Posted on Sep 19, 2024
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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.
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Cpl Vic Burk
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Edited 10 mo ago
(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)
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
10 mo
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"
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CPL Douglas Chrysler
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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
SPC Lyle Montgomery
10 mo
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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SGT Carl Blas
SGT Carl Blas
10 mo
Lol, sorry, it reminded me of some days and nights a a COP. Alot times, Practical Education is the cure.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
6 mo
SGT Carl Blas -
Doug Gave Him What Many Need,
An Attitude Adjustment
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
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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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Did anyone go into teaching when they retired/separated from the military? What was your experience like?
COL David Turk
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A consideration if you decide to teach and you end working in a school district that does not withhold SSAN (like California). If you qualify for a retirement from that district, you, and/or your spouse may be impacted by Social Security offsets. It behooves you to checkout the two offsets in social security payments.
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COL David Turk
COL David Turk
7 mo
Congress just passed legislation to change this. If President Biden signs it, my comment becomes moot. (22 Dec 24 updated)
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Maj Robert Thornton
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(Join to see) I graduated college, the first time, and was not able to find a teaching job in the area of the country I wanted to be. I ended up hanging Sheetrock, then driving trucks, eventually getting an LPN degree from a community college. Eventually I went back to college for a BSN degree. From there the Air Force, more school for nurse anesthesia, and a masters in Public Administration. On retirement from the military I continue anesthesia in the civilian world.
Eventually got a masters in nursing education and started teaching classes online for a few years before I retired from anesthesia. When I retired, I was hired by the university I was teaching online for. I enjoyed teaching full time until I retired for good.
Teaching isn’t for everyone, but I found it very rewarding.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
SPC Lyle Montgomery
10 mo
MAJ Robert Thornton, In my trade as a Union Millwright, We had a lot of guys who had degrees, teaching and others who left academia because they couldn't make a decent living at it. The construction trades paid better pay and the workers didn't have to put up with all the bull, and in general made a better living, had a pension and healthcare. Good teachers are underpaid and the trades pay well.
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Maj Robert Thornton
Maj Robert Thornton
10 mo
SPC Lyle Montgomery if I had my way in high school I would have done auto shop. It was s vocational offering with one of the vocational schools. It was 4 hours a day. My dad and guidance counselor both said my test scores said college prep. So, yeah I have a bunch of degrees and made good money in the AF and after I retired, but now I have to pay outrageous fees to have my cars serviced and repaired. LOL
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SGT Tim Tobin
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I'm a little bit different. I was a medic and practical nurse in the Army. After discharged I became an RN. All through a long and successful career in the Army and in civilian life I was always the educator. Now at 73 I'm teaching a medical course to high schoolers. I have always really loved teaching
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LTC David Howard
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For a time while on active duty I thought about teaching after my military career ended. But I found that despite having a Bachelor's and Master's degree, I would have to take almost 2 years worth of "education" courses to qualify to be a teacher in a public school system. Not only could I not afford to go to school full time after military retirement (with 2 kids in college and two more ready to go shortly) but the pay as a new teacher seemed totally inadequate. Instead, I took a one semeter course, while still on active duty, that along with my college degree allowed me to qualify to take the exam for licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator. This led to a rewarding and reasonably paid second career in the nursing home field, with my second retirement after 23 years as a NHA.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
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https://tapevents.mil/ttt/

This is an older program which has become mostly defunded but still contains some links and references to other programs. It may be a great place to start.


I was planning on teaching. I had my non-teaching Bachelor's and was headed for a Master's in Adult Education (was a shorter / quicker path to teaching for me when I got out due to all of the non-teaching path credits I had from my Joint Service Transcript) when my education path was derailed by a bullet. It is still the dream but right now paying bills is taking priority over going to school.
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Maj Joan Marine
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Substitute teaching is a great idea, gives you a taste of all ages and abilities, and allows you to accertain the ages you don't want to teach. All without the contract!
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MAJ Montgomery Granger
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I got into teaching BEFORE I got into the Army! BS Ed. from the University of Alabama, and then MA from Teachers College - Columbia University. I borrowed my financial future away, and then when the loans started coming due while I was substitute teaching, I joined the Army national Guard in part for the loan repayment. Five years later after all loans plus interest were paid, I decided to stay i and make the Army a second career. OCS followed. I was a Combat Medica and then became a Medical Service officer. The thing is, I chose a path in the Army that would compliment my civilian job. Combat Medic was GREAT for a health and physical education teacher and coach! Medical Service played into my civilian administration and health services job later. The careers were complimentary and parallel. I even used AIT study materials in my health education classes. Most Army material was written on the sixth grade level, simple and straight forward illustrations! Great stuff! I also borrowed from my Drill Sergeant and TAC Officer techniques in teaching and coaching. The goal is always the same: Victory, Excellence!
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CPO Greg Sheremeta
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I did the contractor thing after retiring from the Navy back in ‘95. After 9/11, I entered Old Dominion University Military Transition Program which led to a Masters in Education, which I used my GI Bill for my classes. Something I did, which recommend is try substitute teaching. I did this to make sure I wanted to teach. I figured if I could survive substitute teaching, I could handle my own classroom and it gave me an idea of with which age group I might enjoy working. I got a provisional license, Which in Virginia allows you to teach before you complete your licensure. I spent 7 years teaching Middle School Social Studies, relocated to another school district and got a position teaching elementary school for the next 13 years. I retired after 20 years of teaching in 2022. I don’t regret a moment of it.
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SPC Michael Terrell
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I started while in high school. I taught first year Electronics since I was already working in that field after school and on Saturdays. I was 100% disabled before I retired.
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SPC Daniel Rankin
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Edited 9 mo ago
Yes, I went to the Wenatchee Valley College and got 4 degrees and then moved back to Kansas where I taught for 7 years in the Junction City School district as a substitute teacher, accumulating over 4 full years of teaching. Kindergarten through 12th grade. Math, history, English and Science.
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SMSgt Drew Riddle
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Greatest (and easiest) and most rewarding job I ever had. Did 17 years of AFJROTC after retiring from the military and loved it! Would highly recommend to those who have patience, are humble, and want to make a positive impact in the future of our world!
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Maj David BenJames
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Left the service after Nam and went back to school. Had a 40 year career with NOAA.
Have PHD in Meteorology and starting teaching at a local university in 2008.
I love it. Did it for 6 years. Had a great time. Would do it again, but the university doesn't want 80 year old teachers teaching 20 year old kids.
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SSG Joseph Harris, PhD
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When I got out, I went to a community college, then UC Irvine for my BA/BS, then UC Berkeley for my PhD in Psychology. My first positions were teaching at universities and medical schools in Israel. I really loved that because almost every student had already done their mandatory time on active duty. They were very bright, older and more mature students than in the US.
When I returned to the US at began teaching back at Berkeley, I found it a bit disappointing. Many students lacked enthusiasm. Berkeley focused more on research than teaching quality courses. I felt I came back only to realize that at UC Berkeley- the Emperor had no Clothes.

Unmotivated students and uninspiring fellow professors. I moved on to focus on research and community service positions elsewhere.
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1SG Joseph Dartey
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After retiring from the Army, I taught JROTC at the high school I graduated from in 1974 and yes I was a member of the JROTC program. I taught for 12 years before I had to take a medical retirement because I had cancer. I love teaching the kids about life experiences and the military. Most of them were very receptive to the program but others were there for an easy credit. As Cpl Vic Burke said, Teaching is not for everyone, and try out substituting for a while to see if if is your cup of tea. By the way, I also got involved with the court juvenile justice system and went on to get my Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice.
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TSgt Ken Vandevoort
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I did a different type of teaching. For several years, I was a museum volunteer teacher in a one room log cabin school. I took the kids back to 1840 when we were a territory and not a state. I always knew what schools and towns they came from and halfway through, I would turn the tables on them and ask them questions about the towns that they came from. It was fun and I could judge the reaction by watching their teachers' faces. My goal was to have them continue the discussion when they returned to their own classrooms.
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PFC Allison Pope
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You might want to start as a substitute teacher at all levels to see if that is something you really want to do.
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PO3 Lewis Kauffman
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I started college in September 1966, to become a surveyor but the atmosphere towards Vietnam Vets was more than I could take and quit after the first semester. Went to work at the local Army Depot for three years using the skills I learned from the Navy electronics. A teaching position became available at the newly opened Vocational School for an Electronics Instructor. Started there in 1970 and retired in 2003 got bored and went back to the same school as a substitute until 2020. Navy training and the GI Bill helped me get and keep the job.
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