“My Transition” #32: William Reed — Retired USAF to VA Ratings Specialist
Will has accumulated nearly 40 years of service and he’s still not even close to slowing down.
Be proud of your service no matter what branch or component. There are not many, percentage-wise, who will take up arms in the defense of their country, so be proud. We are in this together, all of us. Lean on your brothers and sisters if you have too. As we always say, “We leave no one behind”.
San Francisco, CA — After over 33 years of military service, Will Reed continues to serve as a Rating Specialist for the VA. His dedication to this country and our nation’s veterans is commendable.
DJS: Why did you join the military?
WMR:
My reason for joining the military was simply because I could not find a job. I had a conversation with a classmate before graduation. He had decided to join the Army, I asked him why and his words were “we are 18 (years old) and minorities, who would hire us?”.
DJS: What were the most important skills or lessons that you learned?
WMR:
The greatest lessoned I learned was to believe in myself. I have always seen myself as an underachiever, never going outside of my comfort zone. That all changed when I joined the military. I was forced out of my comfort zone. I would always say to myself, get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The greatest lessoned I learned was to believe in myself.
DJS: You have over 48 YEARS combined service in the Air Force and VA!!! What drives you to give your life to military/veterans?
WMR:
In the military you are always told that you leave no one behind and in the Air Force you are always taught to be a good wingman. When I began my career at the VA I held on to those sayings. Being a veteran I understand what fellow veterans have gone through and with that I am willing to assist them the best I can. When you hear the stories and you know what a person has given in the defense of their country you want to be there for them.
Being a veteran I understand what fellow veterans have gone through and with that I am willing to assist them the best I can.
DJS: Did you face any struggles during transition?
WMR:
The only struggle I did face was taking over the duties I had before I deployed. My wife took over a lot of the responsibilities I had so it took a little time for me to take back those responsibilities.
DJS: Tell me about all the volunteer work you do with non-profits, such as IAVA. You give so much of yourself… how does it affect you?
WMR:
I just enjoy working with veterans in order to help other veterans. My involvement with IAVA was sort of a surprise because I rarely got involved but it was just so easy and I met such great people that I wanted to get involved.
I helped in organizing a parade as well as completed projects in my community that will bring enjoyment to other members of the military as well as veterans. I also trained to be a RRRP ambassador so that I may be of further assistances. I also give time to Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB), The Mission Continues and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
I just enjoy working with veterans in order to help other veterans.
DJS: How did you land your job as a Rating Specialist at the VA?
WMR:
To become a Rating Specialist was my goal when I understood the role that it plays. We make the decisions that help veterans. Contrary to proper belief, we do not try to deny benefits but we must let the evidence guide us. My path was pretty simple. I held positions to help me understand how the process worked. It took me several tries before I was hired. I have done this job for many years and enjoy it very much.
We make the decisions that help veterans. Contrary to proper belief, we do not try to deny benefits but we must let the evidence guide us.
DJS: Did you use any veteran networking strategy to land your current position? If so, how did you make those connections?
WMR:
No.
DJS: Tell me about what you do on a daily basis?]
WMR:
My day is consistent. My duty at the Department of Veterans Affairs is to rate cases. They span from the very easy to very complex from one to two issues to sometime over 50.
DJS: What skills from the military translated into your job and made you successful in your current role?
WMR:
It was not a skill per se but a mindset. Knowing what our military goes through on a daily basis helps me to understand some of the complexities of the individuals’ cases. I understand what those in combat went through or those who worked on the flight-line have experienced. You have a feel for what goes on and being in the military for 33 years the knowledge is vast.
Knowing what our military goes through on a daily basis helps me to understand some of the complexities of the individuals’ cases.
DJS: Are there other veterans in your workplace? If so, how is that dynamic? Any inter-service rivalry?
WMR:
The VA has done a good job in regards to hiring veterans for the reasons I stated above. Many of us who rate cases are veterans. As far as inter-service rivalries…it’s constant. There is not a day that goes by that one branch is not ragging on the others.
DJS: If you knew one thing before the transition process that would have made your experience easier, what would that be?
WMR:
Go slow. Let everything work itself out.
DJS: What one piece of advice do you have for anyone reading this?
WMR:
Be proud of your service no matter what branch or component. There are not many, percentage wise, who will take up arms in the defense of their country, so be proud. We are in this together, all of us. Lean on your brother and sisters if you have too. As we always say, “We leave no one behind”.
Bio
William Reed was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, in Bernal Heights. He is married with three children: two boys and 1 girl. He enlisted in the US Army in 1982 as a Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic but after 4 years he wanted to switch in order to be around his first love: airplanes.
Upon discharge form the Army, he enlisted in the Air Force as an Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic (AGE). Being an AGE mechanic has allowed him to see the world, including two deployments to the Middle East. After 33 years Will called it quits and in 2015 he retired from the Air Force. He now works a a Rating Specialist for the VA.
Top Resources
Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America — IAVA’s mission is to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans. IAVA is a non partisan member advised advocacy organization focused on solutions to the issues facing veterans today.
Team RWB — Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
Veterans of Foreign Wars — The VFW is a nonprofit veterans service organization that traces its roots back to 1899. Their mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, to serve our veterans, the military and our communities, and to advocate on behalf of all veterans.
Department of Veterans Affairs — The VA provides veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned — and does so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship.
Are you interested in sharing your story of transition? Or are you a military transition specialist who would like to share some tips? Send me an email at MilitaryTransitionStories@gmail.com
The goal of this series is to bridge the military-civilian divide in three ways: 1) Highlight the incredible skills and value that military veterans of all generations and backgrounds bring into the workplace. 2) Help transitioning veterans understand their true value and therefore aim as high as possible in their employment and educational goals. 3) Discuss the common struggles, pitfalls and indicators of success in veteran transition, in order to provide better transition assistance from both military and civilian sides.
