Seven Ways Military Spouses Can Avoid Resume Mistakes .

As a military spouse you likely take on many duties every day, especially as you try to improve your career skills.  One taxing chore that can be tough to keep up with is creating/updating your resume.  There are some common mistakes that most military spouses  make on their resumes.  Given how busy you are, we want to help you with this task so you can keep your resume out of the “pile” that most will end up in.   So take heed of these simple rules to create a solid resume that will get you the interview.

1. Exaggerating your credentials: What?! Everyone does it right? You see the gaps or descriptions of job duties and feel you have to exaggerate your experience, talents or titles.  What this really means is simple:  you don’t like your current resume, so it is time to revise it.  Revising does not mean exaggerating, it just means providing clarity.  Think back to your time at these jobs; did you receive any awards?  Work on any special projects?  What work was critical to making the customer happy?  Answer these questions and you won’t be exaggerating; you’ll be providing the important information employers want to know.
2. Thinking the title of your job will tell it all: Don’t expect HR or hiring managers to be mind readers. You need to spell out everything that you did with your past jobs. Don’t just copy and paste a job description.  Try to write out a one or two sentence summary of what you did, specifically focusing on how what you did provided value to your company.  From there you’ll start to get a better idea of how to clearly explain what you did in your position.
3. Sending out old resumes: Face it we all despise updating our resumes. It’s a daunting task, but keeping it up to date shows employers you care about yourself and the position you are applying for.  Updating your resume has to be done and sometimes you will have two or three resumes going depending on the jobs for which you are applying.
4. Not explaining employment gaps: You will likely have gaps, stemming either from having your precious kiddos to PCS-ing or even the many “hurry up and wait” situations the military will put your through. You can minimize them by using a functional style resume instead of a chronological resume. This way you can showcase your skills upfront and focus on what you can bring to the table, rather than worrying about meeting some artificial timeline.
5. For your enjoyment only: Your resume is not for you! Sorry tough love here. Although this is a picture of your work history and is indeed only about you, this resume is for the hiring manager or HR specialist to help them see that you meet their needs to fill an open position. They want to see that what you have done will allow them to not just fill the position but be successful as well.
6. Not tooting your own horn: Toot, Toot! This can be a tough step, many of us don’t do well when having to write down all of our accomplishments. I said this in point #2 above and I will say it again: Don’t copy and paste a job description. If you do that, you will not prove that you made the job your own. It will also show that you have zero initiative and imagination.  So take some time to get into a mindset where you have extra pride in what you have done and then write out your accomplishments; it really does help.
7. Sit and wait for a phone call back: There are likely hundreds of people out there applying for that job too. Don’t just sit there and wait. Networking is key — find a friend, neighbor or anyone who will help you put your resume at the top of the stack. Also, follow up a few days after you send the resume with a call or email.

The most important thing is don’t give up! As a military spouse you have so much to offer a company even if you only have a few years’ experience.  Network as much as possible and brush off your LinkedIn account. And remember – Bama At work and World Education.net provide each of our students a dedicated career coach who helps them with resume writing, interviewing skills, and networking.   We also offer the MyCAA scholarship to qualified military spouses. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

April, the Month of the Military Child.

It’s April again and that means two things: income taxes are due on the 15th and it’s the Month of the Military Child.  We all know about taxes but not everyone knows about military children. Here’s a quick sketch. There are approximately two million children whose parents serve in our Active Duty forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) or in the U.S. Reserve Forces or the National Guard.  Surprising to some, military kids live in almost every zip code in every state in our Nation.  Since our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are relatively young compared to the rest of our population it follows that their children are younger as well. About 76% of them are under 12 years of age.

Children of active duty parents move three times more often than their civilian counterparts and when their parents make a career of military service these children experience anywhere from 6 to 9 moves during their school-age years.

Almost 2 million of these children, with Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard parents, have experienced parental deployments to combat zones and many have the experience multiple times as they grow up. Over half of military children will choose to follow their parents’ careers and make a military career for themselves when they graduate from high school or college.

At the Military Child Education Coalition we work every day to find ways to support these children and their parents, to educate communities and institutions about the challenges they face, and to help our military children and their families thrive. You can read their words here and learn more about how you can support them on their website.  Military kids are just like every other American youngster and, like their parents, they serve too. So on April 15th make sure you pay your taxes and then Purple Up for Military Kids!

The Military Child Education Coalition is a proud sponsor of the Service Member to Civilian Summit, a national conference designed to bring together service members, veterans, their families, and community stakeholders to meet with advocates, researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers from around the nation. The Summit will take place at the Bryant Conference Center, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 16 – 17, 2015. More information on our website militarytransition.ua.edu .

Article by David F. Splitek, Ph.D . David is the program manager in charge of Higher Education Initiatives for the Military Child Education Coalition. He is also Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies for The University of Texas in San Antonio.

In the Process of Healing Others, I Have Healed.

“I am a Behavioral Health Officer for the U.S. Army.  I served in Iraq during “the surge” as a combat stress provider, providing mental health services at FOB Liberty’s “Restoration Clinic”, a Psychiatric facility that provided overnight care for front line soldiers to decompress from combat, receive group and individual counseling, and return to duty.  I also counseled soldiers in Iraq individually. For the last half of my tour I was the Officer in Charge of the Combat Stress Prevention Team in the Green Zone (International Zone), covering downtown Baghdad units and outlying COPs (outposts). Rockets fell from the sky dozens of times a day, and I was constantly dodging these rockets.

In May of 2008, suddenly I was home… and 3 weeks later we had our 3^rd child, a newborn son. Sitting in rooms, or walking through parking lots, I would hear the warning sirens of the incoming rockets and see explosions around me…. So, I walked into my nearest Vet Center.  A Vet Center counselor helped me realize what I was experiencing (even though I myself had done that thousands of times for soldiers downrange) and helped me process what was happening to me.  For me, spiritual attunement to Christ, and the healing power of him and a community of faith and fellow believers was actually what helped my combat stress normalize after my return home.  I returned to teaching at a Bible college and knew that I needed to help the soldiers again.  In April of 2009, I was hired by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs as a Care Manager for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Part of my daily healthy transition is helping others along their journey and connect with the healing resources that they need to stabilize… I’ve built relationships with local community colleges and universities… local companies ready to hire veterans… and local non-profit organizations. We’ve built a network of public and community resources to address the “whole health” of our veterans.. in their physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and relationship dimensions of fitness.  In the process of healing others… I have healed, with the help of God.. and country.  ”

Article by Chris Atkins, LCSW, BCD OEF/OIF/OND, Care Manager for the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Social Work Service at the Chattanooga Outpatient Clinic. 

This testimonial is the second one we received in our #DeployedHome campaign. #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.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.

 

Starting Over: Our Life After Active Duty

In all honesty I have no idea where to start, so I’ll start from the beginning. When I met my husband he was already an active duty soldier going through Advance Individual Training (AIT), at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. We were together for less than a year when he deployed the first time. During that first deployment I was pregnant with our son. The Army way of life became all I knew. Within a year of getting home from his second deployment, we had our second child. I had followed him from Georgia to Colorado to the state of Washington; I gave up everything to be with my husband and father of my children. The only wife I knew how to be was to an Active Duty Soldier. Within 6 months of our daughter being born, I was asked to talk to my husband’s therapist to learn their plan of action for him and the steps they wanted my help with.  Because his drinking had dramatically increased he was labeled an alcoholic, and he had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When I went in there, I was expecting to hear what they were going to do until his contract with the Army was up, which was in about 4 years. What I didn’t expect was to be told that they had started his Med-board and we should find out within 6 months to a year what the decision was.  When I married my soldier, I lost my identity and became a soldier’s wife; that was what I knew and that was what I was. I was blindsided and didn’t know what to do. For us it went so fast I was expecting to transition fairly slowly, because that’s the Army way “hurry up and wait.” I figured I would have time to adjust but within a day of finding out he was going through the process, he was getting appointments and knocking things off the list for his evaluations. I had two children under the age of 4 and another I babysat who was 1-year old so I wasn’t allowed- yes I said allowed- to go to his appointments or information briefs. When he would get home, I would ask him what was said and for the most part he would have no idea because his memory was so bad from the PTSD.

I received no helpful information on how to make the transition easier for him much less myself. When we hit his six-month mark of when it was started we were loaded up, papers signed, and heading home. I was in shock; I thought I had more time. When we got home we had to live with my parents until we were financially able to move to our own place. That in itself was bad, but when you add two children and a veteran with PTSD in the mix, I about lost my mind. While we waited on the decision from the Veterans Affairs (VA), I went back to work. I realized within 6 months that there was no way I was going to be able to work again. When I came home I found my two children were up playing by themselves while their dad was asleep because of his medication; he couldn’t remember if he took his medications; so he would take them multiple times. I knew in my heart that if I didn’t quit my job either my children were going to be hurt or my veteran was. I was not prepared for this, but I was an Army wife; we take what we get and make the best of our situations.

When we were around other people in the military they understood our struggles because they were going through them as well, but here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, people had no idea. People would ask me why my young and able-bodied husband wasn’t working to support his family and I would have to explain about him having physical and mental disabilities that stopped that from happening. You wouldn’t believe some of the comments I got. I couldn’t help but wonder what my life had become. How had I gone from being a wife who knew who and what I was to someone I had no idea what it even meant to be a civilian wife. I had lost everything and anything of myself in that first year. I became someone I didn’t recognize. I had to stay strong for my kids and I had to stay strong for my veteran who didn’t know how to relate to the real world. I lost my voice in the mist of all that was going on in life. Two years ago on Labor Day weekend 2012, I took a step in finding the person that I had lost 10 years ago when I met my husband. I found out about group called “Her War, Her Voice” and a group called “Courage Beyond”; I sent them my biography.

I was asked if I would like to come on a retreat and meet other women who are like me. I was scared and unsure; I had never left my kids or husband for that long because they all needed me. I decided that in order for me to help them I had to help myself, which wasn’t an easy thing for me.  Several times I had talked myself out of going.

That weekend changed my life. I found that voice and that person I had lost all those years ago. It might not have been loud in the beginning but it was the seed I needed to start my journey. I was able to advocate for my veteran better after that weekend and I was able to better advocate for myself. I realized what I was missing all those years; I realized at age 30 what I wanted to be. I enrolled at The University of Alabama and got accepted. I am going to school now to be a social worker because that was what I have been in my heart all those years. I found that I am not alone and many people have that feeling of being lost. I wasn’t the only one who lost my identity when the Army wasn’t “the active” in our life. I might not be an Army wife anymore but I am not a civilian wife either. I am a Veteran’s Wife and no matter what will happen in the future that will never change who I am on the inside.

Transitioning was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and the process needs to include the spouse as well as the service member. Not only are the service members losing who they were but their spouses are, too. Not only are the service members losing who they were but their spouses are, too. That old saying “If the Army wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one” doesn’t apply any more. They need to see that spouses give up their way of life in order to be there for their service members, so when it comes to big things they need help along the way as well.

#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.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 Crystal Ransom, social work student at The University of Alabama, member of the Service Member to Civilian summit planning committee, and wife of an Army veteran. Her husband was an Army medic deployed in Iraq in 2004 and 2006.

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.

   

Not Just Another Day

For many, Veterans Day is the official start of the holiday season, a gateway to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day when we start thinking about parties, potlucks, and presents. Veterans Day is also a gateway holiday to the second half of the college football season, signaling the coming of great rivalry games. It’s easy to forget that Veterans Day started as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, the war that cost Europe a generation of its youth. The Greatest Generation was born in those years, and the Great Depression and World War II were still in the future. World War I was very real for my grandmother, who used this noisemaker to mark the Armistice. She wrote on the now weathered and brittle card, “This and everything that could be used to make a noise was used to celebrate the Armistice, Nov 11, 1918.”

Amidst all the holiday hoopla, it’s easy to forget that President Eisenhower signed the bill turning Armistice Day into Veterans Day to recognize the guarantors of our freedoms across all wars. However, the reminders are all around us. They are the 90-year-olds making their last Honor Flights and the 20-somethings you’re interviewing for that job opening in your company. They are the women elected to office and the men starting their own businesses. They are the amputees learning how to walk on prosthetics and the individuals relying on the calming presence of service dogs.

There will be ceremonies and speeches to mark Veterans Day, televised concerts from Washington, DC, and old war movies running on the television networks. You’ll probably thank veterans you know for their service, but how else can we thank our veterans? If you exercised your right to vote, you thanked a veteran. If you voiced your opinion in a town hall meeting, you thanked a veteran. If you went to church on Sunday, you thanked a veteran.

You thanked a veteran because you exercised your freedoms without fear. So get out there, and enjoy the holiday season. Scream loudly for your team, and eat lots of holiday food. Relish what veterans purchased with their service because they did it for you.

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

Leroy Hurt, Associate Dean, Bama At Work

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.

 

Understanding Military Culture

Military culture is based on the unique tradition, mission, structure and leadership of military history. Further, military culture maintains distinct sub-cultures (known as Branches of Service) that have unwritten sets of rules, viewpoints, perspectives and operating procedures. Understanding military culture is important when working with Veterans.

Defining the uniqueness of military culture:

The military is unlike any other career and the demands of military life create a unique set of pressures on service members and their families.  For most people, their job is what they do; it does not so deeply define who they are. For families, military life offers a sense of community with clearly defined rules and expectations. Members of the military and their families share a unique bond, professional ethic, ethos, and value system. The military offers a sense of community and camaraderie unlike any other profession. But it also fosters a warrior ethos that rewards physical and emotional prowess and frowns upon weakness and timidity. It is said that the military defends the Constitution; it does not emulate it. There are strict rules limiting freedom of speech and association.  To maintain “good order and discipline” commanders at all levels are given widespread authority over the personal affairs of their subordinates and held personally responsible to resolve any issues that could potentially affect performance of duty.

A Veteran’s military experience has equipped him or her with a unique set of values and skills. These characteristics distinguish Veterans from their civilian counterparts and can make them valuable members of your team. Below are common traits associated with those who have served in the military.

• Highly structured and authoritarian way of life with a mission-focused, goal-oriented approach—both explicit and implied.

• Strict sense of discipline, tending to adhere to rules and regulations.

• Strong work ethic with high regard for physical and mental strength.

• Code of conduct and organizational culture that reflects well-defined and strongly supported moral and ethical principles.

• Decisive leadership that expects loyalty of subordinates and allies.

• Warrior Culture – Bravery, Duty, Honor and Courage.

• Loyal to Comrades- Leave no Man Behind!

• Protective of family and civilians, chivalrous.

• The Mission comes first above all else.

• All Volunteer Service (No Draft).

Additionally Military Service Members share the following traits:

• Quick Learners. Men and women in the military are often forced to learn new tasks very quickly under high pressure. This can result in the development of an accelerated learning curve, which means less time training.

• Tolerant. Veterans understand diversity. During military service, they were required to work with and for whomever happened to be serving with them. This experience gives Veterans a greater sensitivity when it comes to cooperating with individuals from different backgrounds.

• Tenacious. Veterans have experience performing their duties in less-than-perfect situations. This means they have most likely achieved success under adverse conditions. Having already overcome adversity during their military career can make Veterans great employees because they are less likely to give up when challenges arise.

• Understand Leadership. Veterans have witnessed the dynamics of leadership in action and understand how to manage people in order to achieve results, regardless of circumstance. In addition, Veterans have a healthy respect and understanding for leadership, whether they were a leader or a follower during military service.

• Team Players. Although there are significant differences between the command and control culture of the military and the more collaborative culture in the civilian workforce, Veterans bear a huge sense of responsibility toward their colleagues. This trait makes Veteran candidates natural team players.

• Efficient. Veterans have likely performed effectively under high pressure on numerous occasions during their military career. The ability to handle pressure translates into workplace efficiency as military personnel are used to getting a job done correctly, quickly and expediently—with limited resources or assistance.

• Appreciate Receiving Feedback. Veterans are used to receiving direct feedback from superiors. Military personnel learn to absorb what they are told regarding their performance without taking it personally. As a result, Veterans know how to handle feedback well and appreciate being told how their performance aligns with expectations.

As a civilian who has not ever served in the military, it is easy to be influenced by commonly held stereotypes regarding military personnel and the challenges and experiences that they have faced during their service. The chart below highlights some of these issues and challenges.

What are some common stereotypes of military culture?	What are some of the challenges that come along with the commitment to military life?	What are some positive aspects of military life?
Too rigid and serious Unable to think outside the box Unwilling to learn a new culture Roadblock to higher education Training and jobs have little relation to the civilian world Life threat (combat and deployment)	Loss (e.g., death of close comrades or loss of relationships, loss of aspects of one’s self, loss of possessions) Inner conflict (belief systems or values) Strong stigma with receiving mental health care Family separations and re-assimilation into the family	Increased sense of camaraderie and teamwork Pride in serving the country Support for continuous education Insurance and retirement benefits

Each military service has its own history, mission, culture and terminology. Listed in the chart below is a brief description of each branch of the military. It is important to remember that each person is an individual, so ask the person how he or she would like to be addressed. The U.S. military has five branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines are housed under the Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD is headed by the Secretary of Defense, a civilian appointed by the President. Each department within the DoD is headed by its respective Secretary (e.g., the Secretary of the Army), also a civilian appointed by the President. Each branch is headed by a military 4-star general or admiral (i.e., Army Chief of Staff, Air Force Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations, and Commandant of the Marine Corps) and these individuals are collectively known as the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Coast Guard is housed under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and can serve as part of the Navy’s force during times of war. Each branch of the military has a Reserve component.  In addition, our nation is also served by the National Guard and the Merchant Marine.

Service Member to Civilian

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 T. Scott Martin, MSW, LCSW. Scott Scott Martin is the Chief of Social Work Service for the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center and is part of the advisory committee for the S2C Conference. He served as an Army enlisted Combat Engineer and was later commissioned as an Army Officer. He served as a Captain in the Army’s Medical Service Corps as a Social Work Officer until 2004

You’re Stronger Than You Think You Are: How Yoga Continues to Help Me Heal.

I am a Marine Corps veteran, yoga skeptic, turned yoga student, turned yoga teacher. It’s been quite the journey from my “it’s not worth exercising unless it kicks my butt” military days to where I am now. I’m still both a student and a teacher at all times, though. I am a recovering perfectionist; I was raised by a career military father, strict mother, have been a competitive athlete my whole life, and became a United States Marine. I’ve got plenty of interesting baggage to work with. We all do. Realizing that I’m not special in that regard – that we’ve all got baggage, insecurities, and (mental and physical) injuries – has helped me immensely.

I’ve been injured – a lot. I really shouldn’t be alive. (No really, I’ve been hit by a car and struck by lightning, just to give you a couple examples). I can get mired down in that story sometimes, though, believing I’m the only one who’s been through what I’ve been through (which I’m not). And yoga, for all its feel good niceties, bendiness, and fit bodies, isn’t all sunshine and butterflies all the time. Yoga brings your tough stuff up, too. It’s sort of supposed to but it doesn’t always mean that’s a pleasant experience. Yoga can be the refining fires that we need to walk through, but don’t want to.

The question is, how do we meet the challenge of the fire without getting burned up?

Admittedly, I usually turn to yoga to make me feel better. When it doesn’t, I sometimes get mad. I think, “There’s no way anyone else in this room has sustained the injuries I have” or “no one’s been through what I’ve been through; my body is housing more trauma than yours.” I become defensive against the inaudible – yet very real – arguments and naysayers in my own head. Honestly, I don’t look around a lot during yoga class – usually. But last month, I caught myself getting frustrated with my body and doing just that: looking and judging (myself). It was awful. Talk about a slippery slope! It took a millisecond to leap from “I am present, I am peaceful” to moving into a posture I couldn’t do (yet everyone else in the class seemed to be able to do with ease and grace) and thoughts of “wow, I am still so screwed up and I’ll never be ‘good’ at yoga” to flood my brain.

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and I’d have to agree. You don’t know what anyone else has or hasn’t been through. You don’t know if they were abused or loved, a dancer or a footballer, a military veteran or a “regular” college student, a newbie to the practice or an experienced guru. They good look like they’re doing the posture with ease, but they might be miserable. Or you could pity someone for not being able to touch their toes, yet they could be thrilled with themselves that they’re even in a yoga class at all. You have to meet yourself where you are and accept that in that moment, that’s what your mind and body is making accessible to you.

“Meeting yourself where you are” is a dance between complacency and perfectionism, coupled with trusting that you are stronger than you think you are. It’s not even about finding balance; it’s about being comfortable with the rhythm of your authentic ebb and flow. As Jon Kabat-Zinn says “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”  Learning to find your intelligent edge that fosters growth, versus pushing yourself to further injury, can take a lifetime to master. Striving for growth is very different than striving for perfection.

“Perfect” is an outwardly focused standard based on others; growth is fueled by healthy introspection. Omni-present comparison isn’t a sustainable attitude. That’s what helps me let go of it. It’s tempting and seductively destructive to self-bash. But it’s not sustainable. Accepting that comparison will kill you, along with these three simple yet powerful reminders help me work through painful and frustrating yoga classes. I hope they help you, too:

1.Good thing it’s all about the breath. Yes, it’s that simple. Thank God it is. I usually laugh when I catch myself self-destructing about something ridiculous (she is so much bendier than I am), and then I breathe. I take heart in knowing even if I just sit there without touching my nose to my toes, if I am breathing mindfully, then I am doing something good for myself.

2. Modifying doesn’t equal cheating. There are lots of yoga theories out there, some of which think that props are crutches. I strongly disagree. If I need to modify a posture by throwing a block under my booty or a strap ‘round my foot so I can enjoy the intended opening and keep my breath smooth at the same time, great, I’m going to do it. Modifying without props by utilizing the diversity of our own body is another way to tangibly meet ourselves where we are.

3. This is your karma. Injuries are not your “karma” as in “what goes around comes around” or “you deserve this,” but as in “your healing is your karmic action.” As you heal, you make space for others to heal. Doing yoga for you is the action you can take to heal yourself, previous generations, and future generations. We must change within before we can expect to change the world.

Look, I can’t do forearm stand. I can’t do sundial. I can’t do cow face pose. I most certainly cannot sit in full lotus. But I can move. I can breathe. And most days, I can meet myself where I am. When I do, I remember to allow for surprise. Sometimes, I can do full wheel without crushing pain in my low back. I have seven herniated discs in my back, a few of which are in my lumbar spine, and I had been convinced for years that Urdhva Danurasana was one of those “pushing yourself to the point of pain” postures for me. That is, until I had a gifted teacher guide me and tell me to think of the opposite of fear as I am about to lift up into the pose. For me, that word is “courage.” I silently say, “Courage, courage, courage” and every once in awhile, it gives me wings.

Student. Teacher. Both. Always. This is my yoga. What’s yours?

Sarah Plummer, author of this article will be one of the keynote speakers at the Military Member to Civilian Summit, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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 Sarah Plummer, keynote speaker at the Service Member to Civilian Summit, author, Certified Health Coach, RYT-500, and former Marine Corps Officer.  Sarah serves as a board member on the Military Advisory Committee for Service Women’s Action Network

In Iraq, Yoga Brought me Back…

 

Although I never planned to take my own life, I wanted it taken from me.

I was done. I stopped eating, not because I forcefully denied myself nourishment as a form of control or punishment, but because I had lost my appetite, I had lost my will to live. Like an animal does when it knows it’s time to go, I allowed time to take its own course with me. I faded.

I was an athletic young woman, who lost so much weight that my underwear barely stayed perched upon my protruding hips.  I basically never slept –nightmares of the rape by a comrade years before, as well as the current harassment I faced while deployed – kept me up at night.  I felt I had no purpose on this Earth. My body assumed a sunken, concave “C” shape when I was alone in my “can” (what we called our rooms in the trailers in Al Asad, Iraq). This space was large enough for a single bed, a closet, and a yoga mat.

Although I began sporadically practicing yoga in college to deal with overtraining injuries from soccer and ROTC, it was nothing more than creative cross-training to me until I was in Iraq. Without even consciously processing the higher transformation that was taking place within me, when I was emotionally distraught, yoga gave me clarity. The simple, basic union of breath and movement made space for something very important – my soul. Somehow, when I felt like I was suffocating, my soul had space to breathe. Somehow, in a body experiencing very physical effects of depression, when I practiced yoga, I had less pain. Somehow, in a world that felt like 24-7 chaos, the mat gave me an anchor point. All of my systems integrated in a way that allowed me to keep functioning when simply surviving seemed impossible.

Thank God for that floor space 3 by 6 feet because it is where I found a place where I could simply breathe without suffocating. I would get on my yoga mat and things would change. I could breathe. I could think. If I were lucky, things would release. I would stretch, and then I would run and feel free.

Stretch.

Breathe.

Move.

Breathe.

Live.

Breathe.

Connect … connect … connect If I were lucky, I would connect; first to something beyond myself, then to those around me, for I certainly was not the only one going through what I was going through. When I realized that – that my lack of “specialness” was actually a blessing in this case – the accessibility to healing became greater, deeper, and more diverse.

Yoga and faith bridged the gap and paved a path to long-term healing for me.  Certainly, different methods work for different people at different times, but yoga can be a unique and powerful approach to comprehensive, holistic healing and we are fortunate to have the data to back this intuitive feeling up.

Sarah Plummer, author of this article will be one of the keynote speakers at the Military Member to Civilian Summit, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This conference ,dedicated to the process of transition ,will be held at the Bryant Conference Center on December 1-3, 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 Sarah Plummer, keynote speaker at the Service Member to Civilian Summit, author, Certified Health Coach, RYT-500, and former Marine Corps Officer.  Sarah serves as a board member on the Military Advisory Committee for Service Women’s Action Network