Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/74682
Call toSERVICE continued where he was a helicopter mechanic. "I knew I wanted to go back to school. While I had a lot of mechanical experience, employers like that degree, this past spring from MPTC's auto tech program. The combination of his military " says Schaefer, who graduated experience and degree led to a job offer before he even graduated – something unique for many of today's grads. He landed a job at the Ford dealership in Princeton as a mechanic. Schaefer didn't have much trouble transitioning back into school or landing a job after graduation, but that's not the case for many vets, Lieburn says. "It's things that people who aren't in the military might think is silly, but for those of us who were in the service it's hard, for example, to figure out what to wear. When you're in the military, you always have your uniform. When I got back from Desert Storm (in the early 1990s), I remember sitting there trying to figure out what to wear, " he says. Vets often have trouble explaining how what they did could help in a new position and Schueller tries to help them see through that. employers also need to realize some vets come back to civilian life with some deep-set habits, such as sitting near the exit and becoming upset at fire alarms or other loud, unexpected noises. "We just tell the vets they have a support system here and Lieburn says educators and 12 | INSIGHT on Manufacturing • July 2012 Getting Connected While Moraine Park Technical College will launch its Student Veterans of America chapter this fall, Lakeshore Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College already have active organizations in place. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has its own veterans club. The group is designed to help students as they transition from military life to life on campus, says Jayne Meyer, LTC's certifying veterans official. She says it provides a welcoming environment where students can ask questions, get information or gain skills. The group also has a blog at http://gotoltc.edu/veterans/index.php. encourage them to use it," he says. aren't run like the military. "Decisions are made very differently in the military than they are in the corporate world, Another challenge, Schueller says, is that businesses to veterans transitioning out of the military about how workplaces traditionally work. In 2011, MPTC and LTC were both named Military " she says, adding that she has taught workshops Friendly Schools and while Lieburn is busy getting the word out about the new student group for vets, Jayne Meyer, LTC's certifying veterans official, works to make sure students know about their veterans group and promotes the group's blog. Schueller says one of the biggest challenges she runs service into an advantage and how to transfer the skills they learned into the workforce, could help in a new position, and Schueller tries to help them see through that. As for employers, some have perceptions about what Vets often have trouble explaining how what they did " into while working with vets and employers is that both sides have preconceived notions about the other. "I really work with vets and help them turn their military repaired helicopters but after being in the military for many years, you eventually get promoted and are soon managing other people. That helped me to realize I would enjoy a career in HR. " she says. "For example, I veterans are and Schueller says companies need to see each employee as an individual. Those perceptions have led some vets to leave their military experience off their resume, something that Schueller says is crazy. "That is great, relative experience that you should be proud of," she says. www.insightonmfg.com