UNIFORM TO BUSINESS SUIT: Helping the Military Professional Transition to Federal Employment (2007)

United States has an obligation to assist veterans in readjusting to civilian life. It is the policy of the United States to promote the maximum of employment and job advancement opportunities within the Federal Government for qualified covered [1] For professionals in the careers industry, veterans have always been a special class of clients. Veterans who want to transition directly from active duty to serve in the Federal government are an important subset of that group. I wrote this article to introduce you to the first group in general and to help you support the second group specifically. I will start by offering tools you can use to work with transitioning military clients. Then I will describe the special considerations that apply when these men and women seek Federal employment. Limitations: I won't describe the details of how to apply for a Federal job. However, I will summarize the special preferences and restrictions that apply to veterans. Also, space won't permit me to explain the different procedures aimed at helping disabled veterans. Assumptions: Because of the population we serve, I assume you will only be working with skilled and experienced military professionals from any of the Uniformed Services, particularly top three NCOs and commissioned officers with skills and security clearances useful to the Federal government in responsible positions. Meet the military professional: Generalizations have limitations; however, what follows is an accurate description of a typical military transition client you may want to serve. Civilians move from job to job, company to company; military members do not. On a practical level, all their jobs are with the same company. On a cultural level, each assignment is part of their calling to serve. They take on very large responsibilities very early. Those who do well are happiest with responsibilities they know are vital to the mission. Over several years, the more senior military professionals will have worked in many different career fields. They have a strong sense of morality and work ethic. The majority look for solutions inside themselves first as they tackle new problems. They believe strongly in the immediate, real, solid facts they have gathered by experience. Their thinking tends to be objective and logical and they thrive in planned, orderly environments. Those familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator will recognize these clients as typical ISTJ. [2] Until January 2005, they were motivated to earn an advanced degree. [3] Stereotypes military clients may encounter: At the moment, the military is held in high esteem. However, because we have had an all volunteer force for nearly 35 years [4], fewer interviewers and career professionals have first hand knowledge of military life. They may hold the following stereotypic images-all false-about these clients. Stereotype one: Military clients are rigid. They only do things one way. Outside the military, we must be nimble, reacting to changing conditions fast. The truth: military people are trained to make the right decision in nearly any situation. Sometimes, they have seconds to act. Other times, they have taken months to develop carefully supported plans. Stereotype two: Military people never have to think. They just gave or take orders. The truth: I gave just one direct order in my 26-year career. That is more than almost any other senior officer I know. Today's soldiers, sailors, and airmen are too smart to accept what they hear without question. Stereotype three: Military people have unlimited funding and an unlimited work force. They don't understand profit and loss. The part about profit is true. But military professionals are evaluated rigorously and regularly on their ability to control cost. In addition, the military buys services through a competitive process that often pits other services against private contractors. …