CERTIFIED May. 2014 | Page 10

93487528376897568932HWTKLWGE8W3429384YHWHW83YT982345789234YHIHFWHR Almost every career field that exists in corporate America also exists in the military. We in the military include chefs, police, firefighters, lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers, musicians, pilots, astronauts, truck drivers, clergy, communications and intelligence professionals, HR professionals, program analysts, veterinarians, accountants — you name it. courage, they voluntarily take an oath to serve our country. The military oath bonds the organization and its people in a common mission — to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. Military veterans have done this in occupations that should be familiar to civilians. Almost every career field that exists in corporate America also exists in the military. We in the military include chefs, police, firefighters, lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers, musicians, pilots, astronauts, truck drivers, clergy, communications and intelligence professionals, HR professionals, program analysts, veterinarians, accountants — you name it. But we call ourselves collectively Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, depending on the service. The military is an up-or-out competitive career progression system, divided into two main components: officer (15 percent) and enlisted ranks (85 percent). Once you leave the military, you are called a veteran. Most veterans who transition out are less than 30 years old and have completed five to seven years of service. Approximately 300,000 service members transition back to civilian life each year, and about 15 percent stay until they are eligible for retirement, responding to individual desires, rigors, demands and competitive promotion criteria. Service Officers Enlisted Total Percent Army 87,600 452,100 539,700 38% Navy 51,400 275,300 326,700 23% Air Force 64,800 258,100 322,900 22% Marine Corps 20,200 178,300 198,500 14% Coast Guard 8,150 33,250 41,400 3% 232,150 1,197,050 1,429,200 100% Total Most military veterans are highly trained technical leaders who have developed strong discipline, commitment, integrity, teamwork and passion for mission success. Before hiring a veteran, an employer should get a copy of the veteran’s official discharge paperwork, known as Form DD214, to verify “honorable” service along with certified training. No two military careers are alike, and every veteran is unique, with special skills, certifications and educational accomplishments. The pay grade listed at the bottom The color scheme and stars in this decoder are chosen based on the traditions of U.S. Blue Star Highways. 8 CERTIFIED 2014: Volume I www.HRCI.org