When you retired, did you become employed with your service, a sister service, civilian job or go to school? What drove the decision?

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:20:11 -0400

I've noticed that many of my retired AF SM's are employed by the US Army (I believe this is an RP setting to allow me to find like members), however, after a little more research, I've noticed that many of you, myself included, continued your employment with a sister service and not the service you retired from. If you don't mind, could you please share what drove your decision to do so? For me it was simple... Although I have 3 AFSC's and an Army MOS, it was the Army MOS that I found most exciting, which was instructing the MOS I had earned to IET and MOS-T Soldiers. I was actually able to secure a position initially with General Dynamics before leaving my last deployment assignment, came home, retired and began work, and as timing would have it, I became a DA Civilian a couple of years later, and the rest, as they say, is history! What is your story? How did you get from retirement to where you are now? If you are Active, what are you doing to get your retirement position you have your eye on? Will you stay engaged with the Military or are you looking for a civilian position instead? RP Members want to know!!! LOL!
Oh, and please select one of the survey answers to go with your response! It would be greatly appreciated!

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 2:21 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:21:14 -0400

I went straight to school, with no intention of employment within DOD

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 12 at 2015 2:24 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:24:36 -0400

What I found most exciting, which was instructing the MOS I had earned to IET and MOST Soldiers. I was actually able to secure a civilian contractor position, then a position as a DA Civilian a couple of years later. I think this is where I will retire again (LOL) as I am getting a little too old to be beginning again, but I'm glad that I'm able to do something after retirement from the military that I really enjoy as I know a lot of us aren't so lucky.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 14 at 2015 8:51 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 08:51:27 -0400

All of my jobs since retiring from the Navy have been with one government contractor or another. My first position was working for US Customs and Border Patrol, so still federal government. My next two jobs were working for the Marine Corps and my current job is for the Arizona Air National Guard. All jobs have been because of training I received in the Navy. I wouldn't mind working for the Navy but those jobs seem to be more about who you know rather than what you know.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 3:10 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:10:44 -0400

Needed a job.....military was in hiring freeze ....so went civilian.....now that freeze is over I considered going back to a base but honestly civilian life agrees to much with me....lol

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 11:50 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:50:09 -0400

After leaving the Air Force I went to work for county government for 3 years. Why? Because that was the job that hired me. Later I went to work in the civilian sector for 23 years and finished with state government for 10 years.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Oct 16 at 2015 5:58 PM

SSG Leo Bell — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 17:58:06 -0400

I found myself working for the Army again. I still like being around the soldiers and helping them train. It's rewarding and I get a great feeling of accomplishment from it. I worked on the range with Stryker crews and I still got a hoora when the big guns go off.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 16 at 2015 6:27 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 18:27:37 -0400

6 months civil service. All I could take. Then 21 years in the private industry far away from military facilities.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Feb 21 at 2021 2:00 PM

LTC John Griscom — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 14:00:47 -0500

I left active duty in 1975 after eleven years and stayed another seventeen in the USAR.
My active duty ended on Sunday and on Monday started work as a Department of the Army Civilian and retired in 2001.