Stay up-to-date with news and information about your military education. You can get the information you need to make informed decisions about your online and military correspondence programs. Learn what's going on with military education and how you can make a smooth military transition. Your civilian career awaits you!

Preparing for a Military Transition? EC Says it Starts with Utilizing Your Military Education Benefits

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Chris Hodges, an Education Coordinator (EC) at Allied Schools, brings real-world experience and knowledge to his career counseling and helping service members with their education options. With almost ten years of military service behind him, he knows first-hand what service members need from their career training. He can assist with their military education benefits - including military tuition assistance, GI Bill and military spouse scholarships - as well as help them get the career training to advance their civilian or military careers.

When students partner with Allied, they have access to staff members who understand what it means to an active-duty service member - and Chris Hodges is a prime example. He works with service members to understand their benefits and helps them realize the full potential of their future career. What could be better than being fully prepared for your military transition?

Here's what Chris has to say:

Q: In what branch of the military did you serve?
A: Navy

Q: How many years did you serve with the Navy?
A: Nine

Q: Where were you deployed?
A: The Persian Gulf, Tunisia, Bahrain and Sri Lanka (tsunami relief)

Q: When and why did you decide to transition to civilian life?
A: In 2008, I had accomplished what I wanted to in the Navy and wanted to focus on my family.

Q: Were you aware you had military TA benefits? If so, why did you choose not to use your benefits?
A: Yes I was aware that I had military TA available to me. I never used my TA benefits because no one really explained the whole process to me and I didn't have a firm grasp on how to take advantage of those military education benefits.

Q: Did you ever consider using TA to enhance your chances for a military promotion?
A: No

Q: Did your spouse utilize her military spouse scholarship? If so, what was her experience? If not, was she aware that she had military spouse education benefits available to her?
A: No, my wife had no idea that there were military spouse scholarships available to her for being a service member's spouse.

Q: Was your transition to civilian life difficult without the help of your military TA?
A: Yes, I found out the hard way that military experience will only take you so far. I was told so often that my experience would have employers beating down my door to hire me. That wasn't the case at all. So many employers want to see that you have some sort of education behind you.

Q: Do you think your military transition would have gone differently had you utilized your TA? If so, how?
A: I believe that it would have definitely helped me secure a job faster if I would have used my military TA to get an education. Having an education would have opened up so many more doors for me.

Q: What advice do you have for active duty military service members who are ready for their military transition?
A: Use your military TA benefits to get your self ready for your post-military career. It is a lot different than the military. A lot of employers don't care what you did in the military if you don't have education to go along with it.

Q: Knowing what you know now, where can active duty service members go to learn more about military scholarships and military friendly schools?
A: They can use their education service office on base, or any of the services military websites (AKO, NKO, etc.)

Q: When should active duty service members start planning for their civilian futures?
A: "Right now", "ASAP," "Immediately," "Right Away," etc. I cannot stress enough how important it is to utilize your military TA benefits, and with distance education available, it is super convenient.

Labels: Chris Hodges, Education Coordinator, military education benefit, military transition

Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 9:56 AM • 0 comments

   › Contact Us for more information Quick Links

• Military Education
• Active-Duty Military
• Military Spouse
• About Allied
• Success Stories
• FAQ
• Real Estate
• Medical
• Business
• Emerging Technology
• Get Started Today
• Refer a Friend
• Free Information
• General DRE Info
• Credentials
• Contact Us
• Site Map
• Military Spouses TA
• 100% Tuition Assistance
• Military News
• Military Benefits
• GI Bill
• Military University
• High School

Free Information Submit your contact information and an Allied Admissions Representative will contact you shortly:

First Name
Last Name
Phone
Email
Course of Interest Real Estate Sales Real Estate Appraisal Real Estate Home Inspection Real Estate Property Management Medical Billing Medical Coding Medical Transcription Medical Terminology Medical Administrative Assistant Business Management Financial Accounting Administrative Assistant Legal Secretary Microsoft® Courses