Homeland Security Outlook

Q&A with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , conducted by HSO Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Colonel Michael Angley is a Public Relations Officer for Henley-Putnam University (http://www.henley-putnam.edu) and the award-winning author of the Child Finder Trilogy. He retired from the Air Force in 2007 following a 25-year career as a Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations (OSI). Angley has an M.A. in National Security Affairs from the US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, and a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Psychology from King's College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He is a former National Defense Fellow and Adjunct Professor of International Relations at Florida International University, Miami, Florida, and is an Honor Graduate of the Defense Language Institute's Korean language program.

Q. You have made the transition from a military career to a civilian career. Tell us what you learned about the process. What did you do right; what did you do wrong?

A. The greatest lesson I learned in the process is the value of preparation. That may sound obvious, but the reality is there is a whole lot packed into the word preparation when it comes to making the ultimate military-to-civilian transition. The sooner one begins to prepare, the smoother it will be when the time comes. One of the best things I did was to attend my host base Transition Assistance Program (TAP). During my TAP class I made a list of the main things to accomplish before I became a civilian, which were the long poles in the tent.  As I inched closer to the big day, I took advantage of some of the specialized classes the Airman and Family Readiness Center--the USAF TAP people--provided, things like resume development and interview skills. The basic TAP course covers these very well, but I found the hands-on specialized classes held separately from the TAP course to be great skill enhancers.

If I had to do it all over again, I would begin preparing 10 to 12 months out, instead of around the six month point when I did. That was probably my greatest regret because I felt things became incredibly compressed as I neared my final out. I also underestimated the value of networking in finding a new job. That's not to say people must know someone to get a great job; after all, what sells someone to an employer is experience and competence. But it doesn't hurt to tap into professional networks. You have to leverage opening doors so that your resume lands in the right inbox.

Q. What general advice can you offer someone looking for a career in Homeland Security? What are the areas with the best opportunities for growth?

A. For military members looking to work in the Homeland Security arena, I would advise two things: First, learn as much as possible about the broad community it comprises (the myriad of agencies, types of jobs within, authorities inherent in each sector, etc.). By knowing how the community is structured, and what types of careers are available, it makes it easier to find the right job fit for the member's particular set of skills, experiences, and education. Second, make sure that your security clearance is up to date. Having an up-to-date security clearance--whatever the level may be--will give an applicant a jumpstart in a new job. Cleared individuals are much more attractive to an employer who typically must fill vacancies in a matter of weeks or a few months, and not be encumbered by a lengthy background investigation process.

The Homeland Security field is wide open for growth. My sense is that border control problems will increase, particularly once the US economy improves and we face a new influx of illegal immigrants looking for work. Both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will likely see a surge in effort as a result. I also think we have a dearth of qualified analysts across the spectrum. Last year the FBI announced it was hiring several hundred new agents and analysts. As the problem of homegrown radicals and domestic terrorism increases, the need for people skilled in connecting the dots will become paramount.

Q. What are the top three challenges facing someone making the transition?

A. I'd say these are: understanding the private-sector culture, translating military experiences into civilian terms, and possessing the right education to land the perfect job.

It doesn't matter if a person is transitioning from the military to a civilian government job, the cultures are very different, as are the HR rules and procedures. It's even more difficult for someone leaving the military (a non-profit) for a civilian career in the private sector, corporate world (a for-profit). Companies are all about the bottom line and they consider what a potential new employee can do to contribute. Learning these cultural differences and business principles will give the new veteran an edge.

Second, being able to convert one's military experiences into actionable language that will resonate with a civilian employer is an art. The TAP program helps with this during resume classes, but it still takes a great deal of thought and rigor. If a resume contains traditional military job titles, acronyms, and jargon, then it's time for a resume makeover. If someone is able to cite an accomplishment in terms like this: pioneered a quality-control system that in its first year improved productivity 85%, reduced man-hours by 63%, and saved $2.6M, then he or she is well on the way.

Finally, having the right education for the job being sought is vital. This is often one of those long poles in the tent. The time to think about it is not a few months, or even one year, before leaving the military. It is something service members must think about throughout their military career. After all, everyone in uniform leaves active duty at some point. Education is not only important to a post-military career, it's also important during a military career, so it just makes sense to think about it early and often. Once someone has that inkling that he or she will transition in the near or mid-future, I recommend an education reassessment. If someone is thinking about a second career in Homeland Security, for example, it is prudent to learn as much as possible about the education requirements for entry into certain jobs, and then find the schools that provide what's needed. If at all possible, service members should use up their active duty Tuition Assistance (T/A) benefits before they separate or retire. These benefits are lost once the member leaves the service. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a generous benefit, but it only makes sense to maximize use of T/A while on active duty, and save as much of the veterans benefits for later&possibly even transfer the benefits to family members if eligible.