Lack of Preparation Led to Living in a Garage

When I got out of the Marine Corps in 2005, I was heartbroken and lost. I had no idea what I was going to do. I had served 4 years -- two overseas -- and had done things I never thought I would in my modest life.

I felt that I was leaving "my family" to go back to the unfamiliar home I grew up in. I had no money when I got out. I spent it all during my time in and hadn't saved a dime. In addition, a screw up on my leave balance left me with an outstanding balance that came out of my last paycheck.

I didn't get a car until two months before I got out. I wasn't prepared at all. I went back to my native state of Ohio for  three months, and worked a few jobs that I hated. Then a friend of mine asked me to move back to North Carolina with her, where I stayed for six months in her garage with no heat.

I got a job on the base working at the convenience store almost immediately, making $5.15 an hour. Finally, after only searching for one month, I got a job with a government contractor with decent pay, and started going to school a year later.

Now, I'm halfway through my degree and still working. My advice to military personnel getting ready to transfer back to civilian life is be prepared.

Save as much as you can, get a car, get a computer, go to school while you're in, and don't waste time. Military life puts you on auto pilot, but in the real world you have to make your own decisions, and no one tells you what to do, where to go, or what to wear. Also, be yourself and remember who you're above what the military says you are, because one day you will not have the nametag to speak for you -- you'll have to speak for yourself.

God Bless all of you, active, reserve, veterans, etc....Thank You for all you have done to serve the United States.

Semper Fi,

(Submitted by Heather Williams; Corporal, USMC)

Credit Cards Killing Me

As a Navy Reservist, I was recalled to active duty in 2005 for an IA tour in Iraq on a convoy security team. While in country, I was injured by a blast and later diagnosed with TBI and PTSD. I was just retired TDRL at 30 percent in August 2008 after spending almost two years on Med Hold undergoing treatment and counseling.

Some of the problems that I have experienced since my retirement have been not qualifying for unemployment due to not being able to work full time because of VA appointments, delay in VA Rating after being told in VAAP while still active that it would be four to six weeks after we turn in our DD 214. I'm now being told it will be four to six months.

I’ve applied for Social Security but am not sure that I will even qualify since my DOD rating was only 30 percent and I have no idea when the VA will come back with their rating. As far as retirement pay, I have tried repeatedly to find out what my pay will be every month so I can try and work out some kind of a budget to make my mortgage, credit card and child support payments.

I'm still getting the runaround from DFAS and unsure what type of surprises I have waiting for me the end of the month or if I even have a check waiting. After being under SCRA for that long, I already have an adjustment back to regular interest rates. I've been advised by my credit card companies that if I'm a late pay that my interest could go as high as 29 percent. Any advice is greatly appreciated as I'm sure there are others experiencing these types of hardships as well.

(Submitted by Rick Bolander, MA1, Retired)

Save Money Before Your Transition

There I was ... I actually secured my BS in Professional Aeronautics and my MEd in Education long before I retired, for promotional purposes.

I was in my golden retirement assignment, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii, two years before my retirement, when I heard about this organization called Army Pilots to Airline Pilots. Unfortunately the online organization is no longer around. It was packed with all former Army helicopter pilots who made it to the big time. They gave great advice, websites, networking information, literally everything a pilot needed to make that transition.

I began first by realizing my goal for life after the military, to become an airline pilot.

Second, I made a list of all the requirements, then prioritized them, with realistic dates to achieve the goals. Yes, a checklist for success. I still have the original list, with a slight two year delay in the middle due to the aftermath of 911.

Third, I began this strategic planning like an air assault mission, having my primary goal as airline pilot but having three alternates. It was a lot of work. My alternates were air traffic control, something I did as enlisted, supply guru as a GS-10+, and finally an elementary school teacher. Also, I even considered JROTC instructor and did the entire packet ... as an alternate.

I highly recommend saving money prior to retirement for the transition period. As I review my social security document, there is a significant dip in income for the first year after retiring, about one fifth the pay. It was difficult. I was a single parent. With my youngest two kids, 12 and 13, I rented a studio. I slept on the couch and they on air mattresses. We all had to sacrifice.

I took odd flying jobs to build the multi-engine time required for a commuter. I also had some family separation time while I took a five month stint in the Mainland, and my mom helped watch the kids. Luckily two months of that time my ex had the kids for the summer.

Finally, I landed my dream airline pilot job at a small commuter here in Hawaii. I've been here over four years and enjoy captain status.

I can still aim higher for a major airline, but I am happy with my job security, such as it is (they are furloughing pilots as I write -- lucky I have a lot of seniority) and my flight benefits.

My bottom line recommendations are:

1. Begin planning a post retirement career immediately -- it's never too soon. And plan for what you have always really wanted to do.

2. Own a house by retirement. (I would've but I lost over $80K in divorce/custody battle disputes -- don't get divorced and if you do, share the kids).

3. Plan for alternates. Being flexible and having that degree in education held me over during my starving years, the first year out and the first year pilot pay. I supple mented my income with substitute teacher pay.

4. Save money for at least a year, stand alone, not counting your retirement pay. I know most financial institutions recommend six months for an emergency fund, but at a minimum one year would have been better for me. It took me four years to pay off all the legal and aviation bills.

Good luck and dream on! I took nine vacations last year, eight this year when it ends and have two major vacations already planned for next year. I absolutely love retirement, especially at 60 percent.

(Submitted by CW4 (RET) Terry Salazar)