A recent analysis found that junior enlisted soldiers transitioning out of the military have lofty, often unrealistic civilian salary goals.
Walter Herd, director of the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program, told Army Times, “We found that the junior enlisted, the privates through sergeants E-5, were disproportionately high in their expectations.” He added that these soldiers often estimated their private-sector salaries could double or even triple from what they earned in the military.
As a result, transition assistance programs are hoping to better inform the soldiers about realistic expectations for civilian life given their experience and education.