2019 Annual Conference

Human Resource Development and Training

Fast Format (7 minutes)

The transitioning of veterans from the “military world” to “the civilian world” and by extension the civilian workforce is the “ultimate career transition”. This study explores the transitional challenges of veterans/military personnel to the civilian workforce and discusses the role of workplace learning and development as a transitional tool.

College Administrators, faculty, staff, students, HRD and HRM practitioners.

At the end of this session, participants would be able to:

1. Discuss the challenges experienced by veterans/military personnel in transitioning to the civilian workforce;
2. Discuss the role of HRD and workplace learning professional in developing effective workplace learning intervention as transitional tools.
3. Strategize best practices to ensure successful transition of employees

The transitioning of veterans from the “military world” to “the civilian world” and by extension the civilian workforce is the “ultimate career transition”.  However, to facilitate this challenge, most veterans often utilize higher education as a transitional tool to qualify themselves with credentials that is not only recognizable but valued by their potential civilian employer.  Despite such efforts, once employed within the civilian workplace, veterans still encounter a vast amount of transitional challenges.

The purpose of this qualitative study is twofold:  1) to explore challenges encountered by veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce 2) To emphasize how workplace learning and development intervention can serve as a transitional. A total of 175 veterans/military personnel participated in this study. Schlossberg’s (1981) Transitional Theory guided this study.  The study provides as forum to discuss best practices for workplace learning interventions to counteract challenges of veterans/military transitioning to the civilian workforce.

This session will begin with a presentation of the study followed by a facilitated discussion that would include interactive scenarios that would prompt audience participation and learning with regards to the military/veteran transitional challenges.  Best practices and strategies for utilizing workplace learning and development interventions as a transitional tool will be discussed.