“One day you were in the military, the next you were home in a whole different world.”
-Survey Respondent, Women Veterans in Transition

Whether women veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan feel at home in high heels or combat boots, many will need a helping hand to make the transition back into the civilian workforce. Organizations ranging from the Federal government to public foundations recognize that veterans have gained valuable leadership experience and skills that can benefit our economy and they’re doing something about it. A national initiative called “Joining Forces” aims to support veterans trying to move back into the nation’s labor force after completing their service. First Ladies Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are spearheading this initiative, and consider women to be a vital part of the “force” in Joining Forces.

More than 150,000 women will be moving out of the military during the next several years, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). And, the VA estimates that about 1.9 million women veterans will be entering the civilian workforce by the end of the next decade.

Many of these women had opportunities to advance or have attained high-ranking positions in the military. However, they may find it hard to translate their military experience into civilian careers. In addition to facing a difficult economy, these women may not find the guidance they need or they might encounter potential employers who are confused about their skillsets or concerned about readjustment.

One of the goals of the Joining Forces initiative is to encourage our nation’s employers to recognize the potential of these highly skilled women—and what they can add to our economy as employees. By hiring women veterans, organizations can make a wise business decision. After all, the military trained them to be efficient, resourceful, and flexible workers.

General David Petraeus explained the appeal of hiring veterans by saying: “Tell me anywhere in the business world where a 22- or 23-year-old is responsible for 35 or 40 individuals on missions that involve life and death. Their tactical actions can have strategic implications for the overall mission.”

Whether they set their sights on becoming accountants, drug counselors, teachers, or security officers, women veterans have the training to become master strategists. Even if their career objective is to become exceptional mothers and contented civilians, these skills can help them be successful.

“For thousands of years, women living in male-dominated societies have learned the value of appearing more submissive than we really are,” writes Chin-Ning Chu, in The Art of War for Women. “For thousands of years men have fought life’s battles. From the battlefield to the corner office, they have been trained to think like warriors. That may be fine for them, but it isn’t always the right approach for us women.”

Women who return from service or who are trying to juggle military life with home life are looking at strategies that can help them acknowledge their femininity – while allowing them the freedom to rise to professional heights. It can be likened to interacting with superiors they may view as officers – or how they relate to coworkers whom they may think of as comrades.

Other skills sharpened during military service are their powers of observation. Women soldiers faced challenges and learned tactics for dealing with unpredictable circumstances in their environment. Maneuvering, analyzing and preparing—before taking action—are also some of the strategies that could help them fare well in civilian careers.

Through the Joining Forces program, Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have called on Americans to show their support for our military women. The Joining Forces initiative also recognizes the Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation mentoring program as part of this effort. The BPW and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are developing the capacity to engage 10,000 mentors by the end of 2012 to unite with women veterans and military families. The mentors aim to help female veterans position their military experience for long-term career success.