Career, education fair gives Marines, sailors tools for future

Twentynine Palms -- The Combat Center’s Career Resource Office and Education Office hosted an Education and Career Fair at the West Gym aboard the Combat Center, March 23, 2016.

More than 46 employers and 27 educators provided Marines and sailors information on their respective organizations and schools to prepare them for their transition out of the armed services and into the civilian workforce.

“Whether someone does four years or 20, every service member will eventually get out of their respective branch of service,” said Virginia Sulick, program manager, ‎Career Resource Office. “They should be preparing for that transition. They would not go to war unprepared and in the same sense, they should not go into the rest of their lives unprepared.”

In accordance with Marine Corps Order 1700.31, Marines are required to attend the one-week Transition Readiness Seminar 12 to 14 months before their End of Active Service or 12 to 24 months prior to retirement but no later than 180 days prior to EAS or retirement. TRS provides exposure to opportunities in transition, career, and employment assistance to active duty, reserve component and eligible family members through the Career Resource Office.

“If they have a long term goal, they should look into ways they can do things while they are still in to maximize the resources the military offers them,” Sulick said. “Even service members who don’t want to get out yet but still want to be promotable; I think it’s important to prove they deserve the next rank by going the extra mile and continuing their education.”

During the fair educators, companies and law enforcement agencies such as Mayfield College, California Highway Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and Airstreams Renewables provided service members information and contact for present and future networking.

“An event like this is good because it’s tailored to the military and gives us an opportunity to broaden our scope of what is out there,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Adrian Garcia, corpsman, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374. “It’s completely unbiased and you get a lot of open information with opportunities to ask as many questions as you want.”
According to Sulick, the average job search takes more than 26 weeks to complete and the Career Resource Office offers a federal employment workshop, resume class and individual career counseling for any aspect of transition that a service member is concerned about.

“It’s a big lifestyle change to go from military life back to civilian life,” Sulick said. “Our job here is to provide tools that make transition easier for service members through seminars that make them well rounded and help their professional development.”

For more information on TRS call the career resource office at 760-830-7225.