With the drawdown of troops across several theatres and likely impending budget cuts (certainly cuts in the growth of military spending), more and more active duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines will be transitioning into the civilian sector. With this comes unique, well-deserved opportunities like the Montgomery GI Bill, which has undergone some significant changes post-9/11, and also unique challenges as veterans sometimes face difficulty translating military duties and responsibilities into civilian-friendly terms.
Below, we’ll look at 4 engaging and educational infographics that illustrate the current state of higher education and civilian employment opportunities for our veterans.
From Combat to Classroom to Career: A Soldier’s Guide
Infographic source: Degree Tree
Perhaps the most powerful part of Degree Tree’s military transition infographic is the list of available resources, as the educational assistance opportunities for veterans do extend beyond the GI Bill. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), as an example, was signed into law in 2011 and offers up to 12 months of training assistance to qualifying program. More information about VRAP can be obtained from the VA.
GI Bill 2.0 & Online Education
Infographic source: Edudemic
The BI Bill 2.0 infographic starts out with a quick history of the GI Bill and its benefits in the original form and then quickly moves on to the “GI Bill 2.0,” which is the Post 9/11 GI Bill signed into law in August 2009. Included in the new GI Bill is coverage for vocational training, a yearly stipend to cover the cost of books, and more.
Perhaps the biggest game changer is the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can cover up to 100% of the additional tuition expenses that may not be covered under the the standard benefits of the GI Bill. Not every school participates in this program, but more information can be obtained from your prospective school’s VA representative.
Getting Veterans Back to Work: Bridging the Gap
Infographic source: Monster
As part of Monster’s Veterans Talent Index campaign, this infographic provides some sobering statistics about unemployment rates of our veterans, indicating that nearly a third of all recent-conflict veterans ages 18-24 are unemployed. As discussed earlier, the common challenges facing transitioning veterans is correlating military experience with a civilian equivalent.
Some MOSes (Military Occupational Specialty — aka “job”) present particular challenges, such as those who’ve served in the Infantry, when it comes to transitioning into an equivalent civilian position. However, these veterans often do have incredible leadership experience, which recruiters can help veterans learn to more clearly and effectively explain.
Veterans Move Into Technology Jobs
Infographic source: PayScale
This infographic from PayScale shows the lucrative opportunities to veterans possessing computer networking and IT related skills, gained in service and/or through continuing education through the GI Bill or other means. It’s important to note that these median income levels were generated using data from veterans with 5-8 years of experience in these respective fields.
Providing extra incentive to employers are the tax credits offered by the government to companies who hire veteran workers — up to $5,600 per veteran and up to $9,600 per veteran wounded in service.
Chris Johnson is a freelance writer for Hargrave Military Academy, a boys military school based in Chatham, Virginia.