What’s Missing in Today's Military Transition? An Exit Boot Camp!

Boot Camp Going In

Initial recruit training, affectionately referred to as boot camp, is a transitional process. During a Service-prescribed number of weeks, civilians are transformed into Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, or Marines. It prepares them for advanced training and job placement in the force or fleet.

During this transition period from civilian to military member, each individual is taught the basics of their Service Branch. Examples of these basics are custom & courtesy for things like rank familiarization and lingo (bulkhead for wall, latrine for bathroom, chow for meals, etc.), drill & ceremony for skills such as marching and forming a unit correctly on a field, physical & mental fitness to perform the duties required, values & beliefs of their Service, and marksmanship, i.e. safely handling and accurately firing a weapon. This prepares them to become part of a larger, united team.

Boot Camp Coming Out

What is currently missing from the Military complex’s transition programs is a program like this to help military members become civilians. Training in the basics of a career is needed, so the Veteran civilian can speak the lingo, perform the skills, and communicate a command of the knowledge. Programs like Vets2PM’s disruptive project management boot camp are the proven, pragmatic answer.

Over three weeks, experienced, credentialed expert instructors teach and coach Veterans how to do several basic things necessary to get into and operate within the project management career field. Things like how to qualify as a project manager, and continuously develop as one. This includes completing the PMP Application, learning the PMBOK inside and out, and studying for the PMP exam. Also things like how to behave and act as a professional project manager, which includes examining PMI’s Code of Ethics and PMBOK Appendix X-3; interpersonal skills. And, things like how to demonstrate technical competence by discussion execution. Examples are answering behavioral-based, situational interview questions, discussing approaches to team development and risk management, and demonstrating the ability to lead and manage through influence.

The Veteran leaves the program armed with a completed PMP application, a deep knowledge of the PMBOK, a comprehensive 18-day study plan to pass the exam, a polished executive resume, a full set of sharpened interview skills, lifetime access to a LinkedIn-based professional development group of project management experts, instructors, and peers, a replacement network of like-minded professionals in PMI headquarters and local Chapter memberships, and a set of pre-interview videos employers nationwide can use to determine first impressions and assess cultural fit. When a Vets2PM boot camp-prepared Veteran gets that call for an interview, they have all the confidence in the world that the coach is calling to recruit them for the team, as a starter!

Locking Down the Transition to Project Management!

This process of transformation for the Member or Veteran transitioning from Service to Project Manager takes longer than the industry standard 1-week PMP Exam preparation boot camp. It takes more than just PMP exam training. It takes a program; an exit Boot Camp. It takes expert instruction, coaching, feedback, discipline, and effort from each Veteran. But, like your first Boot Camp, it’s worth it. A meaningful, natural-fit, lucrative career among a field of highly trained, skilled professionals awaits each graduate. BOOYAH!