Posted on Dec 2, 2014
What are the top pieces of advice you would share with a veteran getting ready to separate or retire?
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This is a great site for networking and sharing opinions, so here's one that could be useful.
There are things that TAPS just doesn't prepare you for, What are they? What would you share with someone preparing to separate from active duty? What would you tell a career military member preparing for retirement? Would it be about filing for VA disability? Information on how to find a job? Educational opportunities?
What do you wish you knew before your last day on active duty?
There are things that TAPS just doesn't prepare you for, What are they? What would you share with someone preparing to separate from active duty? What would you tell a career military member preparing for retirement? Would it be about filing for VA disability? Information on how to find a job? Educational opportunities?
What do you wish you knew before your last day on active duty?
Posted in these groups: 
Transition
Retirement
Transition Retirement
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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There are many, Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD. Two items that I kind of missed were these:
1) START EARLY!
2) If you're taking a government job, go for the max life insurance. It's dirt cheap and you only get one chance to make the decision. I chose wrong (the lowest amount). How I wish I had chosen the max (because I lost a daughter after retirement, and her death would have been covered if I had chosen correctly).
1) START EARLY!
2) If you're taking a government job, go for the max life insurance. It's dirt cheap and you only get one chance to make the decision. I chose wrong (the lowest amount). How I wish I had chosen the max (because I lost a daughter after retirement, and her death would have been covered if I had chosen correctly).
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To get things started the one thing I would recommend is registering/singing up for as many organizations/web sites that help vets search for jobs as you can. Examples Cleared Jobs, Hired 2 Heroes, Vet Jobs Bank, to name a few. What are some other sites that can help vets find work?
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I'm glad that you asked this question Sir. I have four of my Airmen that are about to retire and unfortunately TAPS class has not seemed to be a very good tool for them. Sure they discuss how important it is to work on your resume and to sell yourself to a potential employer, but that's all common sense. I would explain that when filling out VA claims, take it to the local VFW and have them send it up for you. Because they have representatives that lobby for vererans, it seems to be about a 4-5 month process on the return vs. the year to year and a half process. Also, what forms need to be filled out to order copies of their medical records and where to find the form. SF 180 http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD
Danny,
There are a lot of resources like you mentioned the VFW, Legion, AMVETS and other veteran organizations that will be more than happy to help submit their disability packages. the process has been streamlined a bit and doesn't necessarily take 18-24 months anymore. . Look for websites that assist veterans finding employment (http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces, http://www.hireveterans.com/, http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) as well as usajobs. Tell them to create an ebenefits.com account, it is quite useful and they can track their disability package as well as download their 214 if needed. Hope this info is useful.
Steve
There are a lot of resources like you mentioned the VFW, Legion, AMVETS and other veteran organizations that will be more than happy to help submit their disability packages. the process has been streamlined a bit and doesn't necessarily take 18-24 months anymore. . Look for websites that assist veterans finding employment (http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces, http://www.hireveterans.com/, http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) as well as usajobs. Tell them to create an ebenefits.com account, it is quite useful and they can track their disability package as well as download their 214 if needed. Hope this info is useful.
Steve
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SMSgt (Join to see)
Sir, great info and I appreciate you passing this along. I'll ensure to pay it forward! One team one fight!
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MSgt Bj Jones
Before I retired, I went to the base clinic and had them make copies of all my medical records. I later made additional copies. When I filed my VA claim, I went through every page of my medical records, pulled the ones needed, and marked them with sticky notes to make filing my claim easier. The only problem I had was the VA using my maiden name instead of my married name. I never used a VSO and got a pretty decent disability rate, which was a complete surprise. I recommend getting copies of all medical/dental records when you can, and definitely file a VA claim. Even if you get a package saying 0% Service Connected, it's better than nothing. After all, a Zero with SC is the VA acknowledging your ailment is service connected. The 0 means you won't be compensated-at least not at the moment. That 0 could later become 10, 20, or 30% if the ailment gets worse. Oh, and get on the VA thing right off. You have up to one year to file. If you are within one year of retirement when you file, and you get a payable rate, you'll get reimbursed to your retirement/separation date. If you wait till a year after you retire, you get reimbursed only to the day you file.
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