One of the biggest problems the veteran community faces is unemployment. That's a simple fact. How can so many driven, well trained and often times successful individuals end up unemployed and struggling when they leave the service?
There are a few reasons, for me at least, so lets unpack them.
There are a few reasons, for me at least, so lets unpack them.
When I initially separated from active duty way back in 2009, I wasn't too concerned with finding a job. I had a National Guard gig lined up, a nice $20,000 bonus for a six year hitch to the weekend warriors, and almost another $10,000 saved up with a guaranteed $9,500 separation bonus.
In short, I was good for a while. Problem is, once Uncle Sam the pimp took his cut of the money, that 40k turned to about 25k real fast. Add some bad decisions, like spending money on folks who I knew better than to spend money on, living above my means in the high roller Dunwoody neighborhood of Atlanta, and throwing cash at all of my hobbies like I was still making $2000 every two weeks...
You get the picture.
I needed a job, and fast. I started to ply my resume around the usual places, security companies, government jobs, even a few shots at the CDC ( I am a Chemical specialist, after all), but I didn't get a nibble. The biggest problem was a glaring lack of a Degree. With the job market being down so far in 2009, I stood a snowballs chance in hell.
So, I lowered my expectations a bit, shot for some mid tier jobs and came up short again. Why? Because 2009 was the middle of the worst recession since the great depression. My arrogant ass decided to voluntarily leave the Army, job security, guaranteed promotion, and a score of other benefits because I knew I would succeed.
To be 24 and reckless again.
In short, I was good for a while. Problem is, once Uncle Sam the pimp took his cut of the money, that 40k turned to about 25k real fast. Add some bad decisions, like spending money on folks who I knew better than to spend money on, living above my means in the high roller Dunwoody neighborhood of Atlanta, and throwing cash at all of my hobbies like I was still making $2000 every two weeks...
You get the picture.
I needed a job, and fast. I started to ply my resume around the usual places, security companies, government jobs, even a few shots at the CDC ( I am a Chemical specialist, after all), but I didn't get a nibble. The biggest problem was a glaring lack of a Degree. With the job market being down so far in 2009, I stood a snowballs chance in hell.
So, I lowered my expectations a bit, shot for some mid tier jobs and came up short again. Why? Because 2009 was the middle of the worst recession since the great depression. My arrogant ass decided to voluntarily leave the Army, job security, guaranteed promotion, and a score of other benefits because I knew I would succeed.
To be 24 and reckless again.
Finally, after months of barely getting by, my finances dried up. Just in time for my car to take a shit on itself and my then girlfriend to also need a place to live. We moved in together, downgraded and tried to play the Atlanta game. I told myself I needed to be in the city for my Guard job (blatantly false) and that if I kept shotgunning resumes and applications I would eventually land a good enough job to coast on for the next 20 years until I retired from the Guard.
No. No, no and no. I was so very wrong. So catastrophically wrong that I still haven't found a job, seven years later.
It's gotten so bad that I can't even land a McJob these days. I'm over-trained, old and have a seven year gap in my employment. My credit is also fucking abysmal. Like, creditors call me to donate. It's bad.
How did it go so wrong? How did I not see the signs earlier? Why didn't I just take a service job and start fresh? Easy. I was 24, had spent the last 7 years in the military and was used to being a Sergeant, commanding troops, leading missions into combat, and being responsible for millions of dollars in equipment. I was above that.
No. No, no and no. I was so very wrong. So catastrophically wrong that I still haven't found a job, seven years later.
It's gotten so bad that I can't even land a McJob these days. I'm over-trained, old and have a seven year gap in my employment. My credit is also fucking abysmal. Like, creditors call me to donate. It's bad.
How did it go so wrong? How did I not see the signs earlier? Why didn't I just take a service job and start fresh? Easy. I was 24, had spent the last 7 years in the military and was used to being a Sergeant, commanding troops, leading missions into combat, and being responsible for millions of dollars in equipment. I was above that.
I was better than flipping fucking burgers while some pie faced mid level manager got on my shit about asking for fries with that. I certainly wasn't going to go back to bagging groceries. I left that behind when I was 17. I was a well trained war fighter, in the prime of my life and came back from the war without a single scratch.
In short, I was every other Vet that got out. I didn't need a plan, didn't have a plan, and counted on my previous success to carry me to future success.
Thankfully, I managed to find a decent woman who was willing to stick it out and help me get back to my feet. I'm still on one knee right now, but I'm working on a standing eight count. We've been through it.
My only real regret is that I wish I had the maturity to understand that any job is better than no job back when I was 24. It would have saved us both a lot of heartache, stress and grey hairs.
But hey, If I hadn't lived through that shit, I wouldn't be able to tell folks how to avoid it now.
See ya next Wednesday.
In short, I was every other Vet that got out. I didn't need a plan, didn't have a plan, and counted on my previous success to carry me to future success.
Thankfully, I managed to find a decent woman who was willing to stick it out and help me get back to my feet. I'm still on one knee right now, but I'm working on a standing eight count. We've been through it.
My only real regret is that I wish I had the maturity to understand that any job is better than no job back when I was 24. It would have saved us both a lot of heartache, stress and grey hairs.
But hey, If I hadn't lived through that shit, I wouldn't be able to tell folks how to avoid it now.
See ya next Wednesday.