from military to civilian life

Recognizing Stress

Webster’s Tenth Collegiate Dictionary defines stress as follows:

A state resulting from a stressor, especially one of bodily or mental tension, resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium.

Whether you believe it or not, leaving the military will prove to be stressful for yourself and for members of your family. You may find yourself loosing sleep or loosing your temper more often than before. If you are still in the decision process, then remember to be patient with yourself and realize that there are many questions that you and your family will need to answer in order to make the transition smooth and successful. If you have decided that teaching will be your next career then you will have won a large chunk of the transition battle. Remember there are organizations within and outside the military that can help you or your family members deal with the stress of leaving the military environment and moving into civilian life

You may also feel the impact of financial stress since you might be questioning your ability to have sufficient funds to feed, clothe, and shelter yourself and your family for an undetermined amount of time. It will be important to work out a budget that limits expenses as you plan for and make your transition to civilian life. There are many excellent web sites that can help you to calculate a budget plan that you can live with.

• Military money: This site has financial tools and calculators to assist you in financial planning during your transition.

You will be feeling emotional stress of the job loss even after separation or retirement, since your status quo and your family’s equilibrium has been disrupted. Your ego may be bruised during this transition time, too. Many of us see ourselves only through the lens of our job title. Stripping that rank and title away can rattle your world and cause a lack of confidence in your ability to complete a successful transition and can definitely impact your job search. Eventually, it can take a toll on our bodies and minds.

Dealing with Stress

Being aware of stress is the first element necessary to combat it!

If you are having difficulties with stress it is best to seek counsel so that you are up to the challenges that are ahead of you. Don’t feel you must go it alone. There are many organizations and people you can talk to that will assist you with this difficult aspect of any career transition. Use them. Some of these include:

• a spouse or best friend,
• your family doctor,
• your pastor, rabbi, or church elder,
• counselors or therapists,
• job search self-help groups,
• your veteran’s representative at the state employment office
• your transition office which will allow you to utilize resources after separation from the military.

Most services of transition offices are still available to the military after separation or retirement on a space available basis. Check with your transition office to see what it can do for you. The Veterans Affairs office is also currently enhancing programs for military transitioners.

Millions of military have gone before you and transitioned successfully to new careers and civilian lifestyles. Today there are many more agencies and services than in past years to help you reduce stress and have a successful transition including.

• Army: Army Career and Alumni ACAP transition office
• Navy: Transition assistance Management Program (TAMP)
• Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center
• Marines: Marine Corps Community Service
• Coast Guard: Health and Safety Directorate Transition Services
• Transition assistance for all armed forces branches
• Department of Labor Transition Assista nce Program (TAP)

Utilize their services in your quest and consider all of them a “Force Multiplier” for your cause.