The Guide to Coming Home: February 8, 2010 Archive

Find balance with military discipline

Posted at 9:26 AM on February 8, 2010 (0 Comments)
Filed under: Family & relationships, Mental Health

From Rachel Vopatek, Brainerd, MN
Sgt. in the National Guard and was deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004 and 2007-2008 (pictured below during deployment). Now out of the military after initial enlistment.

Enjoy your families and friends, but know that your experience is yours and no one can take that from you. Remember the hard times and the good times you went through on deployment and coming back home; draw strength from these experiences in the future.

If I could tell returning veterans just one thing, it would be this: bring some military discipline into your civilian life when you get home. Do PT (physical training), eat well, work hard and then relax at the end of the day knowing you gave it your all. Find your balance each day and you will find that your life is more manageable and joyful.

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Doubt creates the problem

Posted at 3:33 PM on February 8, 2010 (0 Comments)
Filed under: Family & relationships

From Jeff Dvorak, Sauk Rapids, MN
E-3 USMC Radio Operator, stationed at Al Asad, Iraq from September 16th, 2009-February 2nd, 2010 with Marine Wing Support Squadron 472

Trust your significant other. Mistrust, asking too many questions, stalking, has led to the downfall of more relationships than anything else. When you're coming home you want to think of that other person as yours, but they have developed relationships to fill the void your being gone has left and if they are being reasonable about it, just let it go. They still love you.

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GI Bill benefits are slow

Posted at 3:47 PM on February 8, 2010 (0 Comments)
Filed under: Accessing benefits, Education

From Ross Holtan, Minneapolis, MN
Left the army as a Specialist (E-4). Was stationed in Germany with the First Infantry Division. Deployed to both Kosovo and Iraq.

If you're going back to school, when it comes to the VA, have patience and plan ahead. I started school again this September, but did not receive my GI Bill benefits until November. I know. Crazy.

Despite applying for the GI Bill back in June, registering for classes in July and officially certifying my enrollment in August, I attended school without benefits for almost four months.

I called the VA almost every single day, but was only able to contact a real person twice. We were disconnected once, and it took me five weeks to get back through.

Plan ahead. Save a little money just in case. The payments eventually came, but I was in pretty rough shape towards the end.

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When applying for jobs, use your military experience, but don't rely on it

Posted at 3:51 PM on February 8, 2010 (0 Comments)
Filed under: Employment

From Ross Holtan, Minneapolis, MN
Left the army as a Specialist (E-4). Was stationed in Germany with the First Infantry Division. Deployed to both Kosovo and Iraq.

Finding a job right now -- anywhere -- is difficult.

As a recently returned soldier, you have a leg up on the rest of the labor force. Use it. Whether you're looking for a temporary position to hold you over, or if you're looking to jump back into your career, your personal and professional contacts will be your best help. Spread the word around that you're back. Ask your friends and family to drop your name to their bosses. This is another great opportunity to meet professionals in your field.

Call an employer and ask for an "information interview." Tell them you are a recently returned vet looking for information about their field. This gets you in the door, meeting the bosses without the pressure of interviewing for a position. If you make a good impression they will remember you when a position does open.

Using your experience to get in the door is one thing, but translating your military positions into civilian language is tough. Tell them you're a leader, responsible, motivated and work well with people. Make sure you quantify how many briefings or PowerPoints you did each week. Tell them how valuable the equipment was that you were signed for. Tell them how many people worked for you. Tell them how many hours you worked each week. They'll be impressed. Find a way to simply apply what you did in Iraq to everyday civilian work.

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Money, money, money

Posted at 3:56 PM on February 8, 2010 (0 Comments)
Filed under: Personal Finance

From Ross Holtan, Minneapolis, MN
Left the army as a Specialist (E-4). Was stationed in Germany with the First Infantry Division. Deployed to both Kosovo and Iraq.

Save your money. Many of us -- especially the single soldiers -- returned from Iraq or Afghanistan with a boatload of cash.

That money will go fast if you are not careful. Finding a place to live, buying a car, starting school, vacations and even dating will deplete your savings.

Take some time to consider the big purchases; buying a new car or motorcycle may not be the best use of your funds. Think about how long it may take you to go back to work. Do you have any unsettled debt that may come back to bite if you don't take care of it now?

Many of my friends bought BMWs (we were in Germany), big trucks and motorcycles with their savings. I didn't, and I was really happy to have to money when it came time for school.

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