Veteran Spotlight – Michael Blaszczyk
Like many of us, Mike joined the Army to see the world and have an adventure while building character and gaining direction in life. After several years in the Army and a 15 month deployment seeing heavy combat in Sadr City Mike has been extraordinarily successful in transitioning from service to school. He recently completed his undergraduate degree at Penn State and is now entering his first year of business school at Temple University. We were lucky enough to have him give us some advice on how to become a successful civilian.
Mike in Sadr City
When did you enlist and what was your MOS?
I enlisted in the Army in August 2005, graduated training from Ft. Benning in Dec 2005. My first duty station was Ft. Lewis, WA with 1/25 Infantry Division. I served as a squad designated marksman and later as a team leader in our reconnaissance platoon.
What was your transition timeline like? How far before you left the service did you take the necessary tests, decide on schools etc.?
About a year from my ETS I began to look at schools and deadlines for admission. I also looked at degree audits and took whatever courses I could through the Army’s distance learning. This enabled me to graduate faster than most because I had met several prerequisites before I entered college.
What were the top 3 criteria for deciding on a school?
1) Proximity to my hometown
2) Reputation in my chosen field (business administration)
3) Cost
What resources did you use to make the transition easier?
I utilized the VA website and veteran’s offices at the universities I was considering. I wish I had a resource available such as service2school.com
What were the top 3 criteria in deciding on your major?
Something I enjoyed doing, something that I showed high aptitude for and skills that would be in demand when I graduated.
Did you have a backup to school in case you were not able to win admission?
Yes. I had ranked schools in order of priority and if I did not get into my top choice, I still applied to my second and third choices.
Are there any key mistakes veterans should avoid?
Even though the VA has improved greatly with paying out benefits, there is still some delay. Typically you are not paid until the first day of your second month of school. Make sure all your paper work is squared away well in advance and have some money saved in case there is a delay in your payments.
How did you go about finding housing?
I used websites like apartments.com. Some of my classmates also used craigslist.org. I was moved back to my hometown, so I was already familiar with the area.
Who inspires you in the civilian world?
Leaders of successful and socially responsible businesses inspire me. Also anyone that is innovative that can change the way we live for the better.
I really admire the work Starbucks has done with Fair Trade and internationalization, not to mention I like their coffee.
What do you miss most about the military?
I miss the people. It was not an easy decision to leave because I had developed close relationships with my comrades. I will always make an effort to keep contact with some of the best people that I have ever met.
How did you manage finances?
I usually create an excel spreadsheet with a column for income and a column for expenses over the course of a month. When making estimates for how much I will spend on gas or food, I like to overestimate a little.
What advice do you have for transitioning veterans?
My recruiter told me before I went into Basic that what you get out of the Army is dependent on what you put into it. I would say the same applies to college and life in general. Take full advantage of the benefits provided and remember that the goal of college is to prepare you for a civilian job. Prepare for each class and take pride in your work and success will find you.
