Please Learn From My Mistakes
On March 10th, 2022, I retired(medically) from the United States Air Force. I had been struggling with back issues for years. Finally, when I was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada (my fifth base, third since my injury), the doctors there decided I was no longer fit for the military, and I was released. Ever since my injury, there have been threats and talk of the possibility of being separated or retired. But after hearing this for years, I never really took it seriously.
I bring this up again because last week, I was conversing with the husband of one of Bea’s new German friends(he is still on active duty). And he asked me if “there was anything I missed” about being on active duty. And right away, I responded that I missed all the benefits that I took for granted while I was in. These benefits were the amount of money on paper, with all of the benefits I had. These benefits include free health care, housing allowance, and money for food. To name a few. On paper, an E-5 made around $79k a year(depending on location). Of course, the taxable income was more like $35k. Looking back. The tax-free benefits added up. This amount of money is called Regular Military Compensation. Using the calculator here, you can calculate the equivalent civilian pay depending on location, rank, family size, and years in service.
To date, I have held five jobs since I separated. That’s five jobs in about one year. And each job made just a little more than the last.
During my transition classes, they just kept saying you need to market yourself and try to aim for a job that pays around the same amount as your regular military compensation. I’ll be honest with you. I don’t make anywhere near that amount. I have applied to hundreds, if not thousands of jobs. Changing my resume over and over again. But I never got an interview or a reply for most of them. It’s hard to sell yourself for a job that isn’t plumbing or customer service-based when that’s all you did for the last 10 years.
Looking back, I wish I had taken those threats and talks of separation more seriously and gotten the certifications and training that would have helped me make myself more desirable to future employers. I finished my Bachelor’s degree. But nowadays, it feels like you need a Doctorate to get an entry-level job.
While on active duty, I had several opportunities to earn my Green Belt and several other certifications. But I never took them. If you are on active duty, please take every opportunity presented. It may not seem like it really matters at the time. And taking time away from your shop may not be what your leadership wants. But you never know when your military career may end. Having an upper hand when you get out will put you miles ahead of those who didn’t take advantage of those opportunities, like me.
This year, I am obtaining my Green Belt Certification from Six Sigma. As well as trying to finally land a job that I fit into and paying at least what I used to make if not more. I researched and thought about obtaining my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. But process improvement interests me way more than running projects. And the salaries can be pretty close, depending on the sector you’re in.
2024 will be my family’s year!