A Transition Smooth as Silk

I retired from the Navy in 2004. My transition was smooth as silk, and I can attribute this to one fact..... planning.

When I enlisted in 1979, I was 17 with a HS diploma. The big push for recruiters was that "military training gives you everything to succeed." This is true, but only partially. In 1979, to get a good paying career, all was needed was a HS diploma. Twenty five years later, this turned into a bachelors degree or better.

My advice to those transitioning (whether retiring or discharging) is this:

1. Get your education. Many times in my career I've heard "I'm getting out to go back to school." My question back was... who's paying for it? Let the military pick up most if not all of the tab.

2. Find something that interests you and volunteer in the community in that area. This gives you a "feel" if you can succeed, and better yet if this is what you really want to do.

3. Start planning t o get out at least a year (if not two years) before you get out. Time flies when your having fun, and before you know it the big day is here. Retirement helps a little, but it's expensive as a civilian. You can read this as:
- Medical benefits are no longer free
- Civilian employers don't give BAH or BAS.
- You CAN be fired from a civilian job without warning.
- Your boss has their own career to worry about. Most don't have a life or death reason to keep you trained.

4. Decide where you want to live, and visit BEFORE you get out... ESPECIALLY if you are coming out of a deployable unit. Ask about schools for the kids, jobs for you and the spouse if you have them. Will the economy have opportunities in your area of expertise? Will you be able to afford to live there?

WHEW!!!

In conclusion... PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Have a plan B, have a plan C. Use the resources at your disposal. Don't take TAP class (sorry... Navy-s peak) as a week off. Use your college benefits. Abuse the transition counselors. Do whatever it takes to succeed.

(Submitted by Todd Styles)