CJ Cutrone ⋅ Staten Island , NY Enturnet ⋅ 10 years experience

What is your B.S degree in? Most logisticians start with a bachelor's degree in a field such as industrial engineering or business. There are many entry level positions in this field, like truck driver or forklift operator. Then there are the mid-level positions like logistics analyst or operations manager and the upper level positions. You may have received some hands on logistics experience in the service, so you may be able to start at a mid-level position. There is a NY based company called Sharp Decisions that is seeking veterans for IT / Logistics positions and they provide the training. Here is the link: http://webconnect.sendouts.com/CN_Frame.aspx?ID=SharpDecisions&SiteID=Webconnect&Group=Webconnect&Key=CN&CNTrackID=7&MTTrackID=1001&CnId=&PostId=fd2ee9a6-4736-4d18-9ba1-088b8d954f96&ApplyNewCan=0

Patrick Feeney ⋅ Methuen , MA UPS ⋅ 7 years experience

Thomas,
UPS has set up a great site for veterans to explore opportunities in the Logistics field with UPS. The specific knowledge one can learn at UPS can easily be transfered to a logistics role at almost any business given UPS' role in worldwide logistics for many companies. I have included the link below.

https://ups.managehr.com/military.htm

Laurie Kirk ⋅ Tampa , FL Bristol-Myers Squibb ⋅ 30 years experience

Hi Thomas - there is a lot of good feedback here, so i will limit my five cents to current changes in the pharmaceutical industry supply chain arena with the move towards serialization of bar codes on products from the saleable unit to the shipping pallet. This is prompted by the need to detect and prevent fake drugs, and in the US both CA & FL have issued legislation governing the requirements - commonly known as ePedigree, and other countries where US pharmaceuticals are sold will follow suit over time. So if you have a leaning towards governance in business/industry then that focused part of the supply chain that links in to bar-code systems /packaging lines/shipping/track & trace activities may provide you various opportunities at ground level.

Mark Rossi ⋅ Glenwood , NJ UPS ⋅ 29 years experience

Thomas, if you already have logistics experience, definitely check out UPSjobs.com for Supply Chain or other. And of course I have to say, checking out other transportatoin companies who compete with UPS are also an option. If no experience starting in the field in some way, even if working package sorts, loading and unloading, it is a foot in the door that will provide valuable practical experience, possible help fund the education or supplement what the government does not fund, and likely enable you to netowork for greater opportunity. If you have the ability to go to college with specific concentration in logistics, supply chain management, industrial engineering...all good foundations for logistics...

Parker Benton ⋅ Valencia , CA Hewlett Packard ⋅ 22 years experience

Lets start with where you are now. Where is your training in your military career. Logisitics if already trained and certified in your branch of the service transfers well commercially. There are websites where you can transfer your skill level to comercial world. Finding the payband you are will to accept will be key in Logistics....lots of jobs in lower payscale. As most career fields as pay goes up postions are tougher to find. I would sugges Contractor position at large govt agency locations close to you. IE San Diego CA has lots of Logistic Positions filled with Contractor Support.
V/R
Parker

Jim Sherry ⋅ Houston , TX Hewlett Packard ⋅ 18 years experience

Lots of good answers above so I won't repeat. Regardless of your eventual career path, including logistics, education will be the first hurdle. Just about all large and most medium size companies are looking for a 4 year degree to start with. It's not impossible without but will require you start targeting smaller companies, work that much harder, and likely require frequent job hopping to increase your responsibility/salary potential.

Bruce Berberich ⋅ Schenectady , NY General Electric ⋅ 32 years experience

One thing you would need to determine is what type of logistics you are interested in and what size firm you want to work with. There are many different areas , from small trucking firms to global companies that leverage the same skills but have very different needs. The tag line Logistics could get very different messages depending on the industry so that to should be a question you should ask yourself. Sourcing Managers, both Direct buys and Indirect buying leverage logistics, as do most construction manager role and project managers, so the fine tuning is key to any job search. So at least an understanding of how the skills can be leveraged to potential roles is time worth investing.

Michael Bachmann ⋅ Arlington , VA URS ⋅ 37 years experience

If you are interested in government logistics positions each of the Services have some form of an acquisition intern program. As an example, you can go to this Navy site: http://acquisition.navy.mil/home/acquisition_workforce/career_development/naval_acquisition_development_program_nadp/applicants
It will provide you with information on the different career paths to and including Logistics. The Navy has an intern program which will pay for your training if you are selected into the program.
Hope this is of assistance.
Mike Bachmann