The Secret to a Success—Start Early
By Karen L. Rolirad, Executive Director, Bexar County Military and Veterans Service Center.
Transitioning out of the military
can be a very stressful and
challenging time. For some,
leaving the military and entering the
civilian workforce can feel like stepping off
a cliff into the unknown. As the military has
taught us, one of the smartest actions we
can take is to begin planning early and
hope our plan survives the first contact. My
military transition didn’t come easily, but
I’ll share with you lessons I learned.
Preparation equals success. One year from your
departure, take control of your transition by preparing
yourself and your family. For me, I was in denial of
leaving the military and only took 30 days to prepare.
In 2015, I attended the obligatory Transition Assistance
Program class, but it didn’t prepare me for my next
opportunity. I left the military with little understanding
of what I would do next, and a resume filled with
acronyms. Fortunately, I took advantage of local
transition services organizations that help me with
interviewing skills, resume writing, and networking.
Lieutenant Colonel (USAF Ret.)
Know your worth. One of the hardest things I
found during my transition was knowing my value in
the civilian market. Rank often determines our value in
the military, but military rank rarely translates. Most
hiring managers are not veterans and won’t
understand the value of your military rank. It is helpful
if you quantified your value in what you can do to
support their organization. Be prepared for rejection,
as it may happen often. Don’t despair. Patience is a
virtue in determining your next career. It can be
measured in the amount of money you saved before
your departure. I was fortunate as I accepted my first
job one month after my terminal leave ended;
however, this is rare, as it takes many up to a year to
find employment.
Prepare your medical records. Over time in the
Karen L. Rolirad, Executive Director at
Bexar County Military and Veterans
Service Center.
before leaving the military. I got this right and
received my disability rating within a couple of months
after retirement.
military, our bodies have borne the burden of a
challenging profession. Go to the doctor now!
Document every injury or ailment (mental or physical).
These records will be used to accurately assess the
amount of your entitled VA disability benefits. Work with
a certified Veteran Service Officer 180 to 90 days
Be ready for culture shock. Corporate culture is
hard to define. The military shapes us to be loyal,
hardworking, punctual, and have high standards. These
are great attributes to apply to your new job. While
most companies have established core values, I found
that most are not the same as the military. In my first
year in the corporate world, I was also 10 minutes early
for every meeting and stood up when my boss walked
in the door. My behavior resulted in feedback that I
was too “military.” I had to change. If you like the job,
you can assimilate, but don’t lose the values you
hold most dear.
I learned a lot from my transition. However, my
success has been due to the values I learned in the
military. I still live by them even though I consider
myself “civilianized.”
LS
Veteran’s Perspective
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Lt Col Rolirad (USAF) leads the first operations team for the 625th Global Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. 2015.
Karen L. Rolirad is the Executive Director at Bexar County Military and Veterans Service
Center. In this capacity, she serves the approximately 300,000 Veterans in the City of San
Antonio and in Bexar County. Her duties enhance veterans’ abilities to successfully transition
from the military, find long-term employment, and obtain earned benefits from the U.S
Department of Veteran Affairs. She strives to enhance the quality and dignity of a Veterans’, and
their families’, life cycle from their transition from the military to death. Prior to assuming her
position at Bexar County, Rolirad was the Deputy Director of the Office of Military
and Veteran Affairs for the City of San Antonio. Prior to her tenure in the City, Rolirad
retired in 2016 from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel with 23+ years of
honorable service.
Major (USAF) Rolirad, MSgt (USAF)
Shawn Wolffe and Petty Officer Third Class
(USN) TJ Mahoney — Theater Collection
Management Team in Kabul, AFG, 2007.
42 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 4, 2021