Here is a scenario for you, a possibility based on knowledge, experience and several relationships with fellow members of the military community who have departed in search of greener pastures. For more information please visit: http://www.GreenCollarVets.org

2. Here is a scenario for you, a possibility based on
knowledge, experience and several relationships
with fellow members of the military community
who have departed in search of greener
pastures.
In most cases about a year out from EAS (end of
service date) that signifies you are about to
complete your contractual obligation to the
military, you will be flagged for an interview with
your career planner and begin the process of
deciding whether you are getting out, re-enlisting
or going into the reserves.
www.GreenCollarVets.org

3. It is about this time that you might also begin
learning about TAPS and TAMPS (Transition
Assistance Program and Transition Assistance
Management Program) which is currently a
week-long and involves a multitude of
resources designed to prepare you for your
transition from the military.
There has been quite a buzz lately about the
overhaul of the TAPS program and its design
going to a "choose your own adventure"
format with options being:
www.GreenCollarVets.org

4. 1. Going to college
2. Starting a business or
3. Getting technical training or a certification for
entry into the work force.
In the mean time you will still see the familiar
never-ending power point presentation that will
inundate you with everything you need to
successfully get out of the military and become a
productive member of the 1st CivDiv as we call it.
Here is where most of the problem lies...
www.GreenCollarVets.org

5. Timing... what you need to do align with when
you care to know it.
So many individuals hit the cruise control
button as they sit through a week of TAPS
classes and probably catch only the wave
tops as they continue to go over their "fool-
proof" plan for what they are going to do
when they get out.
www.GreenCollarVets.org

6. Now it doesn't help and it seems that no one
misses this advice, that Vets are encouraged
to go on unemployment for the first 4-6
months after getting out as a period of time to
buffer them as they make the transition and
ease back into civilian life.
This would seem like a good idea right? Why
wouldn't you want to give a combat Vet a
few months breather after probably several
tours to Iraq or Afghanistan?
www.GreenCollarVets.org

7. Here is where we see the start of the Veteran
unemployment "spiral", this Veteran excited as
anything to be getting out, growing a beard
and putting their hands in their pockets
whenever they want, says hey I'll get out go
on unemployment, go to college and then be
set.
Other variations of this half-cooked plan
involve working for a family member, finding a
job back in their home town or some
combination of this.
www.GreenCollarVets.org

8. Now it may even come across like a solid plan
to this Veteran's chain of command who is
probably doing their part to counsel and
advise this individual on his options and best
course of action post military life (despite not
having gone through it before... ).
www.GreenCollarVets.org

9. So this Veteran is sitting in his transition classes
a year or less out from leaving the military and
guess what... he doesn't even know what he
should or shouldn't be remembering, because
well he isn't actually in the process of getting
out now...
Heck even if he was a month from getting out
he isn't back in where-eversville, USA
collecting unemployment and doing
probably only 10% of what he or she planned
to do because well laziness begets laziness.
www.GreenCollarVets.org

10. No more 0600 formations, no more UA? Sure I'll
sleep in a little, I mean I deserve it; this is my rest
time, my recovery from all the years of long days
and short nights.
All this is fine until now this Veteran realizes that
unemployment is running out soon or the college
classes that were supposed to be a breeze are
actually really not so much fun or as easy as
planned and the plan when encountering the
first bullet or obstacle goes to hell (as all leaders in
the military are taught in regard to planning).
www.GreenCollarVets.org

11. Now the Veteran is scrambling to adjust fire
and create the results that this plan was
supposed to produce easily on paper, well
here lies the second problem,
all the resources and chain of command
advice are not nearly as easily accessible or
remembered (caught only the wave tops
during the power point).
www.GreenCollarVets.org

12. As we are all told in boot camp, "you will not rise
to the challenges of your situation you will fall to
the level of your training" thus the Veteran falls
back into doing only what they know how to,
Whether it was a high school level summer job
that they had before they left for the military or
any number of bad habits they may have
developed to cope with stress that they can't
handle and voila you have yourself an
unemployed Vet living at home, an
underemployed Vet living below his potential or
worse and its sad to say but a homeless Veteran
shacking up beneath an underpass.
www.GreenCollarVets.org

13. So what can be done? Can we
communicate the message differently to get
Vets attention at the time when it is the most
critical?
Can we get an excited soon to be former
military member to want to make the right or
even the better decisions in the face of a
mountain of logistical and mental strains that
any EAS provides?
www.GreenCollarVets.org

14. I happen to believe we can and I think it will be a
collaborative effort that the military, VA, and post
military training programs will provide. I think that
Veterans need a "reverse boot camp" both while
they are in (new TAPS program might improve
this) and within the first 90-180 days of exiting the
military.
Veterans need the information easily accessible
when they realize, as most college sophomores
do, that they're major or direction in life has
drastically changed and they didn't have a plan
or know how to make a plan on their own that
will get them there.
www.GreenCollarVets.org

15. We here at Green Collar Vets are working on
solutions to the re-training and development
needs of Veterans because heck we want to
see the greatest asset the USA has to be
leveraged and utilized to the highest degree.
Looking for employment opportunities for
veterans? then don't hesitate to visit our site
http://www.greencollarvets.org today!
www.GreenCollarVets.org