A Guide to Being a Veteran by HHC, 807th MC(DS)

A Guide to Being a

Veteran What to do while still in uniform

A MAGAZINE BY AMERIFORCE MEDIA, LLC 2016 ISSUE

BACK TO SCHOOL? Is it Right for You? Online Education Tips

IS YOUR RETIREMENT PAY ENOUGH? Advice from Experts and Those in the Know

START YOUR JOB SEARCH NOW

Make Contacts and Get Your Resume in Order

NAVIGATING THE VA What to Know Before You Separate Sign up for our FREE digital editions at

www.AmeriForce.net/WEBSUBSCRIBE

Letter from the Editor

Our family recently experienced the joy of transitioning out of the military. My husband retired with 30 years of service. We have been together for about 20 of those years, in which he served as a traditional Soldier in the National Guard and on active duty with the Title 10 program. He had served as a regular Army Ofﬁcer just prior to our meeting, so he had a full run of the different statuses. But even with all that experience, and with all my reading and writing about the military for a living, we found ourselves in a “hurry up and wait” then “hurry, hurry hurry!” mode before he ofﬁcially separated in June.

A Guide to Being a

Veteran What to do while still in uniform

A MAGAZINE BY AMERIFORCE MEDIA, LLC 2016 ISSUE

BACK TO SCHOOL? Is it Right for You? Online Education Tips

IS YOUR RETIREMENT PAY ENOUGH?

Yes, we attended the required and recommended classes and meetings, but we found that there is no one-size-ﬁts-all answer…to anything.

Advice from Experts and Those in the Know

START YOUR JOB SEARCH NOW

Make Contacts and Get Your Resume in Order

In this guide, we take a look at all the aspects of transitioning out of the military — whether you’ve been in the service for a few years or 30. From navigating the VA system to deciding whether to go back to school, from deciding what healthcare plan to pick for your family to ﬁnding a new job or new career to ﬁt your new lifestyle, we have you covered. We also feature tips from veterans who have already been through the process to help you along the way.

NAVIGATING THE VA What to Know Before You Separate Sign up for our FREE digital editions at

www.AmeriForce.net/WEBSUBSCRIBE

There are so many decisions to make when you leave the military. We are here to help you successfully navigate your way through the whole process. Photo illustration by Maria Bucaro

It took us a while to ﬁnd the perfect retirement house in our desired school system, near family (at last!) and in a state that thankfully, does not tax his retirement pay and where our children can supposedly attend college for free — and this is after we narrowed our search considerably by last Christmas. We had been warned about the delay in the retirement pay, so we knew what to expect there, but there’s such a difference in theory and practice — especially when teenagers are involved! After all our adventures with the military, we have successfully made it through most of this transition, and are now set to close on our dream home. We will have our last experience with JPPSO, TMOs, HHGs, PPMs and move.mil in the coming weeks and will ﬁnally get to settle in to our new community. But I guarantee all those acronyms (and many, many more) forever will be burned into our brains...

Jennifer G. Williams Editorial Director AmeriForce Media, LLC

www.AmeriForce.net

Contents A Guide to Being a Veteran: What to do While Still in Uniform by AmeriForce Media, LLC, is published annually for transitioning service members and their families. Copies are available through participating transition ofﬁces, family service centers and other locations by request.

Unit distribution requests can be made online at http://AmeriForce.net/ subscribe-to-print-editions/. Individuals can order a free digital edition of this issue at www.AmeriForce.net/ Websubscribe. Editorial comments can be emailed to Editor@AmeriForceMedia.com.

Healthcare Options After the Military by Andrea Downing Peck

20 The amount of information and services available for service members separating from the military can be overwhelming. How to make the most of your transition.

Wave of the Future

by Bianca Strzalkowski

Online Interviewing by Andrea Downing Peck

Jennifer G. Williams Editorial Director 703-337-8100 ext. 104 Jennifer.Williams@AmeriForceMedia.com

The Right Fit Finding the best veteran’s group for you by Rachel Tringali Marston

Julie Miller Vice President, Sales 703-337-8100 ext. 103 Julie.Miller@AmeriForceMedia.com

Your Last PCS Factors to consider when deciding where to live after you retire by Tara Puckey

Your Resume Four Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out by Bianca Strzalkowski

Veteran Entreprenuers Veterans are looking to business ownership for a post-military career by Bianca Strzalkowski

Ducks in a Row Financial planning tips for retirement by Andrea Downing Peck

3 Things Veterans Should Know Before Taking Online Classes

AmeriForce Media LLC Todd Taranto President and Publisher 703-337-8100 ext. 101 Todd.Taranto@AmeriForceMedia.com

Nine Things Veterans Wish They Knew Before Leaving the Military by Bianca Strzalkowski

A Guide to Being a Veteran: What to do While Still in Uniform is published by AmeriForce Media, LLC., Bloomington, IN, a ServiceDisabled, Veteran-Owned, Small Business. Information and advertisements in this publication do not constitute endorsement by any branch of the military or the Department of Defense. No part of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of the publisher. AmeriForce Media, LLC., it publisher, and publisher’s agents make no endorsement of any advertised services or products and none should be inferred.

Should You Go Back to School?

Brian Dunbar Director of Business Development 703-337-8100 ext. 106 Brian.Dunbar@AmeriForceMedia.com Ursula Hirschhaeuser Germany Sales +49 (0) 69-15053980 Ursula.Hirschhauser@AmeriForceMedia.com with Maria Bucaro — Design Coordinator Diana Tyo — Production Manager

by Tara Puckey

by Bianca Strzalkowski

By the Numbers Ages and occupations of veterans

4 www.AmeriForce.net

AmeriForce Media, LLC 400 West 7th St. #233 Bloomington, IN 47404 www.AmeriForce.net

Advice

Greg Palmer Russ Whaley

Things Veterans Wish They Knew Before Leaving the Military by Bianca Strzalkowski

6 www.AmeriForce.net

Carl Wheless

Do as I say, not as I did.

2. Establish your savings

Hindsight is 20/20. When most people have the opportunity to reﬂect on past experiences, they are able to glean some helpful life lessons and pay that information forward. The same is true for veterans who entered their postmilitary lives and can pinpoint what they could have done better, should have done better, and what they wish someone would have told them sooner.

Start saving money now if you haven’t already — the process for disability and retirement pay is not immediate and if you are not prepared for it, you will get caught with no source of income that ﬁrst month out. Also, if you rate disability, that process can take six to nine months after you retire, unless you are medically retired. Then, maybe as soon as three months.

Active duty Marine Greg Palmer is currently in the process of retiring from the military after 20 years of service. He has attended the required transition assistance classes, which he says cover some topics too fast and others feel like more of a check-in-the-box. There are three things he wishes he knew sooner in his career:

1. Be organized with medical documents. Make sure you have everything documented in your medical records. If you saw a doctor out in town at any duty station, call and get a copy of those records and add them to your personal ﬁle. Your medical records are going to be what justiﬁes anything you claim with Veteran Affairs (VA). If it is not in your records, it didn’t happen. With that, if you have been one of those people for 17, 18, 19 years that has refused to go to medical for anything — go now.

3. Get your education, or, at least start it If you haven’t started school, start now. You need some type of formal education to back-up your experience. Odds are, if you did not take advantage of free school while you were in, you are not going to do it once you get into the civilian work force). Even if it is for a formal certiﬁcation, get it. It is only going to make you that much more marketable when you retire. For others who have been out of the military for a few years, the perspective is a little different. Carl Wheless, a medically retired soldier, exited the military in 2014 after serving 20 years. He says there are a lot of misconceptions as to what to expect from being a civilian:

4. Military and civilian life have similarities. Have a plan but be ﬂexible. Understand that just as in military life, almost nothing goes to plan and be ready to do what you have been trained to do: adapt, improvise, and overcome.

Greg Palmer

Russ Whaley

5. There are also differences. You are not better prepared for civilian life than your civilian counterparts. You are not better than them. You are not smarter than them. You are not more capable than them. You are not more courageous than them. You are not more honorable than them. The most difficult part of civilian life is realizing you are not better prepared for civilian life than your civilian counterparts and you have to come to grips with the fact that you are now in their world; and if you want to succeed you have to master their world, just as you once mastered the world of being a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine. The fact of the matter is that while you have experienced a great deal in the military, had a great deal of responsibility and even carried the burden of leadership, it will not make up for the sacrifices you have made in being behind your civilian counterparts in many ways. The longer you have served, the greater that sacrifice can be.

6. Embrace civilian life Have fun and enjoy getting to know yourself. As a civilian, you can now do anything you want with the obvious boundaries and laws. Other than that, life is what you make of it. Discover who you really are, what you really like, get really good at it, and be really happy.

Carl Wheless

7. Back to that medical topic –— document everything. Throughout your military career, be it one year or more than 30, make absolutely sure that anytime you have a medical issue that it is treated and documented. That may not sound like something a tough guy or girl in the military does, but trust me, many, many years later when your body starts to give out on you and in any way it can be traced back to something that took place while you were on active duty — even if at the time it did not seem to specifically be caused by your military service — you are entitled to care and benefits through the VA. This is the number one regret I have heard time and time again from veterans who at the time did not understand the importance of doing such things, for years and decades after they left the military it was nearly impossible to get the treatment, benefits, and assistance from the VA. Russ Whaley, a medically-retired Marine, says because he was attached to the Wounded Warrior Battalion he was at an advantage. Programs within the unit center on arming military members with a detailed outline of resources that exist. Whaley knows that is not the case for his peers so he recommends veterans take the time to research two areas: employment and the ins and outs of the VA.

8. Finding a job will not be easy. Most veterans feel that they will be able to walk right out and ﬁnd gainful employment with the experience

they have gained from serving. Younger veterans do not pay adequate attention during the separations classes and I believe that comes back to bite them.

9. Learn the VA processes ahead of time. Becoming educated on the process the VA uses to evaluate disabilities was huge in relieving stress for me during my transition. I was able to focus on education and follow on employment without the VA stress. Being senior enlisted helpful in the understanding, as well as engagement of VA personnel. Those who have served their country agree that prep work for transitioning is the single most important step someone could take to set themselves up for a successful post-military life. When you are in the thick of it and living the day-to-day demands of the military, it can feel impossible to devote time to things that feel far out of reach. However, the preparation process should actually start as soon as you enter the military. Sounds easier said than done. The value of the network of veterans throughout the country is there is always someone willing to share their experiences to give a fellow veteran a better shot at doing it better. And, who better to be your subject matter expert than someone who has already had boots on the ground of this very unique way of life? —Bianca Strzalkowski is a military spouse and freelance writer who lives in North Carolina www.AmeriForce.net 7

Veterans Affairs

Navigating the VA System A Primer by Bianca Strzalkowski

The Department of Veteran Affairs forecasts more than one million service members will transition from military to civilian life over the next few years.

8 www.AmeriForce.net

The service branches aim to prepare personnel for this change through mandatory Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes, which cover a host of need-to-know topics. Recently, a newly designed curriculum was added called Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success) featuring a section speciﬁcally on the VA called VA Beneﬁts I and II. The topics include:

• education, • health care, • compensation, • life insurance, • home loans, • vocational rehabilitation, • employment beneﬁts information and counseling, • understanding the VA disability compensation process, and • navigating eBeneﬁts.

That’s an overwhelming list of information. At the point someone is ready for the big leap outside the structure of a military career, it is likely some details will become lost in translation. Barbara Morton, Deputy Director of the Veterans Experience Ofﬁce, says in her ideal world, service members would learn about what the VA offers throughout their career versus at the completion.

For someone who prefers to direct questions to a live person rather than sorting through that vast amount of information, Medve suggests three options:

“ … I would have all service members actually be really well-educated about VA and the beneﬁts available to them while they’re still in service. My understanding is, right now, we don’t quite do that. We do that towards the tail end, meaning VA, with the TAP program,” Morton said.

The VA beneﬁts book includes a complete list of 1-800 numbers where they can receive assistance,

Her ofﬁce is responsible for interviewing veterans to understand their needs so that programs can be designed to meet those needs. She adds that the VA has refocused efforts to make navigating the department more user-friendly.

How to connect to accurate information The services most commonly accessed by veterans are VA health care, life insurance policies, VA disability compensation, home loans, and education benefits. John Medve, Executive Director, Office of Interagency Collaboration and Integration at the Department of Veteran Affairs, says service members and veterans can familiarize themselves with these programs and get follow-up information about procedures they are unclear about by downloading a copy of the Federal Benefits for Veterans Booklet. “This booklet provides [a] comprehensive list of benefits, eligibility criteria, and contact information for follow-up with a VA representative. The online version has a by state resource finder capability to allow the veteran to contact a point of contact near them,” Medve said.

The “contact us” tab on VA.gov provides a list of 1-800 numbers depending on the health care or beneﬁts question,

or The on-line resource ﬁnder contains key staff information within 1898 VA facilities, and it is maintained on a regular basis. It is designed for ease-of-use, and categorizes information for browsing by state and administration, as well as by viewing through an interactive map of the United States.

Connect with VSOs If reviewing the website or talking via phone is not your preferred method of communication, Barbara Morton says there are useful on-the-ground resources that provide veterans with the opportunity to engage in-person. Local veteran advocacy groups exist throughout the country. “I would encourage a service member who’s recently separated to do is really connect with veteran service organizations (VSOs) … there’s national VSOs, there’s state VSOs – those are great advocates to help a veteran kind of navigate the process, and a lot of them are veterans themselves,” she said. —Bianca Strzalkowski is a military spouse and freelance writer who lives in North Carolina

TIP: RESEARCH THESE ORGANIZATIONAL WEBSITES TO FIND A CHAPTER NEAR YOU Disabled American Veterans (DAV): https://www.dav.org/ Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): http://iava.org/ Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): http://www.vfw.org/ American Legion: http://www.legion.org/ Military Order of the Purple Heart: http://www.purpleheart.org/ Many of these VSOs have staff on hand who can help with functions of ﬁling paperwork, getting appointments setup, and deciphering the policies and procedures. My VA Community Within the last two years, the VA has added a more localized program called My VA communities. Morton says there are roughly 80 locations around the U.S. consisting of political leadership, VA leadership, local VSOs, and veteran advocates who meet to help answer any questions or concerns veterans may have.

TIP: SEARCH FOR A MY VA COMMUNITY NEAR YOU ONLINE AT http://www.va.gov/nace/myva/. Whether you are about to exit the military or have been out for some time, there is a likelihood that you are inundated with information about resources for veterans. While there is no shortage of programs, ﬁelding through the complexities of the services offered by the VA can be confusing or frustrating. The Department is working to streamline its processes to accommodate the veteran as a customer. If you are unsure about the steps to take to access your earned beneﬁts, rely on those veteran service organizations that are setup to meet your needs on a local level. www.AmeriForce.net 9

Healthcare

Healthcare Options After the Military by Andrea Downing Peck

Service members and military families often have a love-hate relationship with military healthcare and the Tricare insurance system while on active duty, but Tricare provides retirees with a welcome safety net as they transition to the civilian world. Military retirees have the option of enrolling in Tricare Standard for Retirees or Tricare Prime for Retirees, if they live within 30 minutes of a military treatment facility. Retirees who continue using Tricare Prime will experience an uptick in healthcare expenses since they now will be required to pay an annual enrollment fee â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $282.60 in 2016 for single retirees and $565.20 for families. (Tricare enrollment fees are subject to the same annual cost of living adjustment that determines increases to retired military pay.) In addition, retirees and their family members who see civilian providers because of limited access at military hospitals or clinics are charged network copayments â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $12 for outpatient visits, for example, with additional copays for other services. Your primary care manager also is the gatekeeper for all referrals to specialists. continued on page 12

10 www.AmeriForce.net

NATIONWIDE COVERAGE

99%

OF THE U.S. POPULATION

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Healthcare

People who do not receive health insurance though an employer or federal government must purchase a policy or be subject to a penalty in 2017 of $695 per adult, $347.50 per child, or a maximum of $2,085. continued from page 10 Tricare Standard, on the other hand, is available throughout the United States and provides the most ﬂexibility when selecting providers, but outof-pocket costs can be higher. In addition to being responsible for 20% of negotiated charges when using in-network providers, retirees also much meet an annual deductible — $150 for an individual or $300 for a family — before Tricare begins to pay. Standard’s annual catastrophic cap — your maximum out-of-pocket cost for covered services — is $3,000 per family, an increase from the $1,000 maximum active duty families face. Retired Navy submariner Doug Nordman, author of The Military Guide to Financial Independence & Retirement, says most retirees who are eligible for Tricare Prime opt for it because Prime is “cheap” and “hassle free.” Though he had to deal with his share of customer service headaches when the Tricare Western Region 12 www.AmeriForce.net

changed contractors four years ago, Nordman has no doubts about the value of his retiree healthcare beneﬁt.

a copay when you go to the doctor, a copay for medicine, a copay for needles. It added up quickly.”

“Health insurance and healthcare expenses are two major worries of civilian retirees, and we military beneﬁciaries can easily lose sight of how good we have it compared to the rest of America’s citizens,” he says.

No matter whether you have served for four or 20 years, leaving the military healthcare system requires planning and confronts you with a learning curve. Options are different depending on how long you served and whether you served on active duty, in the Guard or in the Reserve. Those who qualify for medical coverage due to a disability may be eligible for Tricare or medical care from the Veterans Administration.

Military retirees using Tricare Standard also may have the option of purchasing a supplemental health insurance plan that helps pay your share of covered expenses after a deductible is met. Navy spouse Kellie Stobie says purchasing a supplemental policy to pair with Tricare Standard quickly paid off following her husband’s military retirement. When their daughter was diagnosed with diabetes two weeks after the family moved from their ﬁnal duty station to Arizona, Stobie said their medical bills went from “nothing…to having

Sean Scaturro, Certiﬁed Financial Planner (CFP), USAA’s Director of Life and Health Protection Advice, points out that the cost of civilian healthcare is not the only hurdle facing veterans. He said the “bigger shock” might be adapting to a civilian healthcare system that includes an alphabet soup of health insurance terms and a long list of healthcare consumer responsibilities.

“It is so different. You are responsible for so much more as a civilian versus the things that quite frankly the military or Tricare insurance program handles for you,” Scaturro says. “When there is a glossary of helpful terms to remember that comes with your insurance plan, that is one of those key signs that OK I need to sit down and actually read this.” After separating from the military, most veterans will purchase healthcare through a new employer or a healthcare insurance exchange. In 2015, the average monthly civilian insurance premium for single workers was $521 while the average cost for family coverage was $1,462 per month, totals that don’t include deductibles, copays and other out-ofpocket costs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. “When people get ready to leave the service, there are a number of things that are going to rock their world,” says Shane Ostrom, CFP, and Deputy Director, Financial and Benefits Information, for the Military Officers Association of America. “One of them being healthcare. They’ve been getting Tricare for a very low cost for their family. Then they are going to get hit with the cost of a civilian PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) or an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization).” High-deductible health plans (HDHP) are the fastest growing type of health insurance in the United States, with half of employers planning to make a high-deductible plan their sole choice by 2018, according to consulting firm Towers Watson. Such plans have low premiums but require you spend a lot of your own money (a

$1,300 deductible for self-coverage and $2,600 deductible for family coverage) before the plan covers a portion of the cost of care. A HDHP is paired with a health savings account (HSA) — a personal savings account that allows participants to pay for medical expenses with pretax dollars, which Scaturro recommends funding as a way to prepare for medical emergencies or future medical costs such as long-term care. “I love HSAs. I think they are a great vehicle for people,” Scaturro says. “When it is successful and you’ve got adequate contributions going into it — hopefully you haven’t had a lot of perilous medical issues — that account blossoms and becomes a very valuable resource for you for that multiple journey to retirement or in retirement.” Transitioning military also need to be aware of the Affordable Care Act’s mandate requiring health plan coverage. People who do not receive health insurance though an employer or federal government must purchase a policy or be subject to a penalty in 2017 of $695 per adult, $347.50 per child, or a maximum of $2,085. Separating service members who receive an honorable or general discharge temporarily can continue healthcare coverage for themselves and family members under the Continued Health Care Beneﬁt Program (CHCBP), which can serve as a bridge for up to 18 months after military healthcare beneﬁts end. While not a Tricare program, CHCBP offers coverage comparable to Tricare Standard. But because the federal government does not subsidize costs, premiums for individuals are $1,300

A few footnotes: • To continue Tricare Prime coverage upon retiring from the military, you must reenroll as a retiree, enroll eligible family members as retiree dependents, and pay the appropriate single or family enrollment fee within 30 after your retirement date to have continuous Tricare Prime coverage.

• Surviving family members of a sponsor who died on active duty or medically retired service members and their families are not subject to annual Tricare Prime enrollment fee increases.

per quarter or $2,925 per quarter for families. Patients also are responsible for paying an annual deductible and cost-shares for covered services. Reservists and Guard members who have qualified for military retirement but have not yet reached age 60 are eligible for Tricare Retired Reserve, which is similar to Tricare Reserve Select, but comes with a higher price tag since premiums aren’t subsidized. In 2016, premiums are $388.79 per month for the member only and $957.44 for family coverage. At age 60, retired Reservists receive the same healthcare benefit as their retired active duty counterparts. When transitioning, Scaturro recommends service members prepare from the “bottom up” and view health insurance and disability income protection insurance as the “foundation” supporting their financial future. “Having that kind of comprehensive protection strategy as your foundation allows you to build your wealth in a much more comfortable and stable manner so you don’t have big emergencies taking away all of your hard work as you approach retirement,” he said. Once military retirees reach age 65, they are eligible for Tricare for Life, which is used in conjunction with Medicare. —Andrea Downing Peck is a freelance writer and the spouse of a retired service member. She lives in Washington state. www.AmeriForce.net 13

VSOs

The Right Fit Finding the Best Veterans Group for you by Rachel Tringali Marston

A strong bond forms with fellow military members during service. When it’s time to separate or retire, that comradery easily translates outside the military and as a result, groups and organizations are formed to bring together that brotherhood and sisterhood again. Whether you are still are serving, transitioning soon or a long-time vet, it’s never too early or late to research the right veterans group that ﬁts your particular needs. From branch oriented to conﬂict focused and everything in between, here’s a quick roundup of organizations aimed to bring together veterans and their family members:

Air Force Association (AFA) Supporting Airmen and women while in uniform and out, AFA provides unique resources to help promote professional development and offers programs and initiatives that assist the service member and their families. The nonproﬁt has local chapters from coast to coast. http://www.afa.org/

14 www.AmeriForce.net

American Ex-Prisoners of War (AXPOW) Founded in 1942, AXPOW’s membership consists of those that have been prisoners of war and their family members, including spouses, parents, children and grandchildren over 18. Today, there are stateside chapters everywhere beneﬁting and supporting members. http://www.axpow.org/

Association of the United States Army (AUSA) AUSA was created to serve the American soldier and their family members. Anyone that has a concern of connection to the Army can join and members can beneﬁt from a community of Army-speciﬁc resources and events. There are 119 chapters across the globe. http://www.ausa.org/

The American Legion It is said to be the largest wartime veterans’ service organizations in the country. To join, individuals must have served honorably or are currently serving during a conﬂict. The American Legion organization advocates for veteran rights and offers 2.4 million of its members community support, mentorship and programs throughout their local posts. http://www.legion.org/

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) The organization’s history dates back soon after WWI and was created to offer support for injured service members. To be a member, you would have needed to serve in the armed forces during conﬂict, discharged or retired under honorable conditions, and lastly, have been injured as a result of military service. There are local chapters for members to meet for community support and can offer special beneﬁts. https://www.dav.org/

American Veterans (AMVETS) Membership is open to those that are serving or have honorably served. American Veterans is an advocacy group that assists veterans and their family members with utilizing all appropriate resources as well as volunteering together to help serve the community. http://www.amvets.org/ American Women Veterans (AWV) An organization celebrating women in the armed forces welcomes all veterans, family members and supporters. AWV focuses on empowering servicewomen and preserving and promoting the contributions them through sponsorship, advocacy and campaigns. http://americanwomenveterans.org/

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) IAVA is an open organization for all veterans, family and civilian friends with the focus to empower and encourage post9/11 veterans. Members beneﬁt from monthly “VetTogethers,” one-onone support by Veteran Transition Managers and other resources and advocacy to post-9/11 veterans and their families. http://iava.org/ Marine Corps Association (MCA) For current, honorably discharged and retired Marines and friends, the MCA brings together those that want to stay connected with all things the Corps. They also provide professional

development and educational opportunities, among other benefits. http://www.mca-marines.org/ Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia with local chapters all over the United States, MOAA is a service-based organization benefiting military officers and their families in all branches of service. They offer resources and programs to assist with transition, pay and retirement benefits among others. http://www.moaa.org/

scholarships. The organization has chapters in the United States advocating and offering support and mentorship to those in need. http:// studentveterans.org/ Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) The founding of VFW can trace back to 1899 and has since made its mark in the military community by advocating for veterans and their family members. VFW had a hand in creating the Veterans Administration and post-

9/11 GI Bill to name a couple things. To be a member, you must have earned an overseas campaign medal, have served 30 or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea, or received hostile fire or imminent danger pay. http://www.vfw.org/ There is no “one-size-fits-all” mentality when it comes to veterans groups. The key is to find the one that’s best for you. —Rachel Tringali Marston is a military spouse and freelance writer who currently lives outside of Washington, D.C.

The Mission Continues This charity organization connects veterans with local partners in need of assistance with community improvements like mentorship programs with at-risk youth. Anybody can join volunteer platoon, but post-9/11 veterans are able to apply for a fellowship program to help build leadership skills to hopefully bring into the civilian sector. http://www.missioncontinues.org/ Navy League of the United States Teddy Roosevelt encouraged the founding of the Navy League and since then, the organization has been advocating for sea-based service members and their families. Get involved in one of the 220 councils that are located around the globe. http://navyleague.org/ Team Red, White & Blue (RWB) Through physical activity and social involvement, Team RWB connects veterans with their community to build and nurture relationships. Veteran and civilians alike join forces in local chapters and it’s easy to get involved. http://www.teamrwb.org/

WE’RE PROUD TO PROTECT YOUR SMILE. U.S. Veterans can get MetLife dental beneﬁts through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). You get more value with MetLife: • 100% coverage: No cost on all in-network preventive care (cleanings, X-rays and exams) • Lower dental fees: Save an average of 15 - 45% of dental services* • One of the largest civilian dental networks: Over 86% of U.S. dental ofﬁces participate in the MetLife Preferred Dentist Program PDP Plus network • Competitive monthly premiums

Enroll online — it’s easy! Team Rubicon Put your military skills to good use by volunteering with Team Rubicon, an organization that deploys former service members and ﬁrst responders to assist in disaster relief domestically and all over the world. http://teamrubiconusa.org/ Student Veterans of America For veterans focused on higher education, Student Veterans of America provides resources and

Visit metlife.com/VADIP to learn more or call 1-888-310-1681

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program *Savings from enrolling in a dental benefits plan will depend on various factors, including plan design and premiums, how often participants visit the dentist and the cost of services rendered. Like most group benefit programs, benefit programs offered by MetLife and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, waiting periods, and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact MetLife 1-888-310-1681 for costs and complete details. Group dental insurance policies are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166. ©2016 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. 1407-1871 L0816474056[exp0817][All States][DC,GU,MP,PR,VI] PEANUTS © 2016 Peanuts Worldwide LLC.

www.AmeriForce.net 15

Relocation

Your Last PCS by Tara Puckey

You’re used to the military PCSing you every two to three years to a new location, so you’ve always had where you were going to live decided for you. But, are you preparing to separate or retire? Have you given where you’re going to live after the military much thought yet? Some service members may have a place or places in mind already. However, it’s still important to consider a handful of factors before you make that ﬁnal decision on where you will move for your last PCS when you end your service or retire — especially if you don’t have a job lined up already. That brings the ﬁrst and relatively critical point for considering where to live and that is:

16 www.AmeriForce.net

Factors to consider when deciding where to live after you retire Employment Opportunities Military members towards the end of their service are encouraged to start the job hunt ASAP. As you are exploring new potential career fields, see where a majority of the desired companies for employment are located. For example, if you are looking into Department of Defense or government contracting work, you might be aiming your sights on jobs in the National Capital Region. But don’t limit yourself too much because there are opportunities everywhere and it’s a matter of finding the right fit for you when it comes down to it.

Consider Taxes Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — do not tax employment income. Other states — Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — exempt all military pensions from taxation. Some states don’t have sales tax, but they might have high property tax or vice versa. Keep in mind that cities and counties may have taxes too, so it’s important to research it to the local level. Jot down all the tax structures and estimate what you and your family would really need to live in the places you are considering. Look into the estimated salary for your desired job and check out the cost of living. You want to be sure you would be getting the most from your salary back with all things considering.

Desired Climate and Activities You and your family’s welfare should also be taken into account. Some are keener on warmer weather as in Arizona or Texas, but others may want to experience all four seasons as in Virginia or Ohio.

In addition, you should be close or at a reasonable distance to what you enjoy. If you love to ski, Colorado might be a good ﬁt. Or if you prefer boating or beach activities, Florida may be more up your alley.

Proximity to a Military Installation and Veteran Affairs Hospital of Facility For a lot of veterans, it’s important to stay close to the lifestyle that was a part of them for so long, especially as retirees can utilize the beneﬁts for as long as they would like. Luckily, there are installations everywhere from coast-to-coast and overseas, so there are options almost everywhere.

Once you’ve evaluated the points above, ask yourself these questions:

Do I want to live in the city, suburb or country? This could go back to your desires and family needs a little bit as well. As mentioned in taxes, where you live could determine what you pay. It could also determine the amount of space you and your family would get and the luxuries that surround each choice. Everyone has a preference on their style of living.

Will I be buying or renting a home?

Noting the location of the VA facilities would also be beneﬁcial to receive earned treatment and since there are some not connected to a military installation, researches should pinpoint it separately.

If your family is ready to buy a home, you should consider the housing marketing at desired locations. When narrowing down a place and the housing market isn’t for buyers, it might be beneﬁcial to rent in the meantime or that might sway you to move someplace else.

Proximity to Friends and Family

What does your gut tell you?

A lot of military members move back home because of the support of family and friends, which can be invaluable. Sometimes, it might be the needed encouragement to get back into the civilian sector and networking among familiar faces could get your foot in the door. It can also be a good stepping stone for your family’s long term plan or whatever other plan you map out, if you decide to move back home.

Ultimately, it will come down to your instinct. How do you really feel about this place or that one? Will you be happy? Will your family be happy, generally speaking? After reviewing each touchpoint, you are in the right direction to make an informed decision on where you should live. —Tara Puckey is a military spouse and freelance writer who lives in Indiana

Family Needs Think about each member of your family and their preferences. If your spouse will be working, does your short list of places have something for them? Also, are the schools in the area a good ﬁt for your kids? Research the different characteristics and qualities that you think would be beneﬁcial for your family members to keep in mind. www.AmeriForce.net 17

WAYS

Employment

to Make Your Resume Stand Out sVe

by Bianca Strzalkowski

Not all resumes are created equal. Living in the digital era means traditional ways of doing business often remove the faceto-face interactions needed to effectively market yourself — including when seeking employment. For veterans exiting the steady paycheck of the military, getting connected to a post-military career is important part of the transition checklist. However, nearly one out of two (53%) separating Post9/11 veterans will face a period of unemployment, according to the 2015 Veteran Economic Opportunity Report. In a highly saturated job market, every tool matters and a resume may be the single most important document to connecting you to getting hired.

Avoid common errors Amy Rossi, Director of Training at Corporate America Supports You (CASY) — a nonprofit organization providing free employment support to militaryaffiliated job-seekers, says they serve approximately 10,000 veterans and military spouses per year. She sees recurring mistakes when reviewing client resumes, such as a lack of focus on a specific career. “The military work environment teaches veterans to adapt and become proficient in performing multiple work functions. This flexibility is a valuable work trait in the civilian sector; however, you first have to make it into the workforce,” she said. “The key to making it into the workforce is to make it past the gatekeepers. Qualifications are the key to having the right content to make it past the gatekeeper.” CASY’s services include resume review, mock interview prep, job alerts, and professional development. Rossi recommends taking key steps to maximize the success of a resume.

Translate military experience to civilian jargon Military-affiliated applicants should civilianize a resume with wording an employer can equate to the position they are hiring for. The military is well-known for its use of acronyms, which may have little meaning to the human resources professional reviewing the qualifications. “The first step is to become aware, think about what you would be doing in a civilian work environment that is similar to what you did in the military. Focus on the planning and logistics involved in a successful execution versus the military operation,” Rossi said. “You have many elements of work that are similar to the civilian workforce, like, running reports, analyzing data, verification of paperwork, tracking projects, training, and the list goes on. Then pretend you are trying to describe those functions to a family member with no military experience; you will naturally simplify and discuss concepts they comprehend.”

TIP: Several online resources exist to assist veterans in translating a resume. One such free program is at the Department of Labor: https:// www.careerinfonet.org/moc/. Target your resume to the position you are applying for Today’s job market is highly saturated with sometimes thousands of applicants vying for the same position. If you want to make it through, you have to be better than the others applying, Rossi says. Recruiters don’t have hours to spend on a resume,

18 www.AmeriForce.net

instead they have seconds. By targeting a resume, it helps them quickly identify your potential and ability.

TIP: Employers today greatly value the experience of someone who served in the military. Make sure to clearly deﬁne on your resume that you are a veteran. Use keywords from the job description

In addition to targeting a resume, weave keywords from the job description into your experience. This is especially helpful if the application process is solely online. Recruiters will conduct a keyword search to narrow down the number of applications they have to consider. Review relevant proﬁles on LinkedIn Compare. LinkedIn is one of the most utilized social networking sites for job seekers. If you do not have an account, set one up for free. Use it as a resource to search other professionals in your intended industry. Make sure your resume and proﬁle match theirs.

What about the length? After devising the content of the resume, it is time to edit it. A ﬁrst draft will most likely not be the last version, especially if you are going to apply for several different types of jobs. Aside from checking for grammatical errors, the next area to look at is formatting. Rossi adds that contrary to popular belief, there isn’t a speciﬁc length a resume should be, but there are some general recommendations to follow. “If you want to follow the industry standard for a civilian position, stick to 1-2 pages,” she said. “Ultimately, resume length should be based on

your job search plan. Common sense says if the job function and industry require 15 years of experience, you are looking at a two-page resume. If it requires two years, you should get your resume down to one page.”

organizations, and installation ofﬁces are at the ready to assist in making your post-military efforts successful. The resume is your best chance at making a good ﬁrst impression. To sign up for CASY’s free employment support services, create an account online at http://casy.msccn. org/.

With so many job seekers vying for the same position, the amount of effort a person puts into presenting themselves to employers can determine if they secure a job interview. Because veteran employment has long been a trending topic, government agencies,

—Bianca Strzalkowski is a military spouse and freelance writer who lived in North Carolina

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www.AmeriForce.net 19

Employment

Wave Future

of the

Video interviews have become more common for today’s job seekers. How to ace this new technology and land the job you want. by Andrea Downing Peck

Are you looking to transition from the military to a civilian career or preparing to re-enter the workforce after an extended break? Crafting an attentiongrabbing resume and delivering a killer 30-second elevator pitch may no longer be enough to land your dream job. Acing a video interview may be the new key to success. A 2015 survey of corporate executives by talent acquisition company Korn Ferry Futurestep found that 71% of companies are using real-time video interviewing in their recruitment process, with half of those surveyed using virtual interviews as a way to narrow the candidate pool. Navy veteran Philip Dana, vice president, talent acquisition, for nonproﬁt The Honor Foundation, expects video interviewing to continue to increase in popularity among employers. “Video interviewing is deﬁnitely growing, especially for companies of size that need to whittle down the front end of the talent tunnel quickly and keep candidates from getting lost in the block hole of automated application systems,” says Dana, whose resume includes positions leading military talent acquisition at Intuit and Amazon. Video interviews are typically Skypestyle question-and-answer sessions or 20 www.AmeriForce.net

one-way recordings with job seekers answering automated pre-scripted questions. In the latter case, selling yourself to a prospective employer requires understanding how to perform on camera when talking in two-minute sound bites to a webcam. “When you do a digital interview, you are the Hollywood star,” says digital communication expert Paul Bailo, author of The Digital Interview Handbook. “You are the soundtrack person, audio person, teleprompter and lighting person. You have to be aware of the number of hats you are wearing.” After a break from the workforce, Navy spouse Sally McQuarters Faiella was looking to return to her career as a Delta ﬂight attendant when the airline’s video interviewing round knocked her out of contention for a return to the skies. “I’m not quite sure what they were looking for…I applied at the same time for a different job within Delta and I received that job, beating out 700 applicants,” she says. “But I didn’t have to do a [one-way] online interview for that job.” Faiella admits the automated onesided process threw her off. “When you have eye contact with people and you can smile and gauge their reactions to what you are saying, it’s a lot more encouraging,” she says. “You feel a lot more comfortable. Not having that, I felt very stiff.”

Financial services firm PwC added video interviewing to its recruiting toolbox about three years ago. Rod Adams, PwC’s U.S. recruitment leader, says video interviewing widens the candidate pool by enabling interviews to take place anytime and anywhere, a plus for transitioning military and military spouses. “That flexibility is important,” says Adams, whose recruiters use only live video interviewing. “It allows us to get to candidates faster. We’re not trying to schedule times to meet in person, which slows down the offer process. And our interviewers have come to find you don’t lose anything versus an in-person interview. You are able to make eye contact, read body language. You are able to build a relationship through video very similar to the way you build it in person.” For transitioning military, however, building on-screen rapport can be more difficult. Dana says service members tend to maintain strict “military bearing” during video interviews, making it harder to “make that personal connection with the human being on the other side of the technology.” “I typically coach veterans to smile twice as much as you normally would,” he says. Navy spouse Frances Brown did a series of digital interviews with Hilton Worldwide before landing jobs as a work-from-home reservation

agent — and a Military Spouse Ambassador, who represent Hilton at military job fairs. She is thrilled to see virtual interviewing becoming mainstream. “With our lifestyle in the military, the ability to be able to interview at home is great,” she says. “I literally had my babysitter walk my kids to the neighborhood park two minutes before my interview started. It was so convenient.”

Tips for nailing an online interview: Be Tech Savvy Understand the technology being used. HireVue, for example, is a popular video-interviewing platform used by companies such as GE, ConocoPhillips, Honeywell, Hilton and Geico. Read instructions carefully and navigate the website ahead of time. When recording a one-way interview, know in advance whether you can re-record responses or face a time limit. Test Your Systems Verify your computer network connection. Make sure your laptop is fully charged, or better yet, plugged in. Check that your webcam is working and all other programs on your computer are closed. Dress the Part “Eighty-five to 90% of your preparation for a video interview is going to be no different than if someone is across the table from you,” says Mike Arsenault, vice president of candidate services for military job placement firm Bradley-Morris. “Dress to impress. We have heard that first impressions are everything so it is vital you are dressed appropriately and look the part. Business attire for ladies; business suits for gentleman. Neat hair style, minimal accessories.”

Aim for the “Triangle of Love” Paul Bailo, author of The Digital Interview Handbook, recommends positioning your webcam so it focuses on an area extending from the top of the head to the left and right shoulders, or what he calls the “triangle of love.” Because so many job candidates do poorly in video interviews, Bailo contends, “A digital interview is more about how you look and how you sound than what you say.”

Complete a Screen Test A full dress rehearsal is the best way to ensure your outﬁt looks good on camera, the webcam angle is ﬂattering and the background adds to the image you want to project. “It isn’t enough to just turn on your camera,” Smith says. “Get on a call with a friend or family member, and test your background as well. It is amazing what a difference it will make if you put yourself in a setting that echoes your professionalism.”

Do Your Research Find out the common interview questions for the position you are seeking, which often can be found on www. Glassdoor.com. “Write out answers to the questions you think you are going to be asked — your biggest weakness, your strength,” says Seattle career counselor Robin Ryan, author of 60 Seconds & You’re Hired! “Practice your 60-second sell, which is your top ﬁve selling points linked together in a couple sentences.” Dana believes veterans can stand out by asking questions that highlight

their analytical skills and show their passion for the job and industry they are seeking to enter. “The worst thing you can do when the hiring manager asks, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ is to say, ‘No, everything has been answered. Thank you so much,’ No matter what you did in the past hour, you just shot yourself in the foot,” he points out. With potentially hundreds of applicants vying for every job opening, Dana says military members also should pay attention to the “smaller details” that often get overlooked by their civilian counterparts. Dress professionally, research prospective employers thoroughly and write thank you cards — even after interviewing virtually. “At the end of the day, it is a competition,” Dana explains, “so every little thing you can do along the way, whether the interview is an automated process or not, could set you apart and be the tipping point that shows you have what they are looking for versus everyone else.” —Andrea Downing Peck is a freelance writer and the wife of a retired service member who lives in Washington state.

of companies are using real-time video interviewing in their recruitment process

Eliminate Distractions Barking dogs, music and children playing in the background are obvious situations to avoid. But blogger and digital media strategist Kristen Smith says other sounds such as a ceiling fan or noisy laptop can be distractions as well. “It may be things you don’t realize, which is why testing is so important,” says Smith, an Army spouse. www.AmeriForce.net 21

Employment

What it takes

Veteran Entreprenuers Veterans are looking to business ownership as a natural ﬁt for a post-military career. by Bianca Strzalkowski

with , pictured is McVey av tended Tr at , an n h Jo Veter Daymond s ogram k’ Pr n rs Ta eu Shark Entepren ry ta er ili th M ho the Inc. work wit ns to net as a mea owners. s es n si u ed b likemind

V-Wise, feat uring gradua tes at a rece Antonio cla nt San ss, focuses on entreprene training for urial female vete rans and fe pendents of male deservice mem bers. (Photo of V-Wise’s courtesy Facebook pa ge).

a special s product on ared with hi er dl pe an ap H ey a cV se M e Chel m ition of Th ouse chef Sa H veterans ed te hi W ith a w in d ed se ur ca at Show. Fe a was show Heroes Vodk Morgante, gment. cooking se

Nine percent of U.S. businesses

Veterans Are Risk Takers

are owned by veteran

John Panaccione, board director for VetToCEO — an organization offering training for transitioning military and veterans contemplating business ownership, says they launched courses in 2012 after the realization that few formal programs existed to help guide this demographic through the process. He said choosing entrepreneurship makes sense for someone who served in the military.

afraid to go against the grain or do things most people won’t do.”

entrepreneurs, according to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners. The Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that nearly one third of these ﬁrms fall into the industry groups of construction, professional, scientiﬁc or technical services. As governmental organizations, and public and private sectors recognize this trend, more assets are being devoted to helping those with military experience apply their skillsets to entrepreneurship.

22 www.AmeriForce.net

“I boil it down to three things. The ﬁrst one is we’re crazy to begin with. Less than one percent of the nation serves this country, as you know, yet we own nine percent of the small businesses in this country … that tells you something,” he said. “And what I mean by you’re crazy to do that is, you’re crazy to become an entrepreneur, or start or buy a business, but we’ve already proven we’re crazy because we took the road less traveled to begin with by choosing to serve our country. So that kind of implies … we’re not

Additionally, he adds that veterans have demonstrated through their service that they’re willing to fail and they have a mission-first mentality. “Whether you’re a NCO (noncommissioned officer) or a junior officer, you’re trying to get the job done and you got to deal with … the people who work for you, the people who don’t work for you, and then you got to deal with civilians around you, higher commanders. It’s a mentality where you’re used to working with multiple stakeholders to get the job done at all costs,” Panaccione said. “Running a business is no different. You got investors, customers, employees, bankers and they’re all sometimes at odds with each other, yet you got to get them to work together to accomplish the mission.”

Overcome Barriers Panaccione, an Army veteran, has seen shared challenges amongst the veterans he has worked with through VetToCEO, more commonly in areas of finance, marketing, and cash. “The military doesn’t teach us anything about finance. [For] most of us, the concept of marketing is foreign to us. In VetToCEO we link that to intelligence gathering. Marketing and finance are weaknesses. It’s actually the core of our program,” he said. “And cash — it’s probably the most important because no one joins the military to develop a huge pile of capital. But that’s not the end of the world.” VetToCEO modules cover these topics as part of its core entrepreneurship program, lasting seven weeks. Live online sessions feature a guest speaker, who is also a certified veteran entrepreneur. The programs run throughout the year and registration can be completed right on the website at www.vettoceo.org/coreprogram.

Do Your Homework Panaccione says one of the main benefits of taking the course is to evaluate if a business idea should come to fruition at all. Within the 18 groups the organization has worked with, often times veterans rush through the evaluation process. “Don’t be a bull in a china shop, we get a lot of that because these folks are very driven. They have this idea and they just want to put it in place and actually they rush … to get this great idea implemented without really doing your homework, without really putting it through the filters it needs to go through to make sure it’s a good idea,” he said. There are three main ways to pursue entrepreneurship: a start-up, a franchise, or buy an existing business. He said each one has advantages and disadvantages. Evaluate the pros and cons to see which route is the best fit for the business idea.

Pinpoint Your Passion Veteran Travis McVey, who served in both the Army and Marine Corps, made the decision to start his own company after recognizing he wasn’t enthusiastic about the work he was doing post-military.

“After I got out of the Marines, I kind of got caught up in life and focused on getting a good job that paid well and got stuck in job I really had no passion in,” he said. “I wasn’t using the talents I developed in service.” In 2009, he started Heroes Vodka — an American-made spirit sold online and at brick-and-mortar locations, after enduring the life-changing event of losing a close friend in Afghanistan. It made him realize he wanted to find purpose; one that could give back in a way that paralleled how he felt about military service. McVey decided he would pursue his vision of the American dream by owning a business. The brand, which is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., gives back a portion of profits for every purchase to veterans through a partnership with AMVETS. However, McVey emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, which is why he advises other veterans to be sure they are ready to dive in. He says in order to be successful there will be long hours and plenty of sacrifice. “That is why you truly need to find out what you are truly passionate about … being an entrepreneur isn’t for everybody. Like one my business mentors says, ‘If it was easy everybody would be doing it,’” McVey said. “Another important thing is learning to say no. You will be pulled in many directions by family, friends, strangers and even yourself. Stayed focused on your goals and your mission and always know your limitations and surround yourself with people smarter than yourself.” He recommends veterans considering business ownership to check out Bunker Labs – a nonprofit organization providing entrepreneurship education and resources to veterans looking to start or grow businesses. Information can be found online at https:// bunkerlabs.org/. —Bianca Strzalkowski is a military spouse and a freelance writer who currently lives in North Carolina

VetToCEO UPCOMING PROGRAMS: The organization’s 2017 program will kick-off in January. It is free for all veterans, and includes self-paced modules virtually. The link to get more information about the yearround curriculum offerings is http://www.vettoceo.org/ coreprogram.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: The Small Business Administration has resources speciﬁcally geared to veteranowned businesses. Topics such as writing a business plan and researching funding can be found at https://www.sba. gov/starting-business/howstart-business/business-types/ veteran-owned-businesses. Boots to Business is offered as part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program, this two-day course is open to all military branches: https://www.sba.gov/ ofﬁces/headquarters/ovbd/ resources/160511. Institute of Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has several free program for transitioning service members, veterans, and their families, to include entrepreneur boot camp: http://vets.syr.edu/ education/. V-WISE for aspiring female entrepreneurs: A three-phase program open to female service members, female veterans, and female dependents of active duty military members: http://whitman.syr.edu/vwise/.

www.AmeriForce.net 23

Money When Forrest Baumhover passed the halfway point in his military career, the Navy Supply Corps officer began planning for a second career — a decision that is setting the stage for a smooth financial transition to civilian life. Baumhover will retire from the military in 2017 and move seamlessly into a new career as a financial planner. He completed the coursework and exam to become a Certified Financial Planner while on active duty and began executing a personal two-year transition checklist, which included boosting his emergency savings, after deciding Tampa would be his family’s final duty station. Bauhover acknowledges his level of preparation is not the norm for most transitioning service members. “A lot of people take a break [from working toward a follow-on career] or they are focused on their military career — right, wrong or indifferent — until they realize they should have started planning for their next career a lot sooner,” he notes. For many service members, the transition from the military to civilian world is filled with financial challenges, especially if a second career is not yet on the horizon. Here are ways to prepare financially for post-military life:

Build a Transition Fund. Whether you are

separating or retiring from military service, you will need to stash extra cash to cover unexpected expenses and new bills, such as higher health

24 www.AmeriForce.net

Ducks in a Row

Financial Planning Tips for Retirement

Track Your Expenses. One way

to ﬁnd money to build a transition fund is to begin tracking your spending, looking for surprises, such as monthly payments to subscription music or gaming services, which could be redirected into an account earmarked for post-military life. “Whether you just ﬁnished boot camp or are approaching retirement after 20 or 30 years — unless you live a particularly frugal lifestyle, you need to know where your money is going,” Aeschbach explains. “It will probably take 90 days to track where you spend your money. How many times did you go to 7-Eleven to get an energy drink?”

by Andrea Downing Peck

care costs and unreimbursed moving expenses. While a typical emergency fund should be equal to three to six months of living expenses, a transition fund may need to cover six to 12 months of monthly bills. “Transition is one of those things you have to save for,” says Rob Aeschbach, a Norfolk, Virginia-based financial planner and retired Marine Corps officer. “You could go one month, three months or six months without a job. If transition is less than five years away, you need to save. You need some cash.”

Recognize the Impact of Taxes.

While military pay has built-in tax advantages, your civilian and military retired paychecks may shrink under the weight of federal and state taxes. Since most of your income now will be subject to taxation, your tax bill also may be bigger than expected. Cherie Stueve was taken aback by the tax bill her family received for 2008, the year her husband Tim retired from the Coast Guard. He

had received his final active duty paycheck in August and had begun in late June a federal service career, meaning the family received a combination that year of active duty, military retired and civilian pay as well as Cherie’s income. “I’m an accountant, yet I did not fully understand how all of these income sources would work together,” Stueve said. “We kept our usual W4 withholding status that had served us so well for many years in the Coast Guard…The total tax bill was nearly five figures.” Taxes need to be in the forefront of transitioning service members’ minds when negotiating salaries and setting up tax withholdings. “The impact of taxes is one of the biggest things you have to be aware of when transitioning,” Aeschbach notes. “I’ve seen O-4s get out and get good-paying jobs and not be better off because of taxes. It affects families the most.”

Understand Unemployment Beneﬁts. Military members

may be eligible for unemployment benefits after leaving active duty service, receiving compensation under the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-service members program. Benefits are based on military wages, but receipt of military retirement pay or separation pay will affect the amount of compensation you will receive. Because each state manages unemployment benefits for its

residents, applications are made through your state employment ofﬁce. If you move to a new state after separating or retiring, ﬁling will be in the state where you now live.

Replace Your Life Insurance.

Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is an under-theradar-military benefit, supplying $400,000 worth of life insurance coverage for a $29 monthly premium, including Traumatic Injury Protection. Transitioning military have the option to transfer their coverage to Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI). However, doing so is not always a financially sound move. “So many people have the misconception SGLI will automatically convert to VGLI or they think they will go ahead and get VGLI because that’s the natural follow on,” said retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Shane Ostrom, Deputy Director, Financial and Benefits Information for the Military Officers Association of America. “But it’s probably not what you want because it gets expensive over time. It goes up in price every five years.” Because VGLI premiums are based only on age, commercial-level, premium-term life insurance policies may offer higher coverage for a lower price, especially for older veterans. On the other hand, VGLI may be the right choice for veterans with

pre-existing health conditions who may not pass an insurance company health physical. If you apply for VGLI within 240 days after separation, there is no requirement to answer questions about your health.

6 Opt in to SBP?

One of the biggest decisions military retirees make is whether to opt in to the Survivor Beneﬁt Plan (SBP). It also is one of the most highly debated. The SBP is annuity that insures a surviving spouse continues to receive up to 55 percent of a military retiree’s gross retired pay. The monthly premium — paid with pretax dollars — is 6.5 percent of your base amount, so as the base amount increases with cost of living adjustments, so does the premium. Premiums end at age 70 if a retiree has made 360 monthly payments. If a spouse dies, premiums are suspended, but may be resumed if a retiree remarries. The Stueves decided not to participate in the SBP because of the dent it would make in Tim’s retired pay, electing instead to purchase a large term-life insurance policy. Cherie said they decided a large lump sum payout would be more valuable than SBP’s monthly payments because it would enable her to relocate, contribute toward her children’s college costs and invest the balance to generate on-going income. “The SBP, though it‘s a lifetime payment, reduces the spouse’s continue on page 28

www.AmeriForce.net 25

Education According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 9.6 million older students are expected to head to campus by 2020. In 2009, more than 40 percent of all college and graduate students were aged 25 or older. Bottom line, if you’re thinking about returning to school, you’re not alone. But, heading back to the classroom isn’t an easy decision and there’s much more at stake as an adult learner than for those just out of high school. Asking the right questions and taking time to weigh important factors are both critical steps in deciding if it’s the right move to be a student again.

Do I have time? If you’re an adult, chances are you’re busy. From family obligations to full time employment, it’s possible that you have very little free time. And, if you do, you most likely want to spend that time doing things you enjoy. Returning to school will cut into that time, probably more than you think. Whatever program you’re considering, take time to seriously evaluate whether or not the time commitment is realistic for both you and your family. Creating a list of weekly or monthly obligations is a great way to start the conversation. Then you’ll be able to see where school might ﬁt in.

Should You Go Back to School? by Tara Puckey

Will this degree or certification pay for itself? An education can be expensive, even with scholarships, grants or tuition assistance. The money is coming from somewhere, so making sure you’ll get a reasonable return is an important consideration. Will it allow you to move up in your current job? Or, if you’re looking to change careers, are there available jobs that fit your degree and is the pay something that allows you to be financially stable? Make sure you’re looking ahead, well past graduation, to ensure that the education program you’re considering will add to your bottom line in some way.

Why do you want this education? Not setting realistic expectations is one of the easiest ways to find disappointment, or create a situation where you’ll want to quit at some point during your degree program. Make a list of reasons you’re interested in this field, what you want to get out of your education and reasons that this specific program will help you achieve goals for your future. If your list is short, it’s probably a good idea to

explore a different program, an overall career move or another way you can get to where you want to go.

Does the program fit you? Some people struggle with online courses, while others have challenges fitting classroombased learning into their busy schedules. Knowing how you best learn is important to figure out if you’ll ultimately be successful in a particular degree program or university. Checking accreditation is also important, especially if your future job market requires you to have a diploma from somewhere legit. Don’t waste time and money on a program that won’t allow you to enter your desired job market once you’ve finished.

Do you have a support system? Even though you’re the one attending the classes, family, friends and your workplace are often impacted by your schooling. Having open and honest conversations with those closest to you will allow everyone to lay out their concerns. Pursuing an education with others who are there to encourage and support you is critical to success.

Are you in the right mindset to go back? Is going back to school something you’re genuinely interested in and looking forward to, or are you doing it because of outside pressures from others or your workplace? If you’re not excited about returning and dread heading back to that textbook mindset, it’s less likely you’ll actually ﬁnish the program. Returning to school requires a commitment of not just time or money, but your laser-like focus and determination. Make sure you’re ready because you want to be, not because you have to be. O

—Tara Puckey is a military spouse and freelance writer who lives in Indiana 26 www.AmeriForce.net

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Education

3 Things Veterans Should Do Before Taking Online Classes

by Bianca Strzalkowski

All online education is not created equal. Nearly one-third of college students take distance education courses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. However, the investment into a degree is an expensive one and like with any big purchase, there are necessary steps a student should take to guarantee they get the most bang for their buck. Franc Lopez, president of the Council for College and Military Education (CCME) — an organization providing professional development for those in the military education community along with scholarships for students, says there are several reasons veterans choose the virtual route for school. “Without a doubt, the ﬂexibility a distance learning program offers is a huge attraction. Having the classroom come to the adult student versus a traditional setting provides a learning environment that meets the need of the military member when weighing their military

obligations, personal goals, and family needs,” Lopez said. “In this fast pace world we now live in, advances in technology coupled with distance education offers more diverse educational options than in years past.” CCME is comprised of member schools that are vetted to ensure they are vested in the success of military-connected students. Examples of attributes they look for are oncampus support, affordable tuition rates, ﬂexible course completion requirements, maximizing transfer of credits into degree programs, and administrative and academic stafﬁng that “speak” military. Lopez says there are a number of questions a student should answer before committing to a program — online or brick-and-mortar. “Whether online or traditional, they should ask themselves if they are a distance learner or a classroom student. If unsure, they should seek the advice and counsel from the professionals in education to help them assess their best

Fronabarger advises student veterans to look at three areas when choosing a school:

1 Accreditation Is your institution AND program accredited by a regional or state accreditation agency?

2 Results Matter Look into the graduation and employment rates of the program that you’re considering.

3 Maximize Financial Aid Options If possible, save the ﬁrst two years of your GI Bill, while attending a school that is less expensive (ie: technical school or community college) so that you can complete your degree at a 4-year institution and still provide beneﬁts for graduate school. 28 www.AmeriForce.net

Veteran students are a sought after demographic for colleges and universities that recognize the vast financial resources that accompany military service. For that reason, it is critical to be thorough when choosing where to apply those education benefits. By evaluating a school’s accreditation and looking at how other students performed at an institution, a student is more likely to find an online program that meets the nontraditional lifestyle and gets them to graduation day. To connect with a Student Veterans of America chapter, check out http://studentveterans.org/chapter. A complete listing of CCME member schools can be found at http://www.ccmeonline.org/.

path for success,” he said. “If selecting an online course, how much will it cost me? What are my obligations in completing the course? Will I have to be online at certain times throughout the week or does the course offer a selflearning pace to complete course requirements? How will I be assessed in completing my assignments? Will there be peer and instructor support 24/7? Textbooks, how much will that be?” For nontraditional-type students, like veterans, online education continues to be an attractive option because by the time they exit the military, they are juggling a host of other responsibilities. Derek Fronabarger, Director of Policy for Student Veterans of America (SVA), says there are common challenges veterans face when changing titles from service member to student.

Ducks in a Row continue from page 25 retirement benefit at death and that was more frightening to me than having the faucet slowly cut off…I also knew if somebody gave me a big payoff, I could find the right professionals to make it last a lifetime,” she said. While every family must weigh the pros and cons of SBP, Ostrom notes SBP provides a level of simplicity that can’t be beat. It eliminates the challenge of estimating how much insurance will be needed to keep pace with inflation and does not burden the surviving spouse with making proceeds last a lifetime. “You may be able to go cheaper on insurance but you are adding layers of complexity you don’t have with SBP,” Ostrom says. “With SBP, you are getting simplicity, a guaranteed income with COLA and peace of mind on the part of the survivor.”

7 Student Veterans of America (SVA) has chapters around the country to connect military-connected students with their peers. The organization supports military veterans with resources to succeed in any education program.

“We see that while individuals are in the military, they are working as a team for a team, when they transition to being a student, they are working as an individual, for the individual. This can be a difﬁcult transition,” he said. “SVA’s primary goal is to help veterans ﬁnd their student veteran community to address the multitude of issues they face.” SVA has chapters around the country to support student veterans through every step of pursuing their education and keeps them connected to the camaraderie that they are used to within the military. The organization also works with its members to make sure they are making the best possible choices. Researching accreditation is an important step to that decision-making process because proper accreditation determines a school’s worth. Failing to attend a school that meets certain standards can deem a degree worthless when transferring to another institution or when referencing that education to future employers. “Accreditation is incredibly important, [especially] with the recent de-accreditation of ACICS, which impacted over 36,000 student veterans. It’s critical that student vets consider this factor,” Fronabarger said. “The best online institutions have a regional or state accreditation.” ACICS is the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Recently, the Department of Education denied renewal of recognition to the Council. Please note: in a September 2016 press release, the council announced it is appealing that decision. O

Take Care of Your Health.

Health care coverage typically ends the day you leave the military. However, the Continued Health Care Beneﬁt Program (CHCBP) can provide temporary health coverage for 18 to 36 months and act as a bridge between military health beneﬁts and a civilian health plan. It also meets the minimum essential coverage required by the Affordable Care Act. The premium-based coverage provides the same coverage as TRICARE Standard, including prescriptions. Separating full-time National Guard members, Selected Reserve members and retired Reserve members also may be eligible for CHCBP, as are spouses and children up to age 26. For information, go to www. humanamilitary.com

Now more than two years into military retired life, Navy spouse Kellie Stobie can outline a list of mistakes her family made when transitioning, beginning with their decision to spend several months living in military housing in Hawaii after her husband’s retirement. Though the couple had built a five-figure transition fund, they spent $15,000 in rent and utilities because they choose to job-hunt from Hawaii. “That was probably our biggest mistake,” Stobie says. “We should have left as soon as he retired and figured out the job thing somewhere cheaper.” Stobie also did not anticipate the multitude of new expenses they would face as civilians, ranging from a $790 car registration bill to $190 per season fees for youth sports leagues. The loss of several active-duty military discounts added to the money drain. “Save as much as you can,” she advises. “Whatever you think you need, save double.” O —Andrea Downing Peck is a freelance writer who is married to a retired service member. They currently live in Washington state. www.AmeriForce.net 29

By the Numbers

Occupations of Employed Veterans A higher percentage of female Veterans than male Veterans worked in management and professional and sales and ofﬁce occupations in 2014. Nineteen percent of male Veterans worked in production and transportation occupations. These occupations include machinists, drivers, and aircraft pilots, jobs similar to what male Veterans may have done while in the military.

49.5

Male Veterans

Female Veterans

(in percent)

34.9 27.5 19.2 9.2 16.4

15.1 15.

14.4

14.9 5.9 2.3

Management, Professional

Sales, Ofﬁce

Service

Production, on, ationn Transportation

A All Other

Management, Professional

Sales, Ofﬁce

Service

Production, Transportation

All Other

(1) ‘All Other’ includes farming, ﬁshing, and forestry; construction, extraction, maintenance, and repair. (2) There was no statistical signiﬁcant difference between male and female Veterans by service. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey PUMS, 2014. Prepared by the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.

Veterans Forecast Despite the total number of living veterans forecast to steadily decrease by 2030, the percentages of the younger ages groups (under 49) largely remain the same. Those in the 50-69 group see a gradual, steady decrease over the same time frame and those 70 and older are predicted to gradually and steadily increase by 2030.

Percentage of Living Veterans by Age 2013-2030

Total Number of

Living Veterans by Year:

50 40

2013

22,299,400

2016

21,368,200

2020

20,170,400

2025 0 2013

2016

2020

2025

2030

18,731,300 2030

Under 30 30 www.AmeriForce.net

30-49

50-69

70+

17,421,200

! " 10% ! # 915 " "

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