Janet I. Farley

Change is a given in the United States military, but the soon to be applied “Blended Retirement System” is a financial change like no other the military has ever experienced. It is a huge deal that will not only affect the wallets of many active duty service members today and certainly 100% of them beginning in 2018, but it could also have a significant impact on future recruiting and retention of our volunteer military force. Mission Transition: Managing Your Career and Your Retirement is a needed introduction of the military’s new “Blended Retirement System,” representing the big shift in how the DoD manages military retirements. In the process, it encourages service members to adopt the new concept of retirement in the military, improve their own financial literacy, and assume responsibility for their own retirement planning. Finally, it provides new civilian job survival tips and strategies for service members in the process of leaving the military for civilian life. For those who are contemplating joining the armed forces and who wish to better understand the myriad of changes to the overall military retirement system this is the ideal guide.

Making the most of all your new military life has to offer can be difficult when you aren’t familiar with what life in the military really means. Military Life 101: Basic Training for New Military Families answers many of the questions that service members and their family may have about life in and around the armed forces. Janet I. Farley addresses what to expect from life on the home front in the military and how this career path not only affects the service members but their families. This useful, concise guide effectively introduces new service members and their families to the culturally relevant and need-to- know information required to survive and thrive in the ever-evolving military lifestyle.

Military spouses serve their country in various capacities that are seldom fully appreciated or rewarded. Struggling to raise families and facing the ever-present financial realities of military life, many military spouses sacrifice their personal career goals by accepting low-paying jobs, often unrelated to their interests and skills. But being married to the military no longer means working beneath one's value and capabilities. Indeed, more and more military spouses are finding rewarding jobs and pursuing productive careers. With the availability of the Internet and numerous military support programs, the employment landscape for military spouses has changed significantly in recent years. Yet, many questions remain on what they should do, where they should go to find new opportunities, and how they can become more positive and proactive in finding rewarding jobs and careen. This guide provides practical answers to many employment-related questions for mobile military spouses. Filled with principles and tips, it shows how military spouses can take responsibility for their own employment situations and go on to find satisfying jobs and careers.It outlines how to: Create a career success plan; Establish a great network no matter where you are; Take advantage of available educational opportunities; Use the vast resources of military support programs; Write a winning resume and letters; Answer common interview questions with finesse; Evaluate and negotiate job offers; Develop a "sales sound bite" to market yourself during your job search; Manage your career for long-term success. The book also discusses various employment alternatives, such as entrepreneurship, federal employment, private industry, nonprofits and volunteering, and more. A virtual job search tool for military spouses, this unique and inspiring book is jam-packed with skills assessment activities, job search planning strategies, interview questions and answers, examples of CVs and cover letters, a job offer evaluation checklist, a salary calculation chart, and much more. It is the guide every military spouse will find useful in navigating the ups and downs of military life.