As the title says, I'm getting ready to do my interview with my counselor on Wednesday and want to be as prepared as possible. I've watched about ten videos on YouTube as well as read past VR&E posts here, but I guess writing it out and bouncing it off others gives me peace of mind to know I'm on the correct azimuth here.

I'll keep it as short as possible.

2003-2011 - Active - Marine Corps - Infantry - 3 pumps to Iraq

2011 - Discharged - Service-connected - PTSD, TBI, Insomnia, Migraines, Back (standard boilerplate stuff)

2011 Get a job in the oil field working on-call service on rigs. Literally on-call 24/7 to travel anywhere. (This sounds crazy, but I'm terrified of slowing down and the demons catching up to me.)

2020 - 2023 - I still work in the oil field. I got my bachelor's degree in construction management using the GI Bill, although the pace of the work and the nature of being on-call is really affecting my health and cognitive functioning (PTSD, TBI, Insomnia). Relationships at work and home are suffering as a result. In the last year, I missed three call-outs in the middle of the night, and I was finally let go despite trying to explain to my boss my disabilities and the need to take sleeping meds at times. (I'm not looking for a pity party; it's totally my fault). Luckily, my wife works, and we have savings, so I'm good there. I got a degree in construction management because I saw the writing on the wall with my health, and I was trying to be proactive.

Since I got let go seven months ago, I have applied to dozens, if not a hundred, openings, trying to get my foot in the door with an entry-level management position that offers a regular schedule Mon- Fri. I have been told multiple times that because my experience in the oil field doesn't exactly transfer to construction, I need to start out as a laborer. I get it, but after being blown the fuck up multiple times, concussed, and just being generally pretty banged up, there's no way I can do that shit without my body falling out of my ass. I'm not lazy and need to work for my mental health. My PTSD manifests and rears its head when my hands are idle, and my brain has time to stop and drifts into memories of combat, death, and destruction, and it's all downhill from there.

In one of the unsuccessful interviews I went on, the guy was pretty candid with me and basically said, "dude, in order for you to get your foot in the door in management at this stage of the game, you should get your Master's in Business or Master of Construction Management." So, when I get into this interview with this VA VR&E guy on Wednesday, what would be the proper way to frame that to give me the best shot of having them cover a Master's program so I can get into this industry? I want to be honest with the guy, and I realize sometimes, when dealing with the VA and the employees that make these programs happen, you gotta make the system work for you. That being said, any help would be greatly appreciated, and thank you for the time. Sorry for the novel.

- An old grunt, just trying to stay in the fight

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