Veterans returning to the workforce after military service face a variety of challenges. Translating military experience to a civilian resume is one of the most obvious of these, but even this is too easily taken for granted in terms of how easy it may or may not be to do so and what current trends in job hunting (and resume writing) might be at the time of separation from the U.S. military.

Fortunately there is help available for transitioning service members. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers career and employment help through a variety of programs including job counseling and transition advice, to support and training for self-employed veterans.

At the time of this writing, many of these services were previously linked with the government website called Vets.gov, but the pages of that website now redirect to the Department of Veterans Affairs official site, VA.gov. If you have previously researched your career counseling and transition assistance options, you may find your Vets.gov resources redirected to the VA.

---

CareerScope: A Helpful Tool To Use Before You Start Your Transition

Long before you accept your final military orders and begin outprocessing, you should review your job skills and think about how you want to transfer your abilities to the civilian workplace. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a helpful tool to start your transition out of a life in uniform and into civilian life.

This tool is known as CareerScope and is offered only to qualified military members and qualified family members. What makes you eligible to use CareerScope?

The VA official site states those allowed access to this tool include:

• Veterans
• Currently serving military members
• Dependents who qualify for VA education benefits
• Dependents who are already using VA education benefits

How CareerScope Can Help You

CareerScope is an assessment tool. The VA official site states that using CareerScope will provide the user with an assessment of how interests, aptitude, and experience can translate into job or learning opportunities.

Once the assessment is complete you are provided with recommendations about post-military careers, education, and training that may help pursue the career options discussed in the assessment.

CareerScope breaks things down into a dozen “interest areas” that include a set of “work activity statements” from these areas. The assessment covers general learning abilities, manual dexterity, verbal and numerical skills, and more.

Once the assessment is completed you can apply for VA Education And Career Counseling (see below).

Technical Requirements To Use CareerScope

Use of the VA CareerScope tool requires the user to create an account. New users may register on the VA official site so they can begin using the assessment tool.

---

Chapter 36 Educational And Career Counseling

Those leaving military service may need help finding ways to transition into a civilian career. Some military career fields translate directly into the civilian job market, but others may not be so easily matched with jobs in the private sector. VA Chapter 36 Educational and Career Counseling is a free program for veterans with any discharge other than Dishonorable, offering the following services:

• Counseling to help veterans choose new jobs
• Educational and career counseling to locate training programs or job opportunities
• Academic and adjustment counseling

Eligibility For VA Educational And Career Counseling

The Department of Veterans Affairs official site publishes a list of those who are eligible for VA Educational and Career Counseling. They include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Transitioning service members with six months or less remaining before discharge from active duty
• Veterans within one year after discharge from active duty
• Any service member currently eligible for a VA education benefit
• Any veteran currently eligible for a VA education benefit
• All other current VA education beneficiaries

Services offered by the VA include:

• Career Choice – VA counseling designed to help you understand civilian career options based on the user’s interests, experience, etc.
• Benefits Coaching – learn how to make the most of your VA benefits and resources
• Personalized Support – Counseling and personalized support for both academic and military transition issues

How To Apply For VA Educational and Career Counseling

• Log in to your eBenefits account
  Select “Apply”
• Select “Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits”
• Apply for Educational and Career Counseling
• After your eligibility is confirmed you will receive an invitation to an orientation session at the VA Regional Office nearest you

How To Apply Without Access To eBenefits 

• Print and complete VA Form 28-8832
• Mail VA Form 28-8832 to the nearest VA Regional Office, addressed attention to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
• After your eligibility is confirmed you will receive an invitation to an orientation session at the VA Regional Office nearest you

---

The VA Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation And Employment Program (VR&E)

Veterans and currently serving military members with disabilities can find assistance from the VA under the Chapter 31 VR&E program. This is for those with service-connected disabilities that affects the ability to work. There are a group of five “tracks” designed to help, including:

• Reemployment Track – created to help service members and veterans know their rights when returning to civilian employment after military service.
• Rapid Access to Employment Track – made to assist veterans in finding jobs that match their military skills.
• Self-Employment Track – made to help veterans with a service-connected disability start and maintain a business, freelance career, etc.
• Employment Through Long-Term Services Track – This track is intended to help those eligible for vocational training to help you develop new job skills.
• Independent Living Track – created to match veterans with resources to help them live “as independently as possible if you can’t return to work right away” according to the official site.

Eligibility Requirements For VA Chapter 31 VR&E Benefits

Veterans may be eligible for VR&E benefits and services if all of the following apply:

• The veteran did not receive a dishonorable discharge, and;
• Has a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA, and;
• Applies for VR&E services.

There is a basic maximum eligibility time frame of 12 years from the day the veteran receives her date of separation from military service OR the date of receipt of the first VA disability rating.

Chapter 31 VR&E Benefits For Those Still Serving In The Military

Qualifying active duty service members may be eligible for VR&E benefits when the following conditions apply:

• The service member has a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (also known as a “memorandum rating”) and is departing military service soon OR;
• The service member is participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) process OR;
• The service member is waiting for a military discharge due to a medical condition resulting from a condition that occurred in the line of duty.

Basic Services Available Through The VA Chapter 31 VR&E Program

• Evaluations to determine your job abilities, skills, and interests
• Vocational counseling
• Rehabilitation planning for employment services
• Job training, apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences
• Resume development
• Training/learning at a college, vocational, technical, or business school
• Case management
• Counseling
• Medical referrals
• Independent living services for those unable to work due to disabilities

Applying For VA Chapter 31 VR&E Benefits

 At the time of this writing, the Department of Veterans Affairs accepts Chapter 31 applications through the eBenefits portal. Those who do not have eBenefits accounts will need to create them or contact the nearest VA office to get assistance.

Servicemembers should know that it is not required to wait until final outprocessing and discharge to apply for VR&E benefits. You can fill out VA Form 28-0588, VA Vocational Rehabilitation – Getting Ahead After You Get Out and submit it to the Department of Veterans affairs. Eligibility in such cases is possible if one of the following is true:

• The applicant is in the process of being reviewed by a Physical Evaluation Board OR;
• The veteran expects an other than dishonorable discharge and has a VA memorandum rating of 20% or more OR;
• The veteran is in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES).

After a veteran or service member has applied, the VA will arrange a meeting with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to determine whether there is a current or potential employment handicap and discuss eligibility for VR&E benefits and services.

The VA official site says, “You have an employment handicap if your service-connected disability limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests).”

The Department of Veterans Affairs will make what they call an “entitlement decision” and begin working with the veteran to develop a rehabilitation plan and schedule the use of services, etc.

Contact the nearest VA office in your area to learn more about Chapter 31 VR&E benefits and how they apply to you.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

Related Articles
Military Job Assistance Programs	Military Transition to Civilian Life
Transition Assistance Program	Best Civilian Career Fields for Veterans
Tips for a Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition	Veterans Employment & Training Service

Military service often requires a security clearance. You don’t have to be eligible for a job handling the world’s most sensitive data in order to need a security clearance. You could simply be working in a facility that handles sensitive information and need a clearance to operate certain equipment. Or, as strange as it may sound, you may need clearance to be in the same room with such equipment even if you do not use it yourself.

In order to obtain a security clearance, you must submit to a background check and be investigated. There are those who pass the background check and investigation with no trouble at all. There are others who are outright rejected as a result of the process.

What does it mean to be denied a security clearance and what are the most typical grounds for being refused one?

There are three levels of clearance. From lowest to highest, they are:

• Confidential
• Secret
• Top Secret

At any level, the security clearance granted allows the military member access to things classified at the level the worker holds or below.

Those who have Top Secret clearances may be granted access to any classified data. Work centers, equipment, or other things are listed at any classification level from Top Secret or below. But this does not automatically give the worker the ability to freely access or use classified information if they do not have a mission related reason to do so.

---

Applying for a Security Clearance

When a security clearance is required to work a military job, the service member’s supervisor will direct them to complete the appropriate paperwork and submit to the background investigation.

The paperwork is lengthy and the investigation may take 120 days to complete. In some cases, an interim security clearance may be granted. This is considered an exception in many cases, not the rule, but this will depend on mission requirements.

The Difference between Being Denied A Security Clearance and Having An Application Rejected

In some cases, a security clearance investigation may be stopped and the application returned. This is due to problems with the application itself, rather than the applicant’s background. This means that procedural rules were not followed or not followed properly and the application must be re-accomplished.

This is not the same as being denied a security clearance.

Top Administrative Reasons for a Security Clearance Application Rejection (Not A Denial of Clearance)

A security clearance package may be sent back for correction and proper completion for a variety of reasons. Remember, these are not things that cause the investigation process to result in a denial of security clearances per se, but rather the things that halt the investigation process altogether. It may require the applicant to provide the proper information as requested.

Applicants may be asked to re-accomplish paperwork for the following reasons:

• Missing employment information
• Missing social security number of spouse or adult co-habitant
• Missing information on relatives
• Missing Selective Service registration details
• Missing or incomplete information concerning debts
• Missing or incomplete information on a bankruptcy
• Missing education reference information
• Missing or incomplete employment references
• Incomplete explanation of employment history
• Missing personal references
• Missing or incomplete explanation of drug use

There are other reasons an application may be returned-some technical, some not. They include:

• Fingerprints not submitted on time
• Certification and/or release forms illegible
• Certification or release forms missing from package
• Certification/Release forms with improper date formatting
• Discrepancies in birth information (dates, locations, etc.)
• Other discrepancies, improperly formatted forms, illegible submissions, etc.

When a Security Clearance Is Actually Denied

In some cases, the clearance is denied as opposed to having the application package returned for corrections. There are a variety of reasons why this can occur.

In general, the reasons a clearance is denied may be related to the following areas. Note that these areas are general and do not contain specific behavior descriptions (we will view some of those below). These topic areas are:

• Allegiance to the U.S. Foreign Influence
• Foreign Preference
• Sexual Behavior
• Personal Conduct
• Financial Considerations
• Alcohol Consumption
• Drug Involvement
• Psychological Conditions
• Criminal Conduct
• Handling Protected Information
• Outside Activities
• Use of IT Systems

Note that most of these descriptors are fairly neutral. “Personal conduct” and “sexual behavior” could mean anything to an outsider without further explanation. What do these topic areas imply?

Understanding these areas means knowing what the causes for concern would be to the investigator. For example, “sexual behavior” would be examined in light of whether certain behavior is deemed criminal, a result of mental health issues, or whether the behavior makes the applicant vulnerable to duress, exploitation, etc. Judgment issues are also examined in this and personal conduct areas.

“Use of IT Systems” would be investigated in a similar manner. Does the conduct reflect a lack of judgment? Was it illegal? Was it done in a manner that exposes an agency or individuals to compromise, etc. Did poor judgment result in unauthorized use of government IT systems or related problems?

Feedback from co-workers, colleagues, family, and friends will also be critical in these investigations. What picture emerges when your references discuss you and your activities?

The investigators are looking for any situation that could reflect poor decision making skills, a lack of judgment, the ability to be compromised, and the likelihood that such behavior was or was not a one-time mistake or issue.

---

The Most Common Reasons for Being Denied Security Clearances

Believe it or not, financial considerations are among the highest causes of having a security clearance application denied. Published reports note that in 2017, the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) Board heard 2,054 clearance denial appeals. Of that number, a little over 250 of those appeals were for clearance denials for “foreign influence.”

Compare that number with the whopping 1400 plus security clearance denials on grounds of financial issues. The next highest number in that group was just over 400 appeals for denial of clearance based on “personal conduct.”

The areas of “criminal conduct” and substance abuse security clearance rejections were far lower in incidence according to the 2017 stats on those appeals.

Clearly, financial issues are a major source of trouble in the security clearance process. What kinds of financial trouble might be a red flag in this process?

• A history of poor credit choices;
• Deceptive or illegal financial activities including theft, embezzlement, tax evasion, and other financial “breach of trust” problems;
• A history of unpaid or late-paid debt;
• Being unable to source or explain recent acquisitions of cash or assets;
• Financial problems from gambling;
• Financial problems stemming from substance abuse.

The presence of these problems alone does not equal an automatic rejection of the security clearance. The investigators will be charged with determining if these problems are habitual, a one-time, or circumstantial problem, etc.

Credit or debt problems that rise from medical bills or hospital stays may be viewed quite differently than a gambling problem or a refusal to pay debt. A one-time credit or debt problem is also likewise reviewed for their causes rather than being viewed as an automatic red flag no matter what the cause.

One area that can be troublesome on a background check is financial behavior that indicates the applicant is frequently over-extended on credit, personal debt, etc. Having too much debt and not enough income creates a potential circumstance where those holding security clearances can be compromised. In the minds of the investigators, it will be necessary to determine if an applicant is a habitual over-spender or debt accumulator.

The presence of debt in and of itself is not the problem. The pattern of possible financial irresponsibility, carelessness, or the ability to place oneself in a position to be compromised is the real issue.

What You Should Know About Security Clearance Investigations

Not all security clearance investigations are identical. Automated tools may be used for some of the check, but an investigator may also do extensive work developing certain applications or following up on information revealed in the process.

It’s a bad idea to approach the process ill-prepared. Know that a security clearance will likely require review of all your residences, jobs, relationships, education, and other factors over a ten year period of time.

That is a span that can be difficult to address strictly from memory. If you are up for a clearance you may need to do some research on the exact names, dates, addresses, and other information in these areas for the last decade.

The process takes enough time when all the information is complete and properly formatted. If you don’t have accurate dates, addresses, etc. in your paperwork you may wind up being asked to take a second pass at the application which will further delay your progress toward getting a decision.

You can get ready for these investigations in advance by gathering relevant paperwork that may help including old leases, credit card bills, birth certificates and Social Security cards, etc. If you have electronic or paper pay stubs from past employers, student loans, and vehicle title information, you will be at a big advantage going into the application.

Relying on memory alone is a bad idea. While you should get some preliminary information from a supervisor or personnel office on how to prepare, don’t forget that you will be asked some details that aren’t found in a receipt or tax form. The addresses of your personal, educational, and professional references are one such area you will need to prepare for in advance for best results.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

Related Articles
Security Clearance Levels	Security Clearance Jobs After the Military
Transferring & Maintaining Security Clearance	Getting A Job On A Military Base
Highly Specialized Military Careers	Tips for Finding Federal Jobs

The issue of security clearances comes up for both military members and civilian employees working for the federal government. Clearances are granted in order to allow troops, employees, and contractors access to sensitive information, facilities, or circumstances and are not granted lightly.

What you don’t know about the security clearance process won’t hurt you by default, but there are some things to be aware of before you submit to the clearance process that will help you better understand the hows and whys of security clearances and how they are granted.

---

Security Clearance Levels For Federal Employees (Non-Military)

There are three levels of clearance for federal employees. The U.S. Department of State official site lists the federal clearances in order from lowest to highest:

• Confidential
• Secret
• Top Secret

These clearance levels allow employees to have access to classified national security information or other restricted data at the level of clearance and for any clearance level below it, but need to know is always a driving factor in what information or materials a security clearance provides access to.

In other words, just because you have a Secret security clearance level, you are not automatically granted unrestricted access to any classified information at the Secret level. Need to know is a major consideration.

---

Security Clearance Levels For Military Members

Like civilian federal employees, the security clearance granted will be on a level with the need of the job or the mission. The three security clearance levels military people may be approved to hold are, from lowest to highest:

• Confidential
• Secret
• Top Secret

Yes, these are identical to the civilian employee clearances. The major difference in getting a military clearance level is that fingerprints and other materials may (or may not) have already been gathered as part of the military enlistment process – some procedures for military members may be a bit more streamlined than for a brand new federal hire in a civilian position.

---

A “Fourth” Security Clearance Level

Something known as the Interim clearance does not provide a different level of access to classified information, but rather acts as a temporary approval to access the information or facilities permitted by the proposed clearance level the employee or military member is being investigated for.

Interim clearances are usually granted conditionally upon the receipt of the completed clearance questionnaire paperwork and/or other materials as needed.

Interim clearances are not considered routine; the U.S. Department of State describes the conditions under which these interim clearances are issued as “exceptional circumstances”.

---

Length Of The Clearance Investigation

Regardless of the security level, investigations take approximately 120 days or longer depending on the nature of the investigation and the completeness of the information provided. Those who have done extensive overseas travel may find their process takes longer due to the need to verify those activities.

Who Can Request A Security Clearance?

No military member or potential new hire may initiate the clearance process – this is done by the agency requiring the clearances.

The Security Clearance Questionnaire

No matter what level of clearance you may need, there will be a lengthy form to complete that requires a lot of detail including your past addresses for ten years, explanations of foreign travel, any associations with foreign companies or entities, and more. Civilian employees must complete paperwork that is more than 100 pages long. Military members face similar forms.

The questionnaire should be considered a precursor to a background investigation and an interview where required. The investigation is an important part of the process; military and civilian employees alike should know that filling out the form is basically providing a basic framework for the investigation.

What does this mean?

It means that the background check will use your answers to inform the investigation but may not, and often does not, get limited to following up on the information provided. This is critically important because there are penalties for falsifying or knowingly omitting details asked in this process.

If you omit or falsify information in the clearance process, the investigation will most likely reveal this, and the results can include a loss of the ability to obtain a clearance of any kind. This renders the subject basically unemployable by the agency requesting the investigation.

Security Clearances Are Offered As A Condition Of Employment

That means that you may only participate in the investigation/security clearance background check if you have been offered a job. Potential new hires do not get investigated in this way.

---

Security Clearance Checks On Family Members or Those Living With The Employee/Military Member

In certain cases, limited records checks may be performed on “a spouse or cohabitant of an individual being processed for a Top Secret level clearance”, with the authorization of the person being investigated. The U.S. Department Of State adds, “Additional investigations may be conducted when the spouse or cohabitant is a foreign national”.

Those applying for a security clearance where this may apply should know “cohabitation” is defined as “sharing a living unit, such as a house or apartment, on a frequent and regular basis, while employed by the Department, without regard to the nature of any interpersonal relationship or reason for sharing living quarters”.

---

For Those Who Are Denied A Security Clearance

Being denied a clearance can and does happen. New hires and those who are being re-investigated should know that there is an appeals process involved in these situations – don’t assume you have no recourse if you are faced with such a scenario.

What Can Cause A Denial Of A Security Clearance? 

The U.S. Department of State official site lists the following reasons why an applicant may be denied a clearance; note that this is not a complete list;

A lack of candor in the investigation process;

Foreign influence;

“Foreign preference”;

“Sexual behavior”;

Personal conduct;

Financial considerations;

Alcohol consumption;

Substance abuse;

Psychological conditions;

Criminal conduct;

Military members are subject to all the above but may also be evaluated on areas where the Uniform Code of Military Justice may have jurisdiction including domestic political activities, conduct that reflects poorly on the military or the Defense Department, etc.

---

The Three Security Clearance Levels Do Not “Travel” To Non-Government Employment

Many retired or separated military members or non-military family members wonder about job openings that describe having a security clearance as a plus, or even a requirement. In the case of a non-government job, this is likely a request to know what clearance level the applicant had in government service but federal security clearances themselves do not transfer to non-government jobs.

This means that your clearance may give you an advantage in hiring as a trusted member of the military or as a government employee, but your Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret clearance does not allow you to utilize such clearances in the private sector. They are not applicable.

That does not mean that a future employer doesn’t have their own set of clearances or levels of “classified” information, but it does mean that any such designation in the private sector has no association at all with government service, or access to classified government data.

Security Clearances May Travel Between Government Jobs Or Military Assignments

In general, the ability to use an existing clearance in another federal or military job is dependent on the rules of the gaining and losing agencies, and whether the employee is due for a re-investigation after a certain period of time; five years is not uncommon, but some employees who have left federal service and are returning may be re-investigated on different time frames.

Clearance Expiration After Leaving Government Service

In general, The Department of State will re-validate a security clearance if there has been a gap in federal service for less than two years. Military members who retire or separate may face different requirements than federal employees depending on circumstances, mission requirements, and other factors.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

Related Articles
Guidelines for Security Clearance Eligibility	Security Clearance Jobs After the Military
Transferring & Maintaining Security Clearance	Civilian Career Fields For Veterans
Tips for Finding Federal Jobs	Criminal Justice Careers After Military

Many consider joining the military; a certain percentage of those thinking about joining the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps might be tempted to rule out the option because they feel there’s no place for highly specialized skills such as computer programming, foreign language ability, or even creative work such as being a member of a band or a writer. But the United States military has career fields in all the highly skilled areas mentioned above and much more. If you are looking for a not-so-typical military career option, keep reading.

---

Highly Skilled Career Fields In The Military

There are two notions people have about military service that can lead to poorly-informed choices about one of the most important decisions a potential recruit can make – her career field. The first notion is that all the highly skilled job opportunities in uniform belong to officers and not enlisted members. This is NOT TRUE.

While it is definitely true that officers get different training and responsibilities, and it is also true that an enlisted person can never be a practicing doctor in uniform, there are many highly skilled areas enlisted people work in.

What kind of skills can enlisted people learn in uniform?

• Foreign languages
• Computer programming
• Computer security
• Network administration
• Medical
• Writing
• Broadcasting
• Public affairs
• Civil engineering
• Weather forecasting
• Air traffic control
• Entomology and pest control
• Marketing
• Protocol
• Electrical engineering/repair

The list above is only a very small sampling.

---

Officer Or Enlisted?

The choice to enter the military as an officer or an enlisted member boils down to whether the new recruit has a bachelor’s degree or not. Those with a four-year college degree have the option to try entering military service as an officer.

Those without a four-year degree will only be allowed to enter the enlisted ranks, but it should be known that any enlisted member who completes a four-year degree while in uniform may be eligible to apply for programs to let them enter officer training.

Officers do have more highly skilled job options open to them, but enlisted members should not assume they do not.

---

Best Advice For Highly Skilled Career Field Seekers? Prepare For The ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the military’s initial screening for highly skilled candidates. Some career fields are NOT open to those with ASVAB scores that do not qualify for those jobs, so it is crucial to get as high a score on the ASVAB as possible in all areas, but especially those required by the career field or MOS.

ASVAB study guides, online quizzes and tutorials, and other helpful prep will be an important part of your homework leading up to ASVAB testing day.

---

How To Talk To Your Military Recruiter About The Job You Might Want

All recruiters have a set of goals and quotas (self-imposed or otherwise) they need to meet. Some career fields need more troops than others, so you will likely get a sales pitch for this month’s currently under-staffed positions.

But the recruiter’s needs are not the recruit’s needs; don’t be steered into a career field you don’t really want through the hard sell. Ask the recruiter about the specific areas you want to explore and ask specifically what it will take to enter the service with that job, when possible.

It’s not always possible. But in many cases, it IS, and all new recruits should be persistent in trying to learn about and get the career they truly want. Sometimes a career field doesn’t have an immediate opening due to staffing issues but may have projected vacancies later in the year.

Ask your recruiter about the possibility of delayed enlistment to get you into the job you want even it if is not available right this second.

---

What Is Delayed Enlistment?

Delayed enlistment, also known as the Delayed Entry Program or DEP for short, is something all branches of the military can use in the recruiting process to help those who need additional time to successfully qualify for military service. One of the most popular uses of DEP is when a recruit is ready, willing, and able to join the military but is not a high school graduate yet or of legal age to join.

With a parent’s consent, potential recruits of a certain age (the actual age may vary depending on state law, current military policies, or other factors) may enter into DEP with the understanding that if the recruit changes her mind, withdrawing from the program without penalty is an option.

What some potential recruits don’t know is that withdrawing from a military program is basically penalty-free even if you are in the middle of basic training. That is important to keep in mind if you don’t get the job you want, enter basic training anyway, and later have a change of mind.

But DEP has other uses including to help those who want to enter a highly skilled military career field. Consider what the Air Force official recruiting site has to say:

“The Delayed Entry Program (DEP) allows you to complete your application to the Air Force and reserve your Air Force job before an assignment is available. While you wait for your job assignment, you will stay in touch weekly with your recruiter to verify that you are doing what it takes to remain qualified.”

---

What To Tell Your Recruiter You Want Regarding Delayed Enlistment

You and the recruiter will need to have a conversation about the skilled career field you want and find out if there are any openings available. If the recruiter tells you there are no openings, explain that you want to examine your option for delayed enlistment until a job opening in that career field is available.

DEP may or may not be an option depending on how long the branch of military service projects there will be no vacancies in those careers. It’s a very good idea to examine two or three fallback career field options just in case. Depending on the job, you may find there are similar opportunities in other places.

One example? Some want a life in the military that involves working on and with certain types of military hardware such as aircraft, submarines, nuclear facilities, etc. Some want to be crew chiefs, others want to be maintainers, still others might want to work in computer security.

But what if there are no current openings in computer or cybersecurity? Many recruits don’t realize that military police organizations like the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) have computer security-related jobs such as computer forensics and data protection.

And all military agencies need tech support and IT services including cybersecurity. You may not get a job working directly for Army Cyber Command, but there are many different kinds of IT-related jobs in the military that do many of the same things.

Having some fallback options can help and exploring each branch of the military’s official site for a list of career fields can help. The Air Force alone has 200 career fields, and you’ll find plenty to consider.

---

Don’t Browse Career Fields For The First Time At The Recruiter’s Office

The recruiter is not your enemy, but the recruiting goals of the branch of military service you are entering will help dictate the sales pitch you get; if you are trying to get into a crowded military career field, the recruiter will likely give a sales pitch for their currently short-staffed jobs.

That’s why it is best to do much of your research on the kinds of military jobs available on your own – go into your meeting with the recruiter knowing what you might like to do. If you have your heart set on doing a certain kind of work, under no circumstances should you allow yourself to be sent into basic training as an “open general” trainee with no career field or MOS assigned to you.

---

Some Recruits Choose To Take Their Chances With Military Job Assignments In Hopes Of Cross-Training Later

What happens when you can’t get into the job you want even with the Delayed Enlistment Option? Some military jobs can be phased out or merged with others; whatever the reason if you cannot get the specialty you want, you may need to consider entering a different job with an eye on doing something called cross-training.

---

What Is Cross-Training?

Cross training is when a military member passes basic training and advanced training, gets into their very first job in the military, and puts in a minimum required amount of time before requesting to enter a new career field.

This sounds like something any recruit could do in order to get the job they really want, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Some military jobs are labeled as “critically manned”, meaning there is difficulty staffing such jobs to their required capacity.

In such cases, the military member may be unable to cross train due to the restriction placed on that short-staffed job. Before you choose to take a job you’re not truly interested in doing with a plan to cross train, make certain that career field has no such restrictions.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

 

Related Articles
ASVAB Test	Military Careers
Preparing For Basic Training	Understanding Military Pay
Military Apprenticeship Programs	Applying to A Military Service Academy

When deciding to leave active duty, every member must decide their next step.  This will include a series of emails and possibly phone calls from in-service recruiters.  These recruiters are trying to persuade you to join the National Guard or Reserves.  They will dazzle you with educational benefits, medical benefits and even some bonuses.  Once you sound convinced that the Guard or Reserves will help your transition, the recruiter will then try to help find a job at a unit for you.  Ultimately, every unit hires their own members, so you will probably have to interview for each position.  Before you agree to an interview, do you know what type of job it is?  The three common acronyms you will hear are ART, AGR and TR.  To help you decide which is best for you and your family, I will give a brief description of each.

---

ART (Air Force Reserve Technician)

An ART is an Air Force Reserve Technician.  As an ART, you would be a dual status.  A dual status is when you are considered both a civilian employee and military member.  During the week, you would work a typical 40 hour week for your unit as a government service employee.  You would also have to attend your typical one weekend a month and two weeks a year for Reserve/National Guard duty.  This is when you would be under a military status.  As an ART, you will still receive full normal benefits.  There can also be special bonuses that just apply to ART positions.  As an ART, you are a full time employee working for your unit as well as a military member of that unit.  Keep in mind you only receive a fraction of credit towards retirement during your civilian and military status.  Since you are only required to work a certain number of hours, you only receive retirement credit for those hours, which is unlike active duty in which you receive a day for every day you are on active duty status.

---

AGR (Active Guard/Reserve Position)

An AGR position is an Active Guard/Reserve Position.  An AGR position is a full time military position. An AGR is similar to an ART because they are both full time jobs. They differ because an AGR position places you on active duty orders, which makes you a full time active duty member during this tour. As an AGR, you receive all the same benefits as active duty to include receiving full retirement if you make your full 20 years of service during this time.

---

TR (Traditional Reservist)

The final position is the TR position.  This is a Traditional Reservist (or National Guard).  The Traditional Reserve/Guard position is what you typically hear about.  These are the jobs that require you to only serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year.  This allows the member to have a civilian career while also maintaining a position within the Guard or Reserve.  As a TR, you will still receive some benefits and will still be required to maintain training in whatever career field you are in.

---

It is a good idea to decide whether you would like to continue to be full time military or part time before deciding on a specific unit and job.  This will help ensure that the job you are applying for also fits the lifestyle you are trying to meet.  The Veterans Affairs also has some good resources to help decide what is the next best step for you and your family.  The in-service recruiters are also a good resource for questions on specific jobs and their requirements.  Transitioning out of the military back to civilian life has a great deal of challenges.  Becoming a member of the Guard or Reserve can help ease this transition, but it is also important to understand exactly what the required commitment is to the unit.

---

Dave Blankenstein served in the US Air Force for 12 years as a C-17 pilot. He was stationed at MacDill AFB, FL, Vance AFB, OK, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, Joint Base Charleston, SC and Altus AFB, OK. Dave attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance, then went to C-17 initial training and ultimately spent the reminder of his time in the military as a C-17 pilot. His military career culminated as a C-17 evaluator at the only C-17 formal training unit in the world. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and a master’s degree in Aeronautical Science with a concentration in Aviation Safety Science.

---

Related Articles
5 Tips For A Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition	Degrees After the Military With Great Earning Potential
Military Transition to Civilian Life	Military Job Assistance Programs
Security Clearance Jobs After the Military	Transition Assistance Program – TAP Overview