You served your country with honor, perhaps engaging in battle, only to return home to a life of limited job prospects and an unlimited number of unknown variables. You want to move forward, providing for yourself and maybe a family, too, but how do you go about that? Where should you even begin? You're not alone facing the "Now what?" situation, as many vets return from service not knowing how to find their financial footing and create a sustainable life for themselves.
1. Don't Deny What You Went Through
Because you may want to "get over" the situations you experienced during your service, your first inclination may be to deny or subvert it, and that's not particularly healthy. If you were witness to or a participant in traumatic events, don't keep that emotional turmoil buried, as it will eventually resurface, most likely in the form of odd and unexpected behaviors.
For example, just when everything in your life seems to be going well, you could subconsciously sabotage yourself, bringing your hard-earned success to a screeching halt. Suppressed emotions, particularly those surrounding very difficult experiences, usually come back to haunt you.
2. Understand How the Experience May Have Changed You
Even those service members who do not serve in battle typically emerge from the military dramatically changed. You could be less tolerant of inefficiencies around you or carry yourself with an air of authority with everyone, to name a few examples, and these things could cause people to respond differently to you. Most especially, if you were exposed to the perils of war, you may be changed in ways you don't even realize.
Because these changes can be so profound, effecting the way you live your life from here on out, it's important that you try to understand them in depth. You may need professional counseling or therapy to understand and adapt to these changes, which is not to imply that anything is wrong with you. Rather, it's perfectly normal for humans to respond to their environments and experiences, and what you've been through may be hard to absorb and adapt to.
3. Connect with Your Community
If you're not the only veteran in your neighborhood, hook up with the others who served, especially if they own a business or are employed in a supervisory capacity. These are the people who will truly understand what you've been through, and they may be willing and able to give you opportunities that others may not. If you're not meeting other veterans in your area, and finding work is a challenge, show up at town events, where you might be able to connect with potential employers or even volunteer a few hours a week. You never know who you might meet or how they could help you, and you'll be doing a noble thing for the community in addition to making a good name for yourself.
4. Explore the Entrepreneur Within You
There are many very application-specific opportunities for veterans who are interested in starting a business. Because you have a unique perspective on life and perhaps, unfortunately, mortality, you're likely to have more drive when it comes to making situations work. Starting a business is tough for anyone, but you've already proven yourself tough, so look into things like federal contracting programs, where you could be awarded work for your company based on the services your company provides along with other special circumstances. For example, if your business were to be "green," you could like at the special category for environmentally friendly companies; or you could be assigned a contract based on your demographics, such as where you live or the type of people you employ.
There are all kinds of positive scenarios that could work out for you if you're inclined toward making it on your own in the business world. Find a need to fill or a problem to solve and then consider the way in which you can deliver and market your services.
5. Take Advantage of VA Loans and Other Services
As a veteran, you're qualified for certain home loans, but only if you already have the means to repay the loan. If you're in the process of putting your life back together following service, though, you could go through a long transition period during which qualifying for loans could be impossible. In that interim, consider college programs offered by the VA that could help you apply, prepare for, and succeed at school. You could attend part time while working at any job that supports you.
Also, if you're part of a business that sustained losses due to your active duty and were discharged less than a year ago from today, you could be eligible for assistance revitalizing that business through the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which helps vets with loans for a variety of purposes. The Department of Veteran's Affairs Office and The Small Business Administration have put together quite a few packages for people just like you, who simply want to work their way back into society after service, but aren't sure how to make it happen. You can also talk to companies like Texas Veterans Home Loans to look into getting a house.
6. Be Willing to Start at the Bottom
While your service is unlike any other accomplishment, it doesn't automatically qualify you for higher positions within an organization. Unless your MOS provided you with specific training you can apply in the real world, don't expect your service experience to translate into a different but desirable job. Although your dedication should immediately be recognized along with the fact that you're obviously a hard worker, you're still going to have to prove yourself and your abilities. Be willing to accept positions you may feel you're over-qualified for because you know it won't be long until you've shown your boss how capable you are and that you're ready to move up the ladder.
Although there are many opportunities you can avail yourself of, that doesn't mean doing so will be easy. Debt, poor employment prospects, lack of qualifications and education, and many other factors are hitting people hard, especially vets trying to return to civilian life. Keep your chin and confidence up and start investigating what's out there for you, and you will find your financial footing, along with a way to make it in the world.
Share13 December 2016
When I began my first business selling sports equipment locally, I knew the sports-world well, and I knew how to run a business. One thing I did not know a lot about was the financial world. I had never applied for a loan in my life other than when I financed my car with the dealership in-house financing. My first application at a large bank was denied. I began looking into my other options, and I found that there were more lenders for new businesses than I realized. I applied at local credit unions, local banks, and other business lending services. I was able to secure more funding than I even expected, and my credit is just average. I created this blog to help other new business owners realize that there is funding out there. You just have to find it and apply! Don't give up on your dream.