Boots to Fed: Transitioning from the Military
into Federal Government Employment
Military to civilian transition can be
intimidating and uncomfortable as we
make a move from a very regimental
and “by the numbers workplace” and venture into
the working class. Enlisting at 20 years old, I felt the
desire to serve immediately after 9/11. While I
selected service in the Reserves, I spent most of my
time in the military on active duty orders that I
volunteered for. This included service in Afghanistan
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Marrying a fellow service member who was in
active duty, I had a big decision to make. We were
both in units that were deploying to the Middle East
and both slated to go. I was pregnant with our first
child and would have had to leave him with my
parents when our son was only three months old. I
decided to request a pregnancy discharge from the
reserves. While the decision was hard, I decided to
continue to serve as an Army wife instead.
Shortly after my son was born, my husband’s
orders to Iraq were rescinded and we were told that
they were replaced by orders from the Department of
Homeland Security to be part of a new team in
Denton, Texas that would represent military
assets and resources for the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). As I heard more about
his job at FEMA, I realized this could be how I could
continue to serve my country. I enrolled at the
University of North Texas using my GI Bill and started
my degree in Emergency Management. While still
studying, I started working as a secretary at the
FEMA office in Denton in 2008. Twelve years later, I
am a Deputy Branch Director for a team working on
Hurricane Harvey long term recovery mitigation. My
dream came true. I want other veterans to know that
if they still feel the urge to serve after unlacing their
boots, the federal government is a great place to fill
that desire.
A career jump from military service could leave
veterans feeling a huge sense of culture shock
and discomfort. Transition could be smoother if
considering employment within the Federal
government. There are several characteristics of
Federal workplaces that may provide a level of
comfort for those leaving the military, to include
standardized job classifications, chain of command
organizational structures, national service missions
and established pay grade-based salaries.
A veteran’s key mission through their service in
the military was the defense and protection of our
nation. They are the epitome of what it means to
“serve”. This is ingrained in those who chose to join
the armed forces and is easily aligned with Federal
government service. Each department and agency
provide critical services to the American people.
Those who want to seek employment within the
Federal government should start their search at
https://www.usajobs.gov/.
The Federal government also has a dedicated
veteran’s website at https://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
Another huge incentive to work within the
Federal government is the preference that veterans
receive over non-veteran applicants. Learn more
about preferences at
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-
government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/.
By Paloma Alaniz
U.S. Army Reserve Veteran,
Acting Branch Director,
Hazard Mitigation Branch,
Texas Recovery Office, FEMA
LS
Paloma Alaniz is a U.S. Army
Reserve veteran and combat
veteran from Operation
Enduring Freedom through
service in Afghanistan.
She is currently an employee
of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency within
the Region 6 Texas Recovery
office working on Hurricane
Harvey Long Term Recovery.
Want to comment or have any questions on
this article? Email us at info@latinastyle.com
Veteran’s Perspective
A pose outside of Bahrain Airfield Afghanistan where Paloma served as a member of the
321st Civil Affairs Brigade out of San Antonio.
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