Military veterans who have returned home from overseas often face a steep uphill climb while trying to redefine their purpose. Vets experience post-traumatic stress and issues with assimilating back into the daily grind of life in America. Getting a job is a challenge for many military veterans. Many soldiers return to school to get a higher education in a particular field so they can transition their lives according to a new career. The following degrees and career paths can align with the skills and experiences obtained during a soldier’s active duty:
Counter Terrorism
Enter a field where acquired military skills and training can be put to use. This interests military veterans and soldiers, especially when they have spent so much of their lives engrossed in that world. Many soldiers never let go of that desire to protect their country, which is why an education in counter terrorism studies is an ideal match. Soldiers will learn about an array of topics such as intelligence writing, threat management, anti-terrorism techniques and strategies, and cyber security. Other industries can utilize counter terrorism education and training as well, including homeland security and criminal justice.
Criminal Justice
Another lucrative field that many soldiers and veterans are drawn to is the world of criminal justice. Career opportunities range from being a police detective to an attorney in the justice system. Criminal justice is a lucrative career because it’s consistently in demand and there’s room for advancement. Cities and police departments need qualified and well-educated civil servants with good military training in their backgrounds.
Creative Studies
It’s not uncommon for some returning soldiers to want to end their ties with the military world and follow an entirely different path for the rest of their lives. Pursuing a degree in the world of art at an academy of art history school or design institution is a career path that attracts veterans who want to engage in creative expression and live a life separate from their military experiences. Art, architecture, design or photography studies will teach a military mind to think in a new and exciting way, allowing them to release emotions from their past experiences through creativity. Creative therapy can help soldiers reunite with their true selves and identities as well as handle military-related traumas.
Emergency Disaster Management
Soldiers and veterans are also excellent, disciplined planners by nature and training, making them the perfect candidates for emergency disaster management. As the first responders to a crisis, an emergency management and public safety professional leads a team of fellow workers and prepares the team for anything. Emergency services and public safety can provide military vets with a sense of reward and purpose, similar to what they experienced during active duty. A solider will learn how to manage and coordinate teams of emergency personnel and volunteers on how to safely and adequately respond to a range of disasters, including terrorist, natural and structural.