Military Transition Programs in the United States - Case Study Example

Military Transition Programs in the United s Introduction The United s has introduced numerous programs in order to facilitate the welfare of veteran soldiers. In this regard, the United States congress has made numerous intervention programs to address the issue of veteran employments in the civilian labor market. Numerous federal programs have been created to improve the veteran’s job skills as well as education on civilian living. The programs are broadly categorized into general programs, programs targeting veterans with the service related disabilities and the competitive programs that provide supplemental services that are not offered to all war veterans (Jolly, 1996). The general programs for the war veteran is the first program in that facilitates transition of the war veteran from the professional life as a soldier into the civilian life. The program is usually offered to veterans who previously served in the armed forces. The program includes education of an individual on how to identify the most appropriate occupation in the civilian life based on military experience specialization and skills (Jolly, 1996). Additionally the program also educates war veterans on how to conduct simple jobs search, application and recruitment process (in terms of writing employment application letters, interviewing process and employment life) as well as facilitating the veterans to obtain and manage the employment benefits like pensions and insurance schemes. The GI Bill is an example of a general program that provides the veterans with sufficient information on education funding. The program provides the veteran with sufficient funding for tuition, housing, education materials, and other related cost upon enrollment. The Local Veteran Employment Representative is another general program that provides veterans with appropriate knowledge and skills in employment search especially in the federal government (Jolly, 1996). The program provides quality training that gives the veteran competitive advantage in the hiring process or even gives preference to the trained veterans to be appointed into organizations. The Small Business Administration is another program that provides entrepreneurial skills to veterans who wish to open their businesses. The program also provides suitable loans as well as technical and managerial assistance to the veterans. Under the veterans with service related disabilities program category, several programs have been created to address the obstacles that veterans experience in employment due to these disabilities. The Vocational Rehabilitation and employment is one of such programs. The program provides the necessary assistance to the disabled veteran to identify an appropriate occupation that matches his military experiences in the civilian world. The program also assists these veterans to obtain employment where they feel comfortable in pursuit of their dreams. The disabled veteran outreach program on the other hand provides veterans with employment barriers to not only get assistance on career development, but also provide assistance at the national labor market (Fitzpatrick, 1990). The competitive grant program category include programs in which the federal state in conjunction with private organizations and local governments provide employment and training services as well as other labor-related products to war veterans. This category is usually the most common and diverse category in the United States (Fitzpatrick, 1990). The category has numerous programs such as the Homeless veteran reintegration program (that provides employment supportive services) and the veteran upwards bound program (that provides tertiary education to less educated war veterans). In addition to the above two programs, the Army partnership for youth success program and the transition assistant program for navy war veterans are the most distinctive and highly reputable competitive programs provided. Analysis of the Army partnership for youth success The program was initiated out of a partnership between the United Sates Army (federal department) and a group of public agencies and private organizations. The program’s main objective is to provide an opportunity for Youth army force to serve their country and prepare for future civilian life after retirement from the force (Mitchell, 2009). The program that started in 2000 had the ultimate goal of encouraging young individuals to enlist as soldiers as well as the enlisted soldiers to continue serving the nation without fear of unemployment as well as lack of employment skills upon retirement. The partnership between the federal government and business society provided the necessary guarantee of soldiers being employed upon completion of their military life. Currently, the program provides essential services to veterans who had served on active duty as regular army soldiers, reserve component cadets, army reserve soldiers, reserve officers’ training corps and cadets, as well as Reserve Component Cadets. Since 2011, the program operates under the command of the United States army marketing and research group that is a field operations agency within the office of the assistant secretary of the army for work force and research affairs. The agency is in charge of the program’s management and operation (Mitchell, 2009). In addition, the agency conducts, at regular basis, market research and analysis as well as accessions analysis in an effort to establish sufficient strategies that encourage American citizens to take up the military service career due to the incentives offered by the program. Under the Army partnership for youth success program, upon completing the enlistment package under the United States recruiting command, an individual is enrolled and enters the future soldier training program (Mitchell, 2009). The program continues until the termination of the program upon which the individual obtaining a job interview and ultimately being employed by the partnership for youth success program’s partner. In addition to the attractive education benefits, the individual also benefits from products such as Montgomery GI Bill, Army college fund and the post 9/11 GI Bill. Moreover, the partnership for youth success program also provides competitive employment benefits to its clients by discussing with recruiters on making temporary employment reservations through the Future Soldier Reservation System. In this case, the recruiters evaluate the military occupation capabilities and enlistment terms of future soldiers under the program. A soldier is therefore guaranteed an interview since the program establishes and maintains the relationship between the soldier and the recruiting organization’s senior human resource manager. The program also ensures that Reserve Officers’ Training Corps are trained on leadership skills, establishes the required rapport and career mentorship from the recruiting agency. As a result, soldiers have high qualifications, appropriate recommendations and good interpersonal/leadership skills that provide an added advantage compared to non-members (Hill, 2011). Analysis of the Transition Assistance program In a similar approach the Transition Assistance program that has been adopted by the United States navy, provide employment assistance services to navy veterans. The program provide job searching services to retired veterans as well as their spouses. Additionally, members of the program obtain adequate skills on resume and application letter writing, appropriate interviewing skills, and emerging trends on job searching. The program also provides up to date labor market situations, assessment of veteran’s military skills and competencies in order to determine the appropriate relationship between the military skills acquired and their application in the civilian careers (Abrams, 2013). The program also provides information on professional certification, apprenticeships and licensing and relevant information on technical career fields. Information on veteran’s benefits and special needs due to war related disabilities is provided to clients. The program provides training assistance and education using job training and veterans’ educational benefits. The program provides entrepreneurial assistance and promotes self-employment through the veteran’s entrepreneurship and small business programs. Lastly, the program also provides the veterans with information on communal and public services employment opportunities as well as the federal employment vacancies through the competitive hiring process. The program is usually provided at several federal departments and military installation offices. The departments include the department of defense, veteran affairs department, homeland security department, and the department of labor. The program involves the Transition Assistance program curriculum that is called Transition Assistance program GPS. The GPS curriculum advocates for inclusion of all soldiers (Abrams, 2013). Additionally, the program requires the military conducts individualized assessment of the civilian employment position that soldiers can hold. The program also integrated social education where soldiers learn financial skills, resilient transition and veteran benefits as part of their course. Throughout the transition process, the program advocates that veterans should consult the local transition officers and the local veteran representatives before changing their careers or in case they need additional information on the program (Hay, 2006). Transition Assistance program GPS appeals as more veteran friendly since the curriculum provides extensive education on essential social skills in addition to employment services (Dethlefsen, 1984). In this regard, the program addresses stress and psychological support for retired soldiers who have tormenting experiences on the battleground. In this program, a veteran is guided on how to manage stress and use it positively to achieve ones goal in the civilian life. The program also advocates on the significant role of a full family environment as well as adapting to the civilian family life schedule. A veteran must establish close relationship and actively participate on social functions as well as engage on positive hobbies. The program also provides free counseling services for its members on critical issues regarding marital problems and career development. However unlike the Army partnership for youth success, the program fails t provide appropriate leadership skills and mentorship as well as creation of close association between it members and the partnering recruiting agencies. By integrating such policies, the program may maximize the benefits provided to its clients (Dethlefsen, 1984). Conclusion War veterans upon retiring from the military life have hard experiences in transitioning to the civilian life due to poor communication and inter-personal skills, negative stereotypes of military officers by employers and unrealistic civilian life expectations by the veterans. However, the federal government has introduced numerous programs in order to facilitate the welfare of veteran soldiers. In this regard, many programs have been created to improve the veterans’ job skills as well as education on civilian living. Competitive grant program provide employment and training services as well as other labor-related products to war veterans. It includes the Homeless veteran reintegration program; the veteran upwards bound program, the Army partnership for youth success program and the transition assistant program for navy war veterans. Army partnership for youth success program provides an opportunity for Youth army force to serve their country and prepare for future civilian life after retirement from the force (Dethlefsen, 1984). It provides competitive employment benefits, rapport and career mentorship, close association with potential recruiting agency as well as an assurance of a job interview and employment. Transition Assistance program that has been adopted by the United States navy provide employment assistance services to veterans. The services include; job- searching services to retired veterans as well as their spouses, resume and application letter writing , appropriate interviewing skills, assessment of veteran’s military skills and competencies in order to determine the appropriate relationship between the military skills acquired and their application in the civilian careers (Dethlefsen, 1984). The program also provides information on professional certification, apprenticeships and licensing and relevant information on technical career fields, training assistance and education benefits. References Jolly, R. (1996). Changing step: From military to civilian life : People in transition. London: Brasseys. Fitzpatrick, W., & Good, C. (1990). Does your resume wear combat boots?: Successful transition from military to civilian life : A job-seekers guide. Charlottesville, VA: Blue Jeans Press. Mitchell, J. (2009). Careers after the Armed Forces how to decide on the right career and make a successful transition. London: Kogan Page. Hill, J., & Scott, C. (2011). Life after the military: A handbook for transitioning veterans. Lanham, Md.: Government Institutes. Abrams, M., & Faulkner, M. (2013). Business networking for veterans: A guidebook for a successful transition from the military to the civilian workforce. Dethlefsen, M., & Canfield, J. (1984). Transition from military to civilian life: How to plan a bright future now for you and your family. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. Hay, M. (2006). Military transition to civilian success: The complete guide for veterans and their families. Manassas Park, Va.: Impact Publications. Read More