Making the transition from the military to civilian life can be challenging, but there are things you can do to prepare to make the switch. Some of these steps may seem easier or simple than they really are, but being proactive and preparing early will definitely help ease the transition.

There are many different ways to prepare to move into civilian life; some focus on house hunting and getting retirement pay issues sorted out, while others are moving into new careers or taking up higher education. Some retirement-eligible men and women in uniform aren’t ready to move into the retirement phase of life.

Whatever type of transition you are making, the following steps will be very important in the specific move out of the military environment.

Military family members should know this information, too-it helps to know what to expect and what your options are when making the switch. Sometimes just a little bit of information can go a long way towards reducing the stress of the changes ahead.

1. Consider The Nature Of Your Transition

Military members who retire or separate from stateside bases have a much easier time with basic changes in housing, employment, and transportation than those who get their out processing done at overseas bases. The simple act of getting a new apartment or house is complicated when you are doing all of your transition paperwork outside the U.S.A.

Many military members know about Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) options for soon-to-be retired or separated. You may be eligible to get TDY orders for house hunting purposes while still on active duty, but that is subject to mission needs and other factors.

Some who separate may not be able to take advantage of this opportunity depending on circumstances, but it’s a very good idea to discuss the possibility for TDY or leave to search for a new home before out processing is complete. House hunting TDY is usually funded for the military member and spouse only; dependents may accompany the member at the member’s expense. House hunting from an overseas location may require taking leave instead of a TDY depending on circumstances, current regulations, and other issues.

2. Let The Military Help You

In the era of online apartment finders and real estate options, in-person house hunting may not seem as critical as it once was, but renting or even buying a home without the opportunity to take a good look at the property, the neighborhood, and the surrounding area is never a good idea. Taking advantage of a TDY option or taking leave to house hunt in an unfamiliar area is definitely recommended, but not knowing the local housing market could hurt you-do you know the heavy traffic areas, parts of the city notorious for loud events, or high crime zones?

Those who relocate to areas at or near military bases should contact that installation’s orderly room or base Transition Assistance Program office to see what resources might be available including local advice on areas to focus on or avoid in a search for jobs or housing. This is also a good option for those stateside who want to relocate to a different area with one or more military bases nearby.

3. Healthcare Considerations

Some vets have complex medical issues that may dictate where and how a relocation is to happen. Those who need extensive on-base or Department of Veterans Affairs treatment options will need to investigate the best areas of the country to receive the care they need. Others may simply need a VA facility within a reasonable commuting distance from where the live.

When it comes to your immediate needs post-military, you may wish to explore the VA official site to locate facilities at or near your current base or the zip code of your future home. Do this research as early as possible as you prepare to transition; there may be base closures, realignment issues or other factors that could affect your ability to get care in a given area. It’s also a good idea for those already in a treatment or physical therapy regimen to ask their on-base care providers for advice on where to relocate based on their medical needs.

4. Apply For VA Disability Compensation As Early As Possible

Even if you are not sure whether you qualify for VA compensation for service-connected injuries, illnesses, or other medical conditions, it’s very important to get evaluated for these as early as possible. Retiring or separating military members may have a VA appointment to make claims included as part of their out processing, but even if you don’t have that option, it’s best to schedule this before you are no longer serving, especially if you retire or separate from an overseas location.

The claims process itself will require VA medical appointments and follow-up appointments once you leave the military; chances are good that it will take six months or more before you get a decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is best not to count on any income from VA compensation in the first year of your new civilian life, there’s simply no way to tell how, when, or if your claim will be processed in a timely manner.

5. Evaluate Your Job Skills And Overall Employability One Year Ahead Of Your Transition

Some prefer to do these evaluations much earlier than one year, but the 365 days before your retirement or separation is a good timeline to begin actively pursuing your post-military career if you haven’t already. Some military members have an easier time locating the equivalent of their military jobs “on the outside” while others may have skills that don’t directly translate into private sector jobs. Still others have no interest in carrying on in a career similar to their military work.

These factors will determine your immediate direction following separation from the military; you have to choose whether or not to seek a new degree or certification, make contacts in the career fields you are interested in working, and examine job boards to see what’s available.

State job locator resources, “dot-gov” websites that offer employment help for veterans, and typical job hunting websites such Monster or Glassdoor are an excellent way to do research, even from a remote assignment overseas, but it’s also important to examine your options for Civil Service or federal employment sites such as USAJobs. You may be surprised at how many of your current skills may be useful in federal positions.

If you choose to return to or begin a college degree program, you’ll want to know what state and local education benefits are available above and beyond the GI Bill, and you will need to be mindful of your chosen college’s application deadlines-some of which could be much earlier than you expect.

Some applicants find themselves applying for college programs, apprenticeships, or OJT programs before they even have a retirement ceremony or get separation orders; this will prevent delays in getting your new life started.

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

There are many reasons why a military member or civilian employee of a government agency is required to have a security clearance. Employees may not have direct contact with sensitive, confidential, or classified information, but their very presence in a workplace that handles such information or data may require it.

Once an applicant has received a security clearance, it’s easy to assume that is the end of the line where background checks, personal histories, and overall suitability to have the clearance are concerned. But what is the reality?

Do Security Clearances Transfer To Other Government Agencies?

The short answer to this question is, “It depends”. In many cases a security clearance may travel with the employee or service member to a new job or assignment if certain conditions apply.

According to the U.S. Department of State official site, “Federal agencies will normally accept another agency’s investigation as the basis for granting a security clearance, provided your last security clearance investigation was completed within the past 5 years for a Top Secret clearance and 10 years for a Secret clearance, and you have not had a break in service of more than 2 years.”

Additional Investigation May Be Required

Even if your security clearance does travel with you, if you have had “any significant changes” (according to the U.S. Department of State) you may be re-investigated or there may be “adjudicative requirements that must be met prior to their accepting a clearance granted by another agency”.

Gaps In Federal Service May Require Re-Investigation

If a service member or employee has been out of federal service for more than two years, a new investigation will be required. For gaps of employment less than two years, a security clearance may be “revalidated” at the discretion of the government.

Do Security Clearances Transfer To Private Sector Jobs?

According to the U.S. Department of State, “Security clearances only apply to positions that fall under the purview of the federal government.”

Will I Be Required To Sign A Non-Disclosure Agreement To Get A Security Clearance?

Those applying for security clearances should expect to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) as a condition of receiving the clearance. If the employee or service member transfers to another assignment requiring a clearance, a new NDA may be required. Consider the guidance from the U.S. Department of Defense Defense Security Service (DSS) official site, which states in part:

“NISPOM Paragraph 3-106 requires that an individual issued an initial personnel security clearance (PCL) execute a Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement (SF-312) prior to being granted access to classified information and that the completed form is forwarded to the Cognizant Security Agency for retention.”

Such requirements are not unique to DSS. In the past, the Army Information Security Program has issued guidance that requires an NDA in conjunction with getting a clearance, but also advises that refusal to sign an NDA will result in being denied the security clearance or having an existing clearance revoked.

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

Security clearances are required for many federal jobs offered to civilian employees, but they are also for military members. The three levels of clearance (Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret) are granted to those who pass background checks and must be re-certified under a variety of circumstances.

How Do I Apply For A Security Clearance?

Individuals cannot apply for a security clearance on their own; government agencies and approved contractors may submit an individual for a security clearance for a specific job that requires it. An applicant who, if hired, will have access to (or in some cases, mere proximity to) classified information will be required to hold the proper clearance.

Who Sets The Standards For Background Checks?

According to the Department of State official site (State.gov) there is a national standard for conducting background checks as a part of the security clearance process. This standard, National Adjudicative Guidelines, is used to inform the “adjudicative process” that goes into a background investigation. This is used for both military and civilian clearances.

What Is The Adjudicative Process?

As described by the National Department of State, it is “an examination of a sufficient period of a person’s life to make an affirmative determination that the person is an acceptable security risk. Eligibility for access to classified information is predicated upon the individual meeting these personnel security guidelines. The adjudication process is the careful weighing of a number of variables known as the whole-person concept.”

The applicant will be required to submit information about past residences, employment, financial obligations, etc. The security clearance process includes a review of potential foreign influence, drug use, mental health, and other issues. Some areas (especially where mental health issues are concerned) are not automatically flagged as a problem-much depends on the individual circumstances before, during, and after any incidents, occurrences, treatment, judgments, etc.

What Could Raise Problems With My Security Clearance?

Legal entanglements may be an issue depending on the nature of the problem (arrests for “serious crime”, violations of parole, etc.), as well as certain sexual conduct described by the National Adjudicative Guidelines as “illegal” or “self-destructive”. Evidence of excessive debt complicated by an apparent unwillingness to resolve such debt could also be a factor. These issues obviously do not apply to all applicants, but one issue does affect each and every person who applies for a security clearance-the degree of cooperation with the background check itself.

This issue is listed in the National Adjudicative Guidelines as being problematic in cases where there is evidence of “deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification of relevant facts from any personnel security questionnaire, personal history statement, or similar form used to conduct investigations, determine employment qualifications, award benefits or status, determine security clearance eligibility or trustworthiness…”

It is very important for all who participate in the security clearance/background check process to be as forthcoming as possible. It’s best to assume that the personal data you are about to give when being interviewed or filling out forms is already known and that you are simply verifying the information that is already there or about to be collected.

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

There are too many job opportunities on military bases to name-everything from typical fast food jobs to high-paying Civil Service positions. The kinds of employment opportunities open include what are called “appropriated fund” positions that are funded via yearly congressional budgets, and “nonappropriated fund” jobs which are paid by other agencies are not specifically listed in a congressional budget.

Civil Service jobs would fall under “appropriated fund” work, and a job opening at an on-base shop or movie theater run by AAFES are good examples of “non-appropriated fund” positions.

That distinction may be unimportant to some, but when you begin applying for on-base jobs you will see phrases like “appropriated fund position” or “nonappropriated fund position” listed prominently in the job description-it’s good to know what these terms mean to avoid confusion at application time. Both types of jobs are available to qualified applicants at military bases stateside and overseas.

Job applications on military bases are not collected in a centralized fashion-you don’t apply via a central office, or use a standardized form. In the case of appropriated fund Civil Service jobs, testing may be required. Some on-base jobs are listed through typical “apply here” websites including USAJobs.com or BrassRing.com. Others may be listed on USA.gov. Still others may be listed locally via base communications, bulletin boards, official or unofficial web pages, etc.

When you apply for a job on a military base, you may be asked for information about your “sponsor”. This is a question asked when military dependents or spouses are applying for on-base work. “Who’s your sponsor” basically means a request for the name of the currently serving military member in the family assigned to that particular base. That question won’t apply to all applicants, and can be a source of confusion to those not familiar with the custom.

Spouses and dependents of those who are assigned to the base they want to work at may find local hiring incentives offered that aren’t available to those who are simply looking for work but aren’t related to someone assigned to the base. That’s not always true, but when it is true there may be an advantage for those competing for a specific job.

Some jobs may require a security clearance. That isn’t as much of an issue as you might think-in the past most military members have been required to have a “Secret” level security clearance at a minimum. In some cases, even the most basic types of jobs may require this depending on the nature of the military installation. A job as a coffee vendor at the Pentagon may require the kind of background check you would never be asked to submit to as an employee at the local cafe.

But these practices are, in many cases, formalities. If you are asked to consent to a background check, be ready to answer questions that might require you to do a bit of preparation. Do you remember your first street address? The whereabouts of an ex-spouse? Brushing up on your personal history can help in such cases.

In a future article, we’ll look at some of the specific opportunities for on-base employment out there-including some that aren’t as well-known such as teaching gigs, counselor jobs, and even librarian work.

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

Military spouses face unique employment challenges. Depending on the military member’s career choices, spouses may have the luxury of settling in one area for many years, or the challenge of relocating once every three years or sooner. Holding down a job in such conditions can be difficult, but there is help from the military in the form of hiring preference for spouses who seek certain types of on-base employment.

Best of all, spouse hiring preference includes help in getting Department of Defense civilian jobs. That means career choices aren’t limited to AAFES jobs, openings with the base Morale, Welfare, and Recreation department, or simple entry-level hiring.

Spouse preference extends to jobs available in “appropriated fund” and “non-appropriated fund” positions, and you may find that GS-rated jobs are available all the way up to GS-15 ratings.

But what does a spouse need in order to qualify and apply for preference?

According to the official site for the Department of Defense’s Military One Source, those who are eligible will meet the following criteria:

• The spouse of an active-duty service member (including Coast Guard or full-time National Guard)
• Moving with your spouse to a new duty station.
• Married before your spouse or partner’s reporting date.
• Applying for a position within commuting distance of your spouse or partner’s new duty station.
• Ranked among the best-qualified candidates for the position.

Applicants should choose carefully when applying for and accepting employment using military spouse preference because you can only use that preference once per duty station.

According to Military One Source, “If you accept a continuing position — selections made without a time limitation and requiring a fixed work schedule — you can use your military spouse preference only once at each new duty station.”

However, applicants will not “use up” spouse preference under the following circumstances:

…if you accept a non-continuing position, which doesn’t have a time limitation and a fixed work schedule requirement. These include temporary, flexible, or permanent positions with an intermittent schedule.

Applying for spouse preference overseas has additional requirements, we will cover them in a separate article.

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