From 25 Years in the Army to Behind the Bar

After 25 years of active duty as an Army officer, our graduate was ready for a change of pace. He completed the PBS course and found work at fine dining establishments in both Maryland and DC shortly after graduating. The transition from military service to bartending might sound dramatic, but the discipline and people skills that come from a military career translate directly behind the bar.

The flexibility is what sold him. Working 25 to 30 hours per week, he has found a schedule that gives him the income he needs with the freedom he spent 25 years earning. He averages more than $35 per hour on regular shifts and has earned as much as $70 per hour at catered events - with some wedding gigs paying $350 for five hours of work. He targets $1,000 to $1,750 in weekly earnings working 25 to 30 hours.

For veterans exploring their next chapter, bartending offers something that a lot of post-military careers do not: genuine work-life balance. The hours are flexible, the work is social, and the skills are portable. You can work as much or as little as you want, and you are never sitting behind a desk wondering what happened to the day.