September 10, 2013 – Maybe the most important thing for a veteran returning home is to have a home to return to. Many arrive stateside and must make a way for themselves with little help. If you can offer your son or daughter a home to return to and a loving environment, then you’ve already done quite a bit to help get him or her back into civilian life. Helping them find work and become self-sufficient will help them even more.
Start With Financial Planning
Help your son or daughter draft up a financial plan by providing ideas, experience and resources. Any good plan will at least include debt reduction, long-term planning, planning for the unknown, and for many, vocational training. If you’re setting up new credit card accounts and so on, talk to your son or daughter about security and safety measures, like Lifelock identity theft protection. They have special credit-monitoring programs for veterans.
Most of all, you can help them by providing stability and consistency as they reintegrate into civilian life. This will help them attain the focus they need in order to come up with a solid financial plan, so they don’t wind up merely living check to check.
Look for Benefits
Navigating the field of benefits can be tricky, but it’s ultimately well worth the effort. The Senior Veterans Service Alliance helps veterans find all the benefits coming to them. Be thorough—some benefits are hidden behind walls of red tape, but keep digging. Your vet has earned them with his or her service to this country.
Seek Help
Unless you work in a financial field (and even if you do), it may be best to seek outside help. The experience of another veteran, the insight of a professional or simply the perspective of an outsider can be a tremendous help to your son or daughter’s future. Groups like Veterans Financial specialize in helping veterans get back on their feet and pursue their long-term personal and financial goals.
Look for Companies That Hire Veterans
There are a lot of companies that actively hire veterans. In fact, having “military veteran” on your resume is a big leg up for many. Many employers, like Edward Jones, make a special effort to hire as many veterans as they can fit on their payroll.
That said, if your son or daughter never had a job outside of the military, he or she might have no idea how to apply for work, create a resume or conduct themselves in an interview. Any parental guidance that you can give in this regard may just be what makes or breaks your son or daughter eventually getting their dream job.
It’s important to bear in mind that reintegrating into civilian life is not just about finances and finding work. It’s about living every day with your own personal goals and ambitions in mind. The discipline learned in the military can be a tremendous help in this regard, and so can caring parents.