In your opinion, what is the one thing a service member should do during their military service prior to exiting?

2017-01-16T02:35:54-05:00

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 16 at 2017 3:03 AM

2017-01-16T03:03:57-05:00

Reconsider.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 5:05 AM

2017-01-16T05:05:10-05:00

Get a degree, or at least start college. Too many times I hear people's exit plan is to, "get out and go to college, because I don't have enough time to do it in the Army."

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 5:48 AM

2017-01-16T05:48:09-05:00

Attend a service school. Whether it Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder or one of the leadership based courses (Ranger, Sappers, SFAS), very few Americans will ever have a chance to be a part of such a tradition.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 16 at 2017 7:21 AM

2017-01-16T07:21:03-05:00

Depneds on how long they were in,14 yrs. stick it out for 6 more, better retirement.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Jan 16 at 2017 7:54 AM

2017-01-16T07:54:01-05:00

Get stationed overseas. Not a deployment, but a duty station where you actually have to participate in a different culture. It will expand your horizons!

Response by SPC Miles Blackman made Jan 16 at 2017 10:58 AM

2017-01-16T10:58:35-05:00

Keep a copy of everything!!! Anything with your name and SSN on it or in it, 201 file, training records, medical and dental records, driving, after action reports from combat patrols, awards, everything! Make sure that they are complete and match. The Army and the VA have a bad habit of losing key parts of your records when you need them the most. When applying for VA or Disability benefits it is usually he who has the most paperwork wins. Know how to write a Resume, military and civilian resumes are different, so before you get out go to the State career center and get help.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 16 at 2017 12:05 PM

2017-01-16T12:05:13-05:00

I'll say, "train your replacement well." We don't get to meet our replacement every time. Commanders and First Sergeants/Sergeants Major often do, but staff officers and NCO may not. Training your replacement in more general terms means training subordinates to move up to take your job or a job like yours. At the squad, platoon, or flight level it means training the promising E-4s and E-5s to move up into leadership or more advanced leadership positions. Company commanders should help train lieutenants and staff NCOs to move into more responsible leadership positions. I served on headquarters staffs for almost half of my career. I often met my replacement. I did my best to train them to do my job before I PCSed or retired. This included leaving behind "brain books," e-mail files, POC lists, distribution e-mail lists, and other useful information. Train your replacement also helps keep you focused on "them", the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, instead of you. They will be here after you're gone. The mission will continue without you. The best thing you can do before you exit is prepare your replacement(s) for the mission.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 16 at 2017 12:13 PM

2017-01-16T12:13:35-05:00

"Knowledge is Power" as Much Education that you can get for Free the Better! The More Free Military Schools you can attend whether they apply to your MOS/NEC or not the Better! I May be a "Cryptologic Technician Communcations" but I hold NECs in Telecommunications Management, Computer Communications, Tactical Intelligence, Maintenance Material Management & Supervision, Maintenance and Supervision of Maintenance of Firefighting and Lifesaving Equipment, Field Maintenance of Xerox Reproduction Equipment and PDP-11/70 Sun Microsystems Basic Operators Course. Candy is Dandy but Information Rules.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Jan 16 at 2017 2:43 PM

2017-01-16T14:43:36-05:00

Sadly a lot of the answers depend on time. I had no time. I got sick when the Cold War ended and within the flash of a pen, I was out. Didn't even get a medical board. Just a blanket retirement. Couldn't really prepare for anything.

My career? It was exciting. I got to visit foreign ports, etc. But when the military wants you gone, speed isn't an object...

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jan 16 at 2017 7:31 PM

2017-01-16T19:31:19-05:00

Network, network, network. We all have to go to the civilian sector at some point whether it's in four, eight, 20+ years etc. Someone always knows someone.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 16 at 2017 11:43 PM

2017-01-16T23:43:45-05:00

Jump from an airplane while in flight... SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jan 17 at 2017 11:50 AM

2017-01-17T11:50:36-05:00

Attend the separations class.

I don't know how it is in the Army, but the Marines have to take a separations class before they get out. The problem is a lot of the information passed would be more helpful at the beginning of an enlistment instead of at the end.

For instance, there was a budgeting class that made me feel stupid with money even though I'm fairly good with it. What good is a budget class going to do Marines that have between 10 days and 2 months before they get out. That's not nearly enough time to make a notable change.

This class also had a good discussion on VA benefits. I didn't exactly sign up for the benefits, but all I knew about was the GI Bill. Whoop di doo. I've already got a degree. What I didn't know about was all the other benefits that are offered through the VA and some of them are dependent on the discharge you receive. I just bought a home last year, a dream I honestly never thought possible, but thanks to the VA, it happened. I honestly think that there would be a lot less service members getting kicked out if they knew about half the stuff they could rate based on their discharge.

There were some other things in the class as well, resume writing, interview skills etc. But the budgeting and benefits class I thought were incredibly useful.

Response by LTC Wayne Dandridge made May 15 at 2018 8:11 PM

2018-05-15T20:11:23-04:00

Pay close attention to your children and spouse. Never take them for granted and give them as much time as you give your military service. Brest regards, Larry Dandridge

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 20 at 2018 1:20 PM

2018-08-20T13:20:14-04:00

building a resume because service is not going to build it for you.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 20 at 2018 4:33 PM

2018-08-20T16:33:20-04:00

Walk away with your head held high understanding you served this great country and accomplished much.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 20 at 2018 6:27 PM

2018-08-20T18:27:23-04:00

Reup. In 14 days you’ll wish you had. Otherwise soak in as much as you can, ask a ton of questions, and ask even more. Nothing will completely prepare you, but knowledge is power

Response by SPC John Tsutsui made Sep 25 at 2021 11:23 AM

2021-09-25T11:23:53-04:00

Overseas service. Best thing that ever happened to me. Didn't like it when the orders came down but after being there for some time I realized it was for the best. Some of my fondest memories is from the time I served in West Germany.