It was 1994, I returned after a tour of service in the Marines with little more than the clothes on my back and a seabag full of uniforms I would never wear again. I remember well the thoughts going through my mind at the time, all the plans hopes and desires. I just had no way of knowing where to begin.
Like all service members about to leave the military, I attended the Transition Assistance classes offered on my installation. The information they offered was useful and detailed, but you can only fit so much into 4 hours. It took me four years to learn what I needed to know, the processes, forms and avenues I would need to familiarize myself with in order to successfully transition into civilian life. Since that time, I have pointed many veterans down that road I needed to find on my own, and I hope to lead a few more now.
Whether you are a year out from discharge, on years after, realize many employers seek and value the unique skills, training and mindset the military service member brings to the table. The Federal Government is one of the largest employers of prior military service members, and has many programs in place to encourage veterans to apply.
The US Office of Personnel Management’s VetGuide is a premier resource for those veterans looking to familiarize themselves with the hiring preference available when applying for a federal job. You can find the guide online at http://www.opm.gov/staffingPortal/Vetguide.asp. In short, as a veteran you are entitled to a full 5-point preference (on a scale of 1 – 100) over any other applicant applying for the same job, this preference jumps to 10 points or higher if you possess a service-connected disability. Not only that, benefits may be available for hiring preference to your spouse in certain circumstances. Two key phrases you wish to familiarize yourself are Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) and the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), both are key programs in place to aid veterans obtain US Government employment.
However, where do you begin looking for Federal Employment? The one stop shop for all federal jobs is found at the US Office of Personnel Management’s USAJobs website, http://www.USAJobs.opm.gov. Here you will find an easy to use interface designed to aid you in the navigation of literally thousands of jobs. You can narrow your search by keyword, location, job type or any combination of various choices. The website features links for individuals with disabilities, students and veterans. Over the years, I have found this one website the single most useful tool in the job search.
The one thing to remember, nearly every job in the civilian market, and many in the military, has an equivalent in the Federal Government. If you want to find it, you can, you just have to look long enough.
Certain jobs will require you to submit additional paperwork; all forms required by the various Federal Jobs are on the website through links or on the US OPM main website. Many of these forms can be completed online and require only an original signature. If you own a computer, simply download the file to it, and fill it out as required. If not, print the completed form and visit the nearest copy machine, leaving the signature line blank. You will need the following forms in every case: DD214, SF 15 (Service Disabled Veterans) found here, OF 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment) found here. Other forms you may need or find useful are found at the US OPM website Forms page.
What are the benefits of Federal Employment? For one, your entire time in service counts towards your time in service for determining the amount of Annual Leave earned per pay period. Rather than earn the usual 4 hours of leave per pay period, you will more than likely start with 6 hours, or more depending on your time in service. By agreeing to a temporary reduction in pay (miniscule in comparison) you are able to “buy back” your military time in service to count towards your retirement, in which case 4 years of military service and 16 years of federal civilian service count as 20 years total. For those of you who took advantage of the Thrift Savings Program while in the military, that program exists for Federal Employees as well.
While your medical, dental and vision benefits are not free as a Federal Employee, you do received insurance benefits at a substantial discount with the freedom to choose your medical providers as opposed to having them chosen for you. The sheer number of plans available will be daunting at first, but with a little study, you will be able to choose the plan right for you and your family.
Finally, as a Federal Employee you have the satisfaction of continuing the service to your country you started the day you took your Oath of Service. More than likely, you will find a job carrying the knowledge and training acquired as a service member, applying it to an entirely new environment.
Besides Federal jobs, other employers place an emphasis on veteran’s employment, the largest being DynCorp International. The sheer volume of jobs available at this employer, both stateside and overseas is staggering. You can search the site at http://www.dyncorprecruiting.com/ext/subpage.asp, be sure to review the job announcement for qualifications, as many of them require a specific prior military MOS and Rank.
The most important part of your job search will be your resume. Both USAJobs and DynCorp International offer sections for completing an online profile. However, you will eventually need to submit your resume you write yourself. A simple web search will bring you to Microsoft’s Office Online website with links to various resume samples and templates, all free and available for download. Visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101043371033.aspx for more info. While your there, check out the Functional Resume Sample provided my Monster Worldwide Inc. This resume offers an additional plug in download attaching to your copy of Microsoft Word and allows you to upload the Resume directly to Monster’s online career search service (free registration required).
Is that all that is available to you? No, by far it is not. Network with your fellow veterans for guidance and ideas, many of them have been where you are now. Other resources include your local state employment office, but by far simply using any one of the many large Internet Search Engines will give you a listing that will have you slack jawed and drooling by the time you get through it all.
The economy may be in the toilet, unemployment on the rise and jobs few and far between, but you my friend, have skills far and beyond the average citizen, all you have to do is get started, NOW. So get off your butt and start searching.
Good Luck and Semper Fi.
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