Month: March 2016

What is an E6 Pay worth really?

Here at CONUS Battle Drills I keep telling you about the Big Four Questions every veteran absolutely must answer before getting out.  Despite Chad’s very eloquent and convincing reasoning for asking “Why” first, I maintain that if you are not financially ready, or don’t understand the financial ramifications of your decision, it doesn’t matter if you have the best reason in the world; you can’t get out yet.

So what is your pay actually worth?

I asked an E6 friend of mine to send me an LES so I could show what the equivalent pay would be in the civilian world.  I did some analysis to make the take home bi-weekly pay as close as I could get them while still being a near apples to apples comparison.  In the civilian world, you have to pay for healthcare and retirement, so I included those in the civilian column, but only the dental in the military column.

Here is how it shakes out:

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So this E6 is making the equivalent of almost $7,500 a month even though his base pay is only $3,719!

Here is the mistake that I made when I got out: I thought a “comparable” salary meant making the same as my base pay and I was WAY wrong about that.  For some reason, I didn’t take into account the additional expenses in health care and retirement and the loss of BAH, that’s why I’m telling you about it now.

BAH and BAS are also not taxed, which means that even the tax burden for the civilian is higher because he’s in a much higher bracket. Some of these numbers can change depending on the number of tax deductions, the state that you live in, your election of 401k, how much your health care costs, etc. but the point remains:  Your base pay is not representative of your take home pay.

There are, however, some major considerations you need to take into account…

Just because you would need to make nearly double in the civilian world to have a similar take-home pay, does not mean that’s how much you’re worth.

Sorry to tell you this, but you’re probably going to start off making similar to your base pay because that’s what your skills will translate to in the civilian world, and for those of you in senior leader positions, expect less than your base pay (hopefully you can supplement with retirement).

I’ve told you before you need to make a budget, and in the book I discuss this in even more detail, and if you look above, you should notice why that’s even more critical when you get out.

Financial struggles are usually where troubles in marriages begin.  It’s the first snowball that can lead to so many other bad decisions.  For veterans, there are even more issues because you don’t even know what to expect from a paycheck, you’ve never paid for healthcare, and you’ve never HAD to save for retirement.

It’s not all bad news, ok, but I want you to be ready for what is coming.  I want you to fully understand the ramifications of your decision.  I want you to see all the cards on the table, that’s what CONUS Battle Drills is about.  The point is to prepare you so this transition isn’t a kick in the nuts.

-LJF

Share this post, it’s possible someone you know is about to get out and make a terrible financial decision.  Let’s look out for each other.





Start with Why

Louis has “four main questions” that he challenges each of his readers to ask themselves before or during the process of separating from the military.

I suggested to him (Louis), from very early on, that his first question purposed to CBD readers (or anyone he talks to for that matter) should be, “Why are you getting out of the military?”. Because, this question is fundamentally different than all others. It forces one to do some soul-searching. All of his other questions are certainly important and absolutely merit an answer. However, all of those other questions are geared toward “preparing you” for a successful transition into civilian life rather “accessing why” you want to make the leap. “Preparing you” is notably the crux of his book. But looking at the “why” (as it relates to leaving the military) is the first, and arguably the most critical step in the entire process of becoming a civilian again. That is why I chose the topic of, “Why are you getting out of the military?” as my second post.

Getting ready your finances, creating a marketable resume, preparing for interviews, researching your options, negotiating your salary, building a business plan, etc., etc., all have one thing in common: they are all vital to the planning process for being successful in civilian life. None of those other questions, however, produce a reason to actually do it.

You may notice all of the “to do” and “how to” instructions from Louis are similar to the components of the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). Weird, right? An Army Officer explaining things in our native tongue, who is surprised? Using the MDMP to prepare for the transition is certainly helpful and will contribute to your success; whether it be Initial Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), Mission Analysis (MA), Course of Action Development (COADEV), etc. You owe it to yourself to be thorough. The application of such an intense and thorough format (such as MDMP) is important, extremely important. After all, why wouldn’t you want to apply such a robust anaylsis and planning method to the next steps of the rest of your life? Louis does a wonderful job of mapping out the “how to” part of transitioning from military service to civilian life in CBD and continues to refine that map with his blogs. That is what makes the CBD book and FB page so great!

I understand why Louis can’t elaborate on the topic of “why” more than he already has, and I am relieved he did not try. The reason he cannot and should not elaborate more is because the motivations to “get out” for each complex and unique individual are as numerous as the motivations to join. This is a very personal choice. After all, it is you and no one else who is going to be living with the consequences (good or bad) of the decision. I would like to remind you that the “why” question is NOT actually a component of MDMP. I believe Louis strategically avoided getting into the trenches on this. We all know that Louis is a combat veteran and while he made the personal decision to “hang up his spurs,” he is not suggesting that you need to as well. He deliberately did not provide a universal reason to leave the military. He knows that it is a personal decision. He does, however, require you to ask yourself that question though. Why are you getting out of the military?

Some veterans may accidentally confuse “why” with “in order to.” The simplest answer for distinguishing the difference between these two things is this:
All of us (veterans) never get to actually decide “why,” while we are wearing a uniform. Our “why” (for any assignment, deployment, mission, etc.) is simply because the “boss” said so. The “in order to” is the “boss’s” explanation of why he or she is deciding to make us do something. More simply put, it is his or her statement on what they are trying achieve. The only time we (as subordinates at any level) got to decide “why” was when we made the personal decision to join the military in the first place.

So, whether you commissioned or enlisted into the military, you have not made this type of “why” decision since you joined. Deciding “why” to separate from the military is the first time you have had that level of power, since your enlistment/commissioning date, to make a decision all on your own. The decision to “get out” should be taken as seriously as the decision to “get in” or join. Understanding “WHY” we are doing something is likely more important than understanding “HOW”.

I, like Louis, will not suggest that you should get out of the military.

If you have already determined your “why” with sound reason then congratulations on making the first step to a successful transition. You can now proceed to the “how to” list with confidence and clarity. If you are still unclear on a decision as to “why” you want to get out of the service, I would encourage you to stay in until you formulate one. I would also encourage you not to rush this step. Give it your best mental energy, pray about it, and talk to people who care about you or who you respect for ideas, feedback, and perspective before proceeding. You’ll be much more prepared to face “the devil that is in the details” if know why you are doing it.




Veteran Profile: Yancy Caruthers, NW of Eden

CONUS Battle Drills is very excited to introduce a fellow combat veteran, Yancy Caruthers author of North West of Eden!

One of the pleasures of taking on this project has been meeting all the great veterans out there that are deciding that they too are going to get involved and do something.

Yancy has been doing some great work and is regularly publishing great content.  Check out his page www.yancycaruthers.com and on Facebook: North West of Eden.  You can find his books North West of Eden and the Medic! series (Korea, Desert Storm, and Iraq) all on Amazon.

He has already featured us on his page and given us some great tips on getting the message out!

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The idea came to me in the middle of the night, at a time when I should have been sleeping.  I’m sure many of you are familiar with this thoughtful time when the bladder wakes you and the brain refuses to let you go back to dreamland.

In my area, there are a variety of organizations that serve the needs of veterans who are transitioning back to the civilian workplace – they will teach you how to translate military skills, write resumes, and interview for the job of your dreams.

We’ve heard the stories, and some of us have lived them.  A patriotic employer may actively search out people with military experience or offer incentives.  They manage to hire a vet, but can’t communicate expectations in a manner in which their new employee can understand.  Perhaps the new employer is a good manager (sometimes too good!) but doesn’t have as much leadership experience as their new employee.  Maybe the upward mobility isn’t clearly visible.

For whatever reason, employer and employee fail to communicate.  Both are frustrated, and the relationship eventually ends badly.  The vet is discouraged by his career prospects, and the boss thinks twice about hiring another veteran.  Eventually, both give up.

The insomnia-induced epiphany started out as a question:  If the gap between civilians and veterans is so wide, why are we building the bridge from only one side?  Who is out there working with employers?  Not just to help them hire veterans, but to integrate them, retain them, and develop them into the corporate assets that many have the potential to be.

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I shared my thoughts with Al, who works as Veterans Representative at the Missouri Department of Economic Development.  Together, we hatched a plan for a panel discussion designed for human resource professionals and other hiring managers.  Our three person panel consisted of a veteran who had successfully transitioned into a civilian career, a director of volunteers at a local hospital, and a manager from a large banking organization.  Al (or rather, the state of Missouri) provided a meeting room and blasted out the invitations to his mailing list of employers.  We met with our panelists two weeks beforehand, just to make sure that the presentations would compliment each other.

On the morning of the presentation, 48 people attended.  What followed was a frank, two-hour discussion, guided by the thoughtful responses of the three panelists (and one awesome moderator!).  We scored some local news coverage, and the city’s media department videotaped the entire presentation.  The participants left with a few new tools in their kits, and many were hungry for more information.  Currently, plans are being made to present this seminar as a model program for other divisions of the Missouri Department of Economic Development to present in their own regions.

We didn’t do everything perfectly, but that’s not the point – we did something.  We reached out, got people excited, and started a dialogue.

It was incredibly easy!  A few phone calls to find the panelists, a couple of meetings and some prep time – that was it.  Al and I estimated that we might have put ten hours into the effort.  We just put the right people in the room.

And it’s already bigger than me.  Others will follow my lead, with their own local panelists and moderator.  I’m not threatened by that.  I’m a trailblazer.  Those who follow me will have a model to go by and won’t repeat my mistakes.  They will do it differently and better – others may even tell them so.  I hope they do.

–

 

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Yancy Caruthers is a veteran, retired Army nurse, and former U.S. diplomat.  He is the author of Northwest of Eden, his memoir of providing medical care during the Iraq War.  He also writes Medic!, a series of stories about an Army medic from each of the living wars – from WW2 to Afghanistan.

“The Drive”

My name is Chad.

Louis Fernandez asked if I would be willing to write some on his blog.

After deciding that I would, we both agreed an introductory segment would be the most appropriate place for me to start.

I will not spend much time talking about myself, as I assume most readers will have little concern about such things.

However, some information about myself, as well as my connections with the author of CONUS Battle Drills, maybe good for context.

I am a civilian now. Before that, I served in the United States Military for nine years.  First, as an Infantry Officer and then as a Special Forces Detachment Commander in the Army.

I am now a self-employed farmer and a stay-at-home dad.

I first met Louis in the summer of 2000.  We were both newly enrolled ROTC cadets at the University of Florida.

I had no intention of going into the military but took the course as a suggestion and recommendation from a fellow high school graduate and friend of mine.  That’s not very much important.  What is important, little did I know at the time, is that through this decision to take ROTC classes, I would be exposed to some of the most brilliant and patriotic Americans I have ever encountered.   Some of which have become my best friends.  The climax of both would be Louis Fernandez.

I have countless stories of how my life-long friendship with Louis began, developed, and endured.  I am not sure that this is the forum to tell all of those stories. Should you find me on a porch swing or around a camp fire with a beer then maybe you will be afforded the opportunity to hear such great tales.  I will simply say, for now, that Louis and I have certainly spent some formative years together and he has had a huge impact on my own life.

I do, however, want to take a brief moment to share one particular personal story (there are SO many) with all of you that I think will help paint the picture of Louis’s character (for you readers who are interested).

Louis and I graduated from the University of Florida and were commissioned as 2LTs in May of 2004.  Shortly after that we were required to report to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry Officer Basic Course (IOBC).

To make a long story short, we loaded up our minimal personal belongings into his KIA Sephia, the day before we were suppose to report, and made the 278 mile drive from Gainesville, FL to Fort Benning, GA.

Immediately upon checking into our barracks I realized that I had forgotten not some but ALL of my military uniforms back in a closet at my previous home in Gainesville.  Our course was to commence with a formation early the next morning.

There was not enough time for me to buy or pull together replacement uniforms.  For me, there was no other option but to retrieve my forgotten uniforms.  I was both stressed and anxious to say the least.  Rather than just lend me his car (which would have been most generous in-of-itself), Louis decided to travel all the way back to Gainesville with me.
We got back into his car and we drove all way back to Florida (and then back again to Fort Benning).  All through the night we drove.

What would have been a 4.5 hour trip turned into a 14 hour trip.

 

I was exhausted and frustrated at my own stupidity.  Yet, he did not let me endure the hardship of my mistake alone.

He could have easy stayed at Fort Benning that afternoon and evening; and got the good nights rest, he deserved, before starting his first day of his new career.

His willingness to endure what I have since coined “The Drive” is a memory that I will never lose or an act of kindness that I will ever forget.

So, with the windows down at 70 mph, smoking cheap cigars, and talking about everything from money, religion, politics, and women, to stay awake, the two of us made “The Drive” together.

I chose this story, from so many, to share because it speaks volumes about who Louis is as a person.  He is fiercely loyal to his friends, family, comrades, and countrymen.  He goes above and beyond to make sure that no one is left “going it alone.”  These same attributes were so blatantly obvious to me in his book CONUS Battle Drills.  Sure, he might be abrasive when he tells you that you are an idiot (though he is probably right) but never to the extent where he is actually passing any judgment.  He has made his own mistakes.  He is not perfect.  But you can bet that he is looking out for you.  He wants to provide EVERYONE with the opportunity to learn from his own experiences and to make sure you are successful.

I can tell you, without any doubt, that Louis wants you to be ready on the day you sign in, to the extent that he will get in the car and drive you the extra mile to get you there.

-CWS