Are you an army veteran who is interested in pursuing a civilian career in agriculture? Are you wondering if the skills you acquired while serving your country can be of any benefit in helping you to achieve this goal? There's good news -- if the United States Army trained you for any of the below army jobs, then you already have a great foundation for a future career in agriculture.
Environmental Health And Safety
The army's environmental health and safety training program teaches its recruits how to monitor for, detect, and remedy environmental hazards. If you were enlisted as an environmental health and safety specialist, you likely spent much of your days testing air, water, and soil at various army facilities. You were also probably required to attend ammunition exchanges and inspect equipment and clothing for potential hazards.
Your experience in environmental testing makes you a shoe-in for a job in the agricultural industry. Farmers need to constantly monitor air, water, and soil conditions in order to produce high yields of quality crops. Your background in the inspection of weapons and machinery shows potential employers or places like Alta Technical Recruiting Services that you're able and willing to get hands-on with the most dangerous equipment they have in order to ensure the safety of other individuals.
Building And Extraction
Jobs in agricultural construction are showing a steady growth rate. Farmers need skilled workers to design and construct mills, silos, animal housing, barns, and processing facilities.
The average assistant agricultural construction engineer brings home about $51,000 annually, and your background as an army building and extraction specialist gives you the perfect head start toward this career.
You already know how to assist in the planning and building of airfields, base camps, and temporary roads, so you're a valuable commodity for any agricultural business that plans to expand its facilities in the future.
Human Resource Management
If you were enlisted in the army as a human resource specialist, it was your job to provide guidance and support to fellow soldiers, plan emergency notification protocols, and discuss military options with potential army candidates. Basically, it was your job to get the word out on any important matters.
So, how does this translate into a civilian agricultural career?
Evidence shows that, in order to successfully develop agricultural land, the most important factor is raising awareness about good agricultural practices. The agricultural industry needs voices that are able to clearly explain how to best deal with water shortages, pests, natural disasters, and air quality issues. They also need help raising awareness about agricultural injuries and safe practices to avoid them. Who better to put in charge of these duties than somebody who has already mastered the organization and planning strategies used in the field of human resources?
Need A Little More Training?
If you find a job you'd like to pursue, but aren't quite qualified for, don't be afraid to contact the employer. Oftentimes, they're more than willing to invest in training somebody who already has such strong prerequisites.
And, if that employer isn't willing to work with you, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs in your area. They offer several programs geared towards providing veterans with the education and training they need to transition from their army jobs to civilian careers. Under the GI Bill, for example, you can actually be paid to continue your education, as long as you do so within 10 years of your service duty.
If you're an army veteran who was enlisted under one of the above training paths, there's room in the agricultural industry for you. Contact a technical recruiting service to find out how they can match the skills you learned in the army to the perfect civilian career in agriculture.
Hi, my name is Ricky McDowell and I'm a third generation farmer. I've been farming all of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I decided to write a blog because I wanted to spread the word about the importance of agriculture. The crops that a farmer grows on the farm feed people every day. A farmer makes it possible for you to pick up a loaf of bread at the store or eat a baked potato in a restaurant. In my blog, you'll learn about the different methods of farming and some of the new trends in agriculture today. I'll also tell you about the equipment that's necessary to run a successful farming operation. After reading my blog, I hope you have a better understanding of agriculture and the job of farming.