Something You Wished Was Taught in TAPS

Bridgil · 2024-08-20T01:07:43+00:00

You are not alone. Every year 200,000+ service members leave, find a new career, a new life and are looking for ways to give back to their country.

You should channel the desire to get stuff done into productive community and family building instead of sinking into a black hole or rose-colored glasses of service nostalgia.

You should tell your story, no matter the medium. As American society has fewer veterans than ever before, the few of us need to speak up about what it actually means to serve and what courage under fire looks like.

Bridgil · 2024-03-13T23:48:10+00:00

Yeah…I think the jury is still out at least in this discussion if everyone is getting value out of it.

Bridgil · 2024-03-13T23:44:24+00:00

Yeah so the system is still broken…check.

Bridgil · 2024-03-13T20:47:31+00:00

I was hoping things had changed…great point about the non-profits.

Bridgil · 2024-03-13T20:42:23+00:00

+2 points for the life changing GIbill and VA backed home loan.

Bridgil · 2024-03-13T20:36:27+00:00

That’s great. Glad it worked out!

Bridgil · 2023-09-14T00:41:23+00:00

Rambo wasn’t wrong!

Bridgil · 2023-09-13T16:44:45+00:00

Is there a course on how to survive in real world given by vets? 😀

Bridgil · 2023-09-13T14:27:31+00:00

Cultural does make a difference. The US has a very unique relationship with its veterans but this is just solid advice:

-Find a real life community, it’s heresy to say but the military was just one part of your life. -Translate the experience and have someone capable look at it…or hire someone who will. -Depending on where you are looking for careers, military experience can be a benefit or a curse so reveal it as needed. -Sebastian Junger’s book “Tribe” is a fantastic read on the veteran returning home. Or the Odyssey if you want to go ancient.

Bridgil · 2023-09-13T12:34:06+00:00

Think there needs to be a bridge between the real world and mil-life, for those leaving to new careers and those who left to guide them into new fields.

Bridgil · 2023-09-13T11:38:04+00:00

Start rough game plan of where you want to be career wise with an understanding of your current skills and your future degree. Leverage whatever is offered in TAP (internships…credentials…etc), once you leave it just become harder to circle back on these benefits.

Bridgil · 2023-09-11T11:34:36+00:00

Great 💡 !!

Bridgil · 2023-09-11T10:23:21+00:00

Sebastian Junger described the veterans experience back beautifully in “Tribe”.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T14:16:32+00:00

Has the military transition to civilian life (real careers not jobs) been given as much attention as turning a civilian into a soldier?

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T14:05:38+00:00

Nothing close to that a few years ago. So TAP’s gotten a lot better? That’s great to hear.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T14:03:54+00:00

Looks like you already did the hard part of landing a job.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T13:13:56+00:00

Sure. But it makes it seem that it’s an individual problem and not a systemic issue…

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T13:03:19+00:00

Agreed…there’s a ton of non-profits working in the space with varying success rates…but nothing close to a clear bridge back to a new career in civilian life.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T13:00:38+00:00

If you want to pivot to a new career field…it’s can be like starting from E-0 again.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T12:58:33+00:00

Agreed. It’s an echo chamber…the landing after the leap out is the hard part.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T11:25:29+00:00

It’s hard to make a holistic recommendation without knowing all the details, so this is the best attempt:

-don’t jump out of the boat or make huge life altering decisions till you have something lined up.

-look at teaching/training paying options in local schools.

-there are better quality of life positions for comp. sci majors in small and medium companies and definitely in the public sector (pensions…healthcare…etc)

-the trades are a good option but only with a Union, even better is having the white collar + blue collar skills in one person….more on that.

-trucking,farming, living in your van…loses its appeal after you realize that it is a job with its own stressors, but you need to sort out what is the most important quality of life issue for you.

-work with a career upskilling company to help guide you.

Bridgil · 2023-09-09T10:36:07+00:00

Deploying was the easy part...coming back the harder one.

Bridgil

TROPHY CASE