Dedicating yourself to the military is a very noble move. You have decided you are willing to fight for the values of your country and defend it, as well as others around the world. With that said, it shouldn’t mean that you have to give up on your career goals in life. Spending your life in the military may not be what you had planned. So, how can you be on active-duty while taking steps to set-up or further your career for later? Here are some tips.
Further Your Education
One of the best ways to further your career is to further your education. The problem with furthering your education is that it can be extremely costly, which isn’t exactly ideal when living on a military-salary. This is where you may want to look into scholarships that would be available to you.
One of the most popular is from The Pat Tillman Foundation, which awards scholarships for up to 60 people each year. This scholarship is only open to active-duty service members, military spouses, and veterans, which mean you won’t be in competition with every student across the country. The Pat Tillman scholarship provides about $10,000 per academic year to the scholar.
If a scholarship doesn’t work out for you, there is also the Federal Student Aid program available through the Department of Education. You can call them to discuss the amounts available, the repayment options, and how you can figure out a solution that works for you. There are a few different programs available, so you’ll want to get information on each.
Make Sure You Keep Record of Training and Accomplishments
As you fulfill your service requirements it’s also wise to keep a careful and detailed record of all the military training you receive, and your accomplishments. The idea is that you are building up a portfolio or resume, which can be used once you complete your active-duty term.It’s also a good idea to make use of the career guidance representative available to you, as they can help with career advice and building a resume that is highly marketable.
Even though you may have plans to be in the military until a set date, the fact is that your service could end early should you become injured. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to have your resume ready and waiting so that if needed, you’re ready to build a life outside of the military.
Build a Professional Social Media Profile
This is also a great time to be building a professional social media profile. Make use of such sites as LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. Just be sure that the information and content you are posting is professional, as these could be future job leads that see the content.
Being Prepared for Life After the Military
Each of these tips is meant to help you prepare for your life outside of the military. This will help to make a much smoother and happier transition for you.
