FORT RUCKER, Ala. (July 25, 2013) -- When thinking about pursuing goals, whether it be going back to school, or finding a new job or career, one may have defeating thoughts such as, "I'm not capable of accomplishing this because I don't have the necessary skills."
For transitioning military members and their spouses, the Army Career and Alumni Program is available to help you recognize your potential skills and possibly help obtain your dream job.
At the ACAP Center, you have the opportunity to take skill and interest tests to help you pinpoint what you are good at and what you'd be happy doing in a new career. Also, you can learn how to create resumes, interview, market your skills, and negotiate salary with potential employers.
These types of skills can be learned by attending our workshops and by using the state-of-the-art computers that are available at the center. However, the first step is to attend a mandatory pre-separation briefing where an ACAP counselor explains the benefits that you may be entitled to as a transitioning military member, as well as provide an overview of the transition process.
While beginning the transition process, military members and their spouses may be fearful of what civilian life will bring. Oftentimes, when transitioning members walk through the ACAP Center door for the first time, they feel overwhelmed or anxious, but at the same time excited.
These feelings are normal for people in the transitioning process. Anxiety may actually be a productive stressor if people react to it as such.
The ACAP staff will greet you and try to alleviate much of this transition stress as you progress through the transition period. To further help, the ACAP Staff teaches stress reduction techniques as part of a workshop. While the job search process may seem overwhelming at first, with the help of the ACAP staff, clients learn skills that they will be able to use for the rest of their life.
Shortly after clients begin the transition process, they start to unwind, and become less fearful and more excited. By using the resources available to them at the ACAP Center, they begin to discover that there are many possible opportunities that they were unaware of. By pursuing these opportunities, they begin to realize that they do, in fact, have the required skills needed for the job. Skills + opportunity = success.
ACAP clients continuously demonstrate they have what it takes to get the job they want and deserve. Even for clients who possess minimal skills, our career counselors can assist them with learning how to extensively develop them to maximize their potential for a new career.
During each visit to the ACAP Center, you will find information that will help you with your job search process.
If you utilize the available resources at the ACAP Center, the possibilities of finding something that you would truly enjoying doing instead of something you have to do may be an obtainable goal.
Then, you too may be able to triumphantly relate to the following:
"I've gone through life believing in the strength and competence of others; never in my own. Now, dazzled, I discover that my capacities are real. It's like finding a fortune in the lining of an old coat." -- Joan Mills
If you are within 18 months of transitioning or within two years of retiring, visit or call the Fort Rucker ACAP Center at 255-2558 for an appointment.
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