With 365 days left in service, what did you do? What would you have done differently?

SGT(P) Landon Mintz — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 07:52:19 -0400

I think this is a big question that doesn’t get answered most of the time now because we literally don’t have you around to ask. So former service members go for it one more time.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Apr 9 at 2018 7:55 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 07:55:52 -0400

I stayed with my sister. I got a job; and then got fired from it. Then I taught emotionally handicapped kids; and Loved that job!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 8:39 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 08:39:22 -0400

I spent my last year forward deployed and that may have been both "good" and "bad" in terms of preparing myself for returning to civilian life. In one sense, I had few outside "distractions" and over a year to use that tax-free pay to build a "war chest" for transition. On the other, I was too far removed perhaps from "reality" to adequately prepare administratively and personally for the change.

I would advise anyone looking at that last year to make two lists; the first should be everything they "liked" about being in the Military, the second, everything that didn't like. If the first is longer than the second, then if staying in is possible...stay. If it isn't possible, consider all the fields, careers, and opportunities that offer identical or similar experiences.

Once that is done, make another list...of all the options that meet the first criteria for which the member is both realistically qualified and willing to take steps to compete for.

Finally, make a schedule and budget to make it possible inside of one year from transition. If that means getting new certificates or a degree...perhaps extend that timeline to include job options that support it in the interim.

Most importantly, I'd advise people facing that last year to prepare themselves for disappointment and rejection...come up with contingency plans and work those plans through to completion.

In my case, I wish I had capitalized on my relative freedom more before accruing all of the debt and obligation that accompanies civilian life. While I was 'used' to being gone "over the hills and far away"...I should've considered lower paying but more interesting work that would've offered opportunities for "Living the Dream".

Response by SPC David Willis made Apr 9 at 2018 3:52 PM

SPC David Willis — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:52:27 -0400

Well most of my last year was spent deployed so I pretty much did what I needed to for 6 or 7 months of that time. It made clearing go pretty quick when I got back as I had about 40-45 days of terminal leave which left me only about 3 1/2 to 4 months to do both the returning from deployments BS and the ACAP and medical clearing stuff.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 4:33 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:33:05 -0400

SGT(P) Landon Mintz I did not have a lot of free time. When I did, I did research as much as possible, and made plans for when I would be discharged. My plan was to drive to Pasadena, Texas, get a job and start school. Once I had my degree, I would start work for the Space Program. The last month before discharge, I gave away some of my gear and made my car ready for a long trip. All of my belongings fit in the trunk of my car. The day I was discharged, I drove to the Colorado River, and swam across the river and back. I was by myself, so that was not one of my better ideas. I had quite a walk back to my car when I swam back across. I found a good paying job at a chemical plant, and once I had my degree, I started work on the Space Shuttle Program. In 1972, things were simple, so I can not think of anything that I would have changed.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Apr 9 at 2018 6:41 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 18:41:33 -0400

My last year in the Service was as an instructor at Ft.Polk La.training AIT Infantry companies on their way to Vietnam from which I had returned from a year earlier ,I regret not taking more time and effort towards my future as a civilian and also when discharged wasted my GI bill benefits ,so if I can give any advice to current Service members it would be to use all the programs and education available.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 7:35 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 19:35:16 -0400

Keep working. Cause frankly I would feel bad if I cheated the country and my subordinates.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Apr 10 at 2018 5:13 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 05:13:01 -0400

At a year out I started networking and researching jobs. I was deployed at the time, but being in Signal does have it's benefits.