Lessons Learned for Vets

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On this episode of the Lesson Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome Todd Nelson. Although not a veteran himself, he has dedicated his career to helping service members navigate their finances as a financial advisor for Edward Jones. There are often unique financial challenges that accompany transitioning service members into their next career. Todd is the host of Transition 30, a network that uses quarterly Zoom calls to connect service members to resources and organizations that support the military transition process.

Todd lays out 3 considerations every service member must make as they exit the military. 1) How much money do I need to replace? 2) How much money do I want and how much money do I need? 3) How am I going to get from what I need to what I want? Having mentors and talking to subject matter experts in taxation can become a valuable piece of establishing your financial foundation. 

The first consideration when thinking about SGLI to VGLI is knowing what your needs are when it comes to insurance. Speak to your spouse, significant other and family members before you start the VA disability process. During the VA process, everything is documented. If you start your insurance research after you have already started the VA process, there may be some exclusions to your policy because of the VA documentation. The second consideration is realizing that VGLI is there for a reason. Sometimes private life insurance companies won’t cover you because of your service-related injuries. 

When it comes to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), it’s important to realize that it’s a personal decision that should be based off several factors. Research the SBP at militarypay.defense.gov prior to out-processing. During out-processing, you will be asked if you want to opt out of SBP because by default, you are opted into the plan. An alternative to SBP is life insurance. 

Another priority when transitioning from the military is knowing how your tax bracket will be influenced. Your pension and new job will affect your tax bracket. Start setting money aside for this reality. 

VA disability payments are tax free. It is a benefit that you have earned and can be viewed as a lifetime annuity. You are guaranteed that income with a cost-of-living adjustment each year. With just a 10% disability rating, you are eligible for a VA home loan. Service members who are separating and plan to file for disability compensation can file their claim before separation through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. The BDD program allows service members to apply for VA disability compensation benefits between 180 to 90 days prior to separation. If your disability rating is 30% or higher, you will have preference when it comes to jobs in the federal government. 

There are many considerations when it comes to accepting a job offer. Look at the total compensation package, not just the salary. Benefits might include a 401K or a 403b and stock options. You will want to consider starting a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA. Do your research and seek assistance and advice to help you navigate your financial situation.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Todd at https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-nelson-edward-jones/

Transition 30 LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transition-30/

Explore the Transition 30 channel at https://www.youtube.com/@transition30

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, host Lori Norris shares the best ways to help candidates stand out from the crowd during the job search process. It may seem counterintuitive at first, but a candidate who can shift their focus from themself to the needs of an employer will rise above the applicant pool. 

Whether it’s your resume, LinkedIn profile, a networking event, an interview or a job fair, you must have a strategy. A strategic marketing plan begins with knowing the customer. Find out what the customer wants – in the job search process, the customer is the employer. Learn to articulate what skills you have that will meet the employer’s needs. 

Consider some of the most effective marketing slogans on social media and television. Nike’s slogan is “Just Do It” – yet at no point do they ever tell you outright to buy their shoes and clothing. The company makes it all about you – the consumer. Try applying this approach to your marketing and make it all about the employer. Avoid writing objective statements in your resume that tell the employer you need a job or using your LinkedIn headline as an opportunity to state you are a transitioning service member looking for employment. 

Companies hire for one of two reasons: they have a need to fill or a problem to solve. Do your research and figure out what the organization’s needs and problems are and then craft your marketing to be the solution to their problem. Put more focus on putting together tailored, quality applications instead of sending out a large quantity of generic applications. Convey your ROI to the company. To define an employer’s needs and problems, first conduct a S.W.O.T. analysis. Learn their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and then target your marketing to the customer. Second, conduct research using a company’s website, google, corporateinformation.com and glassdoor.com. Use social media to learn about a company's current events. 

Determine your unique skills and market the benefits that they will bring to the employer. Employers will believe what you can prove through stories, examples and statistics. To help get you thinking about how your skills can be the solution to an employer’s problems, try this exercise – Make a list of at least 25 of your skills. Next to each skill, make a statement of its value. In the third column, write an example or story that highlights the skill. This exercise will help you craft quality bullets for your resume and effective talking points for an interview. 

Download your free skills worksheet at www.nextforvets.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Lori at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinorris/

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we bring you the first Q&A session of Season 4. Taylor Lau currently serves in the US Army and is scheduled to separate in October of 2024 with terminal leave beginning in July. She is currently pursuing Salesforce certifications but is also open to working for a defense contractor. 

What are the biggest pitfalls that plague transitioning service members as they make their move to the civilian workforce?

One of the biggest issues plaguing veterans is believing that people are going to be clamoring to hire you simply because you are a veteran. The fact that you are a veteran is valuable and so are the military training and skills you bring an employer. It is your responsibility to translate your value – your skills – to your employer. They want to know how you can help them and add value to their team. You must translate your skills on your resume, while you are networking and building your LinkedIn profile. Your marketing should be all about where you are going, not where you have been.

If a TSM only has enough time to focus on one thing, what would you say that one thing should be?

Every transition is unique. With that said, having a focus is key to building a network. Tailoring your resume and creating an optimized LinkedIn profile are equally important. If you find yourself short on time, your first and most important step is to figure out what is next for you - not what is forever. Ask yourself what makes the most sense to target next so that you can leave the military and continue to provide for yourself and your family. Sit down and write a resume and fill out your LinkedIn profile that translates your military skills and showcases why you are qualified for that next role and start applying. 

Once you land that first job and have an offer in hand, keep networking. Continue to look and apply for jobs and explore any certifications that can set yourself up for the next step.

What traits or strengths would you say the civilian world looks for that maybe the military tends to find less desirable?

The value of soft skills is often overlooked in the military. There are skills that service members develop such as communication, empathy or getting a team to buy in that are valued in the civilian world. Veterans will often notice the value that civilian coworkers place on a work life balance. 

As Taylor approaches the end of her career in the military, she is reflecting on her various roles and asking herself what value and worth she can highlight to a future employer. It is the responsibility of the service member to articulate the importance of each military job.

Taylor recently made a post where she compared the military transition to walking on a lightly frozen lake. With the reality of a new chapter ahead of her, Taylor realizes that she must confidently keep moving forward. She understands that the uniform she wore gave her extra confidence and that it is now up to her to make a decision on how she is going to portray herself without the uniform. One of the biggest realizations that veterans have after leaving the military is the idea that they have the freedom to change and to pivot. Unlike the military, you have the freedom to change jobs or move locations when you want. The military transition can feel isolating and lonely. While no one else can go through the process for you, there are plenty of resources and veterans who will walk alongside you. 

Connect with Taylor Lau at https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-lau-81b39895/

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we host Major General Gregg Martin. During his 36-year career, MG Martin commanded the Corps of Engineers Northwest Division and served as Commandant of the Army Engineer School, President of the National Defense University and Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. He is also the author of Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness. 

By 2014, MG Martin had been unknowingly living with bipolar disorder. After several anonymous reports of his behavior, General Dempsey ordered a series of assessments and ultimately relieved Martin of duty. When Martin reported to Walter Reed, he was diagnosed with bipolarism. In 2015, Martin medically retired with no continuity of care plan. Today, the military is not allowing that same scenario to happen for service members being medically retired with mental health issues. The military is making an intentional effort to normalize the conversation regarding mental health and providing education through workshops, training and forums. The military is looking for ways to accommodate and keep service members in the force. 

After retiring from the military, MG Martin fell into such deep depression that he was checked into an inpatient VA psych ward. After two weeks of intensive care provided by a multidisciplinary team, Martin spent the following four weeks living in a dorm inside of the hospital. Once he began taking a new prescription of Lithium, his symptoms subsided, and he began to regain control of his life. In addition to relocating to Florida, Martin reconnected with his family and maintains regular therapy sessions and daily medication. He prioritizes a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and sleep. 

MG Martin anchors his life using the five P’s – Purpose, People, Place, Perseverance, Presence. For Martin, his new purpose is destigmatizing mental issues and promoting recovery. He surrounds himself with positive and energetic people and chose to relocate to sunny Florida for its health benefits. He perseveres through his challenges and has the presence of mind to get outside of his own thinking and think objectively about his thought patterns. 

As an advocate for mental health awareness, MG Martin has written over 20 articles that have appeared in publications including Psychology Today, Psychiatric Times, Boston Globe and Soldier Magazine. In addition, he has spoken to over a hundred audiences about mental health. His book, Bipolar General, includes medical research that is woven into his own personal journey with bipolarism.

Gregg Martin urges anyone who feels like they may have a mental health condition to seek help immediately. Untreated mental illness can ruin a marriage, career and finances. It can lead to homelessness, addiction, incarceration and even death.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with MG Martin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-f-martin-222735aa/

Explore Bipolar General at https://www.generalgreggmartin.com/

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome Army veteran Travis Pearce. Travis separated in 2009 with very little notice and without a defined plan. He stepped off an airplane with a cell phone, a duffle bag and his Army training. When Travis joined the Army, he started in EOD and was then reclassed as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. With his GI Bill benefit, he went to college to study engineering. His first job after the military was as a monorail mechanic at the Tampa airport. Today, he works as an engineer for that same company. 

In 2009, Travis had just returned from a Joint Special Operations in the Pacific when he learned his unit was already prepping for another deployment to Iraq. His commander gave him the option of redeploying or ETSing with an honorable discharge – meaning released from active duty. Because Travis chose to ETS, he did not have the runway to prepare for his transition. Stationed in Hawaii at the time, his belongings were put on a ship, sent to California and then transferred to a truck headed for Tampa Bay, Florida – his hometown.

Travis relied on the skills he learned in the Army as a mechanic to help him find a job. Because there is no school for monorail maintenance or repair, Travis played up his ability to adapt to change, learn quickly and be flexible – all skills he learned in the Army. After Travis was offered the position at Alstom, the hiring manager disclosed that his background working on multiple pieces of equipment and managing the accountability of equipment valued in the millions helped him get the job. Alstom is actively seeking talent in a variety of fields.

One of the biggest hurdles Travis faced after he separated from the military was defining his goals. Once he began his college studies and shifted his focus to engineering, he determined his focus and the steps he needed to take to accomplish his goals. Travis has been employed with Alstom for almost 14 years. The stability, teamwork environment and benefits play a key role in his loyalty to the company. Alstom gave him flexibility when he was going to school full-time and working full-time to support his growing family. 

As Travis reflects on his career with Alstom, he attributes his success and longevity to his management’s flexibility and support and his willingness to be honest and candid about his goals. Building trusting relationships is key to taking advantage of internal opportunities. Now that Travis has been out of the Army for 14+ years, he encourages all service members to learn about and understand their benefits. Find resources and organizations that can help you navigate the process of applying for benefits. 

Connect with Travis Pearce on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-pearce-99a377274/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Explore careers at Alstom at https://www.alstom.com/careers/join-alstom

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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While serving as an active-duty US Navy officer, Jai Salters is also the founder and executive director of ACT Now Education and founder and CEO of his own consulting firm. He has a mission to get 1000 military service members and their spouses employed by the time he retires from the Navy in 2027. He has already helped hundreds of people successfully navigate their transition.

When Jai hit the 10-year mark in the military, he made the decision to continue until retirement. Without a college degree or any certifications, he knew his options would be limited if he separated at 10 years. Determined to make the most of his next 10+ years, Jai began researching different education programs and opportunities. He was amazed at the plethora of information and shared his new knowledge with colleagues. ACT Now Education started as a brief that focused on the resources that Jai had discovered. From there, Jai went on to earn 17 certifications, an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree. 

Today, ACT Now Education focuses on upskill and reskill resources. Most resources are free with a handful costing very little. ACT Now serves as an advocate for organizations offering free certifications and partners with organizations like Coursera and Project Management Institute (PMI). ACT Now has developed several cohort-style training programs that provide business suits, resume services, interview prep and access to Fortune 500 mentors. Every Saturday, Jai hosts a virtual meeting that is open to all service members and their families. He brings on guest speakers to help service members, veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. Attendees will leave with a 21-page resource guide and a transition checklist. 

Last year alone, Jai helped over 150 people get jobs. Many of these people utilized ACT Now Education or learned about different opportunities through Jai’s LinkedIn posts. In 2021, ACT Now went online and has grown substantially in the past 3 years. As a nonprofit, the organization relies on the support of companies like Microsoft. Through his networking skills and the success of ACT Now, Jai regularly has employers and federal agencies reach out to him to help fill open positions. 

Jai’s ultimate goal is to revise the TAP program. He envisions modernizing the class and streamlining initiatives like SkillBridge to maximize positive outcomes. He credits organizations like Veterati, The COMMIT foundation and American Corporate Partners (ACP) for providing additional resources beyond those found through TAP.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Jai at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jai-salters/

Explore ACT Now Education at https://actnoweducation.org/

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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This episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast kicks off our 4th Season! We are excited to host Charlene Wilde who served as a US Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer for six years. As a veteran and military spouse, Charlene is now the Senior Vice President of Operations at American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA). This podcast focuses on how she transitioned back into the civilian workforce after an 11-year break and the strategies she used to expand her opportunities at AAFMAA. We are grateful to AAFMAA for sponsoring this episode. 

Charlene made the decision to separate from the military after she had her first child. With her husband recently deployed to Iraq and a short 6-week maternity leave over, Charlene persevered as a CBRN officer for awhile before realizing she wanted to prioritize her new role as a mother. Unfortunately, her command and unit were not supportive of military women who wanted to continue serving after becoming a mom. After Charlene separated, she found the support she needed through the military spouse community. 

As a veteran and military spouse, Charlene spent a significant amount of time overseas with her husband. At the time, remote work was not as prevalent as it is today. Charlene had the desire to continue learning and serving, so she volunteered as much as she could through military organizations and spouse groups. Volunteering was an opportunity for Charlene to gain new skills - skills that helped her gain future employment. Charlene encourages mil spouses to take a strategic approach to volunteering in order to build a resume. Taking classes or pursuing certifications are also great ways to fill gaps on a resume.

When Charlene began applying for roles after an 11-year break, she tailored her resume to focus on her organizational and leadership skills. She took advantage of Fort Belvoir’s military spouse employment office and began networking. AAFMAA hired her as a team leader in 2015. Charlene admits that when she first reentered the workforce, she viewed her role as just a job. A year later, she shifted her mindset from job to career. With this mental shift, Charlene began to look for new opportunities to grow within the company. 

AAFMAA has a long and solid history of serving the military community. It is the longest standing not for profit association to provide military families with affordable financial solutions, including life insurance, investment management, residential mortgages and Survivor Assistance Services. In addition, almost 40% of AAFMAA’s workforce is either a veteran or a military spouse.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Charlene at https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlene-wilde/

Explore AAFMAA services at https://www.aafmaa.com/

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

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Shawn Welsh recently retired from the US Army after serving in the intelligence field, but he started his transition years prior. Using his intel skills, Shawn took advantage of 26 military transition programs and obtained 7 different certifications. He currently works in business continuity and is the host of the VET S.O.S. podcast, which he launched in May of 2022.

Shawn teamed up with a fellow transitioning service member, and together they explored different events and programs in the months leading up to his retirement. One of the most beneficial events for Shawn was experiencing a Who Ya Know Show Career Summit. This event allowed Shawn to understand what civilians are looking for in a new hire. The Who Ya Know Show encouraged Shawn to start his own podcast. As a result, the VET S.O.S. podcast launched with their support and sponsorship. Through LinkedIn, Shawn connected with others who recommended programs like FourBlock, Vets2Industry and Veterati.

The tagline for the VET S.O.S. podcast is Don’t drown in the sea of transition; grab the S.O.S. lifeline. With thousands of transition resources available, the amount of information can be overwhelming to navigate, not to mention time consuming to research. To help service members organize their military transition, Shawn hosts different organizations each week on his podcast and allows them 30 minutes to showcase their services.

Shawn recently presented at the VET Summit and shared his tactic for organizing the 40,000 VSOs to a more manageable number. He narrowed down his top 3 VSOs to Vets2Industry, The KEY Community and 50strong. Vets2Industry hosts virtual events that bring in 200 attendees and dozens of vetted recruiters and organizations. After the event, a summary is emailed to all the attendees for their reference. The KEY Community and 50strong also offer virtual events and networking opportunities. 

Of the 26 military transition programs that Shawn participated in, Veterati ranks in his top 5. The informational interviews with the mentors at Veterati helped him figure out what he didn’t want to do. Another organization that Shawn used was American Corporate Partners (ACP). The mentor he was given was such a good match that they continue to regularly talk. FourBlock hosts companies and recruiters that are interested in hiring veterans. The COMMIT Foundation and Leader Transition Institute round out his top 5. 

Shawn was methodical in his transition preparation. He and his wife had many conversations about finances, moving and career paths. After settling on a location, he networked and conducted informational interviews to help him find his focus. From there he used Hire Our Heroes to find an internship in business consulting. The internship became his current full-time job. 

You may be wondering how Shawn was able to use so many resources during his transition and still fulfill his military duties. It’s not that he had leadership that just let him stop coming to work. Instead, he planned ahead and started 2 years prior to his retirement. Little by little, he slowly went through the programs and earned certifications. He fit in informational interviews when he could and took advantage of virtual opportunities.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Shawn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnwelsh00/

Listen to the VET S.O.S. podcast at https://vetsospodcast.com/

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After 17 years of service, Sean Oliva was medically retired from the US Army. Because he had spent 10 years in a recruiting role, Sean thought he could easily slide into a similar role on the civilian side. His job searching proved to be extremely challenging and competitive. After accepting a role with a nonprofit, he transitioned into a talent acquisition role with Boston Scientific. Recently, Sean made an internal move into a project management position. 

When Sean medically retired in 2021, he soon realized how competitive the job market was. During his transition, Sean was working with a nonprofit to gain public access for his service dog. At the time, the current and first responder program coordinator was retiring, so Sean applied and was offered the position. Sean found his new role extremely rewarding, but the challenge of living other people’s PTSD triggered his own PTSD. Weighing the pros and cons of working for a nonprofit, Sean decided to look for roles in talent acquisition. While he was submitting applications, he sought coaching and mentorship through Warriors to Work – a veteran employment program within Wounded Warrior Project. They helped him with his interview skills and learning how to effectively translate his military skills. Ultimately, they helped him find the confidence to sell himself in the interview. There is a balance of being humble as a person and confident in your value. 

For someone who is considering a career that is different than their military background, Sean encourages them to expand their search and include jobs that are relatable. From there, start to network. Conducting informational interviews with people already in the industry will reveal other avenues of opportunity. Boston Scientific hired Sean, in part, because of his soft skills. When Sean served in talent acquisition with Boston Scientific, he also found that veterans possess a set of soft skills which can be hard to find in other applicants. 

When Sean decided he wanted a new role within Boston Scientific, he reached out to colleagues and set up time to learn about their roles. To gain visibility within the organization, he got involved with the Veterans Employee Resource Group. He made the right connections and proved his value with his organizational and communication skills. When a new project management position opened, he was immediately contacted and encouraged to apply. His networking and visibility within the organization paid off. He got the job!

Sean shares some advice on how to stand out from the applicant pool. On his resume, Sean highlights his strengths in a short paragraph under the title of the role that he’s applying for. From there, his professional experience showcases achievements with metrics that indicate how he saved the company money, made money or brought solutions to solve a problem. He encourages every person to translate their military job titles to a civilian equivalent. Integrate your soft skills into the resume. Show how you used both hard skills – technical skills – and soft skills to achieve your accomplishments. Don’t limit your job search to companies that advertise specifically to veterans. Just because an organization doesn’t have a “military friendly” slogan on their career page doesn’t mean they are not interested in hiring veterans. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Sean at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-oliva/

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We welcome back Mary Kate Soliva to update us on her life since transitioning 2 years ago. Mary Kate served more than 11 years in the US Army, with much of her service dedicated to Special Operations Forces. In 2021, Mary Kate separated and transitioned into the Army Reserve. She worked as a program manager for the Project Management Institute and is now supporting Special Operations at Motive International. As the host of the Veteran Voices podcast, Mary Kate brings to light insights, perspectives and stories from those that have served or who are currently serving. She is the co-founder of the Guam Human Rights Initiative and volunteers with a host of organizations.

Mary Kate started her transition early. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the in-person transition services were not available, so she leaned heavily into building her network and scheduling virtual coffees with people through LinkedIn. Like many veterans, Mary Kate had moments of panic and questioned whether she was making the right choice by leaving. Through her networking and LinkedIn involvement, she was approached by the Project Management Institute for a role that they were looking to fill. Some of the connections that she made virtually on LinkedIn have since become some of her closest friends and mentors. It is possible to build quality relationships virtually. 

Since Mary Kate has shifted her service from active duty to reserve, she has become very aware of the unique challenges that reservists face. Many of these soldiers live hours away from their unit’s base. In addition, many of the resources we commonly think about are only for active-duty service members or there are caveats attached to the resource. Mary Kate hopes to find solutions to common issues surrounding the reservist service member.

In 2022, Mary Kate co-founded the Guam Human Rights Initiative. Because she graduated from the University of Guam, the US territory holds a special place in her heart. As a current doctoral student, she is researching human rights issues impacting Guam and Micronesia. In addition, she collaborates with other scholars and students in other parts of the country and world to find solutions for the issues plaguing Guam. Although human trafficking - specifically sex trafficking - is a priority, there are other human rights issues such as family violence and food insecurity that she is also researching. 

The Hoover Institution Veteran Fellowship Program started in 2021 and is a nonresident year-long program based out of Stanford University and under the direction of Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Each fellow focuses on a bipartisan topic that is impacting the American people. Mary Kate gained the support of Dr. Rice along with the Governor of Guam and other high-profile people and entities for her research into human rights issues in Guam. 

Mary Kate has never been paid for her advocacy or volunteering work, but the opportunity to really make an impact on the lives of others keeps her motivated and inspired. Both of her employers since leaving the military have been supportive of her and have given her the flexibility to pursue her other interests.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Mary Kate at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marykatesoliva/

Explore the Guam Human Rights Initiative at https://www.guamhri.org/

Listen to the Veteran Voices podcast at https://supplychainnow.com/program/veteran-voices/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!