Top five transferable skills military personnel have to offer in the civilian workforce. Provides examples and types of skills. Leadership, communication, team building, critical thinking, and resiliency.

1. Contributed by: Tracy L. Lube
THE MILITARY ADVANTAGE

2. 1. Leadership Abilities
2. Advanced Team Building
3. Resiliency
4. Excellent Communication
5. Critical Thinking
6. Additional Attributes
7. Military to Civilian Translator Links
8. Hire Our Heroes
9. Make A Difference

3.  Provide direction, purpose, and motivation and take direction from others.
 Ability to lead a diverse group of individuals accomplishing plans and goals.
 Ability to take accountability for own actions and those of others.
 Inspire others to do their best and train them with precision.
TRANSLATION MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
 Foster collaboration and creativity making a value based decision.
 Engage in diversity, learn and listen from those who are least like you.
 Move from rule based authority and discipline to work place discipline (consistency of
personnel interactions, routines, become less restrictive).
 Serve as a role model to your subordinates while providing a mutual respect and showing
appreciation for their effort.
 Be open to change.

4.  Experienced with task-oriented teams.
 Ability to define the team roles, responsibilities, and missions.
 Ability to design work plans based on the strengths of the team members.
 Successfully operate as a cohesive unit in a team environment.
TRANSLATION MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
 Assess team members values, work strengths, and skills.
 Assign co-workers (team members) based on the assessments to achieve company
goals and added value.
 Personalize the team environment and become understanding instead of authoritative to get the job
done. (Use conflict resolution measures and communication to create a cohesive unit).
 Allow for 2-way communication amongst all members, have flexibility within the chain of command.

5.  Successfully adapt to adversity.
 Excel in the harshest environments.
 Ability to bounce back from failed professional more quickly.
 Work in harsh conditions and environments. (Odd hours, cold climate, long shifts)
TRANSLATION MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
 Adapt to the civilian work force environment as you would any other environment.
 Maintain the same resilience for job related difficulties and maintain a positive attitude
leading those around you.
 Be a go getter and demonstrate success through failure. (if you lose a big sale, bounce back
and immediately assess the failed sale and go get the next one).
 Harsh conditions equate to long hours, overnight shift, weekend shift, nothing new here get
it done. Environments may consist of outdoors in all weather, around certain
chemicals/toxins, take proper safety measures just as you would in service.

6.  May speak more than one language
 Ability to communicate internationally
 Technical communication understanding
 Training in effective writing skills
TRANSLATION MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
 Streamline communications across a business organization.
 Writing effective email communications, reports, letters.
 No loud booming voices when providing instruction or
speaking to subordinates.
 Provide International communications (bi-lingual).

7.  Trained and educated in CT through PME courses and largely real life experience.
 Examining the results and/or consequences of an action.
 Using reasoning and evidence to reach factual determinations.
 Ability to systematically analyze, interpret and convey ideas.
TRANSLATION MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
 Ability to make assessments and provide improvements on things such as quality
of product, shipping processes, logistics, IT field etc..
 Adapt to include costs when examining results and/or consequences of decisions.
 Highlight the ability to solve complex problems in a changing world and making
effective decisions.

8.  Work ethics (Service Before Self)
 Integrity
 Flexibility, able to adapt
 Organizational commitment
 Cultural diversity and sensitivity
TRANSLATION MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
 Civilian employers want to know what your skills are to get the job done.
 Explain how military skills can produce results for the company.
 Provide the military advantages for a civilian employer.
Example Skill: management jobs require experience leading 5 or more personnel
typically – platoon leader may lead 20 or more personnel into battle to achieve “x”
results.

9. http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/skills-translator/ (Skills Translator)
https://mst.vaforvets.va.gov/mst/va/ (Skills Translator)
http://www.taonline.com/mosdot (Skills Translator and Military Friendly Companies)
http://www.careerinfonet.org/moc/ (Occupation Translator)
http://www.military.com/military-transition/transition-assistance-program-overview.html (TAP Overview and links)
http://www.homedepotmilitary.com/skillstranslator.html (Home Depot Skills Translator for Open Positions)
http://www.lockheedmartinjobs.com/militarytranslator.asp (Lockheed Martin Skills Translator for Open Positions)
http://jobs-boeing.com/military-skills-translator (Boeing Skills Translator for Open Positions)

10. The mission of Hire Our Heroes (HOH) is to empower veterans and employers with the
knowledge, skills, and innovative tools necessary to optimize a strategic workforce.
Hire Our Heroes (HOH) is a not-for-profit organization founded by veterans for veterans. We
partner with world-class organizations and people who share in our vision to offer veterans a
cost-free, best-in-class, transition experience. HOH secures opportunities for employment
where our veteran population can cultivate their talents, traits, and attitudes.
 See more at: Hire Our Heroes

11. Hire Our Heroes (HOH) is a registered 501(c)(3) (Tax ID# 46-3027051) not-for-profit committed to
honoring and serving our nation’s defenders and veterans.
When you make a donation, we value the trust you’ve placed in us. Our mission is to do good whether
through performance, mentoring and coaching veterans, rehabilitation services, or providing
awareness campaigns for vets transitioning from the battlefield to the civilian workforce.
Hire Our Heroes is committed to helping our returning service members find rewarding careers
nationwide with companies sharing our dedication to assisting these deserving men and women. The
transition assistance services provided by Hire Our Heroes are carried out so that there is no cost to
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The services provided by HOH are possible only with the continued and generous contributions of
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