Lessons Learned for Vets Lori Norris

We continue our discussion with Mary Polanco on Part 2 of this 2-part series. On the previous episode, Mary discusses the importance of taking time for yourself during the military transition process and the reality that separating from the military may cause grief. During this episode, we dissect content from her newly published book, Your Final Debrief, and dive deeper into healthy ways to deal with complex emotions that may arise before, during and after the military transition. 


Mary believes that questioning your feelings is an important step to understanding the root cause. If you find yourself feeling a certain way, ask yourself where the feeling is coming from and consider the meaning behind the feeling. This type of analytical thinking will help you acknowledge and accept the feeling and move on. 


Life is full of transitions - whether it’s relational or job related. It’s important to constantly reflect on where you are, where you’ve been and how you envision your future. Reflection will bring up feelings, and for many people it’s easier to suppress those feelings instead of working through them. As we work through feelings, it’s hard to know in the beginning what is really underneath the emotions. Mary attributes therapy, reading, journaling and meditating to helping her work through suppressed feelings from her Air Force career. These healthy actions create space for things to come up, so you can address them and move forward.


Leaving the military is a choice for some, but for others it’s forced. Some service members get med boarded while others may fail to get promoted. Either way, the last day in uniform can be emotionally charged. For Mary, she was unprepared for the feelings that occurred on her first full day of retirement. She realized she was alone in her decisions. She no longer had someone telling her where to be and what to do. It’s okay to be both sad about your military career being over and excited about your future.


Mary encourages service members to separate their identity with their service. If you are struggling with this, pull out a piece of paper and write down the question, “Who am I?” For you to separate your service from your identity, you have to have an identity to fall back on – which is the real you! For those serving in the military, it’s too easy to put “you” on the back burner. You need to dedicate time to the discovery process of finding out what has been dormant for so long. In her book, Mary suggests 9 questions that could help you rediscover yourself including What brings you peace? What would you do with your time if you had no worries? What is your legacy? 
Your Final Debrief is a guide that shows you how to invest in yourself. The military will roll on without you. So start preparing for your next chapter. 


Connect with Mary at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-polanco-mssl-32a1a5176/


Explore Your Final Debrief at https://www.amazon.com/Your-Final-Debrief-Military-Post-Service/dp/B0CN69TVWZ
 
Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v


AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. 
AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military.  AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.

After serving 23 years in the US Air Force, Mary Polanco retired from the Air Force. She is the founder and CEO of Live and Lead Well and the author of Your Final Debrief, which she describes as a must-read guide to learning how to break free from the military mindset and craft the post service life you truly desire. During Season 3, episode 128, we talked with Mary about her transition. This episode focuses on content from her newly published book. 
Mary retired earlier than planned, at the peak of her military career. To those on the outside, it came as a shock. However, Mary had prepared for her transition and done the hard work of self-discovery before submitting her retirement papers. Her hope is Your Final Debrief will resonate with transitioning service members and validate the complex emotions that often accompany military separation or retirement. 


The first chapter is titled Thank You for Your Service. If you’ve served in the military, you know that this sentiment can often be uncomfortable. Mary believes it’s important for service members to acknowledge their service and the sacrifices they made while wearing the uniform. One of the sacrifices that Mary focuses on is the idea that military service may hinder a person’s identity. 


Have you ever heard someone refer to someone else as ROAD? It stands for retired on active duty. It’s a term used to describe someone that is choosing to focus on themself rather than working 24/7 until their last day for the military. This term has a negative connotation in the military. Mary addresses this and why it’s so important to take time for yourself before separating or retiring from the military. For those serving in leadership roles, the military has convinced you that the mission will fail without you, right? The truth is the military will go on without you. You are replaceable. It can feel wrong to put yourself before the needs of others, especially if you have a servitude attitude. Know that you will never be able to convince those still in uniform the magnitude of transitioning. It’s not your job – your job is to prepare yourself for the next chapter of your life.


In Mary’s book, she compares her service to a marriage and her retirement to a divorce. She experienced the 5 stages of grief during her transition. Mary believes the first enlistment is the courtship phase. During this time, you are questioning whether to leave or stay for the long haul. For those that choose to reenlist, a commitment is made and there are expectations of your service. The 5 stages of grief are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Grief occurs over a loss – whether it’s a person, pet or job.  Mary experienced all of these as she grappled with the idea of retirement.


Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Connect with Mary at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-polanco-mssl-32a1a5176/

Explore Your Final Debrief at https://www.amazon.com/Your-Final-Debrief-Military-Post-Service/dp/B0CN69TVWZ
AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. 
AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military.  AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.

On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome retired US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Clarissa Merced. Clarissa used the SkillBridge program to upskill and land a role with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). During her 2.5 years at the VBA, Clarissa realized she needed a job that was more stimulating and rewarding. She got serious about her job search and learned how to translate her military skills and effectively market herself. Her hard work paid off, and she received an offer for a new role that exceeded her previous salary by more than $30K. 


Clarissa admits she did not utilize her transition period wisely. She relied on her 24 years of military service, education and SkillBridge to carry her into the next chapter. When she finished her SkillBridge internship with the VBA, she went straight into a full-time position working from home assigning disability ratings to veterans. After spending 24 years in the military and being on call all the time, Clarissa realized the demanding environment at the VBA was not a good fit. 


When Clarissa accepted a new position in the civilian sector, she noticed right away that the environment was better suited to her. She feels heard and valued in her new role and believes her compensation is fair given her experience, education and background. Clarissa is grateful for her role at the VBA and encourages veterans to explore working for the federal government if they are looking for an environment that is similar in nature to the military as far as promotions and paygrades. 
 
As Clarissa reflects on her transition, she wished she would have taken time to decompress and detach herself from the military before starting her post-military career. She went straight from the military to SkillBridge to a full-time role. She would have taken the time to do career and personality type assessments and really put thought into the kind of work environment that she wanted to be in. If Clarissa had the opportunity to transition again, she would have put a greater emphasis on earning the certifications and degrees that would benefit her once she retired instead of prioritizing education that contributed to her success while she was serving. 
 
Working from home has been an adjustment for Clarissa. Many people seek remote roles, especially in the post-pandemic world. While there are many positives to working from home, there can be challenges as well. If you are a people person, you must find ways to interact and connect with your team. Remote workers often need to remind their family members that they are at work and need to stay on task.


Clarissa recommends people seek professional assistance if they need help writing a resume or prepping for an interview. Career coaching is a small investment when you consider the impact it can have on the rest of your career. Invest in yourself. Take advantage of free resources and then make an informed decision if you know you need more help marketing yourself. 


Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22


Connect with Clarissa at https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissa-merced/


Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v



AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. 
AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military.  AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.

On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we continue our conversation with Dave Schantz, SkillBridge expert. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we encourage you to download Episode 153 and learn more about what the SkillBridge program is and what it isn’t. This episode focuses on the employment part of the SkillBridge program. 


Dave encourages service members to run weekly keyword searches on the SkillBridge locations page to learn what companies are offering opportunities that fit their needs. During this discovery period, service members should be reaching out to the point of contact listed on the SkillBridge location page to learn more about the organization and their program. Google companies and learn about their successes, failures and cultures. When a service member sits down for a SkillBridge interview, it should not be the first time they are learning about the organization. Prepare for the interview like it’s a paid opportunity because it is a fully funded fellowship opportunity. During the interview, it would be appropriate to inquire about the opportunity at the end of the SkillBridge internship. The SkillBridge program is not a free labor program. It is by design a train to hire program. If the company cannot answer the question, it is a red flag. Service members should apply to multiple SkillBridge opportunities.


Because the SkillBridge program is a popular way to secure employment after the military, many service members have begun to view it as an opportunity to get out of the military 6 months early. Remember that your commanding officer can recall you if needed. Another unhealthy mindset is chasing the SkillBridge opportunity with the longest internship period. Go for the opportunity that is right for both you and the organization to support the level of training that you need in order to get the job that you want. The purpose of SkillBridge is to upskill or retrain service members, whether that takes 6 months or 2 months. 


Dave encourages service members to start thinking about their military transition as early as possible. Learn about the Air Force COOL program, tuition assistance, credentialing assistance, the GI Bill and the SkillBridge program. For any position that requires a Secret security clearance or less, most recruiters don’t look any further than 90 days in advance. 90 days before a service member is eligible to start a SkillBridge opportunity would be an ideal time to start applying to organizations. For positions that require a Top Security clearance or above, start applications 4-6 months in advance.


Start preparing for your transition early. Network with companies that offer SkillBridge opportunities. Make a plan that includes applying for multiple SkillBridge opportunities. 


Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22
 
Connect with Dave at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-schantz-skillbridge-champion/
Explore SkillBridge at https://skillbridge.osd.mil/


Join the DoD SkillBridge Community of Practice LinkedIn group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12257076/


Download the AAFMAA transition timeline a
AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. 
AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military.  AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.

We are excited to welcome Dave Schantz to the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. After retiring from the US Navy in 2019, Dave built a SkillBridge opportunity at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). Once he learned how to navigate the SkillBridge approval process for GDIT, he took over the program to attract more transitioning service members to the organization. As the administrator for the DoD SkillBridge Community of Practice LinkedIn group for several years, he shares his knowledge of the program for service members, transition counselors and approved companies. Dave has been consulting with companies since 2021 and is now consulting full-time. As one of the premier experts on SkillBridge, he assists companies through the approval process and advises them on how to successfully build out their program. 

During Dave’s last year in service, he reached out to the hiring manager at GDIT to inquire if they had a SkillBridge program in place. Not only did they not have the program in place, but they also had very little knowledge of the benefits of SkillBridge. Dave sold them on the program, and he was selected to start working for them as a training advisor through their new SkillBridge program. After spending 6 months in the role, Dave was hired. Dave volunteered to be the administrator of the DoD SkillBridge Community of Practice LinkedIn group. From 9/2019 to present, Dave has grown the group from 85 members to 37K. Many service members are following Dave’s lead on creating SkillBridge opportunities. There are currently 4,400+ SkillBridge approved organizations.

The DoD SkillBridge program allows service members to participate in unpaid internships or apprenticeships with an approved organization during the last 6 months of service time. The organization can specify the duration of work from 1 month to the full 6 months with the expectation that at the end of the agreed upon period, there will be an opportunity for a full-time position. The program is designed as a train to hire program. It is not meant to be a free labor program. 

If a service member wants to participate in a SkillBridge opportunity with an organization that is not DoD approved, the program allows every approved organization to act as a middleman. This scenario could happen for a variety of reasons such as the organization doesn’t have time to get approved or the organization lacks the personnel to follow through on the intensive paperwork process.

For service members who are interested in SkillBridge, having a translated resume and LinkedIn profile is very important. Because a company is not supposed to be offering SkillBridge opportunities unless there is a high likelihood of a job offer at the end, the hiring manager will most likely be reviewing a service member’s resume and LinkedIn profile and conducting an interview. 

The DoD is making strides toward streamlining the approval process for organizations. With 200K service members transitioning each year and just 4,400+ approved organizations, there is still a lack of opportunity for some who want to participate in the program.

Connect with Dave at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-schantz-skillbridge-champion/

Download the AAFMAA transition timeline at https://aafmaa.com/ll4v

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!
AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. 
AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military.  AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.

On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome back Dr. Derek Moore. Derek was originally a guest in Season 1 for a Q&A episode. Since retiring in 2021 from the US Marine Corps, Derek’s journey has had highs and lows, including a period of unemployment and underemployment. Today, Derek is the Director of the Joint Military Leadership Center at the University of South Florida. 


One of Derek’s challenges during his military transition was relocating from North Carolina to Florida. Derek chose Florida for its climate but was unprepared for the lack of opportunities in his desired field. After experiencing unemployment for 8 months and unable to find leadership roles working with student veterans at area colleges and universities, Derek settled on a position in admissions and recruiting for a local private university. Within 3 months, Derek knew his job was not a good fit for him. It took him almost a year to find his current role. 


When Derek was unemployed and underemployed, he made an intentional effort to stay in touch with his connections on LinkedIn. He encourages others facing the same reality to remain calm and patient. Consider expanding your job search range to increase the number of job opportunities. 


In his director role, Derek oversees the ROTC program that includes Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force. He serves as the conduit between the university and the military branches, ensuring that students are successful with both their military and university commitments. Derek uses his military leadership skills and experience in his current role to serve students. Underemployment is one of the biggest issues that veterans face in their post military career. Whether a person is underutilized, undervalued or underpaid, underemployment can be discouraging and frustrating. Keep looking for opportunities that make you feel valued and useful. 


Sometimes the first job a veteran is offered after leaving the military is a dream job. Other times, that first job is nothing more than a paycheck. There is nothing wrong with accepting a job and continuing to look for a better fit. For Derek, he took his first job without having done the work of translating his military skills on his resume. After seeking professional help on his resume to help him translate his skills, he noticed more employers reaching out to him. If you choose to write your own resume, you must convey the value of what you did in the military to the employer. 


Derek credits LinkedIn for his large network. Once he got over the initial discomfort of reaching out to strangers to ask for informational interviews, Derek learned how to lean into his network to learn more about careers in higher education. In addition, he created content and commented on posts to share his knowledge and skills. 


Derek encourages service members to make their education plan while they are still serving. Take advantage of tuition assistance and credentialing assistance. Research the field you want to enter and learn what education you need to be competitive in the job search process. 


Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22
 
Connect with Derek at https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-moore-/


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AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. 
AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military.  AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.