3. How to select your family's support team Medical and dental care and basic life insurance is provided to all active military members and their dependants and soldiers. Similarly, soldiers have access to basic legal services through the Judge Advocate General (JAG) office.

Once out of the military, these support services are no longer available and you may have no idea how to locate, interview and select medical health providers, life insurance, lawyers and financial planners. It's important to learn about these different services, determine what your family's needs are and thoroughly research the providers before choosing your support team. Many resources are available, particularly on the Internet, to help you. Several even list important questions to ask during the interview process as well as the customer service record of various providers.

4. How to succeed in the civilian business world One of the first things that soldiers encounter is the competitive nature of the civilian business environment. Most find the dog-eat-dog mindset of their new civilian co-workers and supervisors bewildering and disappointing. After participating collaboratively in military service where you are trained from boot camp on to look out for and depend on the other members of your team, you may quickly discover that civilian workers are often lone wolves when it comes to careers. Where you might expect camaraderie and support, you might find anything from caution to backstabbing, from poor morale to ruthlessness. While this is not true of every work environment, you need to understand that this behavior grows out of a competitive employment climate marked by downsizing, industry shifts and turnover.

In the military, you are given an assignment for a specific length of time at a standard pay grade with a predictable salary and are provided with the clothing, equipment, and training necessary to carry out the mission objective. Ordinarily, you don't face such issues as researching a company prior to a job interview, negotiating salary and benefits packages, selecting and purchasing a civilian work wardrobe, keeping skills and a resume updated frequently, being ready for downsizing, creating and maintaining a network and giving a resignation notice without burning any bridges.

Working with a transition coach or other similar resource can help to process the experience and ease the pains of necessary change.

5. How to start your own business Perhaps because former military members find the civilian business environment so alien, some decide to become their own bosses and start their own businesses. Unfortunately, many aspiring small business owners do not take the time to fully research and plan how to start and run a business and lose whatever savings they have managed to accumulate. Starting your own business requires a clear vision, full commitment, plenty of work, and realistic planning.

Fortunately, there are many resources available. Start with a local Chamber of Commerce or Small Business Development Center (part of the SBA). These organizations can help or point you in the direction of further assistance.

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