What is your retired job? And is it what you thought you were going to do before you retired?

MSgt Zachary Wiederstein I do Logistcs for the Navy and it's a DOD contractor job. I love being around the Veterans. My experience helped me a lot to get my job!

Currently, we are on Permanent Vacation Status. I was severely wounded in action on 29 May 2005 and had to finish out the rest of my military career in and out of the hospitals dealing with my war-time injuries and chronic pain, which I will deal with for the rest of my life. We are currently waiting for our 1st back pay from the VA, which is 100% Service Connected. We are so blessed and very humbled that our God has blessed us both for the rest of our lives here on this earth. The chronic pain is short term in this life, as I have had a second chance to live my life for Christ to carry this thorn in my side daily and enjoy my wife and our grand-kids and our two cats who are almost like service pets to me.

During, the last 11 years of my military career, I had to medically reclassify from Combat Arms to Combat Support in which my administrative skill's were greatly enhanced and shift gears was a major adjustment. When, I prepared for retirement I started at 5 years out and did reassessments on my military path and worked toward my College Degree in Criminal Justice. I hit most of my goals thanks to the loving support of my wife and gave back to the Army as best as I could with the limitations I had and mentored as many Soldiers as I could as a Master Resiliency Instructor and as a leader. As I came closer to reaching my eventual goal of retiring, I can now say that I have no regrets of missing my former life as a Professional Soldier.

My wife and I planned in place many systems to prepare for our retirement and had other options available in case the VA did not go through. IE Additional rental property, looking for part time work, and continued schooling and diversify our investments. We now have more options and more benefits coming as a result of my 100% Service Connected Disability and we will see where our next chapter in life takes us. Below is an article written in 2012.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/magazine/post-traumatic-stresss-surprisingly-positive-flip-side.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I hope and pray that this gives many of you continued hope and inspiration to fight and live life forever blessed and grateful no matter how hard it gets.

May God richly Bless you,

SSG Jeff and Ronda Beltran.

Hospital Safety Manager/Director right out of the Air Force, then Senior Industrial Hygienist for Iowa Osha, and now once again retired and mostly leaching off my hard working wife.