Posted on Jul 23, 2017
When did you start your "countdown clock" prior to ETS/retirement?
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I think when I ETS'ed the first time around I started about 6 months out. Seeing that countdown hit double digits definitely put some pep in my step on rough days. Of course starting too far out probably has the opposite effect. Only 3326 days and a wake up for me!
Posted in these groups: 
ETS/EAS
Retirement
ETS/EAS Retirement
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
The first time I ETS'd, I think my clock started about 365 days out. This time around, I have way too many days to start counting now. I'll probably wait til I'm about 180 days out this time.
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My ETS came as a surprise. I had volunteered for a second tour of duty in Vietnam and called DA when no orders arrived. That's when I learned that I was being RIF'd. To be fair, I think I preferred it that way. While serving in Vietnam I paid no attention to any calendar. My R&R as well as my DEROS arrived as surprises. There was no time spent worrying over them.
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CPT (Join to see) for me was when I got my RETIREMENT ORDERS, I became a SHORT TYMER about 6 months out. Yes it was a change: I didn't even have to come to formations anymore, just checked in with 1SG that was it!
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SFC Christopher Taggart
SFC Davis, I must've been with some big time "micro-managers" because as my time got closer, there was no "short-timer's attitude," "short-cuts," or "slacking" for me. I had to be at all formations, morning meetings, I had to show the next person what needed to be at my office, and "business as usual" as well as taking the time that I needed to transition out. Kudos if you can do it!
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