Where Do I Go From Here? Civilian Transition ppt

Where Do I Go From Here? Civilian Transition
InCharge Debt Solutions
Copyright © 2012 InCharge Debt Solutions
Published by InCharge Debt Solutions Publishing at Smashwords
This guidebook is a compilation of articles by various authors intended to help military service members transition back to
civilian life. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other
means, including photocopying – without written permission of the publisher or the author of the article.
Requests to the publisher for approval should be addressed to:
Administrative Department, InCharge Debt Solutions
5750 Major Blvd., Suite 175, Orlando, FL 32819.
Disclaimer: This compilation of articles is intended to provide general information relative to a military service member’s
return to civilian life and reflects only the opinion of the author. It is presented with the understanding that the author,
publisher, and publisher’s agents are not engaged in rendering legal, investment, accounting, or other professional
services; and this book is not a substitute for such services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the
services of a competent professional should be sought. The information, methods and techniques described in this book
may not work for you. If you need advice tailored to your particular financial or legal situation, please contact a licensed
attorney, accountant, or financial advisor. Please note that federal, state and local laws change often and the current state
of the law may not be reflected in this book. The author, publisher, and publisher’s agents make no warranties with
respect to the information contained herein and assume no liability or responsibility to any person or entity in connection
with any loss or damage whatsoever caused or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by such information. There are
no warranties as to the results that may be obtained from using this guidebook or the information contained therein. While
every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of all content contained herein, there may be errors (typographical,
mathematical, or in content).
Cover design and book layout by: Devin Joy
All logos, trademarks, services marks, images and copyrighted words and/or titles used in this guidebook remain the
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Printed in the United States of America
by Progressive Communications, Lake Mary, Florida.
www.incharge.org
Table Of Contents
Forward

Dedication
Your Military Service Will Serve You Well
Translating Military Skills Into Civilian Terms
Welcome Back to Civilian Life
Marketable Skills? You Have Them!
Planning a Civilian Career
Getting the Job You Want
Top 10 Best Jobs Overall for the 21st Century
7 Tips for Nailing the Job Interview
Transitioning to Civilian Life
Profiles in Courage: Alexandra Jansen
Your Transition Checklist
Life After Service
The After Life
Getting the Most Bang for Your Post-911 GI Bill Buck
Staying Covered: Life Insurance
Military to Civilian Retirement Tips
Will Your Credit History Pass Employer Screening?
Budget Worksheet
Transitions Resource Directory
About the Authors:
DEDICATION
This guidebook is dedicated to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and Reserve who put their civilian lives on
hold to serve and protect our nation. It is also dedicated to service families who make daily sacrifices in support of their
loved one serving in uniform.
It’s our sincere hope that the information herein is useful in making the transition back to civilian life. Thanks for your
service and best of luck!
Your Military Service Will Serve You Well
I was honored to wear the uniform for over 32 years, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your
service to our nation.

You have faced tough challenges while in uniform. Transitioning back to civilian life will be a challenge, but not as great as
those you’ve already overcome! It takes a little work, yes. You’ll have to learn how to translate military skills into civilian
terms. You’ll have to get used to the “civilian way” rather than the “military way.” You’ll find in this fast-paced world that a
lot has changed since you traded in your civvies for a uniform. I made the transition to the civilian business world after
serving for many years as a career officer. I’m confident you can too.
Remember to always value the BIG things your military experience brings to your skill set and your resume. Things with
great value no matter what endeavor you pursue; things that position you to succeed in any field. The words themselves
don’t reflect their true value. People sometimes talk casually about “discipline,” “commitment,” “camaraderie,” “can-do
attitude,” “teamwork,” “loyalty” and “calmness under pressure.” You’ve experienced the true and absolute value of these
characteristics; you’ve embodied them and you’ve seen them in trusted comrades on the front lines.
As a corporate executive, I sought these qualities in the people I selected for employment in my company just as I did for
those in my military commands. I can tell you that all savvy business leaders want these qualities. So remember not to
discount the discipline you learned, the teamwork skills you mastered and the ability to do complicated and difficult tasks
while under great stress. Though the jargon and type of work you’ll be doing may be different, the qualities you’ve picked
up or honed while in the military can positively differentiate you as you transition to civilian life in a depressed and difficult
economy.
I hope the information you find in this collection of articles will help you with your transition and position you for great
success as you return from the field of honor.
Thank you for your service and my best wishes for success in the future.
With warm regards,
Brig. Gen. Norris W. Overton, U.S.A.F. (Ret.)
InCharge Board of Trustees (1999-2012)
Welcome Back to Civilian Life
It is a delight to be able to publish this transition guidebook for service members preparing to return to civilian life. We are
so grateful for the sacrifice that your service represents, not only for yourself but for your husbands, wives, mothers,
fathers and the many other family and loved ones who also carried the burden of your absence and deep concern for your
safety and well-being.
Your service to our nation required you to enter and learn all the particulars of an entirely different world. You learned so
many new things: different terminology; different policies and procedures; a different culture and doing extraordinary and
complicated tasks. You learned how to work as a team to get the job done no matter the weather, no matter the

circumstance and often with a lot riding on the outcome.
We salute you for that! Now, though you were a civilian before, you’re facing another tough transition. You put your civilian
life on hold and, lo and behold, a lot’s changed since you first donned the uniform. Businesses change, skills and
requirements for various jobs change, the economy has been in flux, and you’re not “tuned” to the realities of today’s
civilian life.
That’s why we published this collection of articles, all written by very experienced and knowledgeable experts who we
think can help you as you begin the re-integration process.
On behalf of all of us at InCharge and USAA we again thank you for your service and hope that the information you find
herein will be very helpful as you retire your uniform and reenter civilian life.
We wish you great success!
Etta Money
President, InCharge Debt Solutions
Marketable Skills? You Have Them!
By Janet Farley
You have the in-demand technical skills that any employer would love to hire. You know it. When you find yourself knee
deep in job search mode, however, it’s easy to overlook those other skills you may possess, compliments of a life in
uniform.
Disdainfully call them your soft skills or the touchy feely ones if you must. Whatever you do, however, don’t discount the
importance of them in your job search. After all, not everyone has the right fluff.
You can see the big picture.
“Both officers and enlisted [service members] are particularly adept at figuring out what is important to accomplishing the
relevant tasks in working toward a goal without being distracted by the hurdles that are often placed in our path,” said Dr.
Darryl Ahner, an Assistant Professor and Professional Engineer stationed at the Air Force Institute of Technology on
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Ahner is an active duty Lieutenant Colonel facing his own military retirement and career transition.
“In short, we can see the big picture clearly while accomplishing critical tasks,” said Ahner.
You can inspire and lead others.
“We have strong leadership skills. We are able to know what drives people to do things, I think, in a weird way because of
the War in Afghanistan where we have worked to ‘win the hearts and minds of others’ psychologically or otherwise,” said
Craig Preston, a Navy Lieutenant Commander (a Sub Officer) who is also in the process of retiring and transitioning into

the civilian workplace.
Preston is currently stationed in Portsmouth, England where he works with the Royal Navy. He hopes to land a civilian job
soon as an engineer, a program manager or an efficiency expert within the nuclear energy industry. His dream job would
be one that allowed him to build components that fit inside of nuclear power plants.
“You can imagine, after all the issues in Japan with the reactors, that there is plenty of need to do things better,” said
Preston.
“I’ve applied for a huge number of jobs within the private sector and some within the defense industry as well. I’ve already
turned down two jobs on the defense side. It’s easy to go back to something you know and I just want to do something
different now,” said Preston.
You can be a true team player.
Hidden within the art of being a good leader lays the skill of being a true team player as well.
“Being in the military teaches you have to effectively work with others towards a common goal,” said Preston.
“This is a highly marketable skill that can apply across career areas,” he said.
Teamwork, indeed, is critical to any organization’s success and the best employers to work for understand that concept.
Not everyone can work around the personal drama and individual agendas that all too often override the organizational
goals.
Teamwork involves personal sacrifice for the greater good and anyone who has worn the uniform honorably lives and
breathes this skill knowingly or not.
You know how to manage diversity.
“Having the ability to understand and appreciate diversity among people or cultures is also important,” said Preston.
Ahner, who hopes to land a teaching job soon, agrees.
“Military members learn people skills that are seldom learned outside the military. They must interact with people from all
walks of life and likely do not have the option of changing co-workers, roommates, etc.,” said Ahner.
The global workplace is just that: global. Having an under-standing, an appreciation and the skill to effectively navigate
diversity is a plus for any employer today.
You know how to effectively communicate with others.
You have excellent communication skills but you don’t always recognize that fact, according to Ahner.
“Service members habitually discount their communications and organization skills when talking to employers. It’s not
because they can’t communicate, but rather because it’s the norm in their day-to-day military lives,” said Ahner.
Ahner offers fellow job seekers a bit of helpful advice to help employers and others understand what you did in the

military.
“Don’t communicate your skills [to employers] in military terms but as if you were talking to your distant uncle back home
who did not have a military background,” said Ahner.
You strive for the next level.
In your military career, you set the bar high. Whether your goal was to reach the next rank or to be involved in a specific
career-enhancing mission, you creatively took it upon yourself to get there somehow. In the process, you may have
committed yourself to learning and mastering new skills.
Strangely enough, not everyone shares that desire to learn and achieve new personal or professional levels.
“Transitioning military personnel are life-long learners that adapt to accomplishing new unfamiliar missions by
independently learning new knowledge and effectively applying that knowledge,” said Ahner.
What employer doesn’t want to hire someone like that?
For More Help Channeling Your Inner Fluff…
While you may have these marketable skills, you may not always be skilled in clearly identifying all of them that apply to
you.
You may need help to further clarify your particular skill set. Lucky for you, help is available.
Visit the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) on the installation nearest you and tap into (pun intended) the services of
trained career transition counselors.
Take advantage of the one-on-one career counseling services and attend the job search workshops. You just might learn
a thing or two in the process to better market all of your skills, soft and otherwise.
You can also access DoD’s TurboTap online for more help or if logistics prevent you from visiting a transition center in
person.
Consider working with a no-fee (to you) military placement agency.
Preston has been working with one such agency, Bradley- Morris, Inc. (BMI).
“It has bought me a certain level of continuity that wasn’t there before in my job search. BMI gets you in front of employers
very quickly,” said Preston who has found that process beneficial.
“As you go through interviews with potential employers, you start to realize what you’re really interested in yourself. You
begin to hone in on specific jobs, focusing your job search more,” said Preston.
Eric Salzman, a BMI Executive Consultant based in Austin, Texas, agrees that using a military placement firm can be
helpful.
“We have the direct connections to the hiring managers. We know how to word and quantify particular training,

qualifications, awards and certificates in ways civilian hiring managers can understand,” said Salzman adding that some
of their company clients will even pay for certifications and training, for candidates that have particular backgrounds such
as a PLC certification, Six Sigma certifications, and Project Engineering (P.E.) license.
Visit your installation education center.
Finally, make an appointment with the education center counselor and ask to take any number of available skills inventory
instruments designed to analyze your unique skills.
And never, ever underestimate your fluffabilties.
Translating Your Resume into English
By Janet Farley
You’ve served your country proudly and now it’s time to move on professionally. More than anything, you want your
transition from boots to suits to be a smooth one. You want to land a good job that pays well. The only thing standing in
your way is your so-called resume.
Explaining to would be employers what you did in the military in a way that makes sense to them can be difficult. Often,
skills, experiences and accomplishments get lost in translation or in the lack thereof.
To Translate or Not to Translate?
That is the question to answer before you start drafting your resume. Will you be sending it to someone within the defense
industry? Or will you be targeting employers outside of it?
If the answer is yes to the former, then you may not need to spend a great deal of time translating your job titles,
descriptions, awards and training into English.
Those within the defense industry usually understand what you are communicating, but not always. Keep in mind that
there are a lot of people who work in the industry who have never worn a uniform and may not fully understand what
you’ve accomplished.
If you are targeting a job outside of the defense world, then you most certainly need to translate your skills, experiences
and accomplishments into the English Language.
It can be challenging, but not impossible.
From a Tank to a Cubicle
“You have to be patient because there is no such thing as a perfect resume,” said Philip Lapple, a former M1 Main
Battletank Crewmember (19K-Armor Crewman) in the U.S. Army.
Lapple wants to switch career gears completely and get a job in business. To reach that goal, he is currently attending the
University of Maryland, University College and working on a degree in Management Studies.

“I really don’t think I will get a good job until I finish my degree but I’m trying,” said Lapple.
In the mean time, he is working on creating a basic master resume that he can tailor to individual job opportunities as they
arise.
“On my resume, I try to show that I am a well-rounded package of education and expertise,” said Lapple adding that it
continues to be a work in progress.
Lapple has attended the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) courses and has also used the services of the local
Army Community Service Center’s Employment Readiness Program.
“You’re not going to get it right the first time or the second time you write it,” said Lapple who finds himself revising his
resume each time someone else critiques it for him.
Lapple understands that he needs to translate specific words in order to make his resume work. Rather than say he was a
tank crewmember, he says that he was a heavy equipment operator.
To highlight his skills without over emphasizing equipment operation, he puts strong emphasis on leadership.
“My latest version shows words like mentoring, efficiency, and work load planning. I also use the word “team” instead of
platoon or squad,” said Lapple.
“I am also physically counting and adding up the dollar value of items that I was in charge of in the military and noting the
number of people or employees I supervised,” said Lapple.
“Right now, school is my priority. In my case, I feel like my resume has to show not only practical experience but a degree
as well,” said Lapple.
Staying in the Same Career Field
“I have a resume, but it’s horrible. I want to make it better in order to be competitive,” said Gary Heinstrom, a U.S. Army
Specialist who currently serves as a medic with the 554th Military Police Company based in Germany.
Heinstrom is knee deep in the process of transitioning out of the military. He is considering staying in his career field, but
he wouldn’t rule out getting his foot in the door to federal employment in any field either.
“I just started the process of getting out and there is so much information coming at me at one time. It’s overwhelming but
it seems necessary at the same time,” said Heinstrom.
If Heinstrom does indeed try to stay in the medical field, he may find that the level of translations needed for his resume
differ from those needed by Lapple.
In some military career fields, such as those in the medical field, there may not be as strong a need to translate some of
the skills, abilities and experiences for its civilian counterpart.
In or out of uniform, patient care, record-keeping and specific medical procedures and protocol are universally understood

with the career field.
“Instead of saying that I was a medic, I am writing that I was a health care specialist. I am also a certified Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT), and that is the same in or out of the military,” said Heinstrom.
Heinstrom says that he also making it a point to quantify his accomplishments and avoid the use of personal pronouns.
For More Assistance
Translating the military words on your resume into civilian ones can be challenging. You don’t have to do it alone, though.
Visit your transition assistance office or the family services and support center’s employment readiness program. On
either doorstep, you’ll find expert one-on-one counseling assistance or available classes, free of charge.
For your own research the following websites offer excellent military-to-civilian translation tools:
Military to Civilian Occupation Translator
Check out O*Net Military Crosswalk at onetonline.org/crosswalk/moc/
You can also get ideas on how to effectively translate your military experiences by looking at the civilian job descriptions
or vacancy announcements for the jobs that interest you.
Word For Word Common Translation Examples
Job Titles
Commander = Director or Senior Manager
Executive Officer = Deputy Director
Field Grade Officer= Executive or Manager
Company Grade Officer = Operations Manager or Section Manager
Warrant Officer =Technical Specialist or Department Manager
Senior NCOs= First-Line Supervisor
Infantry= Security Force
First Sergeant= Personnel Manager
Squad Leader= Team Leader or Team Chief
Supply Sergeant = Supply Manager or Logistics Manager
Operations NCO= Operations Supervisor
General Terms
AI= Additionally skilled in
Combat = Hazardous conditions
Company = Company, department or section

Medal = Award
Military personnel office = Human resources
Mission = Task/function/objective
Military occupation specialty/classification = Career specialty
Squad/platoon = Team or section
Reconnaissance = Data collection and analysis
Regulations= Policy or guidelines
Security clearance= Security clearance
Service members = Employees
Subordinates = Employees
TAD/TDY = Business trip
Getting the Job You Want
Courtesy of USAA.
By June Walbert, Certified Financial Planner™
Many military retirees haven’t interviewed for a civilian job in decades, if at all. Just like calling for fire, jumping from
planes or piloting a jet, interviewing is a specialized skill. You have to learn the ropes and practice.
Government programs such as the Transition Assistance Program and Transition Boot Camp are a must. Hiring a resume
writing pro, enrolling in an interviewing skills class and using tools such as Military.com’s skills translator can help you
summarize your military skills and experiences that will make sense to a civilian hiring manager. Finally, don’t
underestimate the power of friends and acquaintances. Networking with them can produce wonderful tips and ideas,
maybe even a job. Know that all paychecks are not created equal.
In the military, stacked on top of base salary is an array of allowances including a generous tax-free housing benefit. So,
as you compare civilian employment offers to life in the military, don’t forget about those additions to your military base
pay. As a retiree, you’ll have access to TRICARE, but as a civilian you may now be paying for life, medical, dental and
disability insurance expenses that could put a significant dent in your pay. Be sure to consider this as you negotiate your
salary because pay in the civilian world is negotiable.
If you’re very lucky, you’ll enjoy your hail and farewell on Friday and walk into your new civilian job on Monday. But in this
economic environment, such a scenario may not be realistic. Your job hunt should start well before you retire from
service. It’s a wise idea to have nine to 12 months of living expense money saved to bridge any potential financial gaps.
Top 10 Best Jobs Overall for the 21st Century

By Laurence Shatkin
Today’s job seekers face numerous obstacles: a recession that has eliminated countless positions and crowded the job-
seeking field; ever-changing technology; and pressures to do more with less. It can be difficult for anyone to decide which
career to pursue.
Before making major decisions about your future career, you’ll want to be armed with good data related to earning
potential, job security and competitiveness. Below, find the top 10 best jobs for the 21st century, chosen based on pay,
job growth and number of openings.
1. Software Developers, Applications
Annual earnings: $87,790
Percent growth: 34
Annual openings: 21,840
2. Physicians and Surgeons
Annual earnings: $165,279
Percent growth: 21.8
Annual openings: 26,050
3. Software Developers, Systems Software
Annual earnings: $94,180
Percent growth: 30.4
Annual openings: 15,340
4. Management Analysts
Annual earnings: $78,160
Percent growth: 23.9
Annual openings: 30,650
5. Computer Systems Analysts
Annual earnings: $77,740
Percent growth: 20.3
Annual openings: 22,280
6. Registered Nurses
Annual earnings: $64,690
Percent growth: 22.2

Annual openings: 103,900
7. Civil Engineers
Annual earnings: $77,560
Percent growth: 24.3
Annual openings: 11,460
8. Medical Scientists (except Epidemiologists)
Annual earnings: $76,700
Percent growth: 40.4
Annual openings: 6,620
9. Physical Therapists
Annual earnings: $76,310
Percent growth: 30.3
Annual openings: 7,860
10. Dental Hygienists
Annual earnings: $68,250
Percent growth: 36.1
Annual openings: 9,840
7 Tips for Nailing the Job Interview
By Janet Farley
No one understands and can handle stress quite like you. While in uniform, you’ve survived and excelled in countless
situations that would make those having less of a constitution crumble right on the spot. That’s why the pre-interview
jitters seem so unnerving and foreign to you now.
Unlike a military review board, the job interview is a totally different animal. And you need to nail it if you want the
conversation about your future career to continue.
Here are seven must embrace tips for making that happen.
Tip 1|Be serious about getting the job. Dress the part. Show up fashionably early for the interview. Wear a
confident, not arrogant, attitude and be willing to put yourself out there for closer inspection. In other words, be
serious about expanding your potential opportunities.
One way to do that is to use your available resources. “Go to the transition assistance program job search classes and
stay for the mock interviews,” said Karen Wright, an Army military intel analyst who recently interviewed for and landed a

position as a technology researcher with a defense contractor.
“The program lasts a couple of days, and by the time the interview practice comes around, suddenly everybody in the
class has something else to do,” said Wright.
According to her, that is a big mistake.
“You can’t be good at what you don’t practice,” said Wright.
Tip 2| Make a personal connection with the employer. You’ve accomplished the basics. You said hello. You
shook hands. Now you are easing into make or break territory. Your goal at this point, job seeker, is to become
memorable. Use your charming personality to make that happen by taking it to the next level and understanding
the basic premise at hand.
“Employers want to surround themselves with a group of like minded individuals and not someone who is going to be a
slacker or try to take over the company overnight,” said Wright.
Take a closer inspection of the setting and put those analytical skills of yours to work. If you are interviewing in the
employer’s actual office and not in some non-descript conference room, then you have a good chance of making that
connection easily.
Based on what you see, what appears to be important to this person and how can you show that it is important to you
too?
Is his desk organized or not? Are there pictures of his family nearby? Does he have a love-me wall full of awards, an
exhibit of personal travel photos or a shrine to some famous sports figure?
Notice it. Find your connection with it and share it if the moment allows it. You may create a memorable personal link.
Tip 3| Be able to walk the talk. Your resume is awesome. Your friend gave you a glowing recommendation. Now
it’s up to you to back up the buildup. You can do this by studying your resume carefully prior to the interview. Yes,
you may have written it, but now you need to look at it from an employer’s perspective.
What looks interesting and what doesn’t? Where can you add in examples of how you accomplished a particularly
daunting task?
Inquiring minds (and potential bosses) want to know if you can truly do all the things your resume and your well-meaning
friends say you can do.
Talking the walk may also involve addressing perceived military stereotypes.
“When you interview with a defense contractor, they understand the world you came from. If you are interviewing outside
of that world, you may run into employers who say that they want to hire veterans but they don’t understand them and
they may even be afraid of them,” said Wright.

“You have to get them to see you as a person and not as a stereotype,” said Wright.
Tip 4| Listen. During the interview, chances are good you will be slightly on edge. That’s a good thing. It’s your
body chemically preparing you for the fight rather than the flight. In that process, however, listening to what the
employer says is crucial. Active listening prevents you from asking stupid questions and saying stupid things. It
facilitates the conversation in a positive sense.
It also allows you to figure out what is important to the employer and gives you the opportunity to address it whether the
issue is verbally mentioned or not.
“Sometimes you have to volunteer information that you sense is of importance to the employer. In one interview I had, the
employer knew I was a single mother and I had the feeling that he was concerned about my missing work because of that
fact. In that case, I was ok with volunteering that my mother lives with me and serves as backup child support,” said
Wright.
Tip 5| Ask intelligent questions. Answer questions thoughtfully. Listening plays a big part in your interview
success or lack thereof. Asking intelligent questions and answering them thoughtfully play equal roles.
To make the best impression, come prepared with a short list of real questions that can help you make a good decision
about the job if it comes to that. Avoid the kind of amateur questions you could find the answers easily to on the
company’s homepage.
Before you go to the interview, prepare for it. Review a list of commonly asked questions and brainstorm ways to answer
them. “Employers will ask you questions like what is your five year plan? You have to be able to hit those answers out of
the ballpark so to speak,” said Wright.
Tip 6| Keep your nerves in check. Despite your glowing credentials and charming personality, sweat happens.
Nerves do that to you. Do your best to keep yourself physically relaxed and odor free during your stage time in
order to minimize distractors of the bodily kind.
Get plenty of rest the night before. Give yourself ample time to get dressed and mentally prepared for the day’s interview.
Don’t forget your deodorant and forgo your signature scent-marking cologne or perfume for the day. Don’t forget to
breathe. Breathing is good and greatly enhances your employment opportunities.
Tip 7| Follow through after the interview. For better or worse, you survived the interview. Don’t make the mistake
now of sitting by your laptop or phone waiting for that life-changing email or call. It’s over. You either nailed it or
you didn’t. Lucky for you, however, you can still make a good impression by following through after the interview.
“After my interviews, I always tried to find a way to run across the employer again and offer my thanks,” said Wright.
Incidental meetings aside, you can also do the following to ensure follow through and closure:

Immediately send a short but sweet thank you note to the employer. Reiterate your desire to become a part of the team.
Immediately type up a longer thank you note and remind the employer of all of your good points and reiterate your desire
to become a part of the team.
Give it a week and if you haven’t heard from the employer, call to find out how the selection process is progressing.
Reiterate your desire to become a part of the team.
Profiles in Courage: Alexandra Jansen
by Tammy Maas
I was uncertain how I should address a U.S. Soldier so I decided to call her by her first name, Alexandra. Then I thanked
her for serving our country. She addressed me as ma’am. It felt awkward. Here was an American soldier showing me a
sign of respect by addressing me as ma’am - an American soldier who was once responsible for making sure the widows
of suicide bombers in Iraq did not get recruited. She was the recipient of several military awards, and she was calling me
ma’am. There is really no way to “pay back” a soldier for their service to our country, but I decided that I would try by
telling the world about Alexandra.
She is a twenty-five year old 1LT, Alexandra Jansen, Army Nurse Corps, Army Reserve and Emergency Room Nurse at
Iowa Health Systems in Des Moines. She joined the Army Reserve in 2008, was deployed to Iraq in June of 2009, and
returned home in July of 2010. Her goal was to care for people who truly deserved it and to gain skill that was not
obtainable in the civilian world.
While deployed, she was selected for a Civil Affairs mission. Her projects focused on empowering local women and
assisting widow’s organizations in Diyalo Province. Her biggest project was decreasing the number of widowed women
recruited for suicide bombers, in turn funding a sewing class for women in which they would learn a valuable trait and take
a more predominant role in the society. While deployed she was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, and the
Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.
Alexandra describes military life as “simple living:”
“You quickly learn to live without most things you once thought were necessities - things like walking barefoot on
carpet, using a bathroom down the hall from your bedroom, being able to drive anywhere at anytime, sleeping in,
cooking dinner, personal privacy, and being my feminine self. These were the things I greatly missed. These
things might sound ridiculous to most people, but when you live without them for a year you understand. While I
enjoyed my career as a soldier, I really missed the simple pleasures in life - things I never thought I would miss.
After my deployment I realized material things like these are nice but not essential to happiness.”
Here is the advice Alexandra offers for returning veterans:

“Take a break. I took a few months off after deployment to spend time with my family, vacation, and get things in
order. Talk about what happened and your experience. It really helped me to talk about what happened with those
I felt comfortable with. Sometimes it’s hard to find people who understand what you went through, so lean on your
fellow soldiers and communicate with them.”
Alexandra’s employer, Iowa Health Systems, held her job while she was deployed. She described her first day
back at work:
“I was very nervous about returning back to the Emergency Department. Since I hadn’t been actively practicing
nursing while deployed, I felt like it would be a rough transition. I was honest with my employer and expressed my
concerns with them prior to returning. They were very receptive and allowed me to reorient back into the ER.
Things went really well and within a few weeks I was working independently and felt very comfortable.”
When asked about her return from Iraq, Alexandra shared the following:
“I learned a lot about the army, myself and life while serving. I also felt different as an American citizen. I felt
closer to my country and was very glad I got the chance to serve. It took this deployment for me to realize how
lucky Americans have it and why things should never be taken for granted. “
How did you manage your bills and financial obligations back home while you were deployed?
“I set most of my bills (mortgage, utilities) up for automatic withdrawal. This way I did not have to worry about
them. My sister also helped me managed my finances while I was deployed so I did not have to worry about these
things will in Iraq.”
Did you come back to any unexpected bills/financial obligations? If you took a pay cut to serve, how did that
impact your overall budget?
“I did not return to any unexpected bills. I did take a pay cut while overseas but because the pay was tax free and
because I wasn’t spending much money while deployed, it did not impact my budget. I saved a lot of money while
on active duty.”t
If you had one piece of financial advice for other reservists – what would that be?
“Plan ahead and delegate the managing of your bills to someone you trust. Money is the last thing you want to
worry about overseas. Also, save as much money as possible. When you return you will have plenty of time to
spend money and will appreciate the extra money in your account.”
Alexandra’s future goals include: continuing her education, becoming a nurse practitioner, continuing Military service
for as long as she can, and striving to be the best soldier she can be.
My message to Alexandra: Thank you ma’am! You are so much more than a soldier and nurse; you are an inspiration, a

hero and the epitome of what an American should be.
Post Script.
There is some controversy in the military world today regarding the use of sir and ma’am. Some believe that employers
and co-workers see the use of sir and ma’am as an inability to adapt to civilian life. I believe they are teaching the rest of
the civilian world a lesson on respect.
Your Transition Checklist
Courtesy of USAA.
By June Walbert, Certified Financial Planner™
The term “life event” often conjures up images of wedding dresses, binkies and diapers or even sailboats that will carry
you through the golden years to exotic locales.
Here’s a life event that may not be as obvious: swapping military boots for civilian shoes. That’s a big change no matter
when it happens but one that’s manageable and full of exciting prospects. Being prepared is critical though, especially in
this era of high unemployment.
Nearing Military Retirement
• Create an estimated “civilian” budget. Don’t forget to add in costs for items like rent or your home
mortgage payment.
• If needed, start saving funds to bridge any gaps that may occur during your job hunt.
• Research and determine your last PCS (check out www.usaa.com/BestPlaces for a few ideas).
• Determine the cost benefit of buying versus renting a home post-retirement.
• Evaluate your needs for life insurance.
• Research alternatives for a commercial life insurance plan and how to replace SGLI so there’s no gap in
coverage.
• Consider signing up for the Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP) as you exit the military.
Starting Your Civilian Job
• Research alternatives for medical and dental insurance provided through your new employer.
• Compare to TRICARE to find the best value.
• Evaluate your employer’s offerings for disability insurance.
• If your new employer does not offer coverage, research additional alternatives:
• Evaluate your new employer’s retirement plan and associated benefits against your TSP.
Consider the benefits of rolling:

• Your TSP into your new employer’s retirement plan.
• Your TSP into a separate IRA.
• Any tax-free combat pay into a Roth IRA.
• Update your budget and adjust your emergency fund savings, if necessary.
• Update or create a retirement plan based on your new earnings.
• Look for an advisor that can help you with your retirement planning such as a fee only Certified Financial
Planner™ practioner.
• If you move to a new state, assess your estate planning documents for potential changes.
The After Life
By Janet Farley
You have counted down the years, the months, the days and the seconds. The time for your career transition from a
uniformed one to a civilian one has finally arrived.
You may be ready to leap boldly from one chapter of your life into the next. Whether you look forward to it or dread it,
you’re sure to experience a few surprises along the way.
What You Leave Behind
When you transition out of the military, for whatever reason, there are some benefits that you don’t get to take with you on
your way out the proverbial door.
Some of those benefits are of the intangible variety while others are more concrete in nature. Regardless of their forms,
you may find yourself longing for them in your life after the military.
The Camaraderie
The people that you serve with, for better or worse, are special to you whether you realize it or not. You share a common
bond with them that isn’t easily formed outside of military service.
“The thing I missed the most about being in uniform was the camaraderie found in the Marine Corps. There’s nothing
quite like it on the outside,” said Chip Holliman, a retired U.S. Marine.
Holliman served in the Marines for 20 years before retiring in 2007. He enlisted in 1987 and later was given a meritorious
commission to be an intelligence officer.
“In my first job out, I worked for a division within the Internal Revenue Service where I helped with the hiring and
placement of military veterans and disabled individuals within their information technology workforce,” he said.
According to Holliman, the level of esprit de corps wasn’t quite the same as he found in uniform.
“I was lucky, though. I ended up with an organization where I worked with really nice people and they became kind of like

my family as well,” said Holliman.
A Real World Mission
The Madison Avenue word rangers said it best. Yours wasn’t a job; it was an adventure. You know, however, that it was
more than that. Big or small, you worked on a mission having a worldwide impact. Your contribution may have been
miniscule or monumental. It didn’t matter whether you made the evening news or not. What you contributed mattered in
some shape or form and you didn’t have to punch a time clock or fill out a timesheet in the process.
PCSing Every Three Years
When you were in uniform, you and your family may have dreaded the inevitable three year, or sometimes sooner, PCS
moves. Depending upon the job you take as a civilian, you may not have to suffer them ever again.
On the surface, that seems like a reason to celebrate, at least, until the mediocrity of no end in sight sets in.
“Every three years, I get the urge to move. You have to resolve yourself to stability,” said Holliman.
The Hidden Perks
Somewhere along the line, you’ve been told that the money and the benefits are far superior on the outside than they are
in uniform. To be fair, there are situations that support that but not as many as you might want to be believe.
To get a civilian view of your active duty pay, visit the Regular Military Compensation Calculator. Enter in your pay grade,
years of service, location, family size, itemized deduction estimate, state marginal tax rate and other income.
Click the button and the calculation will quickly show your monthly and annual basic pay, basic allowance for subsistence
(BAS), basic allowance for housing (BAH), cash totals and tax advantage all adding up to your regular military
compensation. This figure, theoretically, represents your civilian pay equivalent. It should give you a starting point for
figuring out what you need to make on the outside.
Depending on the nature and location of your next job, you may not have the advantage of housing and/or cost of living
allowances. And while your morning commute to the city might be a rough one, chances are good you won’t be offered
hazardous duty, hardship or combat pay for it.
TRICARE is also a benefit you may no longer enjoy unless you are retiring. Say hello to high monthly healthcare
payments (assuming your employer offers the options) and be prepared to do a lot of claims paperwork. If you are retiring,
TRICARE morphs into a different version and you still may find yourself paying more out of pocket.
Kiss 30 days of paid vacation goodbye along with many paid holidays as well. Chances are good that you will never
experience that level of paid time off generosity again.
With the added benefit of selecting your own style of clothing now comes the added detriment of paying for it in full, sans
a clothing allowance.

The Illusion of Job Security
To be fair, no job is 100% safe these days. Unemployment is still hovering around the 9% mark and genuine job security
is becoming an economic artifact from yesteryear. Even with the occasional proposed reductions in force, you have to
admit there is at least the illusion of job security in uniform.
You have to do something pretty stupid or sorely misunderstood to get kicked out of uniform. In a civilian job, people get
fired, laid off and downsized every day with little or no warning.
Minimizing the Pain of Transition
For all the good points you leave behind in a military-to-civilian career transition, there are many good ones to be found in
the after life.
“Career-wise, my transition out of the Corps was a fairly easy one. I was able to secure a job right away and that made
the transition stress less of a factor for me,” said Holliman.
Holliman advises those in the transition process to plan for it.
“In our current economic state, I think anyone getting out of the military needs to start the planning process as early as
they can. Visit your Transition Assistance Program (TAP) as soon as possible,” said Holliman.
He also suggests you take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded you while on active duty and afterwards
through your GI Bill.
“I wished I’d taken advantage of getting my degree while I was on active duty. I truly believe that would have helped me
now and would have allowed me to bring a broader background to the table so to speak,” said Holliman.
And the esprit de corps?
“You don’t ever get over missing the camaraderie you enjoyed in the military. As a civilian, you just find other ways to feel
it. I involve myself in the military community, giving back to it several times a year and that helps to ease that loss for me,”
said Holliman.
Getting the Most Bang for Your Post-911 GI Bill Buck
By Darryl Owens
After serving their country, many U.S. service members come marching home from Iraq and Afghanistan eager to trade
combat boots for calculus books.
No wonder.
In the past few years, standing in financial aid lines on college campuses held considerably more appeal than stalking the
unemployment line.
Credit the Post-911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or simply the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides benefits

such as full tuition and book and housing stipends.
“This version,” says Edward J. Dennis, military relations manager with Bryant & Stratton College, “will go a long way to
creating the next ‘Greatest Generation’.”
While considerably more user-friendly than its predecessor, the packages’ benefit options still are as bewildering as they
are generous. A recent American Council on Education study found that while veterans largely applauded the Post-911
package, for 38 percent of veterans the benefits might as well been written in Pashto.
Given how individual nuances affect your benefit mix, a Cliff’s Notes take on how the ins and outs of the Post-9/11 GI Bill
would leave many with more questions than answers. Instead, we present a practical battle plan for making the about-
face from combat to college. Here are some practical dos and don’ts for getting the most out of your hard-earned benefits.
Do:
Determine Eligibility and Apply.
If you have college in your sights, you should determine whether you qualify for benefits. In general, service members
who served at least 90 days on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, whether as a full-time member of the Armed Forces, or a
reservist called to active duty are eligible. Chat up a local Department of Veterans Affairs representative. If you qualify,
surf to www.gibill.va.gov to apply online. The site also provides more details that may address your individual benefit level.
Or you can call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
Ask Questions.
While it “often runs contrary to what you are taught to do while in the military,” says Sanford Kingsley, director of student
services and registrar at the University of California, Irvine Extension, “being passive could be a disservice when
transitioning out of the military and into civilian life.” You don’t have to come on strong like a drill sergeant. But you must
serve as a strong self-advocate. Whether grilling a VA representative, or interrogating professors about courses or school
financial aid counselors about unpacking your GI Bill benefits, remember that knowledge is the power to make your
benefits go farther.
Consider a “Veteran-Friendly” School.
Want to know the secret to making a quick transition from “boots to books?” Target a school tuned into supporting the
specific academic, social and health and wellness needs of veterans, says Jill Stone, director of veteran outreach at the
University of New Haven in Connecticut. New Haven, for instance, uses veterans as faculty liaisons, sponsors an active
veterans’ student club, and recently launched a Veteran Success Center. It’s an one-stop shot where community
veterans’ organizations assemble on campus to provide services. Such supportive environs not only help bolster success,
but also minimize the prospect of wasting time and benefits because of a bad fit.

Plan Your College Transition.
While the thought of having bragging rights over successful sports teams often is enough to sway the college choice of
many freshmen, Eric Kann, military outreach coordinator for Central Penn College in Pennsylvania, says veterans must
consider other issues to maximize their GI Bill benefits. For example, it’s important not only to figure out what kind of
school you want to attend, but where. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a basic college housing allowance. However,
benefits are based on the zip code of where you attend school — not where you reside. Squeezing every drop from that
housing benefit means you should consider schools with the highest benefit rates. Likewise, carefully contemplate your
ultimate career goals. Investigate the job prospects for career fields that interest you. Make sure your passions and skill
set mesh with your prospective major. And pay attention to details. Not all courses are VA-approved — and thus covered
by the GI Bill. Remember, the Post-9/11 GI Bill affords veterans 36 months of schooling. “Changing majors or changing
schools will waste time and money,” Kann says.
Consider Alternative Funding Sources if You Plan on Graduate School.
Graduate school’s often pricier than the undergraduate years. So Joyce A. Rivers, director of veterans affairs at Norwich
University in Vermont, says it makes sense to reserve your GI Bill benefits for graduate study while relying on more
traditional sources of student aid during your undergraduate years.
Don’t:
Lose Track of Critical Service Documents.
Your DD 214 (Report of Separation) papers provide proof and dates critical to determining your eligibility for benefits.
Stash those and other documents related to your military service in a safe and accessible place.
Limit Yourself Only to Schools You Think You Can Afford.
Under the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, colleges whose tuition
and fees exceed the new $17,500 annual cap can strike voluntary agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs to
cover half the gap between the GI Bill benefits and the actual costs. The VA covers the rest. You can check for