When starting their service, members of the armed forces go through a boot camp in order to ensure that they’re ready for the rigors of service. As they end their service, they should go through an equally important training program on elements of civilian life that would not be second-nature to someone who has had a regimented routine over the past several years.

The reverse boot camp would ensure that all veterans are aware of the general “timeline” of issues they’ll face. Recent veterans face different challenges than those who have been out of the armed services for a longer time period. For example, immediately after their discharge from the military, veterans often face issues with adjusting to a self-directed schedule and finding a new career, issues which are resolved over time.

This reverse boot camp would teach valuable skills required of civilian adults, such as:

Grocery shopping and nutrition, cooking, and creating and sticking to a personal schedule (without the regimented schedule enforced by the military)

Financial literacy and training, such as creating and sticking to a personal budget, personal banking, retirement saving, and paying bills

On top of the financial literacy training, there also needs to be laws put in place so that veterans are protected from payday lenders and other predatory businesses. This would involve creating zones around bases where these businesses couldn’t operate, lending institutions specifically for veterans that could provide financial assistance if needed coupled with more financial literacy training, and financial assistance for veterans who are having difficulty paying off predatory loans.

It would also ensure that all veterans are aware of the myriad programs available to them, including employment, health, and other support services.

Additionally, it would involve a lot of information and training on finding a new career outside of the military, including:

Setting salary expectations for the private sector, based on field and qualifications

Translating military skills to civilian skills

Creating a resume and finding job opportunities

Interviewing

This Reverse Boot Camp would involve a number of group classes and individual consultations with experts in the military, veterans, and private-sector experts in order to ensure that all veterans are equipped to successfully transition to civilian life.

(Read Andrew's full policy of Veteran Assistance here.)