What advice would you give someone as they ETS?

2022-12-30T13:33:36-05:00

I know many who are transitioning at this time. I have some notes and resources jotted down that I share (posted below in comments), but I would also prefer to throw in an RP link where others can see advice or ask questions.

Useful Links:
- Travel: (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/plan-to-move/moving-personal-property/)
- ETS Checklist/Guide: (https://www.military.com/military-transition/checklist-active-duty-separating.html)
- Career Skills Program (CSP): (https://home.army.mil/imcom/index.php/customers/career-skills-program)

Other RP Posts:
- Overseas: (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-does-ets-from-overseas-work-i-currently-got-to-korea-on-july-3rd-and-my-ets-date-is-august-19th-2024)
- Applying for Jobs: (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-far-ahead-should-i-start-to-look-for-a-job-and-how-far-from-my-ets-date-should-i-be-applying-for-jobs)

DPS & Defense Personal Property Program • Military OneSource

The Defense Personal Property Program provides military PCS moving resources, customer service and tools, like Defense Personal Property System (DPS).

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Dec 30 at 2022 1:39 PM

2022-12-30T13:39:14-05:00

Thanks for sharing this information!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2022 1:41 PM

2022-12-30T13:41:55-05:00

Start setting up appointments early and firmly guard your time to prepare for ETS. The nature of the beast is that when it's go time you will be scrambling. The more time you can get away from work, the less frustration and problems you will have when it's go time. This doesn't mean slack off, but get after what needs to be done.

There is always some person, in an office, on post that you can meet with to talk with about all aspects of this transition. Make in person appointments if possible. Because of all my meetings I maximized my efficiency and effectiveness, all for free. Talking in person made things easy and protected my calendar. The expertise and resources available to us at no cost is phenomenal. (Fort Campbell)

ASK QUESTIONS. Everywhere you go, ask questions. Don't leave a place if you don't understand something. That's on you.

Get your team prepared for your departure months in advance. Plan to fill in the gaps now and get everyone in the mindset that you're on the way out the door. Set them and yourself up for success.

Look to your left and right help others clear as well. Start your ETS award early and help others get taken care of. Share resources.

Go to all the workshops at the TAP center that you can. The senior leadership courses were more suited to what I needed, but regular courses provide useful info and allow time for you to plan things out while you are in the class. Plus, the people teaching the workshops have a lot of knowledge and know where to go for answers.

Take lots of notes and build an ETS binder. Have a section for all your documents and another for informational stuff.

Keep track of all your login info for various websites.

Utilize the spouse employment center, they also have workshops and counselors that are very helpful, not just for your spouse but for the SM too. They have even federal employment workshops and experts, very helpful. (Fort Campbell)

Utilize the USO pathfinder resource. A counselor will be assigned to you to help you develop an overall COA for your transition and then they follow up with you every couple of weeks, helping you stay on track. They have a lot of knowledge and connections that are very helpful along the way. (Fort Campbell)

Get started on your LinkedIn profile early. It will take a few months to get it they way you want it, if you want a quality profile like some of the best out there, and want civilian organizations to understand your worth. Build your connections for a while, then send a respectful message requesting endorsements or recommendations from all your connections.

Take the workshop on LinkedIn to understand why it is so important and how it helps your career. (Fort Campbell)

My internship was an outstanding use of my time. Find one (Career Skills Program - CSP), apply, and make the most of it. This opportunity was a blessing not only to me, but to my family. Plus, it allowed me to actually do effective PT. Don't cut it out; PT was very helpful in dealing with the stress.

CIF was not bad, don't sweat it. Just be an adult and be prepared.

Set up meetings with superiors, colleagues, and subordinates. Be intentional about getting feedback on your performance and take a few notes. I found this helpful. The 101ST can be a whirlwind of failures from the top down. Getting other people's insights helped me close out some chapters on the narrative and lock up some lessons learned for whatever they're worth.

***This is the second time I have gone from active duty to reserves in order to go to college. The second time was more difficult, but went better because I was aggressive with doing the work.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2022 2:19 PM

2022-12-30T14:19:24-05:00

1LT Private RallyPoint Member Establishing a plan and setting goals can help with all of the actions that need to take place during transition and after. Learning about money management is vital as money will be needed for emergencies, vehicles, homes, vacations, families, and retirement. Live beneath your means, save as much as possible (track expenses if needed to find out where your money is going) and invest wisely.

Response by SFC Marc W. made Dec 30 at 2022 3:07 PM

2022-12-30T15:07:38-05:00

First thing's first, figure out what you want to be when you grow up.
I say that because once you know what you want to do in the market, making further decisions and plans will be much more effective.

Response by SGT Thomas Zoblisien made Dec 30 at 2022 5:15 PM

2022-12-30T17:15:51-05:00

Don’t When in the military it takes 90 to kick you out. As a civilian you can go the same day. There is no job security

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2022 5:27 PM

2022-12-30T17:27:08-05:00

I would tell them to go to TAP, where they get all these briefings in person from Subject Matter Experts, plus 18 months to work their plan.

Seriously, this is all covered in TAP and the best thing you can do is get people enrolled in it as early as possible so they can plan instead of finding things second hand on the web

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Dec 31 at 2022 12:15 AM

2022-12-31T00:15:46-05:00

Get a copy of your medical record, you will be glad you did. At your final physical, I don't care if it is as small as a paper cut, get it on record. Later on with the VA, you will be glad you did.
How much time you got in? Think about staying in the Reserve. Think long run, retirement. I am collecting a military pension, love it. Plan ahead.
Make good use of your earned educational benefits.
Lots of good advice on here, pay attention and think.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 2 at 2023 9:33 AM

2023-01-02T09:33:35-05:00

The biggest thing I see Vets struggle with is a lack of a plan. They have what I refer to as the "Getting Out Plan" and that means their only plan is to get out and they have nothing locked in afterwards. They normally have generic plans like " I will go to school" and "get a job" but they have no real plan with no prospects at all. They haven't applied for a job and they haven't applied to school at all. So many Vets hyper focus on their ETS/EAS and they fail to plan anything after that. They go back home and have a welcome home tour of the local bars and parties but they have nothing in stone and it causes a lot of immediate stress.

If you are getting out you need to be making strides towards your goals. If you want to go to school do your research on the schools you want and start applying. If you are getting out you can start going to the VA and do your evaluations that will build your compensation percentage. Don't wait till you get out to get that ball rolling. If you want to work start looking at jobs and applying. Don't wait for the monthly or quarterly job fair the week before you get out.

So many vets focus on the DD214 they are left with no other plan and they spiral a little.

Response by SSG Dale London made Jan 7 at 2023 7:46 PM

2023-01-07T19:46:13-05:00

I was given two bits of advice when I entered service in 1980. First: keep every piece of paper you are ever given in the military if it has your name or signature on it. You may need it later. Second: go to the TMC any time you have a medical issue. Don't tough it out. Get it seen to and recorded.
As I was leaving the service 16 years later I got some more advice: get and keep a copy of your medical record.
Twenty three years later, I reaped the benefits of following that advice when I -- crippled with arthritis and deaf as a post -- received a rating of 100% permanent and total disability from the VA. Had I not followed that advice, I could never have supported my claim for compensation.
Here's another piece of advice for the pot: expect the transition to civilian life to be difficult. If you've spent any serious time in the military, the civilian world is not going to make sense at first. You've become used to knowing exactly where you stand, exactly what is expected of you, and exactly what you should and should not do to ensure a happy life.
None of that will be true in civvie street. Fore-warned is fore-armed. Be ready to embrace uncertainty. It waits for you on the other side of your DD214.