The process of transitioning out of the military can present its own unique set of challenges. While the armed services train soldiers well in technical and leadership skills and do provide soldiers with many useful resources as they exit, there are some things that military service does not prepare you for when re-entering civilian life.

Here are five tips to help make the transition a bit easier:

1. How to connect to a new community With its relocation and MWR departments, the military does a lot to help soldiers and their families adjust to a new base, posting and locale. Once out of the service, though, you may find connecting to a new community quite daunting. Apart from become involved with the school your children attend and joining a new religious organization, there are other ways to immediately connect to a new community.

Tapping into your interests, hobbies and sports can reveal others who are like-minded and share your passions. You can also choose to get involved by volunteering with a not-for-profit organization or taking a class at the local community college or at a hobby or home improvement store. Many cities also offer a Newcomer's Group to welcome recent additions to their new home. Check out the meetings and events calendar in your newspaper or ask at the local library to find out when they meet. It's a great way to meet people who may know a lot about the city, who can perhaps point you towards other resources and groups and who want to welcome strangers. Finally, civic organizations and special interest groups offer a further way to involve yourself in a new community and build long-term relationships that can help with your career as well as your social life.

2. How to write a resume Instead of a resume, the military uses a Field Service Record to detail qualifications, training and experience. This poses several challenges to you in civilian life. First, you may never have had to write a resume. Second, the information contained in the service record is dictated by military regulations. It may include things not applicable to a resume while neglecting to mention other useful and marketable skill sets. Finally, they are written in military language that is difficult to translate into civilian speak.

In addition to learning how to write a good resume, you must also learn how to remain marketable in today's business climate. Military planners often look ahead to determine future needs and train soldiers accordingly. Also, few soldiers are concerned about getting laid off in a downsizing. You didn't have to be ready with a current resume and a strong network of contacts. In the competitive civilian world, individuals must keep informed about where their chosen industry is heading and gain or refresh skill sets ahead of when they are needed to ensure their future employability.

Although soldiers pride themselves on being resourceful and self-reliant, this is one area in which it's best to obtain professional help. On many bases, there is a department that provides soldiers with specialized help in creating a good civilian resume and there are numerous outside sources of help as well.

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