After boot camp, veterans move on to advanced training, or A-school. This is substantive training in their field; from medical technicians, to aircraft mechanics, to communications. Once completed successfully, they enter their military career and begin to perform their MOS. A MOS is a J-O-B, but as with many things military, they are categorized with cryptic codes that are hard for civilians to understand.
Personnel also receive ongoing continuing substantive professional education as well as management and leadership training. In the military, everyone trains to serve in leadership roles regardless of rank. This means veterans are uniquely prepared for team and leadership roles even if they have never held an official leadership position. This is a unique insight about a veteran's skillset that is crucial for potential employers to understand.
Learning is another important skillset. In the military, they learn to learn. Training is an intense everyday part of life. Doing the job is just part of a military career; the other part is learning new ways to do that job or developing skills to improve their performance.
Veteran Unemployment: the Basics
- Around 70 percent of all veterans report difficulty transitioning back into the civilian world.
- Post-9/11 veterans tend to have higher unemployment rates than pre-9/11 veterans.
- Veterans with other than honorable (OTH) discharges and those with criminal records face some of the highest barriers to employment.
- Research finds the three biggest obstacles faced by veterans seeking employment are similar to civilian barriers: finding employment opportunities matching their military experience, finding employment opportunities that fit their education, and finding employment opportunities in the area. Yet veterans face additional obstacles of navigating a civilian workforce that does not understand their experiences and unique skills.
Listen to Victor Inzunza, Marine Corps Iraq Veteran, and Tyler Solorio, Army Afghanistan Veteran, discuss the difficulties transitioning to civilian employment and how employers can support veterans in the workplace.
