Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — This year, fewer military veterans transitioning to civilian life after military service reported feeling hopeful about life after the military than two years ago, a study by the University of Phoenix found.
Forty-two percent of veterans also reported concern about finding suitable employment for their skill level, with 47% believing they are underemployed.
"When I was still in (the Marines) and thinking about getting out ... I knew it would be challenging, but I thought, how could the challenges of civilian life possibly stack up to what I've been doing on a daily basis? So, I set on the course of leaving the military and transitioning to a civilian life with a lot of bravado," Eric Ryan, who left the Marine Corps in 2005, said. "Then reality really hits you in the face."
As senior director of Military Operations at the University of Phoenix, Ryan said he's seen military members go from having important leadership roles, with great responsibility in their duties, to having their confidence "beaten down" because of the real-life challenges any human encounters.
"I just had such big plans and so many things that I felt to do, and it was a lot harder than I thought because I had a lot to learn and a lot of transition to do myself," he said, adding that missing the structure provided by the military was a hard part of that transition.
Ryan's biggest pieces of advice for veterans to get back into civilian life are to build networks and destigmatize mental health — looking for mentors and people who can help translate the valuable skills learned in the military into a working resume is an excellent start.
To get career and resume help, Ryan said almost every college or university offers career services, which is great for veterans looking to start or go back to school. American Corporate Partners is another great resource specifically geared toward helping veterans be career ready.
The Department of Veteran Affairs, he added, has a lot of resources for mental health help and support. Ryan's favorite mental health resource is Give an Hour, a website that provides a toolkit for mental wellness.
"I wish every young veteran leaving the military service would reach out to (these resources) because it's a free service — it's out there because people in this country support veterans and want them to do great things," Ryan said. He said these programs often have more mentors than people to mentor because of the lack of knowledge about them.
"You're going to do great if you apply yourself and decide (what) is going to be part of your path," Ryan said.
