Plan Ahead for Seperation

Plan ahead for separation. When I joined the AF right out of high school, I didn't give any thought to what was "down the road." Fours years ended up turning into twenty one years.

During the time I was in, I watched a lot of guys get out. Some had planned their separation, others had not, thinking "I'll go to school when I get out or I'll look for a job when I get back home." Some of these guys made it, some came back in.

As for my situation, at 12 years, I retrained for a job that was marketable in the civil sector. I finished my bachelor's degree while I was still in because I knew when I got out, I would have to hit the ground running. A point to remember, your military training may/may not help you outside the gate. If your job transfers to the civil sector, make sure you get certifications, licenses that show you know what you know. I became licensed in the state I live before getting out. I went through the T AP Program twice. The second time was when I had decided to retire but had not submitted my papers.

Before I got out, I did contract work for the outfit that hired me (try before you buy). Once the contract was done, I was hired. I negotiated my salary, work hours etc. My license, degree and added credentialing were all bargaining chips to get a higher wage. I got out on a Thursday and started the following Monday. In retrospect, this was not a good move. I should have taken some time off between jobs to unwind. Make sure you take a couple weeks to "decompress."

Bottom line: Make sure you have your education, licenses, certifications, credentials or whatever you need to land a job before you get out. You'll be more competitive, able to land a decent job and you can negotiate a better wage.

(Submitted by Mike Mikulski)