Good Morning Active Duty, Veterans and Military Spouses. It’s Transition Thursday and today I wanted to tell you the final one of three stories. These stories are true. They are real-life examples. However, I have changed the names and haven’t given you every detail. Because some of you may actually know these people.
I have a strict confidentiality rule that I will not violate. Even if it costs me “testimonials.” (I was a Corpsman, remember)
So, grab a cup of coffee and listen up. These are stories of real–life Navy Captains (that’s a Colonel or O-6 for those of you not in the US Navy.)
Promises, promises …
This final story is actually about another Captain. While on active-duty, he held one of the highest possible offices in his specialty. A man with so much education and so many letters behind his name, you would have thought someone opened up a can of alphabet soup when you looked at his official signature.
He was on active duty for over twenty years. He was a known “hard-charger” who took many assignments away from his family throughout the course of his career to ensure that he would be selected for the next rank, always with the promise that, “When I get out of the Navy, it will be different.”
The one thing this Captain didn’t do in preparing for the transition was to “activate the reserves.” In fact, he didn’t prepare for the transition at all. He figured that his education, previous positions and “Inside the Beltway Connections” would take care of all that. So, even in his last year of service, he spent a lot of time gone, furthering the Navy’s mission, raising the morale of his troops, putting his “best foot” forward and keeping the team on task. And, always with the promise, “that it will be different when I get out.”
When he retired, he figured that his retirement pension would take care of the family. Like so many veterans, he was wrong. With his children now in Ivy League Colleges, he found himself looking for a job in a matter of months. And, he wasn’t prepared. He hadn’t had a job interview in over twenty years. But, he had all of his degrees, and education and experience; he figured it would be easy to get a job. “Things will be easier when I get out.”
Once again, he was wrong. The only position he was able to find that was willing to even come close to paying him what he was worth, was as a small business in a town over two hours away. He didn’t know how to negotiate his salary and was just so happy to find a position, he gave away his advantage. His salary amounted to little more than a supplement to his retirement pension to bring him back to what he had been earning over the past few years. As for “things being different when he got out,” clearly they weren’t. With a + 2 hour commute one way, he only came home on the weekends. He was still gone a lot.
His wife died within two years of his getting out of the service. His kids didn’t know him and didn’t really want to. He’d broken too many promises.
Now, if you’re “inside the beltway,” you probably know exactly who I’m speaking about. I’ve changed some of the details and haven’t been as explicit as I could have been, I admit it. But, you know that I’m speaking the truth.
So, Active Duty, Veterans and Military spouses, if you think under-employment is “just an enlisted problem,” you couldn’t be further from the mark. If you have the time to sit around and attend a bunch of “free” seminars, or go for some “free” counseling, I invite you to go, learn what you can from the “free” people. I hope that you learn the skills that you need to easily transition from the military.
I’d just like to remind you of a few lessons you’ve already learned from military service:
- “Uncle Sugar never gives you nothin’ for free. It’s always going to cost you something. Whether it's time, talent or opportunity, it’s always going to cost you.” (How many times have you said this?)
- “It takes a team.” (How many times have you said this?)
- “To understand one of us, you’ve got to be one of us.” (How many times have you said this?)
- “We take care of our own.” (Enough said.)
We’ll be here for you when you get back from the “free.” We are always “standing by, waiting to receive.” Our transition program starts on the fifteenth of every other month. And, we address things that they will never tell you in TAPS.
Please take the time to share what the transition adjustment was like for you (and your family). I’d love to know what you felt worked well and where you feel that you could have used more support. Feel free to post a comment below or on my Facebook page.
Deanna Wharwood’s passion is to help veterans, service-disabled veterans and their dependents create the systems they need to start and grow businesses from their first dollar to six-figures. Unlike other coaches, consultants, mentors and trainers, she is a veteran who successfully transitioned from military life to entrepreneurship. Learn more about Deanna – The Veterans’ Coach and how she can help you!
