Posted on Jun 5, 2016
What is the best thing you did while transitioning from the military?
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I want to hear the best thing you did while you were transitioning (whether retiring or separating) from the military.
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 36
My advice - have patience and don't panic.
You have a good start if you have a plan. Just don't allow a setback or two discourage you.
You have a good start if you have a plan. Just don't allow a setback or two discourage you.
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So here is my story as I started my transition. My DOS is October of 2017. When I took my current assignment I knew it was going to be my last. So I started planning on my separation. Thankfully I was stalking the RP site for tips and advice. So I followed the advice given by so many members here. I have earned my first masters and start my second tomorrow. I will have it done before I get out. That way I will be more competitive, especially with my M.B.A degree. Secondly I made sure my credit was "excellent" and I have as little debt as possible. Currently only debt is car and motorcycle payment. I am networking here and LinkedIn with influencers and daily updating my linked in content to be more professional and "top notch" the master resume is being worked on focusing on what I did and not what I was responsible for. I am quantifying everything with numbers, percentages, dollars etc. Since my terminal leave starts in Aug 3017 I will start actively applying for jobs in Aug so I have a full year before I start leave, thus releasing the "oh crap I have no job and I am on terminal leave already". My plan is to start my new job while on terminal leave.
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MSgt Bryan Jones
Glad you have a plan, because most people that separate or retire don't. And like some previous comments, don't be discouraged if you encounter a few setbacks.
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SMSgt Steve Neal
What ever happened to "I just want to go fishing for a year, then look for a job"? Great 2nd career prep and super resume advice!
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#1 item on my retirement plan. It started the day I realized it wasn't fun anymore and I put in my retirement papers. GET AS DEBT FREE AS POSSIBLE. I cut back on non-necessity spending, then I started by paying off the lowest bill at first. When that was paid off, I added that payment to the bill with the highest interest. When that was paid off, I added what I was paying to the next bill, and so on. When I retired, I had no bills whatsoever. I also learned a few good habits in the process that carry on until today. I don't allow credit card debt to accumulate. If I do you one, I pay it off as soon as possible.
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SMSgt Steve Neal
Stellar advice and what a super feeling to get and stay debt-free. Paying cash for a replacement car was really nice, but took over a year to save that kind of money...
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I found something that I enjoyed doing as a hobby and turned it into a second career.
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During transition I spent a lot of time networking and involved with the community.
I joined a Toastmasters club. Became a Den Leader at my son's cub scout pack. Kept swimming with the base Masters Swim Team. Volunteer with the local chapter of Project management as a military/veteran liaison. Finished my final graduate school class. Had a lot of quality time with my wife and kids during terminal leave and the two months I chose not to work. Free time is amazing what it does to clear ones head.
I joined a Toastmasters club. Became a Den Leader at my son's cub scout pack. Kept swimming with the base Masters Swim Team. Volunteer with the local chapter of Project management as a military/veteran liaison. Finished my final graduate school class. Had a lot of quality time with my wife and kids during terminal leave and the two months I chose not to work. Free time is amazing what it does to clear ones head.
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I was on terminal leave and took a trip to Europe with a close friend. To this day, it was one of my most enjoyable vacations. Having my DD-214 waiting for me back in the US helped :)
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Knowing I was going to retire in a couple of years, I purchased a fixer upper house at my last Duty Station. Spent pretty much every waking hour on it when I wasn't on Duty. I sold the place and walked out of the Closing with a check for a bit over $34,000. After paying a few bills, I had $20,000 left over to put a down payment on a Contract For Deed for a small acreage. Two years of hell was worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears.
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Attend your Service appropriate retirement classes! Pay attention too. Some Soldiers just check the block, and sleep in the classes. Believe it or not, there is some great information to be had.
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Learn to "let it go"... After 27 years of military order and discipline, being able to control or at least affect the behavior of others, I learned to stop trying to do that. Civilians in DoD and other federal agency workers DO NOT follow orders or respect a chain of command like we did. Just let it go...
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SMSgt Steve Neal
Second and third best things I did was plan for the last five years of service for my VA medical disability application. You MUST report and follow-up on annual "wellness" exams, chronic pain, joint stiffness, sleep apnea, acid reflux, hearing, vision, etc to have years worth medical documentation to support a VA claim. Third best was to lock down a follow-on career while still serving. I continue to serve my nation and flying public in the FAA, doing the same job I did in the USAF, but the USA-Jobs application / hiring process is measured in months and years instead of days and weeks...
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