Military Transition News – September/October 2013, Franchise and Education Issue

September - October 2013militarytransitionnews.com

The Essential Military-to-Civilian Transition Resource N E W S

C i v i l i a n J O B S . c o m ’ s

September is College Savings Month. Find out moreabout continuing your education inside this issue!

ContinuingEducationProfiles........pages 4 & 13

Transition Talk:How to ID careers....................page 3

Job Fairs:EmployersReady to Hire........page 18

Career Coach’s Corner:More Education -Yes or No?..................page 17

Spouse Series:It’s Time forThe Talk.............page 10

by Heidi Lynn Russell Contributing Editor

Roger Gauert and Jeff Olson own two completely different

types of business franchises: Gauert has two Sport Clips – hair-cutting franchises in Maryland. Olson has one Papa Murphy’s – a take-and-bake pizza franchise in Wisconsin. But, both have one thing in common: Each chose veteran-friendly corporations to launch their businesses, through the VetFran® program offered by the International Franchise Association (IFA). VetFran helps returning service members access franchise opportunities through training, financial assistance and industry support.

When all is said and done, veterans taking care of veterans makes all the difference to a fledgling business, Gauert and Olson say. Not only that, they observe that the military’s leadership culture also lends to workplace climates that in turn lead to franchise success. Gauert’s business was so successful after he opened in 2012 that he launched a second store in 2013, and Olson is also experiencing strong gains in his operation, which he opened just this January.

“In the military, we take care of the people we work with and the people who work for us. When you do that in a business, those people take care of you,” says Gauert, who initially served as a Marine and later became an aviator in the Air Force for 17 years. “Yesterday we had a Sport Clips’ picnic for our two stores and had a get-together like we would in the Air Force. Not all civilian businesses do it. The camaraderie the military provides sets the tone for how you handle employees. When you do that for employees, it makes a big difference to them.”

Since the IFA launched “Operation Enduring Opportunity” in 2011 to help veterans in the transition from the military, more than 4,300 veterans have become new franchise owners, says Joe Lindenmayer, VetFran Committee Chair. Lindenmayer also is a veteran and President/COO of TSS Photography Inc. in Duluth, Ga. He exited the Marines as a corporal in 1996.

Veterans fill one of seven jobs in the franchise field. In total, 56,000 veteran-owned franchises are open nationwide, Lindenmayer says.

Do you have an entrepreneurial bent for franchise ownership? And, if you decide to take the plunge, how do you secure financial support through VetFran and other programs? When can you expect to start seeing success? Here’s a

primer from Lindenmayer, Gauert and Olson.

Lead time: Give yourself a minimum of three to six months. If possible, talk to veterans who own franchises one to two years before you exit the military, Lindenmayer says. “If you have a passion, you can learn it, even if you don’t have prior experience,” he says. “Give yourself time to look at the geographic area for your franchise. Stay a few days or for a long weekend. All of these things lead to the right organization: category of franchise, location, service brand.”

Evaluate whether a company

is military-friendly by whether it is flexible with your preparation time, Lindenmayer adds. “Some organizations really want people to go through their process in a pre-determined amount of time, and if you’re not ready to go in three months, they put you off. But, a good franchise organization who understands the military knows it’s not possible,” he says.

Evaluate companies: Don’t just stick with Internet research, either. “In some respects, with social media, folks can post negative feedback without having to back it up,” Lindenmayer says.

Follow Lindenmayer’s recom-mended steps to properly evaluate:

1) Look at ratings on the company. Study its website, including what people are posting and any media or publicity

surrounding the organization. 2) Visit franchise owners. Ask

them how much money can be made and how much training is needed. “Some questions, people aren’t comfortable answering over the phone. Develop a rapport. Make sure it’s not a potential competitor so that you’re asking proprietary or personal questions. The franchisor may have a process where they’ve cleared you to contact existing owners. Always ask them, ‘Would you do it again, if you had it over?’” Lindenmayer says.

3) Continue digging even after

contacting three franchise owners. “Call a fourth and try to find something that isn’t as good as you’d like it to be about this franchise,” Lindenmayer says.

Assess your strengths: Ask current colleagues and supervisors if you’re cut out for franchising. “Ask for a 360-degree evaluation from your command officer, people at higher levels, peers and people that may report to you,” Lindenmayer says. “Ask, ‘Would I be good at managing a business?’ People are willing to do that. If you have honest people around you, you will get great feedback.”

Secure funding: “I call it, ‘shopping for money,’” Lindenmayer says. Franchise fees vary, from under $25,000 for home-based businesses all the way up to $4 to $6 million for other franchise concepts, he says. Under the VetFran program, 540 franchise companies have agreed to give their best discount or incentives to veterans.

“For some, it may be a $5,000 discount on the franchise fee; for others, a free franchise fee,” he says. VetFran.com offers a mentorship

program, in which military members can register for free with no obligation. The IFA is also in discussions with the VA to set up an educational program to teach veterans about building a business plan and hiring practices, Lindenmayer says.

“Whatever veterans save, that allows them to use those savings towards equity in getting a (Veterans Administration) Patriot Express Loan,” he adds.

In Olson’s case, Papa Murphy’s gives him a break through VetFran

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

“Veterans fill one of seven jobs in the franchise field. In total, there are 56,000 veteran-owned franchises nationwide,” Lindenmayer says.

continues page 6

Are you cut out to own a franchise?

Roger Gauert, Sport Clips

N E W S2 Sep/Oct 2013

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Publisher Jake HutchingsManaging Editor Kathy ScottArt Director Alec TrapheagenAssociate Editor Anthony MorrisContributing Editors Janet Farley Carolyn Heinze Heidi Russell Tom WolfeDirector of Technology Don NowakExecutive Consultant Marla SmithAccount Representative Brett ComerfordAccount Representative Donny GrahamAccount Representative Paul Raihle

Military Transition News is published by:CivilianJobs.com1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Suite 300Kennesaw, GA 301441-866-801-4418

Reproduction or use without permission of any editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. The inclusion of advertising is considered a service to our readers and is not an endorsement of products or advertising claims. Opinions expressed in articles are the opinions of the contributors and do not necessarily express the opinions of Military Transition News or its staff.Subscription rate: $12 per year (6 issues). To subscribe, call 1-866-801-4418.

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Military Transition News and CivilianJobs.com are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused placement firm in the U.S.

by Mike Arsenault Director of Candidate Services

Bradley-Morris answers questions from transitioning military job seekers.

Q: I’m thinking about going back to school, but I’m interested in pursuing a two-year degree. Do you have any suggestions on good job opportunities that require only an associate degree?

A: Yes. I’d suggest referencing the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), which you can find online at www.bls.gov/ooh/. This is a great place to browse and research different industries and careers when you’re not quite sure what you’re interested in doing after you transition.

One example is in the Healthcare field. EMTs and Paramedics are expected to be in high demand from now until 2020 as well as Vascular Technologists and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians. A number of professionals in these sought-after fields have an associate degree.

Also, the Transportation and Moving industry offers several job occupations that do not require a bachelor’s degree, for example, air traffic controller, dispatcher and freight supervisor.

Q: How important is it for me to know programs like PowerPoint, Excel or Photoshop?

A: While it obviously depends on your area of interest, it is becoming increasingly important to have some sort of familiarity with these systems. Chances are you will end up using them in your professional or personal life.

If you are looking to take a class on one of these programs, I would start with your local community college. Most regularly offer continuing education classes in these areas and may even offer a discount for military. Some may find it’s easier to learn from an on-site trainer than an online course, but either is a good resource.

Mike Arsenault is Director of Candidate Services at military placement firm Bradley-Morris, Inc. He can be reached at (800) 330-4950 ext. 2105 or by email at marsenault (at) bradley-morris.com.

Transition Talk

Read this issue online now at Online.MilitaryTransitionNews.com

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An Educated TransitionRealize the value of a college degree

After two tours in Iraq and three in Korea, U.S. Army veteran James Ortega knew

there was only one way to provide a secure future for his family after he left the military: get an education.

“Like most enlisted members of the military, as I progressed through my career I realized that the key to achieving success would be found not only in my formal military experience but in the continuation of my civilian education,” says Ortega.

He joined the Army in 1992 and spent 20 years working on military telecommunications systems, with a focus in radio frequency management.

“When I finally decided to get out of the military, the recession was sliding into its worst,” he says. “I knew I had to do something to distinguish myself. I decided to throw everything into my education and push forward as fast as I could.”

In 2007, he enrolled at University of Phoenix to pursue his bachelor’s degree in business management. The University’s online program afforded him the flexibility to earn his degree no matter how many moves and deployments he had. After earning his degree, he began seriously considering his civilian job search.

“It was not an ideal time to make the transition,” says Ortega. “A lot of people come out of the military and think jobs will be

there for the taking, but that is not the case anymore.”

He enrolled in classes offered by the Army Career & Alumni Program to learn how to write a strong resume and apply for civilian and federal jobs.

“I can’t stress how much effort it takes,” he says. “I had 10 people vet my resume.”

He sent out close to 200 resumes, each customized for the position and hiring organization. He also ramped up his networking efforts. Eventually, he landed his current position of telecommunications specialist at Fort Huachuca Network Enterprise Center in Tucson, Arizona. His responsibilities are similar to those he had while in the military.

Though he knew he had a solid foundation of skills and experience from his time in the Army, Ortega credits his degree with helping him find success after retirement.

“Everybody can find a reason to wait or not go to school, but no matter where you stand at the moment, it is always a feather in your cap to pursue education and continuously improve yourself,” says Ortega, who’s pursuing his MBA at University of Phoenix.

For more inspiring military profiles, and education and transition information and resources, visit www.phoenixpatriotmagazine.com.

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on royalty and advertising fees for the first three years that he is an owner. His initial cost was just over $200,000, which included the franchise fee and buildup cost to get the store ready. Olson took out a small business loan.

Olson served 30 years full-time with the Army National Guard in Wisconsin and was a Sgt. 1st Class. He exited in October 2011 and started his Papa Murphy’s business in December 2012. The values of the franchise meshed with his military background.

“They intrigued us, what they stand for. They’re really big on customer service and that’s important, and they emphasize quality, low price and fast, friendly service. We decided that’s what we wanted, and they sold us the market in Sparta,” Olson says.

“Papa Murphy’s has some lending people, and I was able to take my Military First savings plan – my 401(k) – and rolled it over into a self-directed 401(k) and used some of my retirement funds to help offset the startup costs. It worked out really well,” he says.

In Gauert’s case, Sport Clips gave him a $5,000 franchise fee discount. “Any franchise that wants to give you a discount has made a commitment to you. They want you and want to work with you. What it

shows, too, is that they’ve had success with veterans. Everything the military does may not work in every instance, but those given VetFran discounts work well in our system,” he says.

Look at what banks and other funding sources can do for you. The Patriot Express can offer interest rates from 2.5 to 5 percent, depending on your credit score, Lindenmayer says. He adds that the bank loan sources have evolved to the favor of the veteran.

“If you’re a veteran and want a loan for a franchise system with a proven track record, you move to the head of the line. These lenders don’t have huge concerns about lending,” he says.

And, what if you haven’t been able to save up during your military service? “Then there are other options and opportunities out there, like crowd funding (small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals),” Lindenmayer says. “There are neat opportunities to get assistance through communities in addition to the loans. The message here is there are a lot of different solutions and not a one-size-fits-all approach to achieving this.”

He also suggests working for a franchise system that caters to veterans if you decide you don’t have the resources to buy one for yourself.

Heidi Lynn Russell writes about employment and business issues.

“Are you cut out to own a franchise?” continued from page 1

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Airborne infantry vet makes a new jump with a franchise

As a seasoned veteran in both the military and the appliance repair industry, Bob Tuck served

as an airborne infantryman before he and his wife, Nita, opened their franchise, Mr. Appliance of Naples, Florida in 2004. Having an early jumpstart in the appliance repair industry, Bob soon discovered how his military training would be an asset when running his franchise.

One of seven home service brands supported by The Dwyer Group®, the holding company for these franchise brands, Mr. Appliance consists of over 160 locations across North America and is the industry leader for appliance repair services in both performance and customer satisfaction. The Dwyer Group and Mr. Appliance provide all of their franchisees with tested business systems for better business practices, full support services and continued educational opportunities.

What is the greatest advantage that veterans have when opening a franchise?

Certainly financial to begin with. For the Mr. Appliance franchise, I received a veteran financial discount on the franchise fee through VetFran. But the VetFran discount is nowhere near as impressive once you visit and participate in a Dwyer Group function of any kind. They’re so appreciative of veterans and service people. For me that’s even more important than the financial advantages. Just to be a part of an organization that is so appreciative of our young men and women serving, it’s really just a great feeling.

How do the business systems for your franchise relate to your military training?

The military is full of systems and many of them aren’t quite as efficient as many of the systems that The Dwyer Group and Mr. Appliance have in place. The fact remains that we come out of the service, and we’re used to systems. We’re used to following a set protocol each day. The business systems at The Dwyer Group and Mr. Appliance work beautifully. For a new veteran coming in, Mr. Appliance really is a turnkey business for somebody that knows how to follow directions, follow a system and trust in their leaders. I think that’s what makes a good soldier.

How has your military background had an impact on your business today?

In business, although there are some really good times, there are also some really tough times. I still go back to the principles and the mindset that I learned during the service when those challenges come along, and I would say that’s how the service has most helped me in business as a Mr. Appliance.

What would you say to a fellow veteran considering a franchise such as a Mr. Appliance?

Go for it! I never knew that owning an appliance repair business would be a part of my future, but the business systems provided by Mr. Appliance made my success possible. It was hard for me to go wrong with the support of the Mr. Appliance franchise processes and systems.

For more information regarding the Mr. Appliance opportunities in your area visit www.mrappliancefranchise.com, or for more information regarding Veteran discounts with The Dwyer Group and Mr. Appliance visit their website at www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com/vetfran.

An interview with Veteran and Mr. Appliance® franchise owner Bob Tuck.


by Janet Farley Contributing Editor

Sooner or later, you will be having The Talk. Not the one where you reveal that

yet another baby is on the way or where you nonchalantly mention that your mother is planning an extended visit to your guest room, but The Talk, where you and your uniformed spouse figure out what you’re going to do in your post-military life.

Your talk may happen according to your carefully pre-planned schedule. The date may have been circled in red on your calendar for years. Game on.

Or not. Maybe your talk is forced upon you due

to any number of unexpected life and/or Congressional events hell-bent on changing the course of your own personal history.

In the end, the timing of The Talk is irrelevant.

The important thing is to have it in the first place and use it as a starting point for making your career transition together a successful one.

It doesn’t have to be a complicated

conversation, although it certainly helps if it is an honest one.

You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that The Talk can be drilled down to answering and prioritizing three basic questions:

• Wheredoyouwanttolivenext?• Whatdoyouwanttodo professionally?• Whatareyoursalaryrequirements?If you want to have a little fun in the

process, first answer the questions solo and then get together and compare your answers.

Any surprises? Are your answers in harmony with one another or is it simply a miracle that you’ve remained together this long? Who’s sleeping on the couch tonight?

After you get past the initial shock or high-fiving of it all, start to discuss your answers on a more in-depth basis. Delve into the finer details and try to get a good grip here.

Why did you answer and prioritize those questions the way you did? Were they realistic answers based on fact and logic, or whimsical ones based on wishful thinking?

Don’t worry. There aren’t any wrong answers. There are only your answers…and your spouse’s, too, of course.

Taking it to the next level…If you’ve ventured this far in the process,

kudos to you. Don’t stop now. Live on the edge and do a little more research.

Ask yourself these kinds of questions: • What is the estimated cost of living

for the place you want to live? How do you know that for sure? Did your check out at least three cost-of-living calculators and/or touch base with the local chamber of commerce? Have you talked to others who may actually live there for a boots-on-the-ground perspective?

• Whataboutthatnextjob?Isitsimilarto the one you’ve been doing or is it totally different? What is the potential market for the types of jobs you want to do in the area where you want to live? After all, you might want to relocate to the beautiful Alaskan wilderness, but if your chosen profession involves maintaining outdoor swimming pools, you could have a problem. Find out about the job market before you decide to move somewhere.

• Let’s not neglect to talk aboutyour future salary, either. Do you truly understand how much you need to make in the civilian world in order to maintain your current standard of living? Did you run the numbers? Have you looked up the going salary ranges for someone with your experience and expertise in the geographical area you’re targeting?

Now what?Now that you are armed with this

newfound intelligence, go back and revisit those three basic questions. Can you be more flexible if need be? Can you cast a wider net in order to increase your chances of finding a good, well-paying job in a place you would be willing to call home?

Janet Farley writes about career and workplace issues. She is the author of “Quick Military Transition Guide: Seven Steps to Landing a Civilian Job” (Jist Inc., 2012) and “The Military Spouse’s Guide to Employment: Smart Job Choices for Mobile Lifestyles” (Impact Publications, 2012). Follow her on Twitter @smartjobchoices and @mil2civguide.

Spouse Series:The Talk


by Tariq Farid

When Maurice Welton left the U.S. Army after six years as an E5

sergeant, a cook and a food inspector, he never dreamed that one day he would own four thriving stores making fresh fruit arrangements in the valley of South Texas. And he couldn’t have imagined that one day, he would be featured in national magazines and on national TV morning shows as an example of former military veterans turned successful business owners.

As Maurice says, you never know where life will take you. After being displaced from Louisiana to Texas following Hurricane Katrina, he discovered Edible Arrangements® while watching a TV show on which I was being interviewed. Maurice said, “I can do that!” and the rest is history. Today, he is one of our most successful and inspiring franchise partners.

I delight in sharing Maurice’s success story, because I know firsthand that dreams do come true - I came to this great country as a child, and am living proof that the American Dream is still alive and well.

Each of you has made tremendous sacrifices on a daily basis to protect the American Dream, our freedom and way of life. While making these sacrifices, you also developed skill sets - discipline, leadership and adaptability - that are critical to running a successful business.

Yet, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans still have an unemployment rate of 7.6 percent. That’s why more and more franchise companies like Edible Arrangements are increasing their support of programs such as the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran. That’s why we launched our own

program called Hero’s Welcome™, designed to provide veterans with a path to franchise ownership that includes mentoring from other franchise partners who were also military veterans. In addition, we have set a goal to hire at least 1,000 veterans in our locations nationwide.

We are not alone in this effort. Many other franchise companies have launched similar programs, as have government and non-profit organizations.

Franchising is not for everyone, of course, but for many, it is proven a pathway back to civilian life.

The key, as Maurice Welton will tell you, is to recognize that there are endless opportunities available once you return to civilian life, and to not be afraid to take advantage of those opportunities.

That’s what the American Dream is all about. And, if anyone deserves to experience everything the American Dream has to offer, it is you, the men and women of the American military.

Tariq Farid is founder and CEO of Edible Arrangements International, LLC, which recently made a $125,000 contribution to the IFA’s VetFran program, and is committed to helping veterans make a successful transition from the military back into civilian life.

For many veterans, franchising offers a path to the American Dream

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School Spirit Networking with vets helps maintain anesprit de corps on campus

by Carolyn Heinze Contributing Editor

If I had to make my entrance into Corporate America today, the main assets I used to get

a job without the benefit of a college degree - what my first editor described as “gumption” and “natural ability” - probably wouldn’t be enough. What’s more, “experience,” while valued, still requires additional skills and even a diploma, which is exactly what Armando Davila discovered during his job hunt following his transition out of the military.

Veterans Helping VeteransOriginally from The Dalles, Ore., Davila

served in the U.S. Marine Corps Infantry from 2001 to 2005. He completed two tours of duty in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. After being discharged, he worked a number of different jobs, but none of them promised a fulfilling career. It was when he began pursuing more career-oriented positions that he learned his military experience alone wasn’t enough for those who were doing the hiring.

“Military experience was looked at in high regard, but for most of the jobs that I applied for, they weren’t looking at it as being equivalent to a four-year degree,” he recounts, admitting that this was a great source of frustration. “I would think, ‘If I were looking to hire somebody with these experiences, I would know that they’ve definitely been tested - their leadership has been tested, their communication skills have been tested, everything.’ [But after a while] I thought, ‘I guess this is not good enough. I’ve got to get an education.’” In September 2009, he enrolled in the civil engineering program at the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls.

It was in a writing class that Davila met Joseph Miranda. Miranda, a native of Klamath Falls, had served in the Marine Corps as an F-18 airframe and hydraulics mechanic from 2004 to 2009. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005, and then to several countries overseas in 2007. Like Davila, in September 2009 he started at Oregon Tech, where he was also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering - this time, in renewable energy. He enrolled straight out of the military, describing the decision as a “no-brainer” for him.

“I think, for a lot of people in this day and age, it’s harder and harder to find jobs if you don’t have a college degree. You almost need a college degree just to get your foot in the door anywhere - even to get an interview,” he says.

Benefits of the G.I. BillWhat made his decision to enroll even

easier was that he was benefitting from the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

“Sometimes there are little kinks in the system here and there with the V.A., but in general, they do a good job. You get all of your tuition paid for, they give you money for books and other student fees, and you get a monthly housing allowance that’s based on

the location that you live in. So they really take care of you to the point where it actually makes it really easy, from a monetary sense, to transition from the military and go straight to school.”

Still, Chris Maples, president of OIT and a veteran himself, warns against solely relying on the G.I. Bill in favor of looking at other opportunities, such as scholarships and fellowships.

“Look very closely at the total cost of college - and that’s not just tuition and fees, but it’s books, room, board, living, and the cost of living in the place where you’re going to school,” he advises. “A lot of places will talk about their tuition and have as many as 40 or more different fees on top of all the tuition.” Depending on geography, cost of living can differ dramatically, and you also need to decide whether you want to live on campus or not.

Davila eventually changed over to OIT’s communications program, but his friendship with Miranda, born out of that writing class, resulted in the official establishment of the Oregon Tech Veterans Association (OVA). Miranda relays that OIT had a veterans’ club beforehand, on and off, but it would gradually die off as those who established it graduated. Under Davila and Miranda’s leadership, the OVA’s beginnings were humble, basically consisting of a lounge where student veterans could hang out. But as of press time, it had celebrated its first full year as an official program that is recognized by the Oregon University System (OUS), which means it’s allotted an annual budget. Now, along with the lounge, the OVA boasts actual offices where student veterans may come to get on the Internet, check emails and do homework. It even has its own library of textbooks.

Education Tools for Veterans“A lot of the veterans aren’t paying for

books, really, because we get them paid for by the G.I. Bill,” Miranda explains. “When we’re done using our books, instead of selling them back, we just leave them in the vets’ lounge and when other vets come in, or anyone on campus, we open it up and let them check out a book for the term if they need it and can’t afford it for whatever reason. It’s helped quite a few people out already.”

The OVA’s budget has increased this year, and Miranda recounts that one of his major goals is to invite different veteran-focused representatives to the school to speak on topics like PTSD, how the V.A. works and what that means when claiming benefits, and the myriad of issues that transitioning vets are faced with. “We want to incorporate more things that are specifically for veterans, other than just giving them a place to hang out,” he says. “We want to provide them with resources that they don’t have access to otherwise.”

For Davila, the OVA provides a way for on-campus veterans to at least recognize one another, although he jokes that it’s not really that difficult to spot a veteran on campus. “Haircut? Yeah. Carrying around a

camouflage backpack with a nametape on it? Yeah, that’s a veteran. It’s not like we’re hard to pick out!” What’s harder is breaking the ice, which is one of the goals behind the OVA. “Everybody is in this entirely new environment and with most veterans going into a new environment - especially civilian life - I feel that communication apprehension is really high. This is a new journey, going to school, and it’s different. A lot of the kids are younger. Our focus is a lot different than those of these younger kids. Veterans need to know other veterans, and they need to get together with other veterans to make the experience and the journey through college life a little bit easier. We’re there for one another, we know what it’s like, we know the camaraderie, we know the support, we know the commitment - we know all that we were taught before, and we know how to implement that into anything that we do, specifically, here, into college life.”

When School is CoolForming these friendships is important

since, for veterans, it’s often hard to relate to the “traditional” student population. For Davila, this really hit home on the occasions that he did mingle with the younger students at campus parties: he’d be socializing with them one night, and the next morning they didn’t show up to class because they were “under the weather” from staying up late. “They’re learning how the whole college thing works, but they don’t understand the responsibility that it takes. If you go out late and you’ve got things to do in the morning, you’ve still got to get up and do them. In the military, there was no calling in sick!” he jokes. “They’d be like, ‘How do you guys do it?’ And we’d say, ‘We’re veterans.”

Miranda recalls that the classroom itself was a little foreign. “You’re used to being hands-on and out working and being active,” he says. Not to mention getting used to paying attention to lectures and taking notes. “It’s a huge change from what you have been doing for the last four or five years - definitely a huge culture shock, I would say.”

Davila advises that prior to enrolling in the college you choose, to talk to the college’s certified veterans’ representative first. “There has to be a certified official at the school, because that’s the only way the benefits work,” he says. “If the school doesn’t have a certified official, you can’t use your G.I. benefits there.” Get in contact with this official, and find out if they can put you in touch with student veterans that are already there so that you may benefit from their experience. “That’s how you learn in the military - you learn from your NCOs, you learn from all the guys who have done it before you, and it just gets passed down.” The same, he says, can apply to college.

But, it only gets passed down if you ask for help - something that Maples believes that veterans aren’t always adept at doing. “The biggest mistake I see veterans make is that there is a little bit of a, ‘I’m tough and I can deal with this myself’ attitude. And so, if they

have struggles with some of the learning and struggles with some of the classes, rather than seek help they’ll try to tough it out themselves,” he says. “And, that’s a mistake. There are all kinds of things to help students, irrespective of whether they’re veterans or not, that are in place at various colleges and universities.” He notes that the tuition fees at Oregon Tech, for example, also include tutoring for everyone. “We really want people to take advantage of the tutoring, and not just say, ‘I can deal with it.’ There are these systems in place for a reason.”

Maples also counsels veterans to look into the success rate of the graduates of the institution of their choice - is it a good return on the investment of your educational dollar? Will the degree you want to pursue parlay into either a solid graduate program or employment at a reasonably high level of compensation? “Veterans have served the country and are given a salary for doing so and subsequent benefits afterwards, but to a certain extent, they need to take the future into their own hands as well, and make sure that the time that they spend is not wasted,” he says. “And, that the time that they spend actually then builds into a longer career trajectory that will be both fulfilling and rewarding, and will compensate them at a level that they deserve.”

Giving BackBoth Davila and Miranda have graduated.

Davila holds a bachelor’s in communications and is currently pursuing a post-graduate degree, with the goal of obtaining a Ph.D. and teaching in higher education. Aptly enough, he’s focusing his research on communications - specifically, interpersonal communication and conflict resolution for veterans with PTSD. Miranda now holds his bachelor’s in renewable engineering, and after finishing two more classes this term, he’ll have another bachelor’s degree. The OVA is still going strong, with Casey Coulson, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, picking up from where Davila and Miranda are leaving off.

While transitioning from the military into college can be a culture shock, especially when it comes to student friendships, Miranda points out that veterans are well-positioned to form solid relationships with faculty and administration. “The thing I would say about student veterans is that we’re used to having a goal, having a mission and completing that. Coming out of the military, that’s your mindset, and in my opinion, that’s your mindset for the rest of life,” he says. “And, I think a lot of the faculty and the administration - I know [it’s like this] at our school but I’m sure this is the case at other schools - they really appreciate having student veterans in class because they are very dedicated. They know that they’re there to get their work done. And, that’s the only reason that they’re there.”

Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor.


DEDICATION. COMMITMENT. SERVICE.

800-237-8279 • AFReserve.com/Prior

The Air Force Reserve offers great opportunities for people transitioning from active duty or those who have previously served in any branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. Part-time jobs in the Air Force Reserve give you the time and fi nancial support to continue your education or begin a civilian career. As a Reservist, you can retain the close friendships you gained in the military, and you will have the opportunity to do the extraordinary.

Connect with us


Transitioning A to ZIn the upcoming issues of Military Transition News, we will be listing everything a service member needs to know about transitioning,from A to Z.

This month, we tackle “E” and “F”.

“E”Explore and Eggs

You’ve probably spent the past few years thinking about your transition to civilian life, but thinking isn’t actually transitioning. Now that you are in the window of opportunity, Explore all your options from location and industry to job market and position. There are job opportunities available for veterans, but they may not be in your first choice of location, industry or position.

And as you continue with your search, don’t put all your Eggs in one basket or allow yourself to eliminate a company, a location, or even a particular type of job before you educate yourself with all of the information available. With thousands of opportunities in corporate America, many of the great places to work for former

military are outside the Fortune 500. In fact, many former military find a fast track to success with jobs in privately held firms and/or with jobs located outside of major metropolitan areas.

“F”Focus and Foot

Your Focus will be tested in your job search, especially when it comes to your resume. Remember that to a large extent, resumes aren’t there to help you get a job – they are there to potentially eliminate you from a job. When a recruiter or HR administrator is trying to pare down a stack of resumes from 100 to just a few for consideration, one misspelling or grammatical mistake can be the reason a resume ends up in the “circular file”. As you are working on various versions of your resume, find a place where you can truly focus on your task. It’s not something any of us are used to doing in our everyday

lives, so it requires extra concentration. After you are done, have someone else read over it. Then focus, and re-read it for yourself. Come back to it later and re-read it again. This focus will help your resume stay in the “keeper” pile.

Get off on the right Foot! Once you’ve taken your new job in corporate America, make sure you hit the ground running. Just like in the military, you only get one chance to get off to a great start. Your first month on the job will likely set the tone for your entire career:

• Comeinearlyandstaylate.• Askquestionsandbeenthusiastic.• Volunteerfortough, demanding assignments.• Bewillingandeagertoget your hands dirty.• Solveproblemsratherthangive reasons why things can’t be done.


A WORLD-CLASS COMPANY NEEDS WORLD-CLASS TALENTMILITARY VETERANS WANTED

At Shell, we consider military experience to be a valuable asset. We understand how skills learned in the military, such as leadership, teamwork, and commitment can translate into successful careers in civilian life. In Shell’s quest to meet the world’s rising demand for energy, advanced technologies and world class engineering solutions are unlocking new energy resources and developing existing oil and gas fields efficiently and responsibly. Discover how you can propel your career while helping solve some of the world’s biggest energy challenges.

View all current opportunities and apply online at www.shell.us/military.

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“ Although the work is challenging and complex, it is very rewarding to work together as a team to deliver some pretty awesome results – I love the people I work with!”

Explore life at Shell - scan to watch video.

– Andrew Castiglione, Field Maintenance Manager Naval Academy Graduate ‘98


by Tom Wolfe Career Coach and Contributing Editor

Additional education and specialized training will often increase the odds of

a successful military career, but will it also improve the odds of a successful military-to-civilian transition and civilian career? Before attempting to answer that question, you should first answer these three:

Why are you thinking about enhanced education? People may pursue this goal for many reasons, so it is important for you to identify your motivators, such as the following:

• Improving your prospects ofpromotion during your military career.• Having a strong interest in aparticular field and wanting to learn more about it.• Searching for meaning in your lifeand choosing to spend more time in an academic environment to help you find it.• Seekingasecondchancetoredeemyourself from a poor previous academic performance.• Wanting to give academic pursuitsone more try.• Completinganunfinisheddegreeorcourse of study.• Believing that your current academicprofile is insufficient to get you a good job.• Lacking the credentials in yourcurrent educational profile to pursue a job or career path that interests you.• Wanting to postpone makingdecisions about your future, since going back to school will allow you to take a break without creating a hole on your resume.• Not wanting to waste your GI Billeducation benefits.• Havingothermotivationsofamorepersonal nature.

Review the list. Determine which ones apply to you and which ones are actually relevant to enhancing your professional or career development.

What is the current state of your educational and training profile? Do an inventory. List all post-high school formal and informal academic, professional, and technical training. Indicate whether or not courses were completed, degrees were conferred, licenses were issued, certificates were awarded, or requirements were met. Include both the basics and specifics of the courses of study, and indications of academic success or accolades. Beyond the official curricula and coursework, try to identify what you actually learned. This thorough educational background check

is important because an understanding of where you are must precede the question of where you want to go.

Are you eligible for college credit for your military service? The answer is most likely yes. The American Council on Education (ACE) (ACEnet.edu/military) evaluates military schools, training, correspondence courses and occupations to determine the amount of academic credit to be awarded. The ACE program is funded by the Department of Defense and administered through the DANTES program (Dantes.DODed.mil). You start by requesting a transcript from your service branch, since each handles the request differently. The Army’s system is called AARTS. The Marine Corps and Navy use the SMART system. For the Air Force, the program is administered through the CCAF and the Coast Guard utilizes its CGI. You can learn more by visiting the DANTES website or the educational services office at your command.

Now that you have completed your inventory and identified your motivators, you can better judge the importance of, or need for, additional time in the classroom. Do you have a specific employment goal in mind? If so, do your research to determine the educational qualifications necessary for consideration in that field. Look at your inventory. Are you currently qualified or not?

For example, let’s say you want to be an architect. Do you have at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture? If you have the requisite academic qualifications in place, you are all set. If you do not, and if you are focused on and passionate about that field, you really have no choice - go back to school and get those credentials. The same can be said for other specific positions, such as network engineer, emergency medical technician, law enforcement officer, corporate financial analyst, airline pilot, etc. However, consider a more general classification, such as personnel manager. Does your existing academic profile and professional experience give you access to that field or do you need additional academic credentials to be competitive?

Weigh other factors. The cost of that academic pause in your career, both direct (tuition, books, lab fees, living expenses, benefits) and indirect (lost income) has to be considered. Are you making selfish decisions or are there others to consider? In some cases, this will be like starting over. Are you able to do that at this point in your life?

If cost is a factor, consider funding options sponsored by the military, the

federal government, or the private sector. Although tuition assistance and military-funded programs are available, the payback requirements have to be considered. The GI Bill and similar college funds can help. Many private organizations will pay for college courses or technical training, generally with payback requirements.

If attending or returning to college is your choice, you should pay particular attention to veteran-friendly schools. Visit MilitaryTimes.com/Best-for-Vets for a list of many of them. Some colleges award direct credit for military service. For one such program, visit CollegeCreditforHeroes.com. A number of schools treat veterans as transfer students rather than new enrollees, which not only saves you money but also simplifies the admissions process. The University of North Carolina-Wilmington is an early adopter of this approach: www.uncw.edu/admissions/military.html.

You should also be aware that some colleges are under scrutiny for less-than-honorable recruitment and treatment of veterans as students. Since this is a hot topic, it is one that is easy to research on the Internet. But you should also contact any school you have questions about directly as they should have resources available on this topic.

Let’s revisit that opening question: Is additional education appropriate for you now, later, or not at all? No one-size-fits-all answer exists for this question, but conventional wisdom does offer this rule of thumb. If your current academic inventory and professional experience gives you access to something you want to do, put off any additional academic endeavors for now and go do it. Reevaluate your professional direction after a couple of years and, if necessary, make a course adjustment through modification of your academic profile. On the other hand, if you are highly focused on a specialty for which you are not currently qualified or competitive, go back to class and fix the problem, provided you have the financial resources and support systems in place.

A final thought and a warning: many people spend a lot of time and money to supplement their education and training, only to find themselves in jobs for which they were already qualified. Do your homework before you go to class. Identify your goals and motivations. Conduct your academic inventory. Compare the two categories, and see if supplemental education or training is necessary at this point in your career.

Tom Wolfe is a Career Coach, Columnist, Author and Veteran and can be found at www.out-of-uniform.com.

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Supplemental Education and Training: Now, Later, or Not at All?

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Job Fair Calendar

Date: September 11, 2013 Location: Ft. Meade Fall Community Job Fair 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. - 6600 Mapes Rd., Fort Meade MD 20755 Sponsor: POC Jerome Duncan; (410) 674-5240 - [email protected]

Date: September 11, 2013 Location: Ft. Rucker Employer Day - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Bldg. 4502, Room 210, 4502 Andrews Ave., Ft. Rucker, AL 36362 Sponsor: POC Bryan Tharpe; (334) 255-3932 - [email protected]

Date: September 12, 2013 Location: Ft. Myer Job Fair - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Myer-Henderson Hall (McNair) (JBMHH) - Community Center, McNair Road, Bldg. 405, Ft. Myer Sponsor: POC Carlos Rodriguez; 703-696-9603 - juan.c.rodriguez [email protected]

Date: September 17, 2013 Location: Ft. Polk - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Warrior Community Center Sponsor: CivilianJobs.com - (866) 801-4418

Date: September 18, 2013 Location: Ft. Bragg - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Ft. Bragg Club, Totten/Armisted, Ft. Bragg, NC Sponsor: POC Cecelia Wallace; (910) 907-3421 - [email protected]

Date: September 19, 2013 Location: Ft. Eustis JBLE Job Fair - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Fort Eustis Club, 2123 Pershing Ave., Fort Eustis, VA, 23604 Sponsor: POC Reba D. Gordon; (757) 878-2881 - [email protected]

Date: September 24, 2013 Location: NCOA Ft. Hood Job Fair - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Club Hood, 24th St. and Wainwright St., Bldg. 5764 Sponsor: POC Linda Christ; (254) 288-6735

Date: September 24-25, 2013 Location: Ft. Campbell - 9 a.m. 9/24, 3 p.m. 9/25 - English Education Center, second floor - 202 Bastogne Ave., Ft. Campbell, KY Sponsor: POC Harold Riggins; (270) 798-6410 - [email protected]

Date: October 8, 2013 Location: Ft. Leonard Wood ACAP Semi-Annual Job Fair - 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Nutter Field House, Iowa Ave., Bldg. 1067, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO Sponsor: POC Beverly Rowe; (573) 596-1727 - [email protected]

Date: October 9, 2013 Location: Ft. Rucker Employer Day - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Bldg. 4502,

Location: Room 210, 4502 Andrews Ave., (Cont.) Ft. Rucker, AL 36362 Sponsor: POC Bryan Tharpe; (334) 255-3932 - [email protected]

Date: October 15-16, 2013 Location: Ft. Campbell - 9 a.m. 10/15, 3 p.m. 10/16 - English Education Center, second floor - 202 Bastogne Ave., Ft. Campbell, KY Sponsor: POC Harold Riggins; (270) 798-6410 - [email protected]

Date: October 22, 2013 Location: Ft. Bragg Hiring Event - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Ft. Bragg Club, Bldg. 1-4930, Totten & Armistead Streets, Ft. Bragg, NC 28310 Sponsor: POC Dianna Williams; (910) 643-2984

Date: October 22, 2013 Location: Ft. Riley ACS/ACAP Job Fair - 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Riley’s Conference Center, Bldg. 446, Huebner & Seitz Drive, Ft. Riley, KS 66442 Sponsor: [email protected]

Date: October 24, 2013 Location: Camp Pendleton - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Pacific Views Event Center (formerly South Mesa Club) Sponsor: CivilianJobs.com - (866) 801-4418

Date: October 24, 2013 Location: Ft. Belvoir ACS/ACAP Job Fair - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Community Center, Ft. Belvoir, VA Sponsor: POC Laureen Dupree; (703) 805-2605 Date: November 5-6, 2013 Location: Ft. Campbell - 9 a.m. 11/5, 3 p.m. 11/6 - English Education Center, second floor - 202 Bastogne Ave., Ft. Campbell, KY Sponsor: POC Harold Riggins; (270) 798-6410 - [email protected]

Date: November 5, 2013 Location: Ft. Leavenworth Job Fair - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Frontier Conference Center, 350 Biddle Ave., Ft. Leavenworth KS 66027 Sponsor: POC Brett Rosene; (913) 684-2590

Date: November 6, 2013 Location: Ft. Rucker Employer Day - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Bldg. 4502, Room 210, 4502 Andrews Ave., Ft. Rucker, AL 36362 Sponsor: POC Bryan Tharpe; (334) 255-3932 - [email protected]

Date: November 20, 2013 Location: Ft. Bragg - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Ft. Bragg Club Sponsor: CivilianJobs.com - (866) 801-4418

For more job fair dates and locations,go to CivilianJobs.com

LARGEST MILITARY FOOTPRINT

Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI) is the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S. that for over 20 years has specialized in placing prior military job seekers with Fortune 1000 companies.

CivilianJobs.com helps military-friendly companies who actively recruit candidates from the military by offering cost-effective and customized solutions to meet their hiring needs.

Military Transition News is a bi-monthly publication providing military job seekers with relevant career and transition advice. It is distributed in print and online to over 500 military bases.

HireMilitary.com is a blog dedicated to educating and assisting employers (HR Recruiters) with sourcing and hiring candidates with prior-military experience.

MilitaryResumes.com provides professional resume writing and consulting services for transitioning military, veterans, and their spouses seeking a civilian or federal career.

Essential Events and Travel, Inc. provides expert event planningservices for corporate events and meetings. We excel in managing specialized events.

MilitaryTransition.com is a blog devoted to providing transition assistance information and tools to service members transitioning from the military to a civilian career.

N E W S


Entry level positions of Operator I may be available in any number of areas including: Phosphoric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Mill, Defluorinated Feed Plant, Purified Acid, Solids, Liquids, Shipping, Rail Crew, Laboratory, Environmental, Materials, and Mining areas.

These entry level positions receive $16.68 per hour. These positions are required to work rotating shifts. Our shifts are from 7:00 to 7:00, two weeks of days and two weeks of nights, 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next week. You will also be required to work overtime to fill in for employees who are absent from work. The rate of advancement is the same in all areas.

Some of the job duties of an Operator I are listed below:

• Collectsamples–liquidandsolidsforanalysis • Housekeeping–washdownwithwaterhoses, shoveling, operating a skid steer loader, operating a front end loader, operating locomotives and switching railcars, operating a jack hammer, product loading and unloading of trucks and railcars

• Monitoringprocessequipment • Removeboltsandmakeminorrepairs • Assistotheroperatorsdoingroutinework • Takeequipmentreadings • Pre-shiftmobileequipmentinspections • Completionofreports • Operatingheavyequipment–MineArea • Monitorandmaintaindewateringpumps–MineArea

Some of the physical requirements include:

The ability to climb steps, ladders, inclined conveyors, work in outsideenvironment–hotandcold,someareasaredustywhile others are muddy. Some areas may require work to be performed at high elevations in open spaces such as catwalks and platforms or to perform work in confined spaces.

Please email your resume to Betty Elzey at [email protected]

Electrician, mechanic, and welder maintenance positions may be available in any number of areas including Phosphoric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Mill, Defluorinated Feed Plant, Purified Acid, Solids, Liquids, Shipping, and the Mining area.

The starting pay per hour for a maintenance position will depend on your industrial experience and knowledge of the craft applied for. The range of pay perhourstartsatGrade8-$21.40toGrade13-$28.72.Thesepositionsareprimarilydayshiftsbutwill require some weekend and rotating shifts during outages or turnaround periods. You will be required to work overtime to maintain the operating plants and equipment at times without prior notice. This is a24-hour,365dayayearoperatingfacilityandyoumay be called in to assist with problems during off hours. You are expected to respond to calls as the need arises.

SafetyatPotashCorp-Auroraisourfirstpriority.Wehave established procedures to reasonably safeguard our employees for the hazards of the process and we expect compliance with our procedures as a condition for employment.

Some of the job duties of a maintenance position are listed below:

• Repairplantsiteequipment;pumps,gearboxes, conveyors, piping, structural steel, heat exchangers,

mobile equipment, tanks, etc. • Housekeeping–maintainingourworkareasin safe condition, realizing that the job is not complete until there is no trace of maintenance activity in the area other than cleaner than we found it. • PreventiveMaintenanceforprocessequipment. • Pre-shiftmobileequipmentinspections. • Operatemanlifts,forklifts,boomtrucks. • Workwithothersdoingassignedwork. • Troubleshootprocessequipmentand evaluate for repair. • Completionofreportsasrequired. • Mustbeabletoreadandcomprehendpartsbooks, manuals, drawings and blueprints.

Some of the physical requirements include:

The ability to climb steps, ladders, inclined conveyors, workinoutsideenvironment–hotandcold,someareas are dusty while others are muddy. Some areas may require work to be performed at high elevations in open spaces such as catwalks and platforms or to perform work in confined spaces.

If you meet the above qualifications you may email your resume to Betty Elzey at [email protected].

HOT JOBS

Tim:Former Sergeant Barnes, U.S. Army, proudly served 6 years and is the 4th generation of his family to serve. He supported his country in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and received numerous awards including 3 Commendation Awards. He now verifies that all Averitt associates are properly identified and ensures the security of our Corporate Campus.

Apply Online at AverittSalutesYou.com

888-362-8603Facebook.com/AverittCareers Averitt is an Equal Opportunity Employer;

Females and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply!

Averitt Offers Solo & Team CDL-A Regional & Dedicated Drivers a Profitable Career. Earn great pay, affordable benefits & dependable hometime. CDL-A required. If you need to freshen up your driving skills, Averitt has 1 to 5 week paid training programs.

It will be an honor to have you join our team.

When its time,trade in your uniform for ours.

cjn-AV-july-experienceED2.indd 1 6/5/13 6:53 PM

Read this issue online now at Online.MilitaryTransitionNews.com

MAINTENANCE POSITION

ENTRY LEVEL OPERATOR 1 POSITION


© 2013 Accenture. All rights reserved.

This is your invitation to join an organization offering greater opportunity, greater challenge andgreater satisfaction. An organization dedicated toteamwork and collaboration. An organization working in the forefront of technology, including 89 of the Fortune Global 100 to reinvent business.

As a military man or woman, your strong workethic, commitment to excellence and attention todetail mirror many of the same core values we liveat Accenture. And, with our wide range of careeropportunities for military professionals, you cantransfer these values – and the lessons you’velearned – to the work we do.

We are proud of our vibrant community of Accenture military employees. Join Accenture and discover how great you can be. Visit accenture.com/military today.

Documents

Military Transition News – September/October 2013, Franchise and Education Issue