How difficult was your personal transition back to civilian life and employment?

Perfectly seamless transition... Went to a company/job very similar to what I did in the Army; para-military security for critical national security assets. My TS security clearance transferred with no problem. Most of my peers in my new vocation were folks I have known and worked with in the Army for years.

My recommendation is to start early, network and be ready to adjust your target departure date, up or back, as opportunities present themselves. Don't just take any job, as you may not be happy in it. Wait for something that interests you and that, for the most part, meets your needs. Holding out for the "perfect" job may work out for you, but that is probably the exception. Take a job that is acceptable and work your way into that perfect job by doing the same thing you did in the military -- Do your very best in any job you have.

I used to tell my assignment officers and counseled my personnel to do the same: "I'll go to a bad place for a good job; I'll go to a good place for a bad job; but I won't go to a bad place for a bad job." -- That always worked for me (I was lucky -- got good jobs in good places). I offer the same advice in seeking civilian employment.

My hobby helped me out. I like riding horses and owned several of them. I went into the rodeo circuit as labor and stock contracting; been bucked off, bitten, chewed on, stepped on, kicked, mauled, thrown in the air, chased and pooped/urinated on by bucking stock, horses and bulls; steers and mutton. So when someone asks me whats wrong with me, I tell that...plus I wear a hearing aid, and I need both ears corrected. Sometimes, when people ask why I phase out, I tell them that I go places (in the mind) on occasion. I make the conversation interesting. If I tell people its an army thing, they don't get it. One has to have a sense of humor to live in a progressive, capitalistic, free and independent society; Highly individualistic. 

When I left Fort Hood I found a temporary job working for Acer right there in Temple since I had some computer technical skills.  But since I've moved back to Missouri it's been really tough finding good job leads.  My MOS really doesn't have many civilian job equivalents except for maybe working for Dish Network, DirectTV, or a local cable company.  My biggest problem is probably a stable work history which is a vicious trap since I haven't been able to get a job at this point.