Spent 3 1/2 years in the Army(Active Duty) and now I’m OUT! I did enlist in the Reserves because I think at some point the Army does keep me positive and motivated. But basically the Reserves is like Civilians with ACUs on..that’s it.
If you’re still in the Active Duty Army and about to get out.and someone says..”You won’t find a job out there!”...DO NOT believe them. Over the last 5 weeks I had 4 job interviews(which is pretty good in this economy) and I feel I got one after my background check.
But anyway…PLEASE PLEASE make sure you have your resume right(do this by going to ACAP resume workshops). Employers WILL NOT look at your resume if it doesn’t look good. Make sure it’s the right format AND that your resume has what the job is looking for. If the job says.”Looking for 2 years customer service”..put that in the resume! That will give you the likelihood of them telling you to come on in for a interview…too easy!
But anyway…Before you get out MANY soldiers(especially NCOs) will tell you it’s hard out there and that you should re-enlist…DON’T do it! They WANT you to reenlist so they won’t have to deal with a new Private and retrain him/her all over again to do everything right.
There are jobs out there…especially as an Army Civilian! If you don’t mind going to Iraq again as an Army Civilian & making all that money…then PLEASE go..there’s alotta money to make there! You can also work on in the states as a Army Civilian.
Google “CPOL” or look on Indeed.com for jobs at your local post.
P.S: If the Army was a business..it would be OUT OF BUSINESS! It wastes time and money on little things that a few officers and NCOs forgot to do. Wastes millions on parts that stay in the supply room for years And wastes other soldier’s time because 1 or 2 people higher up are not done doing they’re paperwork. In addition you have to listen to NCOs that don’t even know what your job is about..How can someone that don’t know about my job tell me what to do with my job. I was gonna join the AF but I had bad credit..i think the people in the AF are smarter and don’t people’s time…Sure they might not be all tough and hard..but I rather be around smarter people than tough hard-headed fools with leadership.
Nov 09, 11:28AM PST | 0 comments
synthmsc is
I served 3 years and what will be 22 weeks in the US Army as a 74D Chemical Operations Specialist. I have a 119 GT score and a 107 on the DLAB, though I knew nothing about the army and chose Chem Ops because it sounded interesting. I spent 14 months in Iraq and was demoted twice for being present while a soldier was willingly taped up for fun, and allegedly sleeping on a mission even though I had a full conversation with the sergeant that wrote me up. 14 + 45 days of extra duty in Iraq and demoted from Specialist to PFC, then again from PFC to PVT. All because my leadership didn’t like me and felt the original 14 day, company grade article 15 wasn’t enough.
Unfortunately for them, demoting me prevented me from stupidly reenlisting, and now my company is undermanned and I am getting out. The army, like anything, has its ups and downs. I’m sure there are really tight knit units out there where leaders take care of their soldiers and things go right. There are also units like mine, that are racist, prejudice and could care less about you when you need help. I am so glad to get out, I think my last day I might shed a tear. From where I’m sitting, FTA.
Sep 22, 03:22PM PDT | 0 comments
I think I’m under the 200 day mark now…
Though I’m finding I gotta do more paperwork to get out than I hadda do to get in! O well, its all for the ease of transition. Those ACAP classes and transition briefs have a lot of good info… don’t skip ‘em.
Apr 26, 07:23PM PDT | 1 cheer | 1 comment
294 days left, Bitches!
:)
I told the 1SG it was the end of an era. Typical 1SG response: “You’re not old enough to have an era.” Haha, Top is funny!
I’m already writing my ETS Speech.
Jan 05, 2009, 08:37PM PST | 0 comments
If you would like to get out, don’t let anyone tell you that you’ll never find a job. Lots of people love to hire vets. I was able to snag a great government contracting job with a good company. At the time I had no college and only 3 years experience in that field. Many business owners like vets, use that to your advantage.
If you are getting cold feet about it, try what I did. A year before I got out, I created a fake person with all the creds that I thought I would have by the time I got out. I then applied this person to a bunch of companies as well as put up a few resumes online. I recieved tons of hits. This guy was still getting hits when I was getting out a year later. Try that and you wont be so worried.
Dec 25, 2008, 08:46PM PST | 0 comments
Awesome! 11 months left, and I’ve already got a job lined up with a fat salary, and several more offers. :) Don’t believe what people say about not being able to make it on the outside. You can do it.
Dec 15, 2008, 04:29AM PST | 1 comment
You Fuckin idiots. Did you read your contract? Did you do the research? NO…probably not! How dare you disgrace the very thing that keeps this country safe. As far as I concerned you all should fall off a cliff, to do me and the people I serve with a favor. I can’t believe I protect people like you.
Dec 11, 2008, 11:41AM PST | 0 comments
One round trip most-expenses-paid vacation to Afghanistan, and a few months of ACAPing, and this goal is as good as accomplished. I’ve learned a lot so far in the army, and I’m sure I’ve the larger body of learning still ahead of me. One such thing I have learned is that “F” word (no not that one) that we throw around so carelessly incurs a lot more meaning once you forfeit a large part of it, and have to wait several years to get it back. It will be nice to step outside and know that I can head in any direction I’d like, and leave everything behind, without breaking any federal laws.
Oct 20, 2008, 03:47AM PDT | 0 comments
I’m applying to schools and applying to jobs! The future is looking brighter every day. :)
Aaaand, I have yet another reason to add to the list of why I’m getting out: No matter how hard you work, if your immediate supervisor thinks your a shitbag, you won’t get promoted even if everyone else thinks the sun shines out of your asshole.
1SG told my NCO to send me to the promotion board, but he purposely sat on the paperwork and didn’t turn it in until it was too late. Now, I don’t have enough time in service remaining to pin E-6. Thank you SSG Watts, what a prick!
Funny how I’m expected to give 100% until the day I ETS, but the Army isn’t expected to give 100% back to me. I have a pie chart on my computer that counts down the days until my ETS. The ‘days remaining’ slice is getting smaller and smaller. :)
Oct 16, 2008, 06:47PM PDT | 0 comments
finally finished w/ my contract! i’m free at last! no regrets, but i’m glad it’s over..
Sep 06, 2008, 04:26PM PDT | 0 comments
