Tag: navy

How to Leave the Military Like A True Professional

When I was a young airman, an NCO told me that on her retirement day she planned to drive off base with her middle finger in the air. She added that she would be using her other hand to smoke a joint. Around the same time I witnessed a respected SNCO retire after 28 years of honorable service openly weeping, partly because he was proud of his service and accomplishments, but mostly because he simply did not want to go. He would’ve stayed in the service his whole life if he could have.

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Can Military-Grade Courtesies Harm Your Civilian Career?

Is there such a thing as too polite or too formal in the civilian workplace? Yes, there absolutely is, and laying it on too thickly could damage your career. Continue reading “Can Military-Grade Courtesies Harm Your Civilian Career?”

The Federal Benefits Guidebook for Veterans, Dependents, and Surviving Family Members

As you approach your separation or retirement, you will be provided with a wealth of information from colleagues, briefings, computer-based training, and your federally-mandated Transition Assistance Program course. In fact, not only will you receive more information regarding your federal and state-level benefits than the average person can hope to retain, you will also likely be provided with an abundance of conflicting and incorrect information. At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable about the benefits that are available to you by virtue of your service.

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What Veterans Really Think About Colin Kaepernick and Nike

Colin Kaepernick. The NFL. Nike. Old glory. The American military. It is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid these topics online or in the workplace, and there are no lukewarm opinions about them. Our society is either passionately opposed to or in staunch support of the movement Colin Kaepernick began a few years back by taking a knee during the National Anthem. Those against it claim that Kaepernick’s protest is a slap in the face to all those who have served in the armed forces. How do our veterans really feel, though?

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Veterans, Loyalty, and “Promotion from Within”

Looking for rapid professional advancement? Don’t put all your eggs in the “promote from within” basket.

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Veterans: Does Google’s New Job Search Tool Really Help You Secure Post-Military Employment? [Review]

Google’s new search tool sounds like a game changer for transitioning Veterans. Does this new initiative actually function as advertised? The Post-Military Professional’s author Adam Braatz investigates.

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Military Ink: Tattoos, Veterans, and Employment

In 1991, an “Iceman” was discovered near the Italian-Austrian border. Carbon-dated at approximately 5,200 years old, the Iceman was found to have tattoos all over his body. Tattooing is a practice (or an art form, as some would argue) that dates back thousands of years and has historically been used to symbolize high status, low status, criminal status, military status, illness, injury, or religious affiliation. In some cases it has even been used as a memory aid. Mummified remains and written records reveal the occurrence of tattoos and tattooing in ancient civilizations all over the world. In fact, in the body modification realm, tattooing predates piercing by over 7,000 years. That’s all very interesting, but does it mean you should finally bite the bullet and get that star-spangled full sleeve you’ve always dreamed of? You know, the one that proudly proclaims, “These Colors Don’t Run” in Old English font? You might want to mull over whether or not it could hurt your post-service job prospects first.

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