A military man remains always a military man. Thinking of returning happily to civilian life from adrenaline-filled tours of duty from Iraq and Afghanistan may be fun, but in reality it becomes frustrating some times.
Executives specializing in military talent say the civilian world is a lot different from the military. Civilians in the workplace have different expectations. You may get frustrated if people don't meet standards to which you are accustomed. Once you are no longer on the military regime, you can't bark orders and get things done. The work environs may turn inimical for you. The pace of work is different and the values are also different.
Once you are in the military your habits get changed and your expectations aren't reachable by the civilians. Even after you come out of the battlefield, you are still a curt soldier.
You have to sort out your priorities when once you take up a civilian job after years of military service. You must immediately get rid of the mental baggage, on both personal and professional levels, you returned with.
In the civilian world you can't brag about what you had done on the battlefield and start ordering left and right. You have to take lessons, in a way, in civilian language. Communication is more important. You have to make people understand what you want them to do. Civilian work demands persuasion. If you treat people as if they are under your command, you lose loyalty and remain lone and friendless.
A marine for over 25 years now says you have been in life-or-death situations, you are finally reunited with your family, and suddenly you are confronted with a project deadline. You have to be professional and at the same time you have to sort out what is personally important to you.
As a returnee often times you have to resist impulsiveness. With frustration, you may impulsively tell the civilians that you were there fighting for them. Keep yourself away from conflicts and office politics. You must remember that you are back to Monday-through-Friday world and realize it takes quite awhile to get adjusted to the change.
One thing you must keep in mind that on your return you are given a job and being paid for it. You must learn to focus on your work. When your mind wanders overseas you have to snap that connection and know that life does go on here as well. If you correctly interpret the civilian psyche, you will be able to catch up with the work rhythm, though you had struggled a lot to maintain a professional demeanor. All is said and done, the underlying tension never stops coming up now and then.
You can take the help of transition counselors who are there round the clock. Some of you are sometimes ordered to meet with them before you return home. The Morale, Wellness, Recreation (MRW) division is another source the reservists may consult. Even after returning home, reservists may get counseling of transition and MRW officers at the base.
Frustrated returnees are not left to themselves. The skills they learned in the service can be leveraged into an entirely new field. Veterans are offered a variety of scholarships. Turn military experience to your advantage and enjoy the leisurely life.
