Why are the younger Service members not getting a proper transition from the Military?

This is the question I will be asking today and engaging here on LinkedIn. So what do you, the reader think? Is it because it’s a mandatory check the block, is it because they are not taking it seriously, is it because they have all the answers because they are going to get out and work for their Uncle Joe making $75,000 a year right?away? I would dare say that it could be a combination of a lot of things one youth doesn’t know what it doesn’t know, this is no reason for a young E-3 through E-6 not to get a good transition.

I have transitioned twice from the Army now once as a single young Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, and most recently as a family man with a wife and two teenagers. Both times had their stressors however, the second time was much more stressful.?The question though at hand is about the transition and why do younger service members not get it right? I know my chain of command during my first transition was very supportive and allowed me the time to take care of myself during this time. Would it have been different if I were an E-4 most definitely so, but the command would have still taken care of me.

One thing I know that hinders some younger Soldiers with their transition is a lingering and ongoing Chapter for medical reasons or even a separation for misconduct or something. When the process is ongoing and just seemingly never ends, it will be hard for the service member because more often than not the servicemember may not be given the time to take care of themself because perhaps, they have betrayed their leaders trust so now it’s the where you going and how long will you be there drill. There is nothing wrong with this as we are all accountable to someone while we are serving in the military. However, this does make it interesting for both sides for the command as well as the service member.

As I think about this, my mind goes back to a Medical Evaluation Board my Commander and I had to sit on for one of our Soldiers. The medical side only wanted to see the side of the soldier was being harassed because they had to come to work and be accountable. My side when I spoke to the members of the board all medical Professionals was “like look I want the same thing you want for my Soldier proper medical care and treatment, but when they are not at work, they cannot be telling us they are at an appointment then we checkup and they never went to their appointment. I worked to treat this particular Soldier with dignity and respect. Was this a thorn in my side yes, did I put my best foot forward though to ensure they got what they needed. If this individual didn’t get a proper transition, it would be a lot on them, because I know what I charged my NCOs to carry out in the care of this one.

I will say that many service members’ young and old do not give the time or attention needed to their transition most often probably out of ignorance. We sit in a transition class and we are so ready for that new change but have no idea what’s waiting on the other side. They had tuition assistance available most of the time they served and didn’t use it so no college degree or certifications just the skill or trade you learned in uniform, which most often alone is not enough.

?Is the system broken? My answer is?to some point yes because the emphasis for everyone including the command is not did that service member get a good transition and take the necessary?steps but rather did they get all signatures on their clearing papers so they can get out of here with all their one thousand and one problems so we can get someone who is ready to work and get the job done. No one will typically come right out and say this, why because the IG or Command Sergeant Major would be crawling up their backside.

I like what Herb Thompson says you have to win your own journey.?To me, this is rank irrelevant, if you planned on serving till you retired but you weren’t selected for Captain and now you’re a First Lieutenant getting put out or a young Specialist (E-4) who had something happen to them medically or they just chose to move on. I would say as leaders though it is our job to help them to see that they need to take this process seriously. I would dare say most will not because it’s all about “man FTA (F#@K THE ARMY” I am tired of this BS. Why did we as senior leaders do better because we knew we had different motivating factors and perhaps had more schools, perhaps we did take the time to get the degree or certifications for the field we wanted to enter after service. I am not totally sure of the answer as many folks will answer this article junior and senior in ranks.

Tyrone Hewitt I know you will have some input on this as will Matt Scherer to different professionals but both in the transition field to help the military. I loved my Soldiers and NCOs as they were my own family and wanted them to get what they needed to do great things after their service and many are and those that continue to serve also are CSM Johnny G Bryant or CSM Jason L Long. I call these folk out but I dare not take credit for their success, I have at least three first sergeants that I know of and some drill sergeants training tomorrow's force. I was able to serve with them for a brief moment in time and help them with the tools I had in my kit bag at that precise moment, some I failed somehow, and they learned don’t do this with other, I did better. I told and still tell my people to learn from the good and bad side of my service. Did I suck at some things yes, learn from that but was I equally great and excelled at others yes also learn from that. When they do this, they can own their journey and learn from both the worst part of leadership and the best.