Posted on Sep 19, 2024

Did anyone go into teaching when they retired/separated from the military? What was your experience like?
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I retired this year and not really sure what I want to do but teaching has been in my head even before I retired. I have a job - but I don't think I want to keep doing it. I just started but I just really want to get away from anything military and this is a contractor job for a military command. I took it thinking oh the benefits are good but I just don't think it's going to work. I have 14 months on my GI Bill. I have been looking at local colleges about programs and there is one that does an accelerated program if you already have degrees. I already have a bachelor's and two masters. I feel like I just need to do something opposite what I did for 20 years and not around military at all. Just curious anyone else who went into teaching or who felt a little lost when they retired.
Posted 9 mo ago
Responses: 35
(Join to see) Quite by accident I got into teaching eight years after I left the Marines. I taught electronics in Chicago for three years before we moved to Tennessee. After I was here, I was a trainer for the Magnavox factory teaching them how to work on their product. I was operating an electronics repair shop at the same time. Years later I decided to go back into teaching and got a degree in Mathematics with a concentration in math education. I love it but it's not for everyone.
Here's my suggestion, substitute teach for a while and see if it's what you really want to do. Many of my classmates from ETSU started out as math education majors and went to their first assignment and return to the campus and switched to Statical Track or Scientific track and never went back to the classroom. Others switched majors all together and some finished the program never to step foot inside the classroom as a teacher as hard as that is to believe! Teaching today isn't what it was when I was in school fifty plus years ago! Do the sub route first. If you feel it's your calling, go for it! Best of luck to you whatever you decide. Keep us posted!
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen COL Randall C. CPL Douglas Chrysler SGT Kevin Hughes GySgt Jack Wallace PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Woody Bullard Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Robert Thornton SFC Bernard Walko CSM Charles Hayden MSG Billy Brumfield SGT Charlie Lee Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth SFC Ralph E Kelley LTC Tom Jones MSgt Dale Johnson Bethina Lee Sgt (Join to see)
Here's my suggestion, substitute teach for a while and see if it's what you really want to do. Many of my classmates from ETSU started out as math education majors and went to their first assignment and return to the campus and switched to Statical Track or Scientific track and never went back to the classroom. Others switched majors all together and some finished the program never to step foot inside the classroom as a teacher as hard as that is to believe! Teaching today isn't what it was when I was in school fifty plus years ago! Do the sub route first. If you feel it's your calling, go for it! Best of luck to you whatever you decide. Keep us posted!
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen COL Randall C. CPL Douglas Chrysler SGT Kevin Hughes GySgt Jack Wallace PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Woody Bullard Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Robert Thornton SFC Bernard Walko CSM Charles Hayden MSG Billy Brumfield SGT Charlie Lee Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth SFC Ralph E Kelley LTC Tom Jones MSgt Dale Johnson Bethina Lee Sgt (Join to see)
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
MAJ Ken Landgren -
And You'll Be Growing Up WHEN?
That's NOT For Me At All, "I'm A Toy's R US Kid"
And You'll Be Growing Up WHEN?
That's NOT For Me At All, "I'm A Toy's R US Kid"
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Once I was at a friend's birthday party and I was informed someone was outside stealing the spare tire off my truck. So I went out the back and taught him all about the flying side kicks. It was exhilarating.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
Cpl Douglas Chrysler, Good for you. The courts probably wouldn't have given him as good as a punishment as you did.
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I became a school counselor after retirement and I loved it. My husband retired from the AF as well and taught 4th grade. He loved it and the kids loved him. We need more good male role models in the elementary and middle schools. The majority of men seem to be in PE in elementary school and math/science in middle school. Kids have to see men doing everything!
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