Recently Separated Veterans

Hey everyone. I am new the this forum and I am looking for advice and experience from veterans that have entered into the many veteran programs. I looking at completely changing my career once I get out. I am currently and IT Network Administrator and I need more freedom and less desk work lol. I have always been interested in trucking since I was a youngin' as my Aunt and Uncle own a logging company in Idaho. Anyway, I will be separating in January and want to hear about recent experiences as far as job choices. I have read a lot of opinions on dollar accounts, schooling, etc., but I plan to live in Buffalo, NY when i separate to be with my family after 12 years of service. We can handle OTR for the first year, but ideally I'd rather have home time and be able to stay in Buffalo with either regional routes or dedicated.

Any and all advice/recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Welcome. I am too considering a trucking career. I am almost done with my 20 years of service. The only thing I would think you should consider is, save your GI Bill (if you are considering using it), and go to through a paid cdl program. That way, if it is something you don't really like after a few years, then you still have your GI Bill to use.

Retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant here.

I would NOT recommend using your GI Bill, as tempting as it maybe to obtain my CDL's and training.

With that said, I'm also not up to speed on the current version of the GI Bill or the version that you fall under? I myself fell under the Vietnam Era version. Pretty much wasted pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration ~ Finance. Which at my age, pretty much would have gotten me a job in a Title Loan or Payday Loan office, a finance office if I was damned lucky ~ a finance office, or a low paying ~ dead end job at a credit union, maybe a bank.

If you've a disability rating, and depending upon your rating you maybe eligible for VA Vocational Training at your community college above and beyond using your GI Bill? Contact your VA representative for additional information, also DAV ~ Disabled American Veterans. This may or may not work against your counter to your goal of becoming a truck driver ~ or it may synch right in. It depends on the individual. But worth looking into.

Another thing, that I didn't discover until much later (too late) is that in some States, you can apply to (With a 5 to 10 points Veterans Hiring Preference ) and for a state job.

Pay $20,000 or so of your own money (in addition to the 7 ~ 8 % deducted on top of regular payroll deductions ) each pay period, and you would be eligible for retirement from the State in as little as FIVE YEARS! Alabama is one of them. You'll have to check into it in your own state.

There are ALSO State resources for Veterans, Google it and contact your state's veterans office. It varies from state to state, some are more generous than others. Veterans cemeteries, burials, and retirement homes are common, but some have tuition free or reduced tuition at state colleges etc.