Hey everyone, I'm seeking advice from fellow HPA veterans as I know we have plenty of them here. I'm separating from active duty Air Force after 9 years and finishing my time with the Air National Guard. I have a bachelors degree and two associates degrees. I am definitely grateful for the experience I have gained and everything the military has done for me and my family. Despite my education and experience I am still freaking out about the transition to civilian life. I'm looking for any advice you all have to offer me and experiences you may have had doing the same thing. I'm scheduled for my transition classes and I have started to apply for jobs, but the anxiety is setting in. Thanks in advance.
Separating from the Military
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14,317 Posts
It sounds like you want to get out but are nervous about it. I was in that position but after 6 years.
I would say go for it and realize you may not get the civilian job want at first, but with your Military history and education you should have a promising future. my two cents
I would say go for it and realize you may not get the civilian job want at first, but with your Military history and education you should have a promising future. my two cents
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5,891 Posts
My father was in the Air Force for 10 years, mostly in satellite stuff. When he got out he went right back to that stuff and at the same place originally. He's been at it for close to 45 years since getting out of the Air Force. 75 and still working full time at Lockheed Martin.
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5,520 Posts
I retired from the Air Force as a satellite communications tech., and moved into a similar field of electronics.
Depending on your AFSC, there are opportunities. Plus veterans preference on some positions.
Personally, if I was getting out now, and at your age, I would check the job market in your separating location. Using one of the job sites, LinkedIn, local news sites and job sites, etc. If work is there to be had, next find a proper school system and community for the wife and kids. It is not like on-base or even off base communities at Seymour Johnson. Next door school districts are night and day for education. Plus for housing, Townhome communities, and even the developments going in recently, like to have housing associations that dictate appearance, and what you can and can't do to the appearance. Stay away from them if you can!
A good school and community makes time at work easier! Remember, if Mom and the ********* aren't happy, nobody's happy!
Then once you are working, your hardest decision will be attire for the work day!
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Depending on your AFSC, there are opportunities. Plus veterans preference on some positions.
Personally, if I was getting out now, and at your age, I would check the job market in your separating location. Using one of the job sites, LinkedIn, local news sites and job sites, etc. If work is there to be had, next find a proper school system and community for the wife and kids. It is not like on-base or even off base communities at Seymour Johnson. Next door school districts are night and day for education. Plus for housing, Townhome communities, and even the developments going in recently, like to have housing associations that dictate appearance, and what you can and can't do to the appearance. Stay away from them if you can!
A good school and community makes time at work easier! Remember, if Mom and the ********* aren't happy, nobody's happy!
Then once you are working, your hardest decision will be attire for the work day!
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2,074 Posts
Give this site a good look. Your military time does count towards federal employee retirement. All federal jobs go thru this site.
https://www.usajobs.gov/
https://www.usajobs.gov/
Thanks for the replies. I have full intentions of seeking employment with the Va. Both of my parents retired after 30+ years at the Va. We've picked out the school districts we prefer. If I don't have any offers before I get back I'll visit the state employment office. They now give us some kind of gold card that's supposed to move vets to the front of the job line the first 6 months after separation. I've saved up 60 days of terminal leave so that I can give us a little cushion in case I can't find employment. My background is both in Fuels as a laboratory supervisor/distribution supervisor and for the last 4.5 years I've been a Leadership Instructor. Thanks again for the advice so far. I am definitely nervous, but committed to the decision. If I didn't have a family I would be far less concerned.
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1,098 Posts
You'll be fine. Just remember, we all have to get out of the military sometime. There's alot of jobs out there. In the Army you go through seperation classes, I would imagine the Air Force probably has something similar. They should help you write a resume. What I was taught and worked for me was to not fill it full of military jargon that no one will understand. No acrynoms or anything. Stress your leadership skills, works well under pressure, used to having short time requirements etc etc.
As soon as I left the Army in 09 after 8 years of being in, I went right into a job as a military contractor and went right back to Iraq so I was lucky. Then I ended up working as a contractor stateside for a bit and now am a federal employee. Definitly check out the USAJOBs.gov website.
The biggest thing is to figure out what you want to do and where you want to live, then works towards making it happen.
As soon as I left the Army in 09 after 8 years of being in, I went right into a job as a military contractor and went right back to Iraq so I was lucky. Then I ended up working as a contractor stateside for a bit and now am a federal employee. Definitly check out the USAJOBs.gov website.
The biggest thing is to figure out what you want to do and where you want to live, then works towards making it happen.
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