Military to Civilian Transition Culture Shock

The transition from a military career to a civilian career can be a very eye-opening experience. This is especially the case when you went straight from high school into the military, served a 20+ year career, and are now facing the task of adapting to the civilian workforce.

You may have noticed from my other posts that I am a big proponent of the motto "Be Prepared." I am a co-leader of two girl scout troops after all! The same applies to the military to civilian transition. If you know, in advance, some of the challenges you may face, you can tackle them much easier. Here are a few I have compiled:

• In the military, a supervisor is involved in all aspects of his team's life - both work and personal. This is very different from the private sector. Supervisors in the private sector do not get involved with their employee's personal life.

• For obvious reasons, fitness is a high priority in the military. That is not the case for many civilian workers. It is often hard for a former military service member to relate to someone who is disinterested and unwilling to take care of their health and fitness.

• Most every task that is assigned in the military comes with very detailed instructions and guidelines. Many veterans become frustrated with the lack of step-by-step instructions and the overall lack of structure they may face. In fact, the company is quite structured - just not to the same level as the military.

• Economic conditions do not often affect the military the way they do the civilian world. In the military you don't often have to worry about profit margins and your company going out of business. You know that you will have a job every week in the military. Unfortunately, in the private sector, the economy plays a large role in a company's success and often causes reductions in force.

• In the military you wear military provided uniforms and are provided clear-cut expectations of what you must wear to work every day. When you enter the civilian work force, the expense of purchasing a work wardrobe is quite costly. However, don't forget about the stress of figuring out what is appropriate and expected of you to wear to work every day.

• Don't forget the small things that you will have to change such as the way you state the time and the way you write your dates. Chances are, if you don't conform the civilian way of telling time, the first time you tell your team to return from lunch at 1300 on 1 October they may look at you like you are crazy.

Transitioning Out of the Military: 5 Steps to Success

Step 5 – Prepare for Culture Shock

The military culture is unique and very different than civilian culture. No matter how long you have served in the military, you are bound to experience a period of adjustment when leaving the military to join the civilian workforce. Keep in mind, leaving the military is much more than just changing jobs; it is a lifestyle change. Add in relocation to a new state, and you may soon find yourself overwhelmed. There are several key areas of which to beware.

The move from a regimented environment to one that is unstructured. In the military you are conditioned to put military first, the team second, and yourself last. However, in the civilian workplace there is a focus on individuality. You may be surprised by the lack of teamwork and camaraderie. You may find it difficult to connect with coworkers whose work ethic differs from your standards. Be friendly, enthusiastic and positive with your new co-workers.

Lack of a sense of community. The military is a close-knit community. A military base is often a self-contained city, much like small-town America. In the military you are involved with and aware of the personal lives of your team. This will not be the case in the civilian world, where many people tend to keep their personal and work life separate. Without your community, or support system to rely on, you may find your sense of identity shaken. Keep in contact with friends to keep yourself grounded.

Increased personal freedom. For the duration of your military career you have been told what to wear, how to behave, and where and when to report. The lack of direction and standard operating procedure in the civilian world can be disconcerting to a veteran. You must learn to think about yourself and focus on what you want and need to be satisfied in your career.

As a veteran transitioning into working in the civilian world, there are a whole new set of rules you must learn. Remember, less than 1% of the population has served in the military. Chances are, your new coworkers and supervisor has no idea what military life is like. Demonstrate your willingness to adapt and be flexible to new ideas. Perhaps the most important thing for a successful military transition is something veterans do very well, keep a positive, can-do attitude, be persistent, and don’t give up.