Posted on Dec 29, 2014
Retirement Identification Card, How Did It Make You Feel When Issued?
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I recently obtained my Blue Identification Card(United States Uniformed Services/U.S. Army Retired Identification Card-DD Form 2). It's hard to believe, after 25 years I have one. The NEXT TIME I RENEW IT IS FEBRUARY 28, 2035. Then for LIFE after that. I have had three ID cards in the Army, the ole green/white with the plate on it with your name, the green one/non-CAC similar to the dependent ID card/retirement and the CAC Card. I thank God, Country and Family for the new phase of my life as I go forward in the future.
"Duty Honor Country. Retired But Still Serving"
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" TSgt Hunter Logan CPT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SSG Warren Swan SFC William Swartz Jr SFC A.M. Drake COL Mikel J. Burroughs SSgt (Join to see) CPT L S SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton 1SG (Join to see) MSG Floyd Williams CSM Michael J. Uhlig SGM Mikel Dawson CH (MAJ) William Beaver [~305380:CSM Charles Hayden
"Duty Honor Country. Retired But Still Serving"
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" TSgt Hunter Logan CPT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SSG Warren Swan SFC William Swartz Jr SFC A.M. Drake COL Mikel J. Burroughs SSgt (Join to see) CPT L S SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton 1SG (Join to see) MSG Floyd Williams CSM Michael J. Uhlig SGM Mikel Dawson CH (MAJ) William Beaver [~305380:CSM Charles Hayden
Retirement
Transition
Leadership
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 50
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I'll let you know next year, but after 29 years of active duty I can tell you I am not looking forward to leaving what I love!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CMSgt (Join to see) , well said and definitely respected a 30 year retirement is awesome. I did as long as I could and had 1 year left as a E-7 on the clock. However, I would not be eligible for promotion and would have did my 26th year reaching the RCP without my family which I was separated for 18 months and during my deployment to Afghanistan. It was too much to deal with. I would have liked to do 30 years but I couldn't get promoted to Master Sergeant. The time for me was up. I still miss Soldering, I was with the 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.
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Congrats SFC Davis! Got mine over 10 years ago, "Never Leave Home Without it!" - Best card in my wallet! Next to my bronze plated Life Membership to the Special Forces Association and my bronze Legacy VFW Bronze plated card!!!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Richard Haugh, thank you for your honored service and I appreciate the words of wisdom. It was a long road, that I had to travel (6 combat tours) and world-wide assignments in 25 years and 3 days of service in the Army.
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Congratulations! When I received mine in Oct 2011 it was with a sense of pride and achievement, then a wave of "wow, what am I going to do next" :) I work for the Department of the Navy now and have a CAC once again, so I can use either for access to the base. Depending on how much of a boost I need to hear, "Thank you, MSgt" pretty much decides which one I use :D
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MSgt Michael Durkee well said and eloquently heart felt. I am off on the job hunt and any information is appreciate.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Drake, BROTHER YOU KNOW HOW TO GET A GOOD LAUGH GOING......SMDH....SO TRUE BROTHER...
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Didn't get mine until I was 60. It felt good to be recognized as a real retired person.
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CONGRATS Brother!! I'm in the middle of getting my retirement package ready to go in. This coming year, I will get myself one of those as well!! I look at myself and I think 60?!! How did I get that old, but somehow I did. Looking forward to get what I worked so hard to get!!
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
I don't mean useless in the sense you're thinking... Just the feeling of giving up my AD card altogether to get my retiree card really hit hard... I'm proud of my service and all I've accomplished in 26 and some change, but giving up my AD card, which was the last act in my retirement process, just made me feel a little useless... No more military life, and now having to deal with being a civilian working on a military installation and trying to get out of "military mode"... What can I say? There was no more "MSgt Ellis, USAF"... It was now "Mr. Ellis", or "MSgt Ellis, USAF (Ret)"... Not speaking for the rest of you, but that last act of receiving that card really brought home the finality of it all being over... It took a while for me to get past that... And even with that vote down? You're right to a point, SGT Nile... To each, his/her own... That includes my opinion from the question of this post...
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - Quick question: I noticed you have an expiration date on your DD Form 2... Mine reads "INDEF"... I retired 1 Mar 2008 which is when I received my card. Is this (expiration date, instead of INDEF) a recent change since my retirement?
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