Translating army service into civilian-understandable phrases on a resume requires a strategic strategy. This entails clearly articulating the abilities, coaching, and expertise gained throughout service and demonstrating their relevance to the specified civilian position. As an example, a army logistics officer may spotlight expertise in provide chain administration, stock management, and useful resource allocation, emphasizing quantifiable achievements every time potential.
Efficient communication of army expertise considerably will increase the possibilities of securing civilian employment. It allows employers to acknowledge the dear transferable abilities veterans possess, equivalent to management, teamwork, self-discipline, and problem-solving beneath stress. Traditionally, veterans have confronted challenges translating their service into civilian careers. Nevertheless, elevated consciousness of the distinctive strengths veterans convey to the workforce, mixed with assets designed to bridge the hole, has created a extra favorable surroundings for transitioning service members.
The next sections will delve deeper into particular methods for successfully presenting army expertise on a resume, together with translating army jargon, quantifying achievements, and tailoring the resume to particular job descriptions.
1. Translate Army Jargon
Readability is paramount when presenting army expertise to civilian employers. Army jargon, whereas commonplace inside the armed forces, can create confusion and obscure helpful abilities and expertise. Translating this specialised terminology into civilian-equivalent phrases is crucial for making certain recruiters and hiring managers perceive the relevance of a candidate’s background. For instance, referencing “MOS 11B” affords little perception to a civilian recruiter, whereas stating “Infantryman, specializing in small unit ways and fight operations” clearly communicates the position and skillset. Equally, changing “CONUS” with “Continental United States” avoids ambiguity and ensures clear communication.
Failure to translate jargon can result in a resume being missed or misunderstood. A civilian recruiter could lack the time or assets to decipher army acronyms and terminology, doubtlessly resulting in certified candidates being dismissed. Conversely, successfully translating jargon showcases a candidate’s skill to adapt communication to totally different audiences, a helpful ability in any civilian office. Take into account a candidate itemizing “qualification with the M4 carbine.” Whereas informative inside a army context, a civilian employer may higher perceive the phrase “proficient with small arms weapon programs.” This translation clarifies the ability and avoids potential misinterpretations. Moreover, utilizing clear language helps reveal crucial pondering and communication abilities, additional enhancing the candidate’s profile.
Efficient translation of army jargon instantly contributes to a stronger, extra impactful resume. This observe ensures readability, highlights related abilities, and demonstrates adaptability, rising the probability of securing an interview. This translation course of requires cautious consideration of the audience and the precise necessities of the specified civilian position. Assets like military-to-civilian occupation translators and veteran-focused resume writing guides can help on this essential facet of resume preparation.
2. Quantify Achievements
Quantifying achievements is essential for successfully translating army expertise onto a resume. Whereas army descriptions typically deal with duties and duties, civilian employers search concrete proof of influence and outcomes. Quantifiable achievements present tangible proof of abilities and skills, enabling employers to evaluate a candidate’s potential contribution.
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Efficiency Metrics:
Utilizing metrics provides weight to accomplishments. Moderately than stating “liable for automobile upkeep,” a quantifiable assertion like “decreased automobile downtime by 15% by way of preventative upkeep packages” demonstrates a tangible influence. This data-driven strategy gives employers with clear proof of a candidate’s effectiveness and effectivity.
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Scope and Scale:
Defining the scope of duties gives context and demonstrates management capabilities. As a substitute of stating “supervised personnel,” specifying “led a staff of 12 personnel in complicated logistical operations” affords a clearer image of management expertise and duty. Equally, quantifying the size of operations, equivalent to “managed a funds of $2 million” or “oversaw the distribution of assets to five,000 personnel,” gives helpful context.
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Price Financial savings and Effectivity Enhancements:
Highlighting value financial savings or effectivity positive factors demonstrates worth and impactful contributions. Examples embrace “carried out a brand new coaching program that decreased coaching prices by 10%” or “streamlined logistics processes, leading to a 5% improve in operational effectivity.” These quantifiable achievements resonate with employers who search candidates able to delivering tangible outcomes.
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Awards and Recognition:
Together with awards and recognition gives additional validation of achievements and demonstrates distinctive efficiency. Itemizing particular awards, equivalent to “Awarded the Military Commendation Medal for excellent management,” affords concrete proof of recognition and reinforces the candidate’s {qualifications}. You will need to briefly clarify the importance of the award in civilian phrases to make sure its relevance is known.
By quantifying achievements, army expertise turns into extra impactful and simpler for civilian employers to grasp. This observe permits candidates to showcase their contributions successfully, rising their competitiveness within the civilian job market. Translating army expertise into quantifiable achievements bridges the communication hole between army and civilian sectors, enabling employers to acknowledge the true worth veterans convey to their organizations.
3. Spotlight Transferable Abilities
Highlighting transferable abilities varieties a cornerstone of successfully presenting army expertise on a civilian resume. Army coaching typically cultivates a singular set of abilities not readily obvious to civilian employers. Straight connecting these abilities to the necessities of civilian job descriptions is crucial for demonstrating a candidate’s suitability. For instance, expertise main a squad can translate to confirmed management and staff administration abilities relevant to mission administration or supervisory roles. Equally, expertise in logistics or provide chain administration inside the army instantly interprets to equal civilian roles. A candidate proficient in working complicated army gear can emphasize technical aptitude and adaptableness, helpful belongings in technical fields. The power to thrive in high-pressure army environments demonstrates adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving abilities, wanted in numerous industries.
Failure to spotlight transferable abilities can result in underselling helpful expertise and {qualifications}. A resume merely itemizing army duties with out connecting them to civilian-relevant abilities dangers being missed. A candidate may need intensive expertise in cybersecurity inside the army, however itemizing solely technical army jargon with out emphasizing abilities like community safety, menace evaluation, or incident response fails to speak the true worth of that have to a civilian employer. Conversely, a candidate who explicitly states abilities in strategic planning, threat evaluation, or disaster administration gained by way of army management roles instantly demonstrates their relevance to a broader vary of civilian positions.
Successfully highlighting transferable abilities bridges the hole between army expertise and civilian profession alternatives. This course of requires cautious evaluation of job descriptions, identification of related key phrases, and clear articulation of how army expertise interprets to these necessities. Doing so maximizes the influence of a resume, enabling employers to acknowledge the dear skillset veterans supply. Assets such because the Army Abilities Translator and veteran-focused profession counseling companies can present invaluable help in figuring out and articulating transferable abilities. This significant step considerably will increase a veteran’s possibilities of securing interviews and in the end, profitable profession transition.
4. Use Civilian Job Titles
Utilizing civilian job titles is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of a resume that features army expertise. Whereas army occupational specialties (MOS) or different military-specific titles are readily understood inside the armed forces, they typically lack that means for civilian hiring managers. Translating army roles into equal civilian job titles ensures fast readability and permits recruiters to shortly grasp a candidate’s expertise and skillset. This observe considerably improves the possibilities of a resume being correctly understood and thought of.
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Readability and Understanding:
Civilian job titles present fast context and understanding for recruiters unfamiliar with army terminology. For instance, as an alternative of itemizing “11B Infantryman,” utilizing a title like “Safety Specialist” or “Group Chief” immediately conveys the character of the position and its potential civilian purposes. This readability is crucial for attracting consideration in a aggressive job market.
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Key phrase Optimization:
Applicant Monitoring Methods (ATS) typically scan resumes for particular key phrases associated to the job description. Utilizing civilian job titles ensures resumes align with widespread trade terminology, rising the probability of being flagged by ATS and reaching human reviewers. A army title like “92A Automated Logistical Specialist” could be missed, whereas “Provide Chain Supervisor” or “Logistics Coordinator” instantly aligns with widespread trade key phrases.
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Demonstrates Adaptability:
Utilizing civilian job titles demonstrates a candidate’s understanding of the civilian job market and their willingness to adapt their communication type. This adaptability is a helpful asset in any office and indicators a proactive strategy to profession transition.
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Facilitates Direct Comparability:
Civilian job titles facilitate direct comparability with different candidates from civilian backgrounds. This degree taking part in area ensures army expertise is evaluated pretty and permits recruiters to simply assess a candidate’s {qualifications} relative to different candidates.
Using civilian job titles on a resume considerably enhances a veteran’s skill to attach with potential employers. This observe ensures readability, improves ATS compatibility, demonstrates adaptability, and facilitates direct comparability with different candidates, in the end rising the probability of securing a civilian job interview. Assets equivalent to military-to-civilian job title converters and veteran-focused resume writing guides can help in precisely translating army roles into their civilian equivalents. This significant step is instrumental in bridging the communication hole between army expertise and civilian profession alternatives.
5. Tailor to Goal Roles
Tailoring a resume to focus on particular roles is paramount when transitioning from army service to a civilian profession. Generic resumes typically fail to spotlight the relevance of army expertise to particular person job necessities. A focused strategy ensures the resume speaks on to the wants of every potential employer, maximizing the influence of military-acquired abilities and expertise. This customization demonstrates a proactive strategy and a real curiosity within the particular position, rising the probability of securing an interview.
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Key phrase Optimization:
Fastidiously reviewing job descriptions and incorporating related key phrases into the resume is crucial. Applicant Monitoring Methods (ATS) typically filter resumes based mostly on key phrase matches. Aligning the resume with the precise language used within the job description will increase its visibility and improves the possibilities of reaching human reviewers. For instance, a veteran making use of for a mission administration position ought to incorporate key phrases like “mission planning,” “threat administration,” and “staff management,” that are generally related to such positions, and join them with related army expertise.
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Highlighting Related Abilities:
Emphasizing the transferable abilities most related to the goal position ensures the resume resonates with the hiring supervisor. Whereas a veteran may possess a broad vary of abilities acquired throughout army service, deciding on and highlighting these instantly relevant to the precise job necessities demonstrates a centered and tailor-made strategy. A veteran making use of for a logistics position ought to prioritize abilities like provide chain administration, stock management, and procurement, even when in addition they possess different abilities like fight operations or weapons dealing with.
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Quantifying Achievements with Context:
Quantifying achievements is crucial, however offering context related to the goal position provides important influence. As a substitute of merely stating “managed a funds,” tailoring the outline to “managed a $2 million funds for logistical operations supporting 5,000 personnel” aligns instantly with the necessities of a senior logistics administration position. This context demonstrates the size and complexity of the achievement, making it extra related and spectacular to the hiring supervisor.
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Addressing Particular Necessities:
Straight addressing the precise necessities outlined within the job description demonstrates consideration to element and a real curiosity within the position. If a job description emphasizes expertise with particular software program or applied sciences, the resume ought to spotlight any related army coaching or expertise in these areas. This focused strategy demonstrates a candidate’s preparedness and suitability for the place.
Tailoring a resume to every goal position considerably will increase the effectiveness of presenting army expertise to civilian employers. By optimizing key phrases, highlighting related abilities, offering context for achievements, and addressing particular necessities, veterans can reveal the direct applicability of their army expertise to civilian careers. This tailor-made strategy enhances the resume’s influence, making it extra more likely to seize the eye of hiring managers and in the end result in profitable profession transitions.
6. Concentrate on Outcomes
Specializing in outcomes is paramount when translating army expertise onto a civilian resume. Whereas army resumes typically element duties and duties, civilian employers prioritize demonstrable outcomes and quantifiable achievements. This shift in focus requires reframing army expertise to showcase the influence of actions and contributions. Trigger and impact relationships have to be clearly articulated. For instance, as an alternative of stating “liable for automobile upkeep,” highlighting the end result, equivalent to “decreased automobile downtime by 15% by way of implementation of a preventative upkeep program,” demonstrates tangible influence and quantifiable success. Equally, reasonably than stating “managed logistics,” quantifying the achievement with “optimized logistical operations, leading to a ten% discount in transportation prices” showcases the direct influence of actions. This results-oriented strategy instantly addresses what civilian employers search: proof of worth and contribution.
Actual-life examples additional illustrate the significance of specializing in outcomes. A army medic making use of for a civilian nursing place may state “offered emergency medical care in fight conditions.” Whereas descriptive, a results-oriented strategy would emphasize outcomes, equivalent to “administered emergency medical therapy to over 200 casualties, leading to a 95% survival fee.” This quantified achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the medic’s abilities in a high-pressure surroundings. An officer liable for coaching personnel may state “developed and carried out coaching packages.” A results-oriented strategy would quantify the influence: “developed and carried out coaching packages that improved soldier proficiency by 20%, as measured by standardized efficiency evaluations.” These examples reveal the facility of showcasing quantifiable outcomes, offering concrete proof of abilities and skills.
Understanding the importance of specializing in outcomes empowers veterans to successfully talk the worth of their army expertise to civilian employers. This strategy clarifies influence, strengthens the resume’s narrative, and aligns with civilian expectations. It addresses potential challenges in translating army jargon and expertise into civilian-understandable phrases, instantly contributing to a simpler and aggressive resume. By showcasing the tangible influence of their actions, veterans can successfully bridge the hole between army service and civilian profession alternatives, maximizing their possibilities of success within the civilian job market.
7. Use Motion Verbs
Robust motion verbs are essential for successfully speaking the worth of army expertise on a civilian resume. These verbs inject dynamism and precision into descriptions, reworking passive statements of duty into energetic demonstrations of abilities and accomplishments. This energetic voice engages the reader and gives a clearer image of a candidate’s capabilities, instantly contributing to a extra compelling and impactful resume.
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Readability and Impression:
Motion verbs substitute obscure language with concise and impactful descriptions. As a substitute of “liable for coaching new recruits,” utilizing “Led, mentored, and educated 20 new recruits, leading to a 100% cross fee on qualification exams” gives particular particulars and quantifiable outcomes, showcasing the candidate’s management and coaching skills.
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Demonstrates Initiative and Possession:
Motion verbs emphasize proactivity and possession of accomplishments. Phrases like “Spearheaded the event of…” or “Applied a brand new technique that…” spotlight a candidate’s initiative and contribution, contrasting sharply with passive phrases like “was assigned to” or “participated in.” This distinction demonstrates management qualities and a proactive strategy to problem-solving.
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Key phrases for Applicant Monitoring Methods (ATS):
Many corporations make the most of ATS to scan resumes for particular key phrases. Motion verbs typically align with these key phrases, rising the probability of a resume being chosen for evaluate. Verbs like “managed,” “led,” “developed,” “carried out,” and “optimized” are regularly wanted by employers and ought to be strategically included when describing army expertise.
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Conciseness and Readability:
Motion verbs contribute to concise and impactful writing, avoiding pointless jargon and enhancing readability. This streamlined strategy permits recruiters to shortly grasp the essence of a candidate’s expertise and {qualifications}, maximizing the influence of the resume inside restricted evaluate time. For instance, utilizing “streamlined logistics operations, lowering transport prices by 15%” is extra impactful and simpler to grasp than a lengthier, passive description.
The strategic use of motion verbs considerably enhances the presentation of army expertise on a civilian resume. This observe clarifies accomplishments, demonstrates initiative, aligns with ATS key phrases, and improves readability. By successfully using motion verbs, veterans can guarantee their resumes resonate with civilian employers, showcasing the dear abilities and expertise gained by way of army service and maximizing their possibilities of success within the civilian job market.
8. Preserve Constant Formatting
Constant formatting is essential for presenting army expertise successfully on a civilian resume. A well-formatted resume enhances readability and professionalism, enabling recruiters to shortly course of info and grasp the worth of a candidate’s {qualifications}. Inconsistencies can create distractions and detract from the content material, doubtlessly resulting in a detrimental first impression.
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Font and Font Measurement:
Sustaining a constant font and measurement all through the resume ensures a clear {and professional} look. Utilizing an ordinary, simply readable font like Instances New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in a measurement between 10 and 12 factors is beneficial. Various fonts or sizes can create a disorganized and unprofessional impression, doubtlessly signaling a scarcity of consideration to element. For instance, utilizing totally different fonts for headings and physique textual content or inconsistent font sizes between sections can disrupt visible movement and detract from the content material.
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Spacing and Margins:
Constant spacing and margins contribute to a refined and arranged presentation. Utilizing normal margins (usually 1 inch on all sides) and constant spacing between sections and contours of textual content improves readability and visible attraction. Inconsistent spacing, equivalent to massive gaps between sections or uneven line spacing, could make the resume seem cluttered and unprofessional. As an example, sustaining constant spacing between job entries ensures a transparent and arranged presentation of expertise.
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Headings and Subheadings:
Utilizing clear and constant headings and subheadings improves the group and readability of the resume. Constant formatting of headings, equivalent to utilizing daring textual content or a barely bigger font measurement, helps information the reader’s eye and facilitates fast entry to info. Inconsistencies in heading kinds can disrupt the visible hierarchy and make the resume troublesome to navigate. For instance, utilizing totally different capitalization kinds or font sizes for headings all through the resume can create confusion and detract from the general presentation.
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Dates and Places:
Consistency in formatting dates and areas ensures readability and professionalism. Persistently utilizing both the month-year or month-day-year format for dates and utilizing a constant type for areas (e.g., Metropolis, State) avoids confusion and maintains a refined look. Inconsistent formatting, equivalent to utilizing totally different date codecs inside the similar part or abbreviating areas inconsistently, can create a disorganized impression. For instance, itemizing one job’s location as “San Diego, CA” and one other as “New York Metropolis, NY” lacks consistency.
Constant formatting instantly contributes to a refined {and professional} resume, enabling army expertise to be offered clearly and successfully. A well-formatted resume enhances readability, improves ATS compatibility, and creates a optimistic first impression, in the end rising the probability of success within the civilian job market. Consideration to those seemingly minor particulars can considerably influence how a recruiter perceives a candidate, emphasizing professionalism and a focus to element, essential attributes for any civilian position.
Steadily Requested Questions
Addressing widespread inquiries concerning the inclusion of army expertise on a resume clarifies greatest practices and assists transitioning service members in successfully speaking their {qualifications} to civilian employers. The next questions and solutions present helpful insights into this significant facet of profession transition.
Query 1: How ought to army ranks be offered on a resume?
Whereas together with rank can present context, it is typically simpler to deal with the management duties and achievements related to that rank. Clearly articulating the scope of management, such because the variety of personnel supervised or the size of operations managed, gives extra impactful info for civilian employers. Utilizing civilian management titles like “Group Chief,” “Supervisor,” or “Challenge Supervisor” can additional make clear roles and duties.
Query 2: Is it essential to checklist each army task or obligation?
Itemizing each task is not at all times needed. Prioritize relevance. Concentrate on experiences and abilities instantly relevant to the goal civilian roles. Tailor the resume to every particular job utility, emphasizing essentially the most related features of army service. This focused strategy maximizes influence and avoids overwhelming the reader with pointless info.
Query 3: What if army expertise is the one skilled expertise?
Even when army service contains everything {of professional} expertise, focus stays on transferable abilities and quantifiable achievements. Spotlight management, teamwork, problem-solving, technical proficiencies, and every other abilities related to the specified civilian profession. Quantifying achievements every time potential gives concrete proof of capabilities.
Query 4: How can safety clearances be addressed on a resume?
Merely stating the extent of clearance held is enough. Keep away from together with particular particulars in regards to the clearance course of or categorised info. For instance, stating “Held High Secret clearance” is enough with out divulging delicate particulars. Focus ought to stay on abilities and expertise related to the goal position.
Query 5: What assets can be found to help with translating army expertise?
Quite a few assets exist to help veterans in translating army expertise onto a civilian resume. These embrace on-line army abilities translators, veteran-focused resume writing guides, and profession counseling companies provided by veteran organizations. These assets present helpful steering and assist through the profession transition course of.
Query 6: How can veterans handle employment gaps attributable to deployments or different service commitments?
Deal with employment gaps instantly and concisely. Briefly clarify the rationale for the hole, equivalent to “Army Deployment” or “Lively Responsibility Service,” together with the dates of service. Concentrate on the abilities and expertise gained throughout that interval and their relevance to the goal civilian position. This transparency and deal with transferable abilities mitigate potential considerations about employment gaps.
Successfully translating army expertise onto a civilian resume requires cautious consideration of viewers, related abilities, and quantifiable achievements. These FAQs supply steering for navigating this course of and making certain a profitable transition into the civilian workforce.
Extra assets and in-depth steering on particular features of resume writing for veterans may be discovered within the following sections.
Suggestions for Presenting Army Expertise on a Civilian Resume
Successfully speaking the worth of army expertise to civilian employers requires a strategic strategy. The following tips present sensible steering for crafting a compelling resume that highlights related abilities and achievements.
Tip 1: Translate Army Jargon: Substitute military-specific phrases and acronyms with civilian equivalents. For instance, translate “MOS 11B” to “Infantryman, specializing in small unit ways and fight operations.”
Tip 2: Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to reveal the influence of contributions. As a substitute of “liable for automobile upkeep,” state “decreased automobile downtime by 15% by way of preventative upkeep packages.”
Tip 3: Spotlight Transferable Abilities: Join army abilities to civilian job necessities. Expertise main a squad can translate to “confirmed management and staff administration abilities.”
Tip 4: Use Civilian Job Titles: Translate army roles into equal civilian job titles. For instance, use “Logistics Coordinator” as an alternative of “92A Automated Logistical Specialist.”
Tip 5: Tailor to Goal Roles: Customise the resume for every job utility, emphasizing abilities and experiences related to the precise necessities. Incorporate key phrases from the job description.
Tip 6: Concentrate on Outcomes: Emphasize outcomes and quantifiable achievements reasonably than simply itemizing duties and duties. Showcase the influence of actions.
Tip 7: Use Motion Verbs: Start descriptions with sturdy motion verbs to create dynamic and impactful statements. Examples embrace “led,” “managed,” “developed,” and “carried out.”
Tip 8: Preserve Constant Formatting: Guarantee knowledgeable look with constant fonts, font sizes, spacing, margins, and heading kinds.
By following the following tips, candidates can create a compelling resume that successfully interprets army expertise into civilian-understandable phrases, maximizing their possibilities of securing interviews and in the end, profitable profession transitions.
The next part gives a concise conclusion and reinforces the significance of successfully presenting army expertise on a civilian resume.
Conclusion
Efficiently integrating army expertise right into a civilian resume requires a strategic strategy that bridges the communication hole between army and civilian sectors. Key parts of this course of embrace translating army jargon into civilian-understandable phrases, quantifying achievements with metrics and impactful language, highlighting transferable abilities related to focus on roles, and utilizing civilian job titles for readability and key phrase optimization. Constant formatting and a results-oriented strategy additional improve the resume’s effectiveness, permitting recruiters to shortly grasp the worth a candidate brings. Tailoring the resume to every particular job utility ensures essentially the most related {qualifications} are offered, maximizing influence and demonstrating real curiosity within the alternative.
Efficient presentation of army expertise is crucial for profitable profession transition. By using these methods, transitioning service members can showcase the dear abilities, expertise, and dedication cultivated throughout army service, making certain their {qualifications} are acknowledged and valued by civilian employers. This clear and concise communication empowers veterans to compete successfully within the civilian job market and safe fulfilling careers that leverage their distinctive strengths.
