Am I over thinking how to list my time in service?

22 Comments

1. Cyndi RosenblattApril 8,2023 at 3:23PM UTC

   In my experience, it's only HR that sees the DD214 and it's unlikely they'll ask about the medical discharge unless/until you're ready to discuss accommodations. I wouldn't bring it up on your resume or in interviews unless it's imperative to be sure that certain things are feasible for the role. Lots of things that result in a medical discharge have little to no impact on non-military job duties. Good luck with your next steps!

2. AnonymousApril 8,2023 at 3:33PM UTC

   Thank you for your service!

   Remind those that say you "don't look disabled" that "not all disabilities are visible" and go on your merry way.

   As for your DD214, I have never been asked for a copy or to even see mine. I too was medically retired. I've not had a service dog, but my husband has and she is now retired to live a life of playing and beeing silly. He has never been asked about his disabilities either or that his SD is no longer accompanying him.

   Most people are empathetic and understand, then there are those who are either merely interested or nosey.

   Now my question for you is, are you constantly mentioning your disability or why is it even coming up? If accommodations are needed, those would need to be approved through your Veterans Office on campus and referred to your Disabilities Resource office on campus, if you have those available. If not, then you should have to provide medical documentation to your professors for them to approve those accommodations.

3. AnonymousApril 8,2023 at 6:20PM UTC

   My in-class professors, while tenured, have tended to have loud mouths.
   Other students have overheard some of my professors discussing either me or someone else in the classes by name and the accommodations requested.

   My service animal died during finals one term, so with me one term and not the next. Some professors had something to say about my service animal no longer accompanying me.

   My accommodations have all been approved through the disability office and the office sends out letters to the professors as to what accommodations I am eligible for.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 8,2023 at 9:44PM UTC

   YOU SAID: "do I simply list my military time as a regular job?"Wasn't it a regular job? You don't need to list why you retired or even that you retired. Just put the beginning and end dates. I'm not sure why anyone would need to see your DD214 - I've hired ex-military folks and have never asked to see that. The only reason I can think of is if you have clearance and the potential job requires that. If you need accommodation, that can come up later in discussion.

5. Cyndi RosenblattApril 8,2023 at 10:10PM UTC

   Jobs with military preference (which often applies to civil service positions) require that you upload your DD214 when you submit the application. This is a reasonable concern, but I don't think it will be an issue how it's typically handled.

6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 8,2023 at 10:20PM UTC

   I thought the OP was asking how to list her military time on her resume. She asked "do I simply list my military time as a regular job?"

7. Cyndi RosenblattApril 9,2023 at 1:42AM UTC

   It sounded like she was concerned about the resume in part because anyone reviewing the DD214 would see it was a medical discharge. I was just pointing out that it's unlikely the person making the hiring decision would ever personally see it even if it was part of the required documents.

8. Stephanie ChernoffApril 10,2023 at 12:37PM UTC

   For a Federal position, the resume is very different than for a non-government job. You have to list literally every job you ever held. I got the impression this isn't about the Federal application process.

9. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 12:33PM UTC

   Unless you're applying for a Federal position and going through the process of building out that resume, all you really should need to say is US Army (or whatever branch), start year, end year, highest rank obtained. No one needs to know why you left the military.

   If you need accommodations, wait until you get the job, then discuss with HR.

10. Christina TApril 10,2023 at 12:41PM UTC

    Fyi, the only question I've ever seen regarding disability on a job application I've seen is ' can you complete the work without accommodation?' If the answer is no, they will want to know which accommodations you need. No potential employer should ask about your specific disabilities. I know you didn't ask this specifically but wanted you to know in case you were unaware.

    Thank you for your service. My husband is retired from the military. I've interviewed veterans and was not concerned if they didn't retire from the military. A career in the military isn't for everyone.

11. Jennifer WuolletApril 10,2023 at 12:41PM UTC

    Here is my take on it, I don't list why I left a job on my resume, so why should you. I'm not HR or anything but I don't think legally they can ask you about your disabilities. I would just put the dates that you were in the military and odds are you won't even be asked. They may ask you why you left and it's up to you to either say you wanted to go in a different direction or tell them that you were medically discharged. I don't tell people that I left my one job because the guy I worked under was an insufferable asshole, I tell them that the project ended and I was ready to go in a different direction. Either way you aren't wrong, they don't need details unless you chose to provide them.

12. Michele DarleyApril 10,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

    First, Thank you for your service.

    I read resumes all the time. I would never question why someone left the service no matter how long they were in. You retired. That's all you have to say. Nobody is going to ask you why you retired and if they do, you tell them, because it was time.

    List your Military service as if it was your job, because it was your job.

    You are not obligated to share your disability with anyone you work with or may potentially work with, unless like another poster mentioned, you need an accommodation (like bringing a service animal to the office, if you were to get another one). That doesn't have to be shared until the end, and even then, you can say, "I have a disability that requires me to use a service animal. Will this position allow me to bring my service animal to the place of work" Nobody is allowed to ask you what your disability is, nor are you obligated to tell anyone.

13. DVDgoddessApril 10,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

    Often I have seen in resumes the phrase “Honorable discharge.” They will only ask for proof of you are a serious candidate.

14. Shelley MunroApril 10,2023 at 1:32PM UTC

    I was enlisted as well and took IRR when it was offered about halfway through. I was a Reservist. I list the entire 8 year enlistment on my resume. That’s been 23 years and no one has ever questioned it. Working in the private sector no one has ever pulled my DD214 either.

15. ShirahApril 10,2023 at 1:59PM UTC

    Veteran here, with both private sector and federal experience. I agree with what everybody has already said. For your resume, I would try to frame what you say about your military experience in terms that show how it’s applicable for the position you are applying for. Beyond that, no explanation needed.

16. Dcre1977April 10,2023 at 3:16PM UTC

    Medical discharges do not necessarily mean disability, I would not expect most people to jump to that conclusion. Unless they are former military they would not expect someone to stay the full twenty years.

    Only HR will see your DD 214. And only they see if you check mark the veteran box. No one should see of you check disability either, but you can always wait until you get the job offer to ask for accomodations. Since it was 16 years of employement I wouldn't leave it off your resume, just taylor your description for your potential job.

17. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 3:21PM UTC

    As a hiring manager who hasn't been in the military, I wasn't aware about the "20 yrs" so I wouldn't be too concerned about that. I have worked with a number of people who left for medical reasons and most of those reasons have not impacted their ability to have a non-military. job, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that either. Best of luck with your job search!

18. Shannon LavenderApril 10,2023 at 5:23PM UTC

    Be aware that if a fellow veteran (like myself) sees an "Ret." next to someone who did not actually retire, that will not go over well. "Ret." should be reserved for people that have completed the full 20+ years and not a servicemember who received a medical discharge. These are not the same and should not be listed as such. Just list the period of time you served and call it a day. Otherwise you approach falsifying your time of service and other veterans, particularly one that is a hiring manager, will see right through that and will not follow up.

19. Dcre1977April 10,2023 at 6:41PM UTC

    A 30% disability rating can qualify one for military retirement before 20 years.

    https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/disability/

20. AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 7:11PM UTC

    I wish we treated our veterans much better than we do...no matter how they left the military, as long as they were honorably discharged.

21. Jamie BrandApril 11,2023 at 4:23AM UTC

    Speaking from experience, I would check the box for veteran. If it is recent enough, list what you did and any awards. As to the disabled portion, if it doesn’t impact what you do (I.e. desk jock with a bad knee) you can choose not to list it. I’m disabled and it does impact my day to day now. For years I checked it off and it had no impact on my getting hired. Simply do what what you are comfortable with.

22. Linda kenikApril 11,2023 at 12:03PM UTC

    First- Thank you for your service.

    Second- Don't overthink this, mark veteran and list awards, accomplishments and skills. Those are valuable.

    Third- There are job services available for veterans and job offerings that give preferential treatment to veterans. You serviced, you are eligible, please research. I talk to many vets who don't know about all the services available.

    usajobs.gov for example offer some jobs with veterans preferences.

    Good luck!