{"id":27525,"date":"2014-09-03T14:59:13","date_gmt":"2014-09-03T14:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2014\/09\/03\/tactical-veteran-maybe-a-blue-collar-job-is-perfect-for-you\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:28:58","slug":"tactical-veteran-maybe-a-blue-collar-job-is-perfect-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/education-transition\/2014\/09\/03\/tactical-veteran-maybe-a-blue-collar-job-is-perfect-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Tactical Veteran: Maybe a blue-collar job is perfect for you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The thought of attending college for two or more years may have you thinking of passing up the chance to use your GI Bill benefits. If a traditional degree program doesn&#8217;t grab your interest, a vocational or trade school may be an alternative more suited to to you. These kinds of schools are a traditional path into what are known as &#8220;blue-collar&#8221; occupations. The first step is to learn what these occupations are and how to get hired in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although technology has largely replaced humans in certain occupations, the blue-collar worker will be needed for years to come. The New York City skyline, for example, would not exist if it weren&#8217;t for the construction workers who risk their lives every day to build the next generation of skyscrapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s take a look at a breakdown between blue- and white-collar occupational classifications to get a better feel for how they differ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blue-collar occupations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 Mostly trade jobs consisting of manual labor mostly working outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 Education through a vocational or trade school; earning a certification may be required to attain employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples include construction workers, electricians, law enforcement, commercial divers, welders, boilermakers, maintenance workers, telecommunications, truck drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">White-collar occupations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 Mostly professional occupations consisting of working in an office environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 Education through a traditional two-year or four-year college; earning a degree is required to attain employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples include receptionists, human resources, doctors, attorneys, contracting, criminal investigators, financial advisers, teachers, information technology, scientists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have these type of characteristics, then a blue-collar job may be right for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 You love working with your hands and building stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 You can see yourself working mostly outdoors, rather than in an office setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 You enjoy learning but may not have the patience to sit in classrooms for two or more years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 You don&#8217;t mind what can at times be hard manual labor, to include working around physical hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u25a0 You&#8217;re willing to start at the bottom and work your way up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A blue-collar job may not require a two- or four-year college degree, but letting your valuable GI Bill benefits go to waste is never a good choice. While vocational and trade schools can be a good way to start looking to train into a blue-collar occupation, many community colleges also have built themselves up with programs for those looking to learn a trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As always, before you choose a school, be sure to check out the list of VA-approved schools at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.benefits.va.gov\/gibill\/school_locator.asp\">www.benefits.va.gov\/gibill\/school_locator.asp<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make no mistake, working at a blue-collar job will have its pros and cons just like any other. But if learning a trade feels right for you, the GI Bill can help cover it and also put you on a path of multiple opportunities. Hard work and dedication can bring a good paycheck in a career you enjoy \u2014 in a field that needs veterans with your type of skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stay tuned \u2014 in my next column, I&#8217;ll talk about apprenticeships, and how this could be the perfect way to get your foot in the door in a blue-collar occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Steven Maieli is the founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/TransitioningVeteran.com\">TransitioningVeteran.com<\/a>, which highlights links to federal, state, for-profit and nonprofit veterans benefits and other resources. He also writes a blog on transitioning veterans&#8217; issues at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.transitioningveteran.com\/wordpress\">www.transitioningveteran.com\/wordpress<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The thought of attending college for two or more years may have you thinking of passing up the chance to use your GI 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