughts only.  Get a paper and pen or the electronic gadget of your choice and jot down some lists for yourself on the following topics:  You’ll be surprised at what you already know when you see it in print.

1. Take stock of your assets. This would include your education and any credentials in specific subjects.  Add up your pre-military employment experience.  Write down your military job titles, but as you do, sit down and break down all the skills and experiences that you acquired in those positions.  I see a lot of postings on popular internet sites for veterans and spouses that encourage them to translate military-based skills into their component parts as they would apply to civilian work.  (When communicating with civilian employers, don’t use acronyms).  For example, skilled labor and technical jobs in the military have skill sets that could be adapted to civilian labor markets.  Things like supervision of others, budgeting, computer skills, people skills, communication skills are all transferable to civilian jobs.

2. Outline what you want/require in a job. Ask yourself whether you have a specific career in mind and whether you are limited to a certain geographic region.  If you have a spouse and/or children, think about any consequences of a geographic move.  Given that, how far are you willing to go geographically?  Also, ask yourself; what is the minimum salary you need, and how many hours a week are you willing to work?  List your ten dream jobs.  Also note some jobs you would hate or never consider.

3. Think about all the resources available to you for networking and information. Start with all the people you know from the military and any previous workplaces.  Call them.  Ask around.  Ask friends and family.  Put the word out on the street that you are on the job market.  Don’t forget good old newspaper want ads and classified trade papers.  Look at every resource available for veterans’ employment.  Look for job fairs in your area.  Look at Military OneSource.  Look at VA sponsored services.  Check out Vet Center Readjustment Counseling service.  In addition to behavioral health programs, they offer “Employment counseling and guidance” (www.VetCenter.va.gov).  Contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Center near you even if you do not have a disability.  They provide vocational evaluation, testing and counsel regarding retraining and exploration of your employment skills and interests.  Look at some of the websites that market to veterans.  If you do not find the assistance you seek at one place, ask if they can make suggestions of other resources.  Local employment offices list jobs and also help you align your experience and education with potential careers.  Do not give up.  One thing leads to another.

4. Thou Shalt Not Rely Solely on Internet Postings and Internet Applications. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who said that a great job can be found just by putting a resume online and answering internet want ads.

5. Market yourself. If you can identify a few employers with the kind of job you are seeking, go to them even if they are not posting an opening.  Ask for an informational interview.  Bring an immaculately edited resume printed on good stationery.  Present yourself professionally, i.e., with clean clothes, combed hair and a good attitude.  Show them the maturity and strong work ethic they expect from a military member, but demonstrate that you are personable and flexible; the kind of person they want on board.  Learn something about the company first and then tell them why you want to work there.  Ask to be contacted if they have a job opening come up.  Be willing to start small.  If someone tells you that you need more education or a certain credential for a job you want, ask if they could take you on in a lesser position while you pursue that credential.  Consider volunteer work or unpaid internship as a way to build work history and make yourself indispensable.

6. Consider creating a job for yourself. Military spouses are doing a good bit of this these days.  If you have a skill you can market, consider being a self-employed contractor.  Some people start up craft businesses or eBay stores, dog walking or house-sitting services.  People are finding some creative ways to have portable self–employment.  Do not pay money to anyone on the internet offering to set you up in something like this.  With all things internet, use caution and get advice from someone who you trust who is knowledgeable and competent.”  Using the internet or not, there are grants and mentoring available for veteran entrepreneurs.  Bama At Work at The University of Alabama, for example, is offering an entrepreneurial education program for veterans called Kauffman Fasttrac.  In Alabama learn more at 205-348-9066 or 205-348-9937 or contact FASTTRAC.ORG/VETERANS 877-450-9800.

7. Lastly, look around at what areas have more openings than people to fill them. This can be on a local or national level.  Above all, Persist, Persist, Persist.   And don’t give up either.  Find friends and family who will encourage and inspire you if you begin to get discouraged.  To get you started, here is a list of the top 10 hardest jobs to fill in the U.S. as adapted from a post on Military.com :

• Skilled Trades –
• Restaurant and Hotel Staff –
• Sales Reps –
• Teachers-
• Drivers –
• Accounting and Finance –
• Laborers –
• IT Staff –
• Engineers –
• Nurses –

Military Service Veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce may face challenges demonstrating how their military experience relates to the career opportunity they are seeking. However, as hiring managers and HR professionals, being aware of these issues can help you bridge this gap as you integrate talented Veterans into your organization.This conference ,dedicated to the process of transition ,will be held at the Bryant Conference Center on December 2-3, 2014.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and visit our website for more info and news about veteran careers, veterans issues and the transition process.

Article by Kimberly (Kim) Granda Anderson . Kimberly received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, graduated with a Master in Social Work from The University of Alabama in 1997 and is pursuing a doctoral degree with a research concentration in military families.  She worked in therapeutic foster care and multiple aspects of adult mental health. and is now a member of the Service Member to Civilian Summit advisory committee.

 

How to Help Veterans Transitioning To Civilian Life ?

“Military training does not result in a pleasant segue to the civilian world, and it can be difficult to forge a career change. A comprehensive transition program is necessary whether the separating veteran is looking for higher education or employment (American Council on Education, Veteran Success JAM 2010, p. 21).”

Researchers, policy makers and federal agencies have been slow in coming to terms with the realities of being in a worldwide conflict in multiple countries with no end in sight and the impact that has on service members, veterans and their families (Pryce, Pryce and Shackelford, 2012). In a recent article, J. R. Romaniuk (2012) stated:

“We must assume the challenge of returning veterans as our own. A social worker confronting an OIF/OEF veteran for the first time must recognize the history of the person he or she encounters. Listening to and understanding each individual’s history and matching it with our own professional training and what we know about how these young people live is vital to successful treatment” (pp. 2-3).”

Service Member to Civilian (S2C), a national summit to address the current and emerging needs of service members transitioning to civilian life, will be held at the Bryant Conference Center December 1-3, 2014. S2C will examine how service members from all branches of the military transition to civilian life and how we can improve that transition through translational science and service. This summit will bring together service members, veterans, their families, and community stakeholders to meet with advocates, researchers, clinicians, educators, and policy makers from around the nation to better understand and explore ways that all stakeholders can improve the transition from service to civilian life.

The scope of the need is great: between 2002 and 2012, nearly 1,500,000 veterans left active duty. Multiplied by the average three family members, the impact is enormous – in 2009, the 2,258,757 active duty personnel had 3,093,709 family members (Pryce, Pryce and Shackelford, 2012). There are approximately 22.7 million veterans nationwide, the highest percentage (40.4%) of whom lives in the South; over 400,000 veterans live in Alabama alone.

S2C is the first national, interdisciplinary summit to focus on translational research to better understand and improve the transition from military service to civilian life. S2C incorporates four themes – the roles of higher education, families and children, communities, and employers in the transition – interactively. These themes collectively reflect the objectives and aims of the summit to build a research consortium, present current research, develop multidisciplinary future researchers, use current research to illuminate critical issues, identify research needs relevant to demographic shifts in the Armed Forces, and build a cadre of new professionals inclusive of current graduate students, interns, and diverse researchers underrepresented in the academy

The S2C objectives are to:

• Present current research and best practices for improving military to civilian transitions.
• Build research and practice consortiums that bring service members, including National Guard and Reservists, veterans, and their families together with researchers, Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) clinicians and decision makers, civilian employers, researchers, students, and higher education leaders.
• Articulate short-term and long-term translational agendas for research and practice in four core theme areas.
• Provide job acquisition training and access to employment opportunities.

The video below will be presented as an introduction for our speaker panel, in September:

 

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and visit our website for more info and news about veteran careers, Service Members to Civilian process and military personnel education.

Article by Dr. Karl Hamner,  Assistant Dean for the UA Capstone College of Nursing and the School of Social Work overseeing research and is Co-Chair of the Service Member to Civilian Summit.

Why Veterans Make Great Entrepreneurs ?

 

Bama At Work believes in the potential of veterans to start a business. Veterans prove to be great entrepreneurs.

The transition between active duty and civilian life isn’t easy. Veterans need to readapt to a civilian life, with a daily routine and a civilian working life. The subject of veterans’ employment may be among the most complex of the transition process.  A study published in March 2014 by the Bureau of Labor Statistic states that the unemployment rate for veterans who served after 9/11 is 9.0%. This figure may be down compared to the study of 2012, but it remains slightly higher than the overall unemployment rate of the U.S (7.35% for 2013).  One of the components that could explain this discrepancy is the fact that HR managers may have trouble translating military competences into civilian skills.  This challenge of employment for veterans could explain the result of the study published in 2011 by John Hope, Brian Oh and Patrick Mackin of SAG Corporation. According to their analysis, veterans are at least 45% more likely to be self-employed than those with no military background. If we look among the officers, the percentage rises to 55.6%. But why is it so tempting for a veteran to be self-employed?

One possible explanation of this phenomenon would be that some skills learned on the field are really important for an entrepreneur. For example, a military member would be more likely to develop a detailed plan and to foresee any possible scenario before taking any important decision. On the battlefield, failing to rehearse and prepare an operation can be fatal. Another skill that makes veterans the perfect candidates for entrepreneurship would be the ability to listen to their employees. In service, subordinates often provide a more practical experience of the field, and can be crucial for a successful mission. This ability turns veterans into great business leaders, who are able to listen and to understand the feedback of their employees. To this list we could add the ability to acknowledge any error or mistake and to learn from it, without trying to assign blame, for the good of the whole team.

Bama At Work strongly believes that veterans make great entrepreneurs and we are proud to offer a program to help veterans in this way. Our partner, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation developed the FastTrac New Venture program to help veterans realize their entrepreneurial dreams. The classes for the first session of the program start June 10, 2014 on our campus, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Find more information about the program here.

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + or visit our website for more info and news about veterans entrepreneurship, tuition assistance programs and information about the transition from Active Duty Member to Civilian.

How Do We Say Thank You? Memorial Day 2014

How do we say thank you?

I recall Memorial Day, 1995, at the Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium. A Belgian schoolgirl recited these lines: “In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row,” lines that reminded us of what was sacrificed: “We are the Dead. Short days ago / We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, / Loved and were loved, and now we lie /In Flanders fields.” Belgian school children sang the United States’ national anthem and laid poppies at each of the 368 graves of U.S. soldiers who fell in World War I. The Belgian organizers placed wreaths at the memorial, punctuating the fact that we Americans were guests at that ceremony. You see, the Belgians, like other Europeans, organized and ran these Memorial Day ceremonies to express their gratitude for our nation’s sacrifices in two world wars to liberate their lands. How then can we show gratitude to the fallen and their survivors?

• President Franklin Roosevelt tried in a letter to Thomas and Alleta Sullivan, whose five sons served and died together on the USS Juneau in World War II, saying, “I offer you the condolences and gratitude of our country. We who remain to carry on the fight must maintain spirit, in the knowledge that such sacrifice was not in vain.”
• Our entertainers try. The character in Saving Private Ryan played by Tom Hanks charged Matt Damon’s character to “Earn it.” The characters of the TV series 7th Heaven did good deeds in a fallen soldier’s memory. Of course, Bob Hope spent his Christmases entertaining our forces around the world.

Over the years, however, I’ve come to learn the greatest expression of gratitude for so great a gift isn’t repayment. It’s demonstrating a changed life that comes from accepting the gift, using the gift, and passing it on.

• By accepting the gift, we honor its purpose. Those who died in battle joined the military for different reasons but readily accepted the ideals of duty, honor, and country. We too can accept those ideals as our own. West Point’s Cadet Prayer says it well, “Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”
• After accepting the gift, we use it by fulfilling its purpose. We can fulfill that purpose by engaging and serving our communities and our country; that is, we citizens can bloom where we’re planted.
• We pass the gift on by sharing its purpose. We can model those ideals at home, at work, at school, and around the community because the words we speak and the things we do will, on other days and in other places, bear fruit in the lives of others.

Let’s therefore honor the fallen for what they have given us – a life of freedom, a country where we can exercise it, and lessons we can apply to our lives – to prove ourselves worthy of those gifts, purchased at a price we remember on Memorial Day.

On this Memorial Day, Bama At Work remembers those who paid the price for our freedom and honors those who have served and those who serve today.

Article by Leroy Hurt, Associate Dean, Professional Development and Community Engagement, The University of Alabama, retired U.S. Army officer.