The Military Post, October

Welcome to The Military Post! This monthly newsletter is your one-stop-shop as a member of the military community to stay up to date on free upskilling and employment opportunities, ranging from scholarships to hiring fairs to open roles, great advice, as well as the latest news that matters to you!

At the bottom of the newsletter, you will find the open roles, scholarships, and free events, both virtual and in-person!

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

New Mentorship and Careers Platform Makes Waves in Military Community

Recently, the pre-registration for MilMentor was announced, which is an always-free platform that will provide you with access to unlimited mentors with seamless scheduling and connection at call time, open roles from companies looking for military talent, and amazing resources and scholarships all through one easy profile. Sign up to be a mentee, or mentor who can choose how much time they want to allocate each month extremely easily today here!

The platform will go live on November 15th!

Cost of Living Increase for Veterans Benefits Announced

The annual cost of living increase for veterans benefits was announced this month, and while it is the lowest rate increase since the COVID pandemic began in 2020, it comes as inflation in the United States moderates.

The increase is 2.5% for 2025, meaning that for every $1,000 received in benefits, you’ll see an added $25 beginning in January 2025.

A Bit of Random Advice for the Month. . .

• Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

  • This is inspired by a post I recently saw from Sitreps2Steercos, the often hilarious and highly useful Instagram page created by a former Army aviator.

  • What is it? Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is a frequently considered path in the military community and really all it means is acquiring a business that is already operating, typically with a significant amount of debt often in the form of an SBA loan.

  • What’s the Advice? There are 101 gurus online who will tell you that you can buy a business 100% debt funded, hire a manager at rock bottom prices, forget about it, and become a millionaire. This is horrible advice. ETA is a fantastic path to success but it is difficult and what most don’t realize is finding a business worth acquiring takes YEARS. Here’s why, most great businesses don’t make it to the typical BizBuySell esc. websites and if they do, they’re scooped up by a smart acquirer quickly. A typical search fund will be calling on business owners, usually cold, trying to find one for a year+. Additionally, most of these “advisors” fail to realize that slapping a bunch of debt on a company puts it in a precarious position from the start if it isn’t a great acquisition, meaning that one mistake, a lost customer, or a singular slip-up from you, a new owner, can cost you the business. Even worse, SBA loans have a personal guarantee so they’ll come for your personal assets.

  • How can you do it better? If you are serious about finding and acquiring a business, first, find good resources like those offered free by leading business schools, do independent research without buying a course, and then identify a type of business you want to find. Feel free to research online marketplaces, but as you do, plug in the amount of debt you would need to acquire the business into a free debt amortization calculator online and see how much free cash flow the business would have post-debt per month, if it is some tiny sliver, it probably isn’t a good idea. Next, learn about reading financial statements and acquiring a business. There are plenty of free or low-cost online resources to do so, but if you don’t look at the financials with a keen eye, you’ll miss crazy add-backs and things that would otherwise make it a no-go. There’s a lot more to say here, but the net-net is do your dang research.

• Job-Seekers

  • Interviewing

    • See the video embedded near the bottom of this article!

  • Resume

    • When writing your resume, there are a few things you want to check for:

      • Are you submitting it in PDF format with your first name, last name, and resume as the document title?

      • Do you have a professional summary that is 2 paragraphs long and full of words like “results-oriented”? While there’s nothing wrong with using these words a few times, if the entire thing is full of them, it is taking valuable space from quantifiable achievements (see below) that you can use.

      • When you’re writing your resume bullets, or your professional summary, think about what quantifiable achievements you can include. It is OK to estimate this, just be as honest and accurate as you can and use a ~.

  • Networking

    • Don’t make it transactional or overly professional. That may be odd advice, but hear me out. You don’t have to send three paragraphs to someone and call them sir/ma’am, that may actually put some folks off. Here’s how I would phrase a message if I wanted to learn more about project management from a current Oracle project manager

      • Hi FirstName! My name is _____ and I am about to transition out of the Army as an infantryman and am looking at careers in project management! I have done a significant amount of my own research, but I am hoping to connect with folks actively working in a project management role to learn a bit about what they enjoy about the role, their path to it, and any advice for aspiring PMs. I understand you are probably extremely busy, but if you get a free moment in the coming weeks would you be willing to find a time for a quick phone call?

      • Notice that is friendly and respectful, but not an email you’d send the President. That’s the goal. Also, it clearly states what you want out of the conversation, respects their time, and has a clear ask.

    • However, the connection process is getting a whoooole lot easier. Check out the Mentorship platform mentioned at the beginning of this newsletter at MilMentor.com.

  • Investing Gurus

    • Ok, this is it for the guru rants, I promise. We have seen a lot of individuals fall prey to “investors” who “generate 100% returns each month” and know the forex/crypto/stock/commodity/real estate market so well that they want to teach you about it (for thousands of dollars)!

    • A typical rule of thumb is that if someone is selling you a course and their main form of advertising to you is via social media, you should look at it VERY suspiciously. NO ONE is consistently earning some crazy 100% per month, they’re making money selling you worthless courses whose content you could find on YouTube in a 15-minute search.

    • Now why aren’t they earning that much, and how would I possibly know that? Simply, the market is efficient. More simply, every day the smartest people in the world compete for good deals in every market, push the prices for them up on each other and squeeze these apparently magnificent profits down. If you think someone in their bedroom is beating a room full of physics PhDs with the best data and technology in the world, think again (even the best of those PhDs aren’t close to consistently earning 100% a year).

    • How can you do it better? Do your own research or, if you don’t want to do that, find a decent financial advisor or, if you can’t do that, find a few low-cost ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and set it and forget it. Active trading will be your downfall, compounding growth will be your friend. Look for ETFs with expense ratios below .25%. This is not financial advice, go at it at your own risk, but don’t fund the gurus’ next lavish vacation because their investments certainly can’t.

Supreme Court Case May Drive Change in Veterans Benefits Decisions

Bufkin v. McDonough, a case whose oral arguments have begun in front of the Supreme Court but likely won’t see a ruling until 2025 at the soonest, has the potential to change the VA decision-making process when granting or denying disability benefits claims.

The VA has long been held to giving the “benefit of the doubt” to service members who apply for benefits when the evidence supporting a claim is balanced between acceptance or denial; however, a recent case challenges whether that is how the decision-making has actually been done in practice.

In the case of Joshua Bufkin, an Air Force veteran, and Norman Thornton, an Army veteran who both applied for benefits for PTSD and were either denied, or solely granted 10%, the VA decision-making process is under the spotlight.

Both veterans appealed the decisions and lost, and now their attorneys are taking the fight to the nation’s highest court challenging whether the benefit of the doubt was truly provided to them.

Many veterans can speak to having claims they felt rightfully justified to denied and this case could open the door to thousands of veterans to reapply and receive the benefits they deserve.

While this case won’t be decided for some time and its ramifications if it lands positively for the veterans are not entirely clear, we’ll be providing updates every step of the way.

Army Leaders Highlight Military Spouse SECO Program

The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program was a topic of discussion at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference recently as leaders discussed the constant challenges faced by military spouses, who are incredibly talented and fantastic employees but face constant moves and uncertainty which throws a wrench into career plans that their civilian counterparts do not have to endure.

The SECO program provides career coaches to help Spouses identify their career interests and skills, education and certification opportunities, and scholarships. The program additionally provides resume and interview assistance, a My Career Advancement Account Scholarship of up to $4,000 (with an annual fiscal year cap of $2,000) for eligible Spouses, and connections with a massive group of employers.

Learn more about the program and how to get involved here.

VA Debuts Telehealth Option for Urgent Medical Questions

The VA recently launched a telehealth option for veterans with a medical issue that is urgent enough that they believe it may lead to an urgent care visit. While this service is not intended to replace or delay a visit to a hospital or care center, it provides more rapid access to medical advice to help answer medical questions.

So many of us in the military community have had pressing medical questions, and been worried they may land us in the hospital before long but been lost as to where to find quick medical advice. Now, the VA wants to provide that access.

Since the program launched in pilot earlier this year, over 60,000 individuals have received telehealth care and more than half have had their medical questions resolved without needing to visit a doctor. The healthcare providers on the other end of the line have access to your VA health record, providing you with someone who understands your unique situation quickly.

You can find your local VA facility, and the correct number using the tool on their website here.

Army Discusses Reducing Moves for Service Members

It is no secret that serving often requires constant moves, which can make it difficult to build a community, to find and retain employment for family members, and to find a sense of home knowing you will be leaving in a few years.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, at the Association of the United States Army conference, discussed ideas for providing increased stability for service members and their families, including reducing the frequency of moves required of them.

While she stated “Standing here, I don’t have the answers,” she explored options including extending the time between PCSs, offering easier reclassification options, and increasing the availability of broadening assignments. While it is very much an idea at this point, she recognized that finding workable solutions to the constant moves is necessary to prevent a worsening recruiting crisis and to care for our military families.

Open Roles for the Military Community

Interested in a great career? If one of these roles looks like it may be for you, drop an email to [email protected] and we can share more information or connect you with the hiring team!

• SKILLBRIDGE - Security Officer

  • Vienna, VA - Desires experience with physical security functions.

• SKILLBRIDGE - Member Service Representative

  • PEARL HARBOR or MCDONOUGH, GA - Desires those with excitement for serving the military community and who want to receive specialized training on various banking functions.

• Cleared Cloud Data Engineer

  • WASHINGTON, D.C. - Requires a secret clearance, 5+ years of data engineering experience, and experience with AWS GovCloud

• Technology Support Specialist - Tour of Duty Associate (Mil-Hiring)

  • DETROIT - Requires you to be a recently transitioned veteran, spouse, or active guard or reserve.

• Associate - Advertising

  • IN-PERSON, 8 MAJOR CITIES - Requires interest in advertising, paid full-time training program provided.

• Data Scientist

  • REMOTE - Requires 4+ years of data analytics and 2+ years of data science experience.

• Logistics Analyst II

  • EDWARDS AFB, CA - Requires 2+ years of logistics experience.

• Analyst II - IT Solution

  • LAS VEGAS - Requires 3+ years of IT experience.

• Engineer II - Systems

  • LAS VEGAS - Requires 3+ years of designing and deploying infrastructure systems.

• Engineer III - Network

  • LAS VEGAS - Requires 5+ years of network engineering experience

• Nationwide Sales Opportunities

  • IN-PERSON, NATIONWIDE - Sales roles representing some of the nation's leading brands like RedBull in locations across the U.S. from entry-level to experienced

• Sanitation Supervisor

  • SAN FRANCISCO (NIGHT SHIFT) - Requires 2-5 years of sanitation management experience.

• Business Process Manager

  • REMOTE - Requires Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and 7+ years of bank operations experience.

• Strategy and Insights Analyst

  • REMOTE - Requires 3+ years experience in math, statistics, information systems, or finance OR a master's degree and 1+ year.

Interview Advice in 30 Seconds

Check out the below video with 30 seconds of rapid-fire interview advice and click into the body of the post for even more tips!

Upcoming Opportunities for the Military Community

Looking for an opportunity to connect with leading employers seeking to hire military talent? We’ve got your six! Check out the below upcoming events for the military community:

• Careers in Advertising with Publicis Media - November 1st

  • Join a “Big 5” advertising agency and Fortune 500 company that is SERIOUS about hiring military talent! Publicis Media is seeking military-connected candidates to work in person in one of eight major cities across the United States where they provide a paid, full-time training program after hire!

  • Register here.

• Careers in the Medical Device Industry with Stryker - November 11th

  • Join Stryker, a Fortune 500 medical device company on November 11th to learn about careers at the company, their advice for military job-seekers, and get to network and conduct informational interviews in breakout rooms!

  • Register here.

• Service to Success Virtual Military Hiring Fair - November 15th

  • Do you want to meet 10+ companies looking to hire military candidates in the course of an afternoon from the comfort of your home? This is the event for you! In an entirely virtual environment, you will be able to join virtual booths, speak live with recruiters, and apply to roles. Companies including Google, TEKsystems, TD Bank, The Venetian Las Vegas, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and more are registered and looking for you!

  • Register here.

Free Upskilling Opportunities and Resources

While we are on the topic of companies looking at your education and being a qualified candidate - Boots to Books offers numerous scholarships to military-connected students and job-seekers! The current scholarship offers include:

1. Google Certification Scholarships - Receive a Google Career Certification taught by Google volunteers at no cost, at your own pace. The trainings include IT, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, and more! Boots to Books provides ten Google Scholarships monthly, apply for the next class here.

2. Textbook Scholarships - Have your benefits been exhausted or are they being exceeded by the cost of your textbooks? Every semester since Boots to Books was founded the organization has provided scholarships to military-connected students whose benefits are being exceeded. Applications open at the beginning of each college semester, stay updated on the next round here!

3. Free Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Training - Oracle has long been committed to supporting and advocating for the military community, both through hiring from the community and offering free upskilling. They offer a great Oracle Cloud Infrastructure training completely cost-free to the military community. Check it out here!

4. ACT Now Education - ACT Now is an amazing organization that provides a plethora of free training opportunities! Check out their website and learn more about how to get free project management, cybersecurity, and more trainings! Check them out here!

Thanks for reading this edition of The Military Post! I hope my guru rants didn’t annoy you too much, but it is worth sharing! You CAN land a fantastic career, acquire a business, invest successfully, and more… heck you just did something far more difficult. However, like anything, don’t take it at face value and DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Dang it feels good to have a place to rant a bit 😄 !

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We will see you next month!