JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Service members transitioning from military service to the private sector employment have commanded a lot of attention during the last several years, and for good reason.
According to Robin Baker, transitions services manager for JBLM, more than 6,000 service members left the military from here in 2015 alone.
"Transitioning is part of the military lifecycle," she said.
Finding meaningful work after the military is part of that transition phase.
At the beginning of 2011 the unemployment rate for Veterans was 9.9 percent. That figure has dropped substantially through the years to 3.9 percent at the end of fiscal year 2014.
There is no direct relationship showing transitions programs are the reason unemployment rates among Veterans has decreased, but anecdotal evidence suggests the downward trend has a lot to do with efforts being made by people like Baker.
She heads the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program here, which is the Army's initiative to help Soldiers better understand their benefits, and define skills and education they have acquired through the tenure of their careers.
The program starts with a financial planning seminar and military occupational code crosswalk, which utilizes online tools to analyze a service member's training, education and experience to see how it compares to civilian occupation codes.
"[These] are key and essential to ensure service members have accurate information while making their decision whether or not to transition," she said.
Rusty Hodges, a former staff sergeant here, who now works as a data center technician with Amazon Web Services, described his transition to the private sector as something he wishes he would have taken more seriously.
"We have to give people time to transition," he said. "It's easier with programs. There's so much you don't know. I started with SFL-TAP, which was great. They got me started with Cammo2Commerce, [but] the reason I was able to [transition successfully] was because of those programs. I was able to package myself as a professional who wants to enter the corporate workplace."
In addition, SFL-TAP coordinates networking and hiring events, career fairs and reverse career fairs - which raise awareness of applicable hard and soft skills service members bring to the private sector.
To take full advantage of SFL-TAP, it is recommended a service member begin the program no later than 12 months from transition, but they can begin as early as 24 months.
"If a service member begins their process 12 months out, they can attend the classes in a manageable format and gather the information they need," said Baker.
Despite all this, SFL-TAP is not the only solution. According to Baker, military leaders have an enormous impact on the success of the transitions process.
"Leadership should be counseling service members throughout their military career and encouraging dual career planning," she said in a written statement. "This includes credentialing and education, financial counseling and development of an initial resume at key decision points, [being the] initial phase, service phase and transition phase."
She went on to say that commanders and first line leaders have a lot of influence on a service member's choice to transition at mid-career or serve 20 years, because they have insight into the benefits of a longer or shorter military career, such as access to tuition assistance or specialized training and certifications.
"[My] recommendation... improve commander awareness of the transition program," she said. "Sustain events like the JBLM Summit, where JBLM leaders are brought together to gain understanding of the resources, initiatives and importance of supporting transition."
This was the intent of the Executive Symposium, which took place May 4 at the American Lake Conference Center.
The Executive Symposium brought in senior level commanders from across the installation to hear from Soldiers who had recently transitioned, and local employers with insights into the transitions process.
"A keyword I want everyone in this room to take away from this is networking," said Jessica Spencer, a former captain here at JBLM, who now works as a corporate fellow at Starbucks. "You never know who is going to be able to help you."
For more on SFL-TAP, visit the Bud Hawk Transition Center on JBLM-Lewis North, or connect at JBLMUnlimited.com.
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