HELPING TROOPS ADJUST
Troops 2 Adjusters
In 2019, we set out on a journey to assist veterans, transitioning service members, spouses, National Guard and Reserve personnel enter the Insurance industry as an “Adjuster”. Our motto, Helping Troops Adjust defines a career path that is in high demand with over 35% of current adjusters retiring in the next four years.
Our process begins the second we speak about your goals after service or while serving in the National Guard or Reserves. We take the walk before you run approach with our process starting with online courses to the last part which is on the job training course in person. During the entire time, we like to call this our mentorship for future adjusters.
Our program covers tasks such as catastrophic, auto, farm, flood and commercial claims with detailed emphasis covering Xactimate, state requirements/testing, adjusters gear, rope and harness, communication/professionalism and 107 drone licensing.
Please use our contact form to receive more information. We look forward to speaking with you concerning a career path in Insurance adjusting.
Employer Partners
Current partners please call or email your Troops 2 Adjuster account representative with any questions or adjusters needed in specific areas.
Potential partners with career opportunities or for more information concerning Troops 2 Adjusters, please fill out the contact form below. One of our representatives will reach out in a timely manner.
Transitioning From Military Service “NEVER” UNDERSELL YOURSELF TO CORPORATE AMERICA!
The military taught us many things including loyalty, duty, respect, honor, selfless service, integrity, personal courage, dedication, safety, and commitment. Now it’s time to take all the training to the civilian workforce!
Introduction
To accomplish something extraordinary, one must have an extraordinary dream. A goal so high, a journey so demanding that its achievement too most seems impossible. The dream for many of us was serving our country in the Armed Forces, which can never be taken away.
This information provides a prospective on transitioning from the Armed Forces. Whether you served active duty for two years, completed your reserve commitment, got discharged for other reasons or are retiring than this is a “MUST READ”.
Exiting your specific military branch is going to be a challenge. Depending on time allowed it will also be a stressful time as many veterans joined the military at a young age and never had the mentorship needed when making a life changing decision.
Back in the 90’s, I worked directly for the 1SG as the NBC NCO and training NCO. Not only was he a great leader, but he also taught me that there is life after the military. One of his favorite sayings was, “what do you want to be when you grow up”? My response was always, I don’t want to grow up so there is nothing to talk about. After I exited the military, I figured out what he was asking and tried to prepare me for the challenges that were ahead.
Each person has a different reason for exiting the military. Whatever the reason is, stick to your plan and play the cards that you are dealt. This information will cover all types of subjects that are essential in being successful after exiting the military with “hard work”. Nothing in life is free and having a great opportunity after the military comes with hard work, dedication, and commitment. Don’t think for a second that you can go to the transition office, make one call, and land the dream job making great money. If you are thinking this, then you are in for a shock!
As a veteran that has gone through the transition and twenty years after service assisting transitioning veterans, I am going to tell you what you need to hear, might not be what you want to hear. This is something that all of us learn in the military. Although we have all seen people told what they want to hear, and the leadership plans then fall apart. Remember, communicate the good, bad, and ugly. We can plan for either of them, we just need to know which one to plan for.
To fully understand the process of transitioning or as a veteran that has already exited the Armed Forces looking for a different career, you first must understand the past which has prepared you for the future.
The Beginning
One must always understand where they came from to obtain their personal goal. Everyone that joined the military had a goal. Listed below are a few that I have heard over the years.
- College money.
- Serve our country!
- A family member served and wanted to follow in their footsteps.
- Not going anywhere in life. Want a change!
- See the world!
- Learn a new job!
- Meet new people!
- Be part of a team.
These are just a few examples I have heard over time as to why someone joined the military. My reason was to get away from not doing anything with my life. I wanted so much out of life that I knew a change was needed and it began with the Army. When you are young and join the military, you really do not know what to expect besides you are going to get yelled at A LOT. Looking back on basic training now, it was exceptionally challenging, but it was preparing me for my career. My original enlistment was for three years. I was exceptionally fortunate throughout my entire military service having fantastic NCO’s that mentored me into who I am and how to be a leader. My first duty station after basic/AIT was Ft. Benning Georgia 24th ID. I remember walking into battalion and the CSM said welcome, and he wanted me in the field in three hours. My personnel gear was thrown in a locker at battalion, and I was off to CIF to draw all my gear. Later that day I was in the field. Didn’t know anyone. We completed the field exercise and went back to garrison. Several weeks later is when I met my NCO that just graduated from Ranger school. To say the least, I looked up to him as he was squared away. After a trip to NTC we returned to Ft. Benning where my NCO asked me a question that I will never forget. The question was if I ever thought about requesting a Ranger assignment at 75th. I thought for a second and said hell yes. I can do it. We visited 75thHQ that week and spoke to a high-speed NCO that explained RIP and that it is an incredible opportunity to join the elite 75th. So, when we returned to our unit, he assisted me in filling out the 4187 which the battalion CO signed off on approving my request.
I was super excited and nervous at the same time. Well about a month went by and after PT one morning the 1SG asked to see me and my NCO in his office. I immediately had a smile on my face, and we proceeded to his office. He said it has been a pleasure serving with you. Here are your new orders. When I looked at the orders it was like a huge bolder was dropped on me. The orders were not for the 75th but instead 2ID Korea.
Later that day my NCO and I called the DA branch, and they stated it is what it is and hung up on us. I left Ft. Benning about two months later heading to Korea.
The reason I am telling this story is all the highs and lows that I had to overcome. From arriving at my unit and being taken straight to the field to thinking I was headed to Ranger battalion with tons of recommendations to having that shot down and leaving for Korea.
This was what I call, the process of becoming who I am today. Each one of these circumstances taught me that life throws curve balls at you and you either strike out or you regroup and continue the mission making the best of what you have. Although my dream never happened with joining the Rangers and being able to say, “Rangers Lead the Way” and having someone reply, “All the Way”, I moved on with my career which ultimately took me to Korea where I re-enlisted and then was stationed at Ft. Stewart.
Each duty station taught me leadership, how to overcome problems and all the cross training that took place. I say the word cross training because it is exceptionally important. Looking back at my entire career, I never stood still. If there was a class that was going on, I wanted to attend. When the 1SG at Stewart asked me to be the training NCO and NBC NCO, I did it. When the battalion commander asked me as the lowest time in grade NCO to become the battalion NBC NCO and deploy to Kuwait in 1998 for Victory Thunder as part of IRC, I did it. Was all this done to suck up for promotions? NO! I still had a bad nerve for whoever at DA branch shot down my 4187 and sent me to Korea instead. I did this because of being taught that if someone goes down, the mission still must continue.
These are all very important lessons taught that created someone that thinks outside the box and wants to constantly surpass daily/weekly/monthly goals and objectives.
Decision Time
The day has come to decide if you want to re-enlist or exit the military. This also is the time when someone that has served for a long time is retiring. I can only sum this day up as “exciting”.
Everyone has a different reason for not re-enlisting. Whether the decision is family, tired of deployments, not getting promoted, wanting a new challenge, chaptered or simple time to hang up the uniform. Each one has a meaning behind it that only the person making the decision can answer.
I was in the middle of the Kuwait desert when I decided to not re-enlist. I had a son that was two years old, and I barely spent any time with him. I was approached in the TOC by the Battalion CO who told me it was time to re-enlist since he had my orders for Ft. Campbell 101st. Although I was excited about Campbell joining a division that had an incredible history, I already made my mind up that I was getting out. When I told our LTC my plans were not to re-enlist, he told me to get in the Hummer which we drove out of the Cabal and parked about 400 yards from the gate. He asked me why? I responded to spend more time with my son and wife. He asked if he could get me anywhere, I wanted, would I re-enlist? My answer was yes! I told him Ft. Sam Houston since I grew up in SA and had family still living there. He knew that every post needed a 54 series and Sam would be an excellent opportunity for training. A few weeks went by when I was told that the DA branch said no and there was nothing more he could do. This was the 2nd time DA shot me down and I didn’t even know why or who was making these calls. But today I would like to thank the person that was pushing that pen and affecting lives sitting behind a desk. I incorporated their non communication skills into my leadership of what NOT TO DO!
My recommendation has always been to evaluate all avenues and list out the positives and negatives. When we all joined the military, we were not signing up to become rich or for basket weaving 101. We understood that Uncle Sam was providing us with a paycheck, three meals a day and a pillow. Some personnel that run right up to the mark of getting out that do not have a game plan should strongly think about re-enlisting. If you are deployed and not going to get the time needed to make a flawless transition, then consider re-enlisting. If you have made your mind up and have a game plan as to your exit strategy, then congratulations and thank you for your sacrifices while serving. This also includes all families, wives, husbands, and children that held down the home front while we served.
Retiring personnel usually know the exact date of discharge which is always helpful. This allows ample time to get everything done to include physicals, dental, mandatory classes, turn in of gear, ID cards and the list goes on!
Personnel that are being chaptered usually don’t have a lot of time but can get squared away effectively by staying in touch with your paperwork. There are many reasons someone is chaptered but knowing that you are exiting the service is step one. If you are being told that there is a chapter in the works, ask (professionally) what the chapter is and a time frame on completion. If you receive the I don’t know, then become proactive and visit your transitioning office for information on exiting the military.
Where to Call Home After Service
You now have made the decision or realized that it is time to hang up the uniform. You are attending the transitioning classes, and everything seems to be going great. Now is the time to ask yourself, “where do I want to call home”? This is a HUGE question that only you can answer. I have worked with thousands of transitioning veterans, and I always ask them where is home going to be? There is no wrong answer to this question, but I want to explain where I am going with this. Let’s say you want to move back home, and you come from a very small town. Do you think there are a lot of opportunities with all your experience gained in the military? If there is, great! But the point I am making is to ask yourself for the right opportunity would you consider a different state? This is a question only you can answer. Remember, the bigger the city, the more opportunities available as well as being open for earning the perfect opportunity.
Last year I was working with a transitioning person that had his heart set on going back home. Family and friends were excited, and he was jacked up about being home. Several months went by and one day my phone rang. When I recognized the voice the first words where are you ok? He proceeded to tell me how he was struggling to make ends meet and he needed help. We went through the entire opportunity that he was faced with. I explained about an opportunity not far from his home that they could visit daily if needed but the pay, benefits, and bonus for joining a great team would help. Everything was set up for the interview, which he did great. About a week later the offer came across and he took it. The difference in this was about 20k a year along with benefits compared to being back home. As veterans we all traveled to new places. Sometimes change is good!
Being open to any opportunity will allow you to weigh options. Example: If you want to move back to Texas because home is San Antonio, then look at the entire state. If you are from Florida and want to move back home then look at Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.