Lisa Slaba, PMP’s Post

Military spouse employment is a great example of how we have to address issues at various levels, including the individual and the systemic. Careers encompass our work, learning and leisure activities. Everyone has a career and everyone's career is different. Individual career development support enables people to discover and understand their needs, values, interests and skills and the world of work, and how to use this information to make good career decisions. But our careers don't happen in isolation – far from it! The context in which individuals make career decisions matters very much. And for military spouses that context includes frequent moves (with little say in when and where), high caregiving loads and a career that may take a back seat to the serving member’s – all of which can cause issues with finding and sustaining good quality, meaningful employment. Military spouses can factor in the known and foreseeable challenges and opportunities associated with military life in their career decision making. At the same time, it's essential that barriers to meaningful and sustainable employment are removed wherever possible. Investing in a comprehensive career support ecosystem that tackles the issues at all levels and involves all stakeholders is essential.This isn't just important for spouses themselves (although there is a large and obvious financial and wellbeing benefit) but also to their families, the military, the communities in which they live, the economy and national security. #defencefamilies #militaryspouseemployment #unlockpotential #careerdevelopment

In my opinion, this doesn't get at the root cause of the military's recruiting woes. There are vastly more Americans now than when I joined nearly 30 years ago; however, the percentage of viable candidates has dropped drastically. Further, interest in serving of those eligible has waned. Too many Americans only "know" of the military through Hollywood movies, askew media coverage (storytelling) of our global-stability missions, and derogatory sniping of military leaders & policies from those in political power. I serve because I truly enjoy doing something that is infinitely greater than me. That said, it's hard to get motivated to tell my story of why I serve when so much of the audience doesn't appear to want to listen. A strong military has historically underpinned a nation's ability to remain influential on the world stage. In this era of Great Power Conflict, there needs to be more than military recruiters beating the drum to ensure we have adequate resources for the US to remain relevant. I hate to imagine what the alternative would look like.

-The Employment Navigator and Partnership Program is a new effort to provide “one-on-one career assistance to interested transitioning service members, and their spouses, at select military installations worldwide,” according to the Labor Department.  Hoover says there is no “one size fits all” regarding career transitions for veterans. While changing career paths is difficult in any case, veterans face unique challenges. #VeteranCareerTransition #JobSatisfactionAfterService #MilitaryTransitionChallenges https://lnkd.in/ekyyGfUj

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day! I feel like I’ve been celebrating all week with the military community! Instead of writing a celebratory post highlighting all the amazing attributes of military spouses (of which there are many), I’m taking inspiration from Gen H. and asking for change. Military Spouses have unique challenges NONE OF WHICH MAKE US UNEMPLOYABLE. So if you’d like to celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day here’s what you can get me: ⭐️Managers: If your Milspouse employee comes to you with a plan to maintain their employment, advocate for them! Hear them out and use your network to make sure they don’t become part of the 21% of unemployed military spouses ⭐️Commanders: Value your troop’s time so that their spouses are not solo parents. ⭐️ Servicemembers: prioritize your spouses career in your decision making processes. ⭐️ Companies: Have military policies in place so military spouses know what their rights are within your organization. ⭐️ Fellow MilSpouses: Advocate for the community at large! I know firsthand it’s tough to disclose you are a military spouse in professional spaces. In some cases it’s not possible due to discrimination. But if you are in a place to lift the community, do it! Advocate with data and personal experience so that the world knows what an asset we are to thrive workforce. I know, I know quite the list for a made up holiday, but I know as well as anyone else you never know until you try!

This is an interesting article for anyone who has hired a Veteran before and didn't get the outcome they were hoping for. The article highlights that employment is only half the battle for America's veterans. Here are some key takeaways: - Create a meaningful connection with the veteran to build trust and establish a positive working relationship. - Provide opportunities for growth to help the veteran feel valued and invested in their work. - Recognize and appreciate their contributions to the team and the company to boost morale and motivation. - Support their well-being by providing resources for mental and physical health. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eNYbzyFP

The narrative around veterans transitioning to civilian employment often glosses over a harsh reality: the skills and attributes honed in the crucible of military service, while invaluable, often clash with societal and workplace norms. This dissonance is not merely a matter of misunderstanding or misalignment; it is symptomatic of a deeper societal failure to truly comprehend and integrate the veteran experience into our collective fabric. In a stark departure from the era following World War II, when military service was a widespread and unifying experience, today's veterans find themselves as outliers in a society that has drifted far from the ethos of shared service and sacrifice. Veterans are sculpted by an environment that values direct communication, decisive action, and a unique form of camaraderie born out of shared purpose and adversity. These qualities, which are indispensable in the theater of war and military life, often translate poorly into civilian employment contexts, where indirectness, prolonged deliberation, and a focus on individual rather than team success prevail. The directness and genuine nature that the military instills are seen as assets within the ranks but can be misinterpreted as abrasiveness or insensitivity in a civilian context. This stark dichotomy leaves many veterans feeling alienated, unable to leverage their most profound strengths because the civilian world, it seems, does not truly value or understand them. This issue is compounded by a glaring gap in societal appreciation and understanding of military service. As fewer individuals serve, the civilian population's capacity to empathize with and appreciate the veteran experience diminishes. This lack of shared understanding has profound implications, not just for veterans seeking to find their place in civilian society, but for the society itself, which unknowingly sidelines a wealth of leadership, resilience, and integrity. The challenge of veteran employment is emblematic of a broader societal oversight: a failure to recognize that by shaping individuals for military service, we are also, inadvertently, setting them up for challenges in reintegration. The systems in place to facilitate this transition often fall short, treated as mere procedural formalities rather than genuine opportunities for transformation and preparation for civilian life. The issue at hand is not just about employment or job satisfaction—it's about how we, as a society, fail to fully embrace and integrate those who have borne the weight of our collective security on their shoulders. The veteran's transition to civilian life should not be a solitary journey marked by adaptation to a society that does not fully appreciate them. Instead, it should be a societal movement towards greater inclusivity, understanding, and genuine appreciation of the values and experiences veterans bring to the table.

Greatest piece of advice to retiring veterans I can give is : know exactly why you need to work before looking for work. We all have different reasons to work; kids’ education costs, avoiding boredom, desire to continue serving. The list is as diverse as the veteran demographic. Understanding that great pay almost always comes with great demands on your time and peace of mind is as important as understanding that little to no responsibility comes with little pay and professional gratification. Knowing why you’re setting out to get a paycheck is essential to avoiding things that frustrated you while you served; time away from family; not being able to afford certain things; little control over your time; stuck with duties you despise; the list goes on forever. The great military aphorism that time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted certainly applies to scouting out your own reasons for working after retirement.

THANK YOU FOR TOP FAN.! With President Joe Biden – I just got recognized as one of their top fans.! ALLIED: I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE SUCH A POWERFUL MILITARY MOVIE IN ALL MY LIFE. I CAN SERIOUSLY SEE BRAD PITT PLAY 007 J. BOND. ARTICLE: CRYPTOCURRENCY & REYGITONIUM-G. BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TENRI CULTURAL INSTITUTE tenri.org https://lnkd.in/e55sRd8b https://lnkd.in/eB98Jnv9 WonderMind.com: CRYPTO-FINANCE & WHAT'S ON THE TABLE. REYGITONIUM-G MR. MS. TEEFEY & SELENA GOMEZ-RARE-SUPERSTAR. TCI GALLERY SPRING 2024 THEMES. CRYPTOCURRENCY & REYGITONIUM-G TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I ABSOLUTELY SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH CRYPTOCURRENCY: REYGITONIUM-G I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE INFANT DEMOCRATIC-CAPITALISTIC MINDS OF TODAY BLAME USA GOVERNMENT. THEN IS ANY GOVERNMENT TO BE BLAMED FOR HOMELESS PROBLEMS PLAGUING THE WORLD.? NO. GOD KNOWS HEADACHES USA GOVERNMENT HAVE WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE NEW WORLD PRACTICALLY SHOCK TO WITNESS. PEOPLE ONLY WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. "IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS." THUS DOESN'T THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE HOMELESS. THE HOMELESS ARE OUT THERE. ARE YOU.? HOMELESS.. AN OPPORTUNITY MISUNDERSTOOD. The modern economic system is a market economy, which is a capitalist economy where people, not the government--NOT THE GOVERNMENT--own most businesses. In a capitalist economy, prices allocate capital and labor between competing uses, and capital assets like factories, mines, and railroads can be privately owned and controlled. https://lnkd.in/eB98Jnv9 GOOGLE EXAMPLE, IF YOU NEED TO RAISE MONEY FOR ANY REASON OR MORE SO LETS SAY THE "HOMELESS" PROBLEM WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE TIME & MONEY CONSUMING BUT IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARD THE HOMELESS. HOWEVER CRYPTOCURRENCY CAN POSSIBLE ALLOWS AN EXPENDITURE OF CURRENCY TO BENEFIT ALL WHO USES THE CRYPTO & REGARDLESS OF HOW IT'S CONSUMED. THEREFORE IF A CRYPTO HOMELESS CURRENCY REYGITONIUM-G EXISTED IT'S MORE HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM CAN BE VANQUISHED BECAUSE CURRENCY-FINANCES IT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO BE TAPPED INTO FOR HOMELESS RESOLUTIONS. REYGITONIUM-G: COUNTRY GOVERNMENT $1-DOLLAR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO OF 8-BILLION EARTH CITIZENS. OR CONTINUE HIDING THE HOMELESS WHEN A POLITICAL LEADER VISITS AMERICA. CLOSING COMMENT: THE DAMNEDEST CRAZIEST FUNNIEST EMBARRASSING ABOUT THE HOMELESS CHAOS IS ANY EXCUSE AS TO WHY HOMELESS EXIST. HENCEFORTH CONSIDER USA TRILLIONS IN DEBT & 6,120 OF HOSPITALS SCATTERED AROUND THE USA & MANY COUNTRIES ASKING FOR FOREIGN AID IN THE TRILLIONS & YOU TALKING EXCUSES. MEANWHILE WE WANT TO SETTLE HUMANITY ON OTHER PLANETS. THANK YOU FOR READING.

To the men and women who have answered the call to serve our nation, I want to address you directly. Your commitment, your sacrifice, and your unwavering dedication have not gone unnoticed. As Memorial Day approaches, it's a time not only to honor your service but also to reflect on our commitment to serve you in return. Your service embodies the values of integrity, resilience, and selflessness—qualities that are invaluable to any organization. Yet, too often, when service members transition to civilian life, they face challenges in finding meaningful employment that aligns with their skills and experiences. That's why I urge every organization, every business owner, and every hiring manager to recognize the immense talent and potential that our veterans bring to the table. It's time to make a commitment back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country. To the service members transitioning to civilian life: know that your skills, your leadership, and your dedication are needed now more than ever. You are not alone in this journey. There are companies out there who understand the value you bring and who are eager to welcome you into their ranks. To the employers: I implore you to look beyond the resume and see the person behind the uniform. Take the time to understand how the skills acquired in the military—leadership, teamwork, adaptability—can translate seamlessly into your organization. Make a commitment to hire veterans and provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed. But this call to action goes beyond just hiring. It's about creating a culture of inclusivity and support, where veterans feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. It's about recognizing that serving those who served is not just a moral obligation—it's a strategic imperative. So, let us honor the commitment of our service members by making a commitment of our own. Let us pledge to serve those who served, to ensure that they have the opportunities they deserve to build meaningful and fulfilling lives after their service to our nation. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can ensure that the legacy of our veterans lives on, not just on Memorial Day, but every day of the year. #ServeThoseWhoServed #HireVeterans #MemorialDay #HonoringHeroes

One of the biggest decisions sitting on the front of my mind as I go through the whole Military Retirement process was where I was going to settle down after I leave the service. There were a lot of factors to consider: -Where can I find my next mission (new career) -We want that community feeling -Decent weather -No long-distance commutes to work -Good schools for my kids -Cost of living / home prices -VA Facilities nearby -Quality of life I also had to keep in mind that my wife works, currently has a great job where we are now, but it's a job that can transfer to a few different locations. I'm not making this decision on my own, it's a family decision where we will settle down next. We're considering a few places, even our current location, but time will tell as we navigate our checklist. Are you currently going through the same issue? Here's a short video I made about some factors in our next move: #militaryrelocation #militarytransition