What is the hardest part about transitioning into the civilian life? Personally I'm scared and excited all at once.

learning that all the security clearances, hard core hooah stuff means little to the hiring person on the other side of the desk.

I assume that you're retiring? As long as you made financial preparations, the rest is pretty easy. I've known guys that had to find work before their terminal was up or they had to move their family in with their parents.

For me, having TRICARE took a huge weight off my shoulders. Not having a huge healthcare cost bite into my retirement allowed me to be more flexible. If I had no other income, I would still have a roof over my head, utilities, food and gas in the cars. I might not have a phone, cable or internet, but my family would be cared for.

Don't assume that civilians are as "mission oriented" as you. I find that most in the workplace are more selfish, which is not to say they're bad co-workers, they're just not what you're used to. If your boss hired you because you're a vet, then don't be afraid to act like one. be a better employee than those who are not.

If you live near a base, then cut the umbilical! Don't "hang out" there if you don't have to. That life has passed, and you need to make an effort to be part of your new community. Socialize with other vets, but leave the Army behind. A month after I retired from the AF, everything I knew had changed, my AF didn't exist anymore. Don't be the guy that starts every sentence with "well in my day."

lastly, enjoy your retirement with your family. But remember, you're the one making the big change, not them. I've seen a lot of divorces because the retiree couldn't adapt and took it out on the family. They didn't wear a uniform, and have a bunch of youngsters call them sir everyday! Change yourself to fit into their life.

Congratulations and enjoy yourself!

Believing in yourself and adjusting to starting over. A quote that I used helped me to keep focus "Nobody cares what you did yesterday, they want to know what you did today, and will do tomorrow" think of it as a PCS and embrace the challenge.

SSG John McCammon, I think with all of this advice you have received, you have everything to succeed. But like a lot have said, you have to know who you are minus the uniform, rank and the undivided attention you get when talking to other Soldiers. Hard lesson to learn, when dealing with your civilian teammates, is they are squishy, soft shelled, and will run to HR about hurt feelings faster than you can run the 100 yard dash. A good interview tool is after they finish asking you questions and explaining the position, ask them "If hired what is it that they expect from you?" Throws some people off because they are basically using a script to interview with, and if the person that is interviewing you is the person you will be working for, it will let them know you understand what they want, and helps you make that decision to accept or decline the position if it really isn't what you are looking for.

Good Luck.

Hardest part was finding a job where you felt like you were actually accomplishing something. You go from leading Soldiers and being a mentor to being the lowest rung on the totem pole in a new company.

I was the same way. I would say finding work would've probably been the most difficult for me. Along with the fear of change. Luckily I didn't have to worry about that though.

I think it matters a great deal if the transition was a result of a successful plan to retire, leave at EOS, etc...or if someone is transitioning due to budget cuts, being "passed over", etc. In my case, I hadn't thought about any sort of life beyond the Navy, and had no real plan initially. Once I got passed that, and got serious about making the civilian thing "work" for me...the most difficult challenge was accepting that out "here", I was a "noob" again. People younger than me, were none the less more qualified/experienced...I was loading copper trucks in Tupelo reminding myself that it was all part of "paying dues" for a new challenge.

A couple years into it...it was accepting that I was NOT "Lieutenant-Commander Gillespie" anymore; despite the fact that it was all too easy to let well-intentioned friends and family continually "remind" me that I had been. You have to watch that...because sometimes, it's harder for them to accept who you have to become...than it is to accept who you were.

Now, I'd like to think I've figured it out...somewhat. It's true that if I were to be sent back to a ship tomorrow, I'd probably keel over from a heart attack in thirty days of sea duty. Were I to have to go back to Afghanistan and do what I did at twenty-eight, I'd last about half as long. Still, I am not, and never can be 100% 'civilian'...and that's OK...even great. The lessons I learned from 17-30 still serve me well in my civil career, and provide a strong link to traditions, culture and memory that often fills in the "gaps" of what could have been an otherwise mediocre start in life. Yes, I had to "start over"...but the second trip was a much faster/productive one than the first. I may not be "That Guy" anymore...but I'll always be a Sailor.

The hardest part was my objective to have a good job waiting for me shortly after the transition. Your retirement or separation is a set date which you can't modify once you go down that route. I was looking for work in the Civil Service and the unit I was looking at was only hiring GG-12s at the time. In fact, there were few 13s and 14s being advertised in my area. So I took the 12 because I was worried I would have too much of a gap between retiring and starting my new job. I ended up with a 6 day gap and I managed to get promoted to 13 in less than a year.

Best I can say is be prepared for that gap but don't settle if you can spare the time. If you work hard enough to have the right job waiting before the retirement/separation date, you're good to go.

This is a fantastic question. Please let me know if I can offer any advice on the job search.

Getting used to civilians