What was the biggest adjustment you had to make when transitioning from Active Duty to Civilian life?

The hardest part of my transition was finding a job,this was back in 1968 so there still opportunities in the work force that did not require the college and advanced degrees that our current Service members face,so I managed to find work but it was hard just the same.

Dealing with individuals that cared about nothing but themselves. From my point of view, just did enough to keep there job.

Re-learning how to make friends. Most of my friends on active duty were in the military, often in my unit.

My adjustment was time and distance. Instead of 9 to 5 and work just 5 minutes away, civilian work was 8 to 5 and 30 minutes away. It took some time to get used to it.

Having a boss that didn't yell. I actually found it unsettling at first how my boss would calmly explain things rather than turn spitfire.

For me it was what do to do with all my free time. I ended up joining back. Then I got out again. Then I joined a third time. This time I am going to retire.

For me the transition was worrisome because I am the only one working in the household so all the bills rested on my shoulders and when that paycheck stopped due to me getting out of the Army, we got behind and are still playing catch up almost 4 months later. The job I had lined up was a government job and it started a month later than what was originally told, which meant going almost two months with no pay. We had to ask for help to pay our electric bill twice because there wasn't any money. We lived off canned food and thankfully food in our deep freezer to get by. Then when I got the job I had to move to it but thankfully the Army gave me a little money beforehand to do a DITY move. I've heard people make jokes that getting out of the military is like being released from prison, you dont have money and you dont really know your next move so I'd say it's pretty darn close. If the job had taken 3 months my family and I would have been homeless because I have to make so much money in order to support our bills and our family of 6. Other than financially difficult, adjusting to the slow pace of civilian life/work is...undescribeable. I went from working 14 hour days completely stressed almost 24/7 to working 8 1/2 hours sometime between 6:30am to 6pm so pretty much make my own hours. Civilian life has been a huge change and one for the better for my family and me. I thank the military for getting me where I'm at today and my husband for pushing me into the job I have now.

I had one of the more interesting MIL aspects. That's being a senior officer in the reserves having to report to an idiot O-4 as a civil servant. But I knew well the "Rule". Military Alpha Hotels are not around long. In my case, the front office knew and respected me well enough to execute the babysitting mission well. Second was the diversion aspects. Made sure he got tagged as the SBJO who had to rely on me to get it done. Gradual deprogramming and rebuilding exercise. He was much less rigid and appreciative of what non MIL types add to the fight. Oh yes, my reward. Why support the SBJO when you can be it. But then again, not everyone should get tagged as that. Nasty Admins and JAGMANs really do need to be done right for the sake of the innocent and oppressed.