How long did it take you to fully make the transition into civilian life, after you were discharged?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:51:48 -0400

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Oct 1 at 2015 11:53 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:53:06 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins to be truthful, its ongoing. Its going to take some time, retired last December.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Oct 1 at 2015 11:53 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:53:57 -0400

I don't think you fully transition into civilian life. There is always something that stays with us.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 11:54 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:54:05 -0400

Still a work in progress.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 1 at 2015 11:55 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:55:03 -0400

Been out 13 years. I'll let you know when it happens.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 1 at 2015 12:03 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:03:09 -0400

2 days... left Camp Geiger NC on a Friday afternoon & the following Monday I attended Freshman Orientation Day at Boston College. But luckily my best bud in the Marines sat next to me and we helped each other though this transition. He kept telling me to stop saluting all the ROTC cadets, calling the Jesuits "Sir" and Nuns "Ma'am" and every time my name was called in class I would jump up & yell "Sir Yes Sir".... but after a few moths I was OK & just buried myself in class work .. My bud later ran for Congress in MA ..& passed in 2004 So at our 50th Class reunion I gave a memorial tribute for him and for all he did to help me graduate from BC..

This is part of my memorial tribute for my Marine Bud.

He entered the US Marine Corps in 1952 and served as a member of the First Marine Division during the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart.

Mr. Cawley received a bachelor's degree in administration from Boston College in 1960 and master's degree in political science and public administration from Northeastern University in 1976.

He was elected to the state House of Representatives from West Roxbury in 1962, where he served three terms. …

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 1 at 2015 12:05 PM

SGT David T. — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:05:17 -0400

I don't think we ever fully transition. It's been 8 years since I left the Army and it seems like it was just yesterday. Sometimes I wake up and think I am late for PT lol

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 12:06 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:06:23 -0400

I don't expect I ever will. Especially now that I went back as an Air Force civilian.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 1 at 2015 12:16 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:16:03 -0400

You know, the reason I believe that I have fully made the transition into civilian life-despite mental illness, a 100% service-connected stress disorder, and PTSD-is because I served during the Cold War and never saw combat.
This is not to say that I didn't go through some 27 years of absolute hell and agony; trying to get well.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 12:29 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:29:37 -0400

Never go full civilian!

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Response by SMSgt Bryan Raines made Oct 1 at 2015 1:29 PM

SMSgt Bryan Raines — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:29:54 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins Retired in Dec 2009. Still miss the military. I took a job with the Red Cross as a Service to the Armed Forces Specialist so I could still be around active duty and veterans. They are still "my people/family" rather than the civilians I am around.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 1 at 2015 6:13 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:13:42 -0400

It's been a few years, and I'm still working on it in some ways...

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Oct 1 at 2015 11:36 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 23:36:32 -0400

Instantaneously! I had a great 25 yr career, but I also planned for my retirement. So much so, that I couldn't wait for the new adventure to begin.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 8:56 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:56:19 -0400

Wait....there is life after the military?

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Oct 2 at 2015 9:04 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:04:58 -0400

I am looking forward to finding out. Starting 12 Dec 15......

Response by SGT Paul Kafka made Oct 2 at 2015 9:49 PM

SGT Paul Kafka — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:49:48 -0400

I was medically discharged and it took me six years to get back to earning what I made while I was in.

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Oct 2 at 2015 11:20 PM

CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:20:25 -0400

I have been retired for 26 years.....there is still a whole bunch of chief petty officer left in me.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Oct 2 at 2015 11:26 PM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:26:23 -0400

I retired almost a year ago and I still have problems dealing with "civilians."

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 11:07 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 11:07:51 -0400

Hi again, SPC Higgins.
I've been out since 2002. I still haven't transitioned. I refuse to do so.

Response by SSgt Dustin Coy made Oct 3 at 2015 1:01 PM

SSgt Dustin Coy — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 13:01:46 -0400

Honestly, about 10 minutes. The time it took for me to walk from CBPO to my truck after my final out processing briefing. Up until that point I had been somewhat considering a transfer to the Reserves, so that I'd have something if my great new civilian gig didn't work out. I can remember being on the sidewalk almost to my truck, and I thought to myself: "You know what? No, it ain't happening. I'm a civilian now, It's time to put my full focus on the future." I've never really looked back and regretted any of it. That said, I had spent a lot of time preparing for it, so maybe that was all part of my transition as well.

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Oct 3 at 2015 3:22 PM

SPC Luis Mendez — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 15:22:13 -0400

Physically the time it took me to change into civilian clothes once I arrived back home, about a minute. Mentally about a week. That's one huge benefit of the back in the days, 2 years Draft. Some were not that lucky due to tours in Nam but not all of them. Almost all others I knew and met after did as well or better.

Response by PO2 Charles Bonilla made Oct 4 at 2015 12:15 AM

PO2 Charles Bonilla — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 00:15:33 -0400

Looking way back, I transitioned pretty quickly to a full-time job but I was also finishing my bachelors degree part time at night. Things hummed along rather nicely, especially as I was also in the reserves. That reserve time, in retrospect, facilitated my transition to being a civilian again. Once a month I was with what had been my LIFE but I would return to what was becoming my new life. All that aside, I'd say it took me almost six years to fully transition.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Oct 5 at 2015 4:05 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:05:06 -0400

Exactly 1 day. I took off my uniform, stuffed it in my duffel bag, went to a pawn shop and sold the whole shebang. We were at Ft. Bliss and had a van full of men that needed rides to their home. The last stop was in the panhandle then we turned home for Kentucky, It was an awesome experience and it got me the job I wanted (Electronics manufacturing). I made some awesome friends.

Response by CW3 Eric W. S. made Oct 20 at 2015 3:14 PM

CW3 Eric W. S. — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:14:38 -0400

I would like to re-energize the question - from a new standpoint rather than starting a new discussion.

I have been retired less than 120 days. I regret every second of the decision to leave the Army. I know that it will take time, but I found already myself looking on the internet for ways to rescind my retirement and go back in. I know I will never be a civilian again, I just can't seem to fit in. I will attempt to find a classification that I can fit into, lately it is veteran, but that doesn't seem to ease the pain. I know that after 20+ years in the service, you can never go back, but how long has it taken other to stop hating the decision and the ramifications surrounding it?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 9:09 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 09:09:55 -0400

I took a personality test in college and they told me it was going to take me a long time to get started. They were right.

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Aug 10 at 2017 8:59 PM

CW4 Angel C. — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 20:59:43 -0400

Served 24+ years. Been retired for 18 months and still transitioning in my mind. Tried transitioning my healthcare to VA but they're just not what I expected. VA did do a pretty good job with their compensation for my injuries. It was really weird at first going on vacation without being on leave. No formations, PT tests, or that high level of accountability from the military. So you have to be more self disciplined in certain areas. And on a good note you can let yourself go a little and grow your hair, drink an extra beer, get whatever tattoo wherever you want it, and be as free as you always wanted to be while in the service.

Response by CW5 Ranger Dave made Aug 12 at 2017 12:21 AM

CW5 Ranger Dave — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 00:21:49 -0400

Retired 09/30/1993. Never fully transitioned to civilian life and really don't want to. Family is all military or LEOs. Friends are all former military or retired LEOs. Co-workers from second career were all Former military or former LEOs. I'm 100% A-Okay with that. Vets bond faster with other vets and are more willing to help each other. The biggest thing about civilian life is NO ONE is in charge! Well except my wife. LOL

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2017 4:08 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:08:40 -0500

I left active duty in May 1975. Began a new career in August.

Then I joined the Army Reserves for 8 1/2 years. I worked for a company that moved me. My new home was 200 miles from my drill site. We worked a deal for a transfer. But after 2 months a LT decided he did not approve and I was directed to drill at the old location. I drove to drill, filled out retirement papers, and was released by the battalion commander.

I forgot about the Army before I was back home.

Response by MSgt Scott Wheeler made Nov 14 at 2017 7:23 PM

MSgt Scott Wheeler — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:23:27 -0500

I retired in 2012, and I was out the door and running, that is after spending 3 months trying to find a job! I do miss aspects of the military, although it's been a fun and interesting transition to civilian life. It is an ongoing process, and will most likely be for sometime to come, but finishing one chapter and starting a new one has been fun...and challenging.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Mar 19 at 2021 10:09 AM

LTC Stephan Porter — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:09:52 -0400

Still doing it in a way! 18+ mos so far!