Military Transition Blog - So. California Job Resources

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There are quite a few resources available for people leaving the military and for former military members. Both resources below have placed people leaving the military and have offered their services to our community.

Let each resource know you heard about them here with Veterans In Motion. If you're located in Southern California, contact the below resources and see how they may be able to help you with employment. Best wishes and thanks to the point of contacts for offering their services to our military community.




Partners In Diversity, Inc.
POC: Frances L. Martinez
Senior Recruiter
3510 Torrance Blvd., Suite 304
Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: 310.792.1200
Fax: 310.792.1211
Email: frances.martinez@p-i-d.biz

Peoples Choice Staffing, Inc.
POC: Wanda Louis
Senior Staffing Consultant
11860 Magnolia Ave., Suite J
Riverside, CA 92503
Phone: 951.352.1980
Fax: 951.352.1911
Email: wlouis888@aol.com



Your Military Transition Coach,


Johnetta Matthews

Military Transition Newsletter

Tags: military transition military
Work military separation military retirement military transition
life
veterans
va
homeless
Iraq


Over the past few weeks, our weekly newsletter illustrated how the first chapter of our book addresses our inner feelings regarding "Sense of Entitlement" as we are leaving the military.

There are definitely benefits to being in the military. In many cases, we become accustomed to the resources that are available to us. Many of those benefits may not be as accessible once we leave the military.

For the next several weeks, the Veterans In Motion Newsletter will address very thought provoking questions we may want to ask ourselves while leaving the military. These thought provoking questions may benefit a former military person who is desiring new outcomes.

If you'd like to subscribe to our newsletter, see our web site at www.veteransinmotion.com and receive a free chapter to our most recent book.



Your Military Transition Coach
Johnetta Matthews


Shorten Your Military Transition Timeline With Us.

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Johnetta Matthews

Military Transition - A Fellow Veteran

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Today I experienced a very heart felt moment. I saw a military veteran who was hungry and it ripped my heart apart. You may be wondering why it had such an affect on me. This gentleman, and I say gentleman, had served in the military like many of us. He still had a military haircut and was neat in appearance.

He asked me if I could spare some change for him to eat. Folks, this is the real world I'm talking about. There are many homeless veterans who were successful in the military, yet when they left the military, their lives took a turn that they didn't expect.

I was at McDonald's at the time and tears comes to my eyes as I type this. This gentleman had served in the Army and only wanted something to eat (he mentioned where he received training and what era he had served, Vietnam). I asked him if it was okay for me to buy him something to eat versus giving him money. Basically, I wanted to make sure that the money was for food. Guess what? He said he would appreciate me buying him something to eat.

I went inside McDonald's and I wanted for him to have a feast. I ordered a double big hamburger, large fries, soda, and two apple pies. In my heart, I hope he doesn't mind me sharing this with you. I just want for you to know there are many of us that are hurting. The only people who may fully understand us is another uniformed or former uniformed comrade.

This man was so happy to get the food and when I mentioned that I was a Military Transition Coach, his eyes lit up. I told him that no Vet would be hungry on my watch and I meant that with all of my heart. I believe this comment caught him by surprise. I turned my head so he could keep his dignity. He took the food and I mentioned my web site to help him in case he could get to a computer with internet access. I believe him when he said that he would look the site up.

As I drove off, I had to make a U-Turn to get to my destination. I ended up in front of this man going the opposite direction. He was sitting in front of the McDonalds eating his food. You could see he was finally content and appeared peaceful and at ease. I had such a great feeling that I had helped someone who I could understand that my heart was at rest because I had helped one of us. The most heart felt thing of it all is that he called me Ma'am when I asked him a question.

The next time you see someone who appears to be a drifter or homeless, with a baseball cap squared, with a close haircut, standing erect, ask yourself is this person a veteran? Our characteristics are universal and are very obvious if you're observant.

God Bless the man that I met today. May his travels bring him peace and tranquility. At one time in his life he wore a uniform, followed orders, sacrificed his life, and didn't know how to adjust to becoming a civilian when he left the military. Situations like this is why Veterans In Motion exist.

God Bless all who have served and are serving.


Johnetta Matthews
Military Transition Coach
www.veteransinmotion.com

Military Transition - Insights

Tags: military transition military
Work military separation military retirement military transition
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Iraq

Many people may wonder why I post career fairs for people leaving the military on this blog. It was very difficult for me to find the resources that appear on this blog and also on our main web site. A great deal of research and time was performed to bring all of the tools we have posted on both sites. My vision is for these tools to assist you with your military transition. Let me share a personal story with you.

When I was approaching retirement, I spent numerous months on the computer looking for a job. My job search began a year prior to leaving the military. I submitted my resume on many job web sites and to my surprise, I received several responses. The responses I received didn't match with the types of jobs I was looking for and I knew that I had to go after the jobs that I wanted assertively.

So I searched, emailed, and at times called employers to see if I could land a job interview. Still I had very little luck on finding a job that was suitable.

While I was searching for a job, I had a commissioned based business and things were really getting down to the wire financially. Luckily, while in the military, I had saved for a rainy day. Still, I found myself grasping for a part time, minimum wage job and working during the wee hours of the night. Very little help was around and I felt extremely isolated from the civilian world. I was still new to the area and knew very few people who I could call.

Then one day, I decided to continue my search for a job on the internet. I located several local positions that I really wanted to pursue. So I hopped in my car and drove to various employers. By the time I reached the sixth employer, I landed a job interview. It was a military veteran who saw my worth when I handed him my resume. I'm forever grateful to my military comrade.

Now remember, I had only been out of the service for four months by the time I had an opportunity to land a really good job in the civilian sector. My life was changing at the speed of light and I could barely keep up with what was going on around me. I was now a civilian fumbling in the dark to find my way. Yet, I held my head high and pursued what I believed was attainable.

As I drove home from the employer, I was struck by a diesel truck. Luckily, I was at a light and standing still when it happened. The truck driver drove off and fled the scene. I followed him onto the freeway, not knowing what shape my car was in, and called 911 on my cell phone.

Eventually a California High Patrolman signaled for the truck driver to pull over. This occurred after I followed him for 12 miles. My world felt as if it was coming to an end. I finally had good luck getting a job interview and then a dark cloud appeared out of nowhere.

To make a long story short, when I retired, many events took place that were out of my control. There were also times I made bad decisions based on lack of knowledge. I still had to keep pushing towards my goals regardless to adverse circumstances that were thrown in my path.

The reason why I'm sharing this story with you is because many of you will deal with ups and downs while you transition out of the military. My only advise is for you to stay focused on the things that are important to you and to perservere any obstacle that comes your way (the best to your ability).

My genuine desire is for this blog and our main web site to become tools you can use while you transition out of the military. There's a weekly newsletter you can subscribe to and receive various methods to assist you with your military transitioning at www.veteransinmotion.com . There are also means for you to be coached by someone who has been there, done that, and overcame many obstacles that were thrown in their path.

Take a look at the previous posts regarding listed job fairs that may be in your area. I designed both this blog and our main web site at www.veteransinmotion.com as informational tools to get you started with your quest.

Best wishes and may this site be a beacon to help you find your way with your civilian travels. Feel free to drop us a line at vetsinmotion@aol.com for a complimentary coaching session.

Stay safe.

Your Military Transition Coach
Johnetta Matthews
Milblogger

Announcement: There's a career fair in the Anaheim California area on July 28, 2005. Write vetsinmotion@aol.com for the details.