Out of the military--job advice??

[A1cntrler]

I got word today that I will be seperated from the military after being found unfit for duty due to medical reasons. I had to have surgery on a foot after returning from deployment and the surgery ended up doing more damage than good. So 4 years after the surgery, they finally get around to giving me the boot. My regular time to get out would have been January, 2 months shy of 11 years of service. I will be seperated with severance pay, and ay 10% disability from the military, the VA still needs to decide what percantage, if any that I will recieve in disability payments.



I am not interested in continuing what I was doing in the military (Air Traffic Control) as the shift work is not something I would like to continue to do. My wife has a really great job that pays very well atthe hospital, so it is not necessary for me to work, I could stay home and be a "house husband", but I like the lifestyle that we live in, so I will continue to work. If I were to be an FAA air traffic controller, we would likely have to move somewhere, and the in-laws live here and give us great (read free) child care any time we need it. Relocating would be bad.



I took a careear interest survey at the Veterans Administration about a month back, and it told me I need a job that involves being outside, or driving, and I seem to enjoy both of those. I was thinking maybe a postal worker, package delivery (UPS/FedEx/DHL), cable technician, or armored car driver. I would also like to maybe go to a trade school to learn to do something. The VA will pay for me to go to school as long as the trade I am learning does not interfere with the disability. Auto Mechanic scoll would probably not be covered, as it involves being on my feet a lot, however they would pay for computer classes. If I was to do auto mechanc school, I would pay for it myself..



This is a chance for me to start off fresh with just about anything I want to do. My wife is supportive and wants me to just be happy in what I do. Just looking for any suggestions or experiences you my have had exiting the military.



Thanks!!!

 

[Pat Freeman]

Sorry to hear that you are being discharged. The military experience I had allowed me to transition into computer security, easily. My old job was a Morse Code interceptor in Intel had zero market on the outside but I got to play on the latest computers that did the automation. If you don't want to do ATC any more, you might be able to find something similar (dispatcher, etc.) but that won't get you outside.



If you take a gov't job, your military experience counts towards their "points" system. When I got out I didn't know what to do so I just collected unemployment and start using my GI Bill. It was a nice breather and excellent transition to the real world. I think computer training is the best bang for the buck. I am making 5 times my Army take-home as a computer security engineer.

 

[Sal Adinolfi]

I know in New England. Hanscom AFB has T.A.P.S. for retiring people.



Transtion Assitance Program Seminar



I know.. Bad Accronym. but I didnt make it up.



I took it in 2003 when I was supose to get out. they say you should take it about 12 months before getting out. no closer then 6 months.



Might want to check your local base for the same program.

 

[Sed Thompson]

Go with whatever makes you happy. I've been active duty for almost 16 years, and I can't wait to be able to do something I enjoy. So take advantage of any offered programs and find something you will love to do.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Two words...FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.....

Since you have gov time you can stack it for retirement reasons.



I took my present Fed job five years ago. I am making VERY good money and have put $114,000 doollars into my thrift savings plan already. The gov will be matching ten percent plus more based on the formula.



Best move I ever did.

 

[Chuck Watson]

Im bout to seperate in jan after 5 years. Im only 24 so I still have plenty of time to go to school and all that. But I have been lookin in the post office. Same benefits pretty much and your time carries over. Plus if your disable threw the VA you have a really good chance at gettin the job. Or look at TSA. Good Luck. Im nervous too. haha

 

[Kevin Palmer]

I put in my retirement papes about three weeks ago, 23 years was enogh fun for me... LOL



If you have been deployed or were issued Title ten orders you get a five point veterns preference on the Federal test. Forgot to mention that earlier. If you have a dissability I think it raises it to ten points.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Sorry to hear about your injuries. It is a shame the military doctors are such butchers. Yours is not the first case of this happening. I know first hand of a couple cases. One co-worker died from improper treatment of a condition, and another was told she should have an abortion due to a misdiagnosis of cancer. Fortunately, she chose to risk her own life rather than have the abortion. It was later found she never had cancer. My dad says the VA doctors that treat him are awesome (they're civilians).



If you like the outdoors, you should look into the National Parks Service or US Forestry Service. With your 10% disability you get extra points toward being hired.

 

[A1cntrler]

Park service sounds pretty cool. Might be more fun that the post office... Less chance of someone going Postal as well...

 

[Kevin Long]

I am an Ex-Air Force, now FAA controller.

The FAA is about to hire a bunch of people, 2/3 of the controller force (post 81 strike) are about to retire. We need people desperatly!

The downside is the FAA is not people friendly any longer, all they are intrested in is union busting (but that is all this White House has been doing from day 1). The new imposed work rules are pretty much going to shut us down as far as having a good work environment and decent pay. I have heard of lots of military and CTI people turning down jobs because the pay was too low.

 

[Pat Freeman]

The FAA is not people friendly? Wow! The last time I got ramp checked the guy said "I'm from the FAA and I'm here to help."

 

[P M]

Once you start digging around you'll find there are many opportunities out there. Sounds like you have some good pplaces to start. Good Luck! Are you a controller at Oceana now? Reason I ask is I used to fly out of there.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Go with a USPS job, and forget UPS, FedEx, etc...as the indies are going to require you to be in excellent physical health and I suspect your disability will be an issue. With the USPS you could at least get a rural route postal delivery job, or a clerk job...all done while sitting.

 

[Paul Maurer 2]

Consider starting a limo business- It has been a fun and profitable venture for me. I bought my first limo to transport my LASIK surgery patients and started Look Limo Service 2 years ago so my driver would make a little extra. Since then, we have grown to about 5 trips/week and are now negotiating to buy another limo company.[Broken External Image]:

 

[Dale Carlson]

Larry,



Yeah, what Coastiejoe said. See below for the USAJOBs website. It's a great tool to kind of see what's out there for federal jobs.



If you're thinking about school, have you considered a different but still aviation-related field? You could still use your aviation background, but maybe in another area. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University would be great place to start. I don't know about the Navy bases, but they should have a rep in the Education Office at Langley AFB. You might want to give him/her a holler to explore that avenue.



Last note: I had almost 27 years AF aircraft maintenance experience and chucked it all for a career in IT (which I had been doing for 5 years part-time before I retired). My first real IT job was entry-level and in a non-permanent position. During a network upgrade/conversion that we were doing, I did all kinds of manual labor and scut work for more than a year. But I did it all without complaint, and did it well. And I went back to school even though I already had an IT degree. I'm not trying to discourage you, but you need to have your eyes wide-open if you decide to change career fields - entry-level is what you're going to get -- if you're lucky. BTW, when a full-time permanent position came open, my boss hired me over other applicants even though I was not fully-qualified for the job. Sometimes good things happen, too.

 

[A1cntrler]

Thanks all for the great advice. I know about the FAA hiring a lot of people here pretty soon. The wife is not sold on the shift work thing again. I have been doing shift work since I have known her.



PRM- I am stationed at VACAPES, right outside of Oceana. We run the warning areas off the coast and some of the ATCAAs and MOAs down near NKT.



lasik- I like the limo idea, but it seem that limos around here are a dime a dozen. In fact I see one in my in-laws neighborhood parked daily now--a Charger limo--pretty slick looking! Does that PT limo still have the I-4 motor in it??



kefguy- My dad has been a government worker for the past 25 years and just sent me that link to the website you mentioned. I haven't had time to explore it yet, but will do so when I get home from work. I looked into ERAU before, and almost have enough credits for a degree in Air Traffic Control without setting foot in a classroom. Would just need to get the Navy or VA to pay for it. I could hang it right next to the wifes Doctorate...lol.

 

[P M]

Ahh, "giantkiller"



On the other side of the FedEx/UPS/USPS, if you can get a job with FedEx or UPS, they are only going to grow. That means better opportunity for job stability, more promotion opportunities, etc. Companies which are successful can take better care of their employees.