By Juan G. Ayala, retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General. Director, Office of Military and Veteran Affairs and
Operations Lead, COVID 19 Response Team for the City of San Antonio, TX.
I retired from the Marine Corps in
2015 after 36 years of service. I had
not applied for a job in over three
decades and never crafted a resume.
The “executive” transition class I attended
before leaving the service pumped us with
information regarding future employment
such as “employers will be knocking
down your doors,” and “you will make
unbelievable amounts of money.” We
believed. As seasoned veterans, we had
accumulated decades of successful leadership
experience serving around the world in challenging and
hazardous assignments.
Back in Texas I scoured online sites, joined boards,
attended bourbon tastings, lunches, networked with
former colleagues, and rewrote my resume countless
times. Reality soon sunk in. Landing a job would not be
easy—regardless of retired rank. Rejection had
common themes. “Overqualified, but thank you for your
service”, and my favorite—"generals don’t want to
work.” Translation: Younger personnel with longer
working lives and willingness to start at the bottom are
desired, and all our combat awards and command time
don’t mean much to civilian employers. Months passed.
At a board meeting, I met a veteran who told me
he was searching for an assistant in the Office of
Military Affairs, City of San Antonio. I forwarded my
resume and waited. Weeks later, I received a call telling
me to prepare for something new to me—a phone
interview. That interview led to others to include one
with the City Manager. Even though I thoroughly
prepared for these interviews, grew my hair, and
sported new suits, these interviews were still harrowing.
My Transition
A room full of inquisitive civilians was not like walking
into a room full of uniforms. I thought I had blown every
interview. A month later, I was offered the job.
I accepted without negotiating my salary—did we
negotiate our salaries in the military?
Before my first day, I was offered the Director’s
position. The person
who had asked me to
apply had left the
position that day.
Awkwardly dressed
in a suit I arrived at the
office early. No one
was around except a
cleaning lady who asked
me who I was and then
remarked, “no one really
gets here until later.”
My transition was
not difficult. However,
good habits die hard.
I still press my clothes, shine my shoes, work out,
and try to keep the “middle-age spread” from
my “shrinking” trousers. I am privileged to serve
my community.
I tell the countless veterans I encounter to be
flexible, don’t expect to start at the top, be willing to do
tasks not in the job description, expect rejection, empty
your own trash cans, and make your own coffee. Your
young boss deserves to be there, and there is nothing
wrong with folks that never joined the military. Most
civilians continue to ask me if I was higher in rank than
a Sergeant.
Finally, I will always be a Marine. However,
whenever I have a bad day at work, I think of my new
motto--“I joined the City, the City didn’t join me!”
LS
Juan G. Ayala, retired
U.S. Marine Corps
Major General.
Veteran’s Perspective
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With Iraqi Drill Sergeants and recruits, Habbaniyah. Iraq. August, 2006.
Juan G. Ayala is a native of El Paso, Texas and a retired U.S. Marine Corps Major
General. During his 36-year military career, he served throughout the U.S. and around the
world. He is the former Inspector General of the Marine Corps, and his service includes
four combat tours in support of the Global War on Terror, humanitarian operations in
Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Africa, counterdrug operations along the
U.S. Southwest Border, and Cuban/Haitian migrant operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
His last assignment was at the Pentagon where he commanded all 24 Marine Corps
installations and bases. He is currently the Director, Office of Military and Veteran Affairs
On patrol with Iraqi General and staff. Camp and Operations Lead, COVID-19 Response Team for the City of San Antonio, Texas.
Ratib, Jazeera, Iraq. 2006.
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