AMU Military

Continuing Legislative Focus on Veteran Transitioning

Shortly after writing a post on USMAP, I came across a brief article which referenced Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown promoting the Troop Talent Act of 2013. This bill was introduced by Virginia Senator Timothy Kaine, and is designed to enhance opportunities for service members to seek civilian credentialing during their service, so that transitioning will be much easier. Specifically it would direct and require the Secretaries of the military departments to evaluate the correlation of military training and civilian certifications, and to ensure information and educational assistance is readily available on the process of any related certifications and licenses. There is more to this bill, and information on it can be found at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s700. This particular bill is listed with a relatively low chance of making it past its own committee, let alone being enacted into law. Still, the bill is interesting because it corresponds very well to the apprenticeship concept provided by USMAP that I just wrote on, and most importantly, demonstrates a continued commitment at the legislative level to produce laws to assist veterans in their transition. As we move towards a post war phase, it will become increasingly important to focus on easing transitions and ensuring that veterans, who have done so much for their country and have even more to offer future employers, are given every chance to succeed. As I have recently written in other articles however, it is clear that the difficulty of veteran transitions is recognized at every level currently – at least from the Marine Corps perspective, I am constantly seeing MARADMINs discussing various programs offered at the end of one’s career, some of which are mandatory. In no way do I believe that this transition is easy, even as a reserve officer with 5 years of prior enlisted experience and with most of a graduate degree complete, I am still struggling to find a suitable job (there have been job offers, so I am grateful for that, but I already have a temporary job and want to find that good match before I jump ship). My personal advice to those of you still in service is to seize every opportunity for education and training while you can! Many of the benefits available to you now will not be there when you enter into the civilian job market, and you do not want to find yourself regretting not taking advantage of these programs. I am happy to see continued focus on easing the transition, but no one can get you a career, that part will still fall squarely on an individual’s shoulders! As I have constantly said on this blog, consider carefully what you want out of your education or future career, set attainable goals, and pursue them relentlessly. Good luck!

by Bradley Hood
In Military Education Contributor

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