MilitaryStars Blog

Post-Military Finance: Stay Alert

We were just talking about this in the office today - well, others were talking and I was listening, since I know little about the subject.  Maybe you're in the same boat as me - if you're active-duty or transitioning, that sadly means that financial professionals may be out to exploit you.  Here's an example of a pilot suspecting his financial advisor may be taking him for a ride, and a response by someone responsible, ethical, and knowledgable.  Included are several links designed by true financial professionals like this with tips specifically for the military community!

New Army Reserve Transition Center

The Army Reserve Warrior and Family Assistance Center has just opened at Fort McPherson, designed with the specific needs of Reservists and their families in mind.  The Center is to be a single source for needs ranging from medical care to info on benefits and other programs.  Special thanks to the Reservists who, along with their civilian careers, are working every day at the Center to help their comrades heal.  As one says, you have to love doing it; they clearly do, and we are all lucky for it!

Put Your Air Force Education to Work!

Inspired by the Army and Navy's COOL online transition tools, the Community College of the Air Force has developed an outstanding new site where Airmen can learn what they're already qualified to do in the civilian workplace.  Called CERT (Credentialing and Education Research Tool), it allows you to enter your classwork and/or degrees and get back civilian career info, often tailored to specific fields.  This is one more opportunity for you to arm yourself with new knowledge, while making sure you get the most out of what you've already learned.  If you ever feel like you don't know where you'll even begin looking for a civilian career, here you go - and if you're a veteran, it's open to the public too.

Inspirational Military Stories Here and Overseas

I hope no matter where you are, you know people here are thinking of you in the middle of the holidays.  I got a great reminder of that just now through "CNN Heroes".  From over 7,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 80 countries, there are now 18 finalists.  One is Sgt. Maj. James McDowell, US Army. Stationed in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne, he is helping local farmers begin to plant spices instead of opium poppies.  There's a great picture of him on the link too.  Another nominee, Lynwood Hughes, started a nonprofit group in North Carolina helping veterans obtain benefits to which they are entitled.  The network will begin airing profiles tomorrow of all of the nominees.  Everyone's story listed on here is phenomenal and inspiring in its own way, but as always, I encourage everyone to pay special attention to the servicemembers and those there to help them!  Have a great week.     

Musicians For The Military: Free CDs & Shows

If you can't get a career in the music industry, like I once contemplated as a young jerk, don't feel bad - it's increasingly harder, and a few years from now whatever makes up said "industry" is going to be completely different anyway.  The following people, therefore, are offering you the best support they can, and it's quite cool: A compilation called "CD For the Troops" is available for free to anyone with a vaild military ID number at the AAFES website.  Lots of big songs included - John Ondrasik, who put it together, graciously joked that a few troops suggested more rock and country, but he's the guy who wrote the featured "100 Years", which is highly well-known and loved ("I'm twenty-two for a moment...").  Likewise, here's a moving report on the Dave Matthews Band's performance at West Point.  Music helps me get through everything; for helping all servicemembers who feel the same way and have the world on their shoulders, huge thanks to these artists.      

Community Dedicating to Helping Veterans Adjust

Long Island, NY is home to nearly 5,000 veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan - this piece from Newsday shows how local organizations, some no bigger than one-man operations, are helping these servicemembers to transition.  I appreciate how the story focuses on little things that become big problems, unglamorous issues that usually aren't reported like rent, bills and legal aid.  The organizations spotlighted are making a real difference because they focus on helping with these issues.  Imagine this happening nationwide, everyone taking a little piece of these "impossibly" big problems, and have a great week!

Careers in Federal Govt: DHS

The Department of Homeland Security is extremely interested in hiring veterans, and in-depth reasons why are provided here via GovExec.com.  An incredibly fulfilling career path may await you there.  The article also mentions the massive upcoming retirement of federal workers, a concern for DHS because you, the veteran job seeker, are going to be faced with a huge variety of available federal jobs.  Your skills are going to match well with many of them, and the piece shows the DHS' commitment to putting your on their team - be very proud!    

Update on Veteran IT Training Program

I mentioned awhile back that IT trade assocation CompTIA was putting together a new IT training program designed for veterans.  Here's a great update.  The Creating Futures program is based out of Jacksonville, FL, an area we know very well, and is also being offered to active-duty personnel in Germany - here's hoping the availablity spreads!  They also offer classes specifically for disabled veterans.   

New Legal Resources for Connecticut Military

Another State Attorney General's office has created a Veterans Advocacy Unit: current and prior military in Connecticut are provided with contact info in the link (Newsday.com).  The Unit is there to answer questions from benefits to legal issues to employment, so whether you're attending the Coast Guard Academy or have personal ties to the Nutmeg /Constitution State, they are there for you!  Great to see this trend developing at the state level, and the reasoning from the CT AG that the "government owes it to veterans and current military personnel to cut red tape and make it clear what they are entitled to."

Veterans: Tell Your Own Story of Success

Around this time of year, it's expected to see many stories about veterans struggling to find work when they return home.  You are on people's minds, the media knows that, and, even if the pictures they paint are bleak, their intentions are good.  What I like about this piece from the Chicago Business News is that it points to positives.  By presenting the biggest problem with veteran hiring as civilian employers' failure to grasp military accomplishments, it allows me to reaffirm that people like us are here to do that every day.  Our client Sears Holdings Corporation is mentioned in the article as a company who gets it right, and that's no accident.  We are committed to doing business with military-friendly employers, and the Sears example in the piece, along with every story of our clients shared here, are all illustrations of what you can expect at one of our events. 

The other big frequently cited negative is the veteran unemployment rate vs. civilians, but the graph in the link shows you just how far it fell in just one year.  It's because so many out there are spreading the message that veterans belong on any team committed to success.  Don't ever look at a story like this and assume things aren't improving - they are, because people out there do care and are fighting for you!  Have a great week.