After you hang up your military uniform for the last time, it’s time to plan your next move. Our friends over at USAA have a lot of resources and guidance to offer veterans looking to jump into a post-military career.

Here are three routes to get you where you want to go:

Return to school

One option is to obtain — or finish — your degree or professional certifications, whether at college or vocational school.

  • As a military veteran, you can take advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which pays for all in-state tuition and fees at public colleges and universities.
  • Under the federal Yellow Ribbon Program, you may be eligible for additional funds to attend a private school that costs more than the maximum $20,235 per academic year covered by the GI Bill. Participating schools may waive up to half the tuition and fees not covered in the basic benefit, then Veterans Affairs will match the waived amount.
  • Similar benefits are available to those who want to train for trades that take advantage of your military-specific skills, such as aviation and auto repair.
  • If you’re interested in computers, USAA’s VetFIT (Veterans for IT) program trains accepted veterans and military spouses in software development and then offers them a 10-week internship with the organization.

Work for someone else

In the military, you wear your experience on your sleeve — literally. In the civilian world, however, your resume carries this message.

  • Online skills translators can help you remove jargon in your resume to more clearly explain your military accomplishments so they relate to the corporate world. For example, instead of saying, “Executed night raids into occupied territory during Operation Iraqi Freedom III,” your resume might read, “Led an organization of 16 individuals in a successful military campaign without the loss of life.”
  • If you want to continue to serve your country in a different capacity, consider joining the Reserve or National Guard. For a minimum commitment of one weekend a month and two weeks of training annually, you could continue to serve while pursuing a civilian career. Drill pay plus benefits such as health insurance and a savings plan might make joining the Reserve or Guard a good option to ease the transition back into civilian life.

Work for yourself

Starting your own business is a common desire among veterans who want to take advantage of the leadership skills they developed in the military.

  • The Small Business Administration’s Veteran-Owned Businesses page contains a wealth of information on writing a business plan, finding financing, hiring employees and other considerations for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Check out the full blog post on USAA’s website.