Posted on Feb 11, 2024
Retiring soon and trying to get all the things done. I have over 6 months left. Any useful advice?
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Retiring soon and trying to knock out all the needed & important tasks on my to do list. Have already taken TAPS classes, working towards a certification useful in my present and future civilian job as well as making a continuity book for any successors. Besides getting a full physical and using all my accrued leave, does anyone have any advice? I have a little over 8 months left to go. My last official day in the army is 31 Oct (Yup, Halloween).
Retirement
Transition
Military Career
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 12
One thing many Soldiers don't pay attention to until too late is exploring if the Army's Career Skills Program, DoD's SkillBridge Program, or an Individual Internship Program (basically a DIY option) is something that they would be interested in (especially applicable since you mentioned certifications).
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* Army CSP - https://home.army.mil/imcom/customers/career-skills-program/csp-programs-and-locations
* DoD SkillBridge - https://skillbridge.osd.mil/locations.htm
https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/5-tips-for-military-servicemembers-to-choose-the-right-csp-skillbridge-provider/
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* Army CSP - https://home.army.mil/imcom/customers/career-skills-program/csp-programs-and-locations
* DoD SkillBridge - https://skillbridge.osd.mil/locations.htm
https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/5-tips-for-military-servicemembers-to-choose-the-right-csp-skillbridge-provider/
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1LT (Join to see)
CSP is often a phenomenal use of time! I used it, and I always brought it up as an option to my Joes.
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SGT (Join to see)
It's a great option until a CSM doesn't want to push the packet forward because he's concerned Staff Duty won't be manned appropriately.
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COL Randall C.
SGT (Join to see) - Open door with your commander in that situation as the CSM isn't the approval authority (first field grade in your chain per AR 600-81*, Chapter 8). The CSM absolutely can recommend that it denied because of mission requirements though.
You do bring up a good point about the programs. The approval to participate in any of them is with the command. There is no right to be in the program, but the guidelines to commanders are, given mission requirements, to provide reasonable opportunity for Soldiers to participate in the program.
If the unit was short staffed for the operational mission or a specific Soldier was critical to the mission due to skills/knowledge, it's foreseeable that the Soldier wouldn't be approved to participate. Disapproval because there is a concern about manning Staff Duty would be something likely to raise an eyebrow with senior commanders.
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* AR 600-81 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN19863_R600_81_ADMIN_FINAL.pdf
You do bring up a good point about the programs. The approval to participate in any of them is with the command. There is no right to be in the program, but the guidelines to commanders are, given mission requirements, to provide reasonable opportunity for Soldiers to participate in the program.
If the unit was short staffed for the operational mission or a specific Soldier was critical to the mission due to skills/knowledge, it's foreseeable that the Soldier wouldn't be approved to participate. Disapproval because there is a concern about manning Staff Duty would be something likely to raise an eyebrow with senior commanders.
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* AR 600-81 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN19863_R600_81_ADMIN_FINAL.pdf
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Other than getting all your medical records lined up so you can start your VA healthcare and disability rating....I think you've covered the majority of the steps needed.
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File any CA claims. Stress causes grinding clenched teeth and Temporal Mandibular Joint TMJ pain, a service-connected condition that will get you free VA dental care, even at zero percent. A dentist can tell tear patterns on enamel to definitively diagnose TMJ. Most vets have SOME hearing loss, so compare initial hearing test at basic and retirement physical and the VA is on the hook for the difference. Remember, an even just a zero percent gets you in the door at the VA and it’s easier to up a zero rating than no rating. Get your rating work done before you get out, a great option we didn’t have when I retired after Iraq, so I was already 30% from the Gulf War, so I had to wait several months to get a rating. Luckily, I got med boarded at 40%, so my CA rating was first 90%, pretty fast, then a year later, with the TMJ, I went to 100%. You can get Tricare AND VA. Go to the VA office on post and talk to a rep there.
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SFC (Join to see) If you have not already done so, now would be a good time to review your Financial Planning. Items to review include: Savings and investments, asset allocation. taxes, wills, budgets, loans and other debt, income taxes. Good luck with your next career!
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Suspended Profile
If all your other ducks are in a row, my #1 recommendation is don't wait to file for your VA disability rating -- sooner is better! You can file a pre-discharge claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program up to 180 days before you officially retire. This WILL speed up the claim decision process and you won't have to wait months and months after retirement for your benefits.
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Thank you for making a continuity book for your successor - too many times I assumed a position without any references/guidance. God luck on your future, and thank you for your service! God Bless!
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Start working on your resume now and also start working on getting your final physical completed. As soon as final physical is done start working on your VA evals so you can have your paperwork done in advance so you can drop your package as soon as you leave active service. Start looking at tricare and learn about what options you want to use once you can switch from prime. Being retired gives you more options than the VA if the VA isn't up to par in your area. Look at options and decide if you want to go straight to work or go into school.
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Dental ckecks and repairs, ditto for vision, hearing, etc. Get every problem annotated prior to retirement.
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Might be a good time to ensure you have the car you need for the next few years. You don't want to face a car purchase while job hunting.
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