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Reskilling for Veterans: Military to Civilian Career Transition

If you are transitioning from the military or will be shortly, you may be interested in a field unrelated to your job in the service. Many do. Maybe you were a medic and had no interest in health, or you were an MP and didn’t want to go into criminal justice. That’s a desire for reskilling, and it’s very common.

In fact, according to the New York Times, the VA reported that about 55% of transitioning service members are not interested in continuing along the same career trajectory they were pursuing in the military.

Yet, that can also lead to the underemployment problem that exists among veterans. Starting all over again can be daunting, but resources are out there to help you move forward in a new field.

What is Reskilling?

Reskilling helps you prepare for a new profession rather than advancing in the one you are in. Reskilling comes in many forms, but the outcome is the same: to grow your skills and knowledge base and pursue a new career. Let’s look at a few reasons you may want to reskill.

• To acquire skills that align with a new job.
• To prepare yourself for in-demand jobs offering strong growth potential and higher salaries.
• To enhance your competitiveness in the modern job market.
• To meet industry needs that may complement your military training.

Reskilling Resources

The Post-9// GI Bill (Chapter 33)

The most well-known tool for starting your reskilling journey is to see if the Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover training in the area where you want to reskill. Coverage varies; while many are, verifying with the VA is essential.

Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

VR&E, formerly known as VocRehab (Chapter 31), is another benefit that can help you change career paths. It may provide 12 more months of training, education, skills training, resume writing, and other employment resources. VR&E has specific requirements, including having a disability rating, so be sure you check the webpage and consult with a VA representative to see if you’re eligible.

Department of Defense (DOD)Skillbridge

If you are preparing to retire or separate, Skillbridge can be a great way to try something new. Over 6,000 businesses partner with DOD to establish an internship program where you can immerse yourself in something interesting and see if it is a good fit for you.

You may be eligible to apply if you are within 180 days of your separation date and receive approval from your command, so it takes a little planning.  The types of partner businesses range from jobs where you can explore careers within the military space to business, architecture, farming, and much, much more.

American Corporate Partners (ACP)

If you are unsure of your next move, you’re in good company; over 70% of ACP participants are in the same boat when they apply. As the name implies, ACP works with Fortune 500 companies to offer 1-1 mentors to veterans, active duty, and spouses interested in landing a job in corporate America.

They also have a track designed specifically for women. Along with the mentorship program, ACP hosts industry-specific Webinars to acquaint you with different career paths and hiring practices.

Hire Heroes USA

If you are struggling with approaching your reskilling journey, Hire Heroes offers registrants personalized counseling to help you plot your course. It’s free of charge and relatively simple to register for your portal on their site. Many certified career counselors are veterans, so they relate to your unique career journey and the need to garner the skills for a wide range of career paths.

They offer scholarships and free or low-cost hands-on skills training through partnerships with companies, including Home Depot, Google, and Coursera. Some even offer badges or other micro-credentials to demonstrate your experience and skills to prospective employees.

Career Recon

As you launch your strategy for reskilling, check out Career Recon’s many resources and support. If you’re looking for guidance on where to start with your career planning, staffing and recruiting partners are on standby to help at no cost.

The Transition page also features educational videos and step-by-step support for job-hunting necessities like cover letters, interviewing, resume writing, and more. Here are some of the subjects covered.

• Career Motivation
• Career Resources
• Free Resources and Employment Tips
• Information on continuing training and education
• Programming for the military community

Select Colleges and Universities

Syracuse University – Onward to Opportunity (O20) – O2O is a free training – you can save those GI Bill benefits – that can support your reskilling through employer support and training. With a partnership with Hire Heroes, O2O can offer industry-recognized credentials and career counseling to target the programs you need to complete your reskilling. Syracuse University partners include Wells Fargo, Northrup Grumman, Johnson and Johnson, Cisco, Goodyear Tires, Dell, Kohl’s, and dozens more. The curriculum is offered online and in person.

North Carolina Community Colleges Apprenticeship Programs – If you’re looking to reskill in North Carolina, their community college system has many opportunities. Through ApprenticeshipNC, the state’s community colleges partner with hundreds of businesses to provide over 1,000 apprenticeship opportunities that can help you reskill.

Action Steps for Reskilling

The transition from the military to a new career can be exciting and often overwhelming. If you don’t want to continue in a field related to your previous military job, reskilling can really open doors to countless opportunities in high-demand fields.

Whether you’re looking to enter technology, healthcare, skilled trades, or even to start your own business, the resources discussed in this piece should help make the process just a little easier. By taking advantage of them, you can approach the reskilling process more strategically and effectively.

 Steps to Begin Your Reskilling Pathway

• Explore funding & training options
• Check with the VA to see if you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) (Chapter 31)
• Keep a lookout for nonprofit programs where you may find free or low-cost training
• Take advantage of low-cost or free online courses that are built for veterans
• Review your career goals
• Take a look at industries and jobs that are of interest to you
• Research trends in the industry and jobs that are in high demand and that may lead you to offer significant growth potential
• Consider taking a skills assessment test to measure your skills and gaps
• Look for ways to get hands-on experience
• Apply for apprenticeships or internship programs to explore different career paths
• Join mentorship programs for career guidance from professionals in your preferred profession
• If you are in school or will be, ask around for alum clubs or other ways to access peer support
• Seek out on-the-job training opportunities
• Earn certifications & credentials
• Pursue certificates and certifications that are industry-recognized to prepare you for employment in your job of choice
• Consider attaining stackable micro-credentials and digital badges