Posted on Jun 5, 2016
TSgt Alex Benningfield
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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 in these groups: Military civilian 600x338 Transition
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Responses: 36
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Capt Retired
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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.
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TSgt Alex Benningfield
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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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TSgt Alex Benningfield
TSgt Alex Benningfield
9 y
Please forgive any typos I am typing on my cell phone...
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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MSgt Bryan Jones
MSgt Bryan Jones
9 y
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
SMSgt Steve Neal
9 y
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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MSgt Walter Thomason
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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
SMSgt Steve Neal
9 y
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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What is the best thing you did while transitioning from the military?
SSG Roger Ayscue
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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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MAJ Raúl Rovira
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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.
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Capt Brandon Charters
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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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MAJ Michael Pauling
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paid off all bad debt so I could live off of less money
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MSG Pat Colby
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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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Capt Seid Waddell
Capt Seid Waddell
9 y
Great planning!
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SSG Senior Maintenance Supervisor
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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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SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
9 y
Strongly agree!!
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SMSgt Steve Neal
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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
SMSgt Steve Neal
9 y
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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Capt Chuck Ward
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Grew a beard
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SMSgt Diana Pasterchick
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Be prepared for your plans to be rerouted. I thought I had done everything right. As a single parent to a 6 yr old and unlike some of the other responses I knew that I would not be able to relax. However I was confident I would find a job--I had gotten my degree, taken my TAP classes, started networking and worked on my resume for almost a year to get it right. The result of my preparation was two years of unemployment and having to move my little family from DC to family in Upstate NY. The BEST thing I did was stay positive and motivated. While I was unemployed I enjoyed the extra time with my daughter but kept pressing. It has worked out--I have a great job now and my family is happy. Have a plan B and C and know that your life will end up as it should be.
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SMSgt Steve Neal
SMSgt Steve Neal
9 y
Yes, just as "every battle plan changes after the first shot fired", you have a perfect example of what can happen after years of planning for an immediate career and income transition.
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SMSgt James Yearsley
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Actually, after 20+ years of mission first, everything else second, teh best thing I did at retirement was to take nearly a year of not working to learn how to be a husband and dad first.
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SMSgt Steve Neal
SMSgt Steve Neal
9 y
Amen! Put your "home" mission up front and enjoy the OJT... Great plan if your finances can support that...
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Maj Mike Sciales
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I took a 300 mile hike up the length of Idaho. Walked 15 miles a day as I left behind all things military. I completed the journey as a long haired, bearded guy. It was great.
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Failed. I couldn't find a steady job that provided for my wife and I. I was not accepted to the first college I applied to. I burned through my savings. Failure showed me that success is not easy and being a veteran does not gurantee you anything. I had to hustle, work, and network to finally achieve my goals. It was incredibly hard, but worth it in the end.
COL Jon Thompson
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I would say keep your options open in terms of what you are looking to do. It may not be the position or pay you want but it can pay off. I left active duty in 1996 after not being selected for promotion. I went back to Illinois with no jobs in sight. A couple of months later, I started working as a manager for Hertz car rental at O'Hare. It was not what I envisioned doing but I stayed with them for 11 years and became the #2 person at the O'Hare location when I left to go work as a contractor for the Army.
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I took classes to become MS network and Workstation certified, and lined up a partime job just in case I didn't find something quickly. As it happens I found a job quickly and had to move up my retirement date.
PO1 Brian Austin
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Networked like crazy starting about a year out. Listened during the retirement class. Most seemed to treat it as the social hour. Cleared up almost all my debt, leaving a car payment and mortgage. Was fortunate to begin working 10 days after my retirement date.
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SSG Jeff Beltran
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Enjoying the full transition of going back as a private citizen and a civilian. Gradually making the transition by sleeping in, spending time with my wife and the pets, growing my hair and beard out and traveling.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
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I went back to Boston College two days after separation from active duty at Camp Geiger NC but there were Korean War Veterans at BC who helped with the transition. Also the VA suggested working part time at the Post Office while going to college. Keeping such a busy schedule with classes and working at the Post Office made the transition rather easy.
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