Fraternal Groups
Fraternal groups can be a source of help because they are made up of people like you-people who get involved because they care. You will find programs and people who can offer you opportunities, training, and referrals, and who, in some cases, can put you face to face with potential employers. In most in stances their services are free or offered at a nominal cost. Most organizations require membership, but some don't.
Service-Unique Organizations
Service-unique organizations such as the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), Air Force Association (AFA), Fleet Reserve, Navy League, Marine Corps League, and others often have corporate sponsors who actively participate in association activities both at local and national levels. Some local chapters even have an informal referral committee, which helps to place members leaving the service. These corporate members can be a solid source of leads for job vacancies and should be contacted with a letter and resume. If you are an active chapter member and attend chapter functions, you may get an opportunity to meet corporate executives. These people can provide introductions to appropriate hiring executives and also can give you some advice and tips on your job search.
Don't be afraid to ask. The worst they can do is refuse, and you won't have lost anything for asking.
Check with your service organization to find out what they offer nationally to help their members find work. Some organizations such as AUSA offer a resume service to members for a fee. AUSA and AFA both offer listing in a database of job seekers for their members. The organizations will provide you with a form to use to enter your personal information. The information is then made available to hiring companies.
Service-Wide Organizations
The Retired Officers Association (TROA) provides a tremendous service to its members. The program includes a computer-based matching service produced from an eight-page questionnaire, as well as a hard copy resume file. Referrals are made to various companies. The service is offered through TROA Officer Placement Service (TOPS) and also includes both one-to-one counseling and resumes critiques.
TROA provides lectures on career transition at various military installations worldwide entitled "Marketing Yourself for a Second Career." The lectures are free and open to all officers and the top three enlisted grades without regard to membership. Information can be obtained by writing to the Retired Officers Association.
The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)
Veterans Employment Assistance Program (VEA) has by far the most extensive program of all of the fraternal groups. NCOA/ VEA have been helping veterans to find work since 1972. All veterans and family members are eligible to participate in VEA, and membership is not required. NCOA/VEA services are free and open to all grades, both officer and enlisted. The program is three-tiered and includes job fairs, workshops, and a People Bank/Resume Registry.
The job fairs are held in major military population centers twenty times each year. They bring together separating veterans and hiring companies in a single location for the purpose of one-on-one interviews. Job fairs also offer a three-hour career transition seminar on the day before each fair.
Veterans are listed in the NCOA People Bank/Resume Registry through completion and entry of NCOA/VEA's unique mini-resume. The data is entered into a computer-based system, which matches their skills and training with civilian job requirements. The People Bank is regularly accessed by hiring companies seeking to hire workers with military training and experience.
Finally, NCOA conducts a series of four-hour job seekers workshops on most major military installations worldwide each year to help separating veterans prepare to enter the civilian workforce, and to assist them in preparing the mini-resume.
The monthly journals from both NCOA and TROA carry employment advertisements from companies seeking to hire separating military personnel.
One more comment concerning fraternal groups. Be sure to check out all of the services offered. Most offer low-cost insurance programs (auto, life, CHAMPUS supplement) and consumer savings programs, but some even offer help in filing claims for disability compensation, counseling, and Veterans Service Officer representation. Find out what benefits are offered and then be sure to sign up. Membership will allow you to keep a connection with the military community long after you've left the service.
It's All There
You don't have to face the prospects of a career transition by yourself. Even though you are leaving the cocoon of service life, there are still many people and agencies that are willing to help you. These services are not going to jump out of the walls to get to you. A large portion of the responsibility to find help rests with you. Use the information in this article as a guide and ask any of the people and agencies discussed here for referrals on other people and agencies who can provide additional assistance. Finally, when you get situated on the outside, become part of the network of veterans helping veterans. Get involved! Maybe you can become the key to the success of some other veteran in making a career transition.
