BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUE - HIGHER EDUCATION AND VETERANS CivilianJOBS.com’s
The Essential Military-to-Civilian Transition Resource July - August 2016
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Higher Education Issue: How Do I Go Back to School? by Heidi Lynn Russell Contributing Editor
H
e was bartending, when a customer ordering a drink suggested he should consider going back to school. Colin OShea, a former Chinook pilot, CW2 and an Iraq-Afghanistan veteran, had been out of the Army since early 2014. He’d already coasted through sales and insurance jobs. The bartending gig was a stop-gap
– a place to catch his breath while pondering careers. But school? He wanted to go but wasn’t even sure where to begin, much less what he wanted to study. He had taken some classes at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University during his service but was at a loss on next steps. That’s when the guy at the bar suggested his alma mater – Morningside – a liberal arts college in Sioux City, Iowa. Surprisingly, not
only was the private school financially feasible, but OShea could also transfer his 74 credits from EmbryRiddle. He is scheduled to graduate in December with a degree in business administration – just shy of 18 months from his start date. With the right support at the right school, you also could find yourself in OShea’s shoes. Here’s how to get going on your degree, with tips from military student advisors at California State University, Fresno; Texas A&M
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University-San Antonio; and Texas Woman’s University. Why should I go back to school? You’ve already earned the benefit through your service, says Richard Delgado, Director of Military Affairs & Army Colin OShea, wife Kimberly and baby Sierra
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Medal of Honor Recipient Excels in Civilian Job and as an Author 16-MIL-122 Military Transition News June Print Package_HRR3.indd 2
by Heidi Lynn Russell Contributing Editor
T
ucked in the steep Kamdesh river valley of eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. Army’s Combat Outpost Keating provided soldiers with none of the comforts of home. But it was their duty to defend the isolated terrain as if it were their own, and on the morning of Oct. 3, 2009, they did just that. The actions of Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha that fateful day earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. By the end of the 13-hour battle for Outpost Keating, 50 Army soldiers had prevailed against nearly 350 Taliban insurgents, with Romesha playing a central role. The battle was the first for which two living Americans were awarded the
Medal of Honor since the Battle of Ap Bac in 1963 (SSGT Ty Carter also received the award). It may be no surprise to those who have known combat firsthand that Romesha’s outlook on that mission – one of duty and optimistic stick-to-it-iveness – carried through when it was time for him to look for a civilian job. His open-minded approach to his first entry-level role swiftly propelled him into promotions at an oilfield construction company, KS Industries, LP. KS Industries was so wowed with Romesha’s job performance – and Medal of Honor designation – that management gave him a sabbatical to pen a book, released this May. Entitled, “Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor” (Dutton/ Penguin Random House LLC), the book is Romesha’s first-person account of the deadly battle. Here are Romesha’s tips on finding your way into a new civilian
career and making the most of opportunities. During your job hunt: Have a “Plan Z.” The economy was slumping when Romesha exited the Army in 2011. He had been trying to get a job with the Department of Energy, in a role similar to his military occupation. “I could not pass the medical requirements with hearing, and it fell through,” he says. His brother-in-law, who worked in the oil field arena in Wyoming, pestered him to consider that industry. “He knows I’m not a college type. I’m hands-on trades and mechanical. I can’t learn much out of a book,” Romesha says. “He said, ‘You have common sense and a work ethic. You can go far.’ So when the job fell through, I took him up on the idea. His company had just put in a new shop in North Dakota, and the state had less than two percent unemployment. I thought, ‘Why
not head on north?’” Romesha had 90 days of transitional leave saved up, which gave him time to make sure the job was right for him. “Make sure you have Plan A, B, C, D, plus more. You need multiple options. Don’t wait until the last minute to look,” he says. Remember that entry-level jobs lead to bigger things. Romesha’s family relocated from Colorado to North Dakota so he could take an entry-level position called “Swamper.” He was the “lowest man,” taking care of a hydro excavator. This high-pressure washer and vacuum allows for nonmechanical digging to find live oil lines. Romesha was only in that job for three months before managers spied his potential. He obtained his Commercial Driver’s License, and they promoted him to managing
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five trucks, then promoted him again to his current job, Field Safety Specialist. And he has been off duty for about 18 months writing the book. “Just get yourself established and get a job first. If you’re picky and choosy, you limit yourself,” he says. continues page 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Feature: Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient..... page 1
Transition Talk:
Finance:
LinkedIn Tips for Success ....................page 3
5 Ways to Pay for School ......... page 10
Career Coach’s Corner: The Education of Self ..... page 21
Job Fairs: Summer Schedule ...........page 22