Introduction
Many people join the army when they are young most probably in the late teen and early twenties. The majority leave a few years later various reasons while still young majorly in their thirties or forties. Those who exit the force still young have to earn a living and this means to venture into other careers. However, this change is not easy because military service is different from other professions where a shift from one line of duty is less challenging (Whitworth et al., 2020). The service men and women are trained to work in a unique environment. They go through thorough training for several months before going to the field.
The kind of training they engage in drastically changes their thinking when compared to people who have never gone for such an exercise. A change from military service to another occupation can be the largest hurdle to handle (Keeling, 2018). Closing the gap between military and civilian employment is a complicated process but achievable with a strategy. This paper discusses difficulties that ex-military persons encounter while looking for jobs and strategies that can be employed to facilitate the process.
Challenges Ex-Military Face in Career Transition
When the veterans change their careers, it turns their lives around; it changes their identity, status in society, finances, residence, and lifestyle. Troupers, particularly those who have served for a long time have lack experience in job-hunt practices. Some might have impractical prospects regarding their roles and the salary. Due to the long time spent in service, many might have financial management problems, social relationship challenges, and/or substance abuse issues (Keeling, 2018). A combination of the above-mentioned factors makes it harder for the ex-military people to work and interact with other employees. The latter leads those who eventually get the jobs to lose them just after a while.
One of the challenges that make it difficult for veterans to get employment is their health. Many leave the service mentally and physically damaged, they struggle with managing their psychological wellness. It is therefore difficult for them to return to work as mental health symptoms can affect an individual’s capabilities to acquire or sustain an occupation. Researchers have connected employment status to various mental health illnesses, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorder, depression, and alcohol and drug abuse (Jansson & Gunnarsson, 2018; Hennekam et al., 2020). While there is a successful transition from military services into normal employment, there remain a high number of ex-military personnel that find difficult to access civilian labor.
In addition to mental health, veterans are used to working in an isolated environment where the only kind of socialization they have is with their colleagues. Long time isolation makes it difficult for them to socialize well with other citizens making it hard for them to work in places that require social skills (Whitworth et al., 2020). Furthermore, many of the army men and women exit the service with physical permanent injuries that disadvantage them from working in many workstations. The disability also makes employers stigmatize the ex-militants, viewing them as a burden to their companies. The inability to secure employment and the stigma from employers fuel the stress among the veterans making a vicious cycle of problems continues.
Education also plays a major role in transition from military life to civilian life. Many people join the army immediately after high school without attaining any other educational training. The above-stated means that the a good number will exit the active duty with only a high school certification if they did not acquire any other professional training in service (Williams et al., 2018). The latter disadvantages the veterans in labor market when compared to other people seeking the same jobs. Those who have an advantage are those who might have to acquired tutelage and be given a certificate by the military. The others might want to start their educational lives afresh by going to college. The transition, therefore, becomes difficult for those who had joined the force without any other skills (Williams et al., 2018). The whole process impacts individuals psychologically, though it might not appear so, the nature of the transition is far more complex mentally than it is recognized.
Evidence show that ex-militants experience challenges with anger upon returning to civilian life, tense family relationships, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among other mental issues. If not treated, these issues can lead to poor coping approaches that might result to an intensification of substance abuse. Anger issues have a negative impact on sustaining employment. The latter implies that most veterans are not compatible with other people hence it becomes difficult to keep a job that involves interactions (Haugstvedt & Koehler, 2021). Additionally, the anger problem scares eligible employers since no one would be willing to accommodate a person that cannot control their feelings.
The issue of mismatch between the expertise and skills of the veterans and what is required in the job market reduces the chances of the officers getting another job. Many of the ex-officers only have military training that can only be used on security jobs which many might not be interested to do. Additionally, there is also the employers’ stereotype against the veterans, although employers acknowledge that veterans are well trained in discipline, time management, cleanliness, and loyalty among others, still they do not find the veterans suitable to work in their firms (Whitworth et al., 2020). It is also difficult to fit into other professions, as a majority of veterans believes that civilian employers do not understand their needs. There is a need to address these conflicts between employers and veteran job seekers to ensure an easy transition.
The military identity and values like honor, loyalty, and commitment to the army and nation conflict with materialistic, individualistic, and libertarian civilian morals and making it harder for the ex-officers to assume other working identities. The latter creates a wide gap between the veterans and civilian employment cultures. The identity crises affect their probability of finding apposite work, as many ex-militaries do not want to let go of their military identity (Williams et al., 2018). The army’s high level of institutionalization greatly influences the transition to civilian life. To maintain their military identities most of the veterans tend to seek work within other similar institutions such as prisons and security work.
Curbing the Transition Challenges
The above section has exposed the fact that ex-military men and women face a wide range of challenges while trying to acquire employment after exiting the active service. The transition experiences of veterans are often complex, and an effective shift requires a collection of support and initiative. The process of change from the army to a civilian career should incorporate numerous stakeholders such as the military, government, employer groups, and non-government establishments like the veteran’s associations, education, and training institutions to address potential risks and protective aspects (Bahtic et al., 2020). The engagement of the above-state bodies assists in preparing the ex-officers for exit and equipping them with adaptation mechanisms. The involvement of the employers in this process will also heal handle negative stereotypes and make it easier for them to employ the veterans.
One of the ways that can greatly influence an easy transition from veteran to civilian life is going through therapy. It is evident from the literature reviewed in the above section that army officers leave the service with mental issues like PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia among others (Bahtic et al., 2020). When these psychological issues are not addressed, they make it hard to transition to civilian work life. Counseling should therefore be the first step the officers take before beginning to look for a new job. The counseling sessions will help in addressing the psychological issues built up during service that might be a hindrance to an easy transition (Williams et al., 2018). The military administration should have these therapists ready to talk to these officers as they exit active service. However, many officers do not acquire counseling and enter the civilian world with all the mental baggage they acquire in service hence challenging their chances to get and keep employment.
In addition to attending counseling, the military Transition Assistance Program (TAP) established in 1991 helps prepare service men and women for their shift to civilian life. The initiative’s main purpose is to prepare the transitioning military members for employment or education after their service. Additionally, the programs assist them to understand and apply for a broad range of available veteran benefits (Congressional Research Service, 2018). TAP can go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges these officers experience while looking at applying for opportunities. The initiative also helps direct the officers on which opening aligns with their skills and expertise acquired in the force. The latter helps in narrowing down the firms that can be accommodative to the veterans, hence it reduces the issues of stigma and stereotypes.
Furthermore, the Department of Defense (DoD) developed a SkillBridge program for exiting service men and women. The initiative provides the officers an opportunity to improve their marketability and post-service work prospects. The soldiers attain civilian work experience through industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of active service (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2021). The plan engages over 500 DoD-sponsored industry partners, featuring curricula ranging from software development to architectural construction. The department mandates all the programs to offer the trainees a high probability of post-service employment with the provider or other employers in a related field (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2021). This scheme is beneficial in reducing the gap that exists in veterans’ career transition.
Moreover, the ministry of defense should take it as its duty to offer a certificate to soldiers while in service for any kind of training they undertake. Even though military training equips the officers with skills and expertise, they are not recognized by an educational institution (Norris, 2021). The latter is the reason why the army administrations should make sure the training done in course of duty is accredited by an academic institution. The above-stated will give men and women in service an added advantage while transitioning to a civilian career. The certification in service is necessary because the majority leave the force when they are advanced in age. Consequently, their success often depends on their ability to make rapid progress and build on the knowledge they have established in the services (Norris, 2021). Awarding the veterans certificate will help bridge the gap in transitioning from military to civilian professions.
Conclusion
Literature in the above section has shown that the transition from military to a civilian career is one of the hardest changes in the lives of veterans. Psychological, physical, social, and institutionalization are the major factors that make it difficult for ex-soldiers to join other careers. Studies have shown that working in the army is an identity and a lifestyle that takes a lot of effort to change. Lack of education and experience is also another factor that disadvantages men and women who spent most of their youthful years in service. However, there is still hope for a successful transition with counseling, post-military exit training, certification on courses done while in service, and the adoption of various initiatives like the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and SkillBridge.
The transition challenges are many but with cooperation from all stakeholders like the military administration, government, and non-governmental institutions, it is possible to achieve a smooth career transition from a veteran to a civilian. This study, therefore, supports the involvement of all concerned parties in helping ex-soldiers settle down in new professions. Additionally, this investigation recommends that the army administration should make it part of their mandate to train and award certificates to soldiers in the course of their service. The above measures will reduce the gap and the difficulties that exist between the military and civilian occupational change.
References
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