Retirement for Veterans

[Caine]

It does seem wrong to not have the Marines represented there after all these years 

yeah, especially when you have 75% of your service with them. 

[Isgrimnur]

Welcome to your first full day as a retiree.   Feel free to yell at some kids to get off of your lawn.

[CeeKay]

Welcome to your first full day as a retiree.   Feel free to yell at some kids to get off of your lawn.

well, he already lobbed a meteor at Russia, so I think he might be getting bored

[Purge]

Now I'm going to have to add a walker to that photo of Kato.

[CeeKay]

[USMC Kato]

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[Lee]

Missing it?

Old friend had his ceremony today, felt really jealous. I am trying to plan when to do mine. Probably not this year, but early next. Don't think I will miss it once I make the decision, unless I can't get a job. :-)

[USMC Kato]

Missing it?

Old friend had his ceremony today, felt really jealous. I am trying to plan when to do mine. Probably not this year, but early next. Don't think I will miss it once I make the decision, unless I can't get a job. :-)

Hell yes I do.  I don't really understand it, I am actually quite depressed as of late.  I'm barely even playing videogames, which is very alarming lol.  I just think I may have to find something to focus on.

[Lee]

Do you have plans or a goal to work towards? What do you miss?

Been asking myself a lot of questions as I try to figure out what to do, which is what stopped me from pulling the trigger (currently approved to retire 1Nov, but not going to do it). I feel like I need to have more of a plan before I can do it, otherwise I will just regret it in the long run.

Still, I can't wait for the day that I am done. It's scary, but it will be like a new life.

[USMC Kato]

Lee,

All I'm really doing is finishing up at my local college so I can finally get a degree. Also working out twice a day just to get back into shape. But other than that, got nothing going on.

As for what I miss in the military, I think I miss the structure the most. I always had somewhere to go, somebody to train, something to do. Now? Not so much. Sure I will miss my military friends and will keep in touch but its not the same being on the outside.
Hindsight is 20/20 but I really should have prepared myself for this day a lot more. Feel a bit lost and useless.
Now I understand all the stories of career salty dogs dying a few years into retirement.

Anyways I'll get over it. Good luck with your upcoming retirement Lee and I hope nothing but the best for your future.

Semper Fi


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[Isgrimnur]

Sorry to hear things are getting you down, Kato. Here's hoping you can get it turned around. Let us know if there's anything any of us can do to help.

[Lee]

Lee,

All I'm really doing is finishing up at my local college so I can finally get a degree. Also working out twice a day just to get back into shape. But other than that, got nothing going on.

As for what I miss in the military, I think I miss the structure the most. I always had somewhere to go, somebody to train, something to do. Now? Not so much. Sure I will miss my military friends and will keep in touch but its not the same being on the outside.
Hindsight is 20/20 but I really should have prepared myself for this day a lot more. Feel a bit lost and useless.
Now I understand all the stories of career salty dogs dying a few years into retirement.

Anyways I'll get over it. Good luck with your upcoming retirement Lee and I hope nothing but the best for your future.

Semper Fi

Can't find a job? I am hearing mixed stuff, I have friends that have walked into great jobs, and others who can't find anything. Right now it sucks because they aren't hiring for civil service, and with our government at a stand still on the budget, they may start cutting contractors. I am hoping that since I am not tied down to any one area that will increase my odds.

I can understand about missing it. I think I will too once I am out, but right now the thought of it sounds great. I am sure the grass is always greener though.

I don't have a degree either (well an associates, but that doesn't count), and while I could get it done before I have to get out, it looks like too much stuff is going to get in the way. I am really thinking of just getting out to become a full time student, between retirement (maybe some disability) and the GI Bill it seems feasible.

I spend about 80% of my free time thinking about this right now (very stressed), so I am very curious to see how it's going for others. Thanks for kind wishes, and the same to you. Hope things get better.

[Roguetad]

I overestimated my ability to make a smooth transition.  I thought I could just roll with it like I had done with everything else in my life.  It took me about 2-3 years to really accept that I was a civilian, and to be ok with it.  That's not to say I was a failure during that time, my first job after the Corps was good, it was more the emotional reality that I was no longer a Marine that hit me the hardest.  Sure, once a Marine always a Marine, but it's different as a civilian.  Being a Marine was my indentity, 24/7.  It was a calling for me.  There aren't many occupations out there where you are your job, if that makes sense.  I really underestimated how tough it would be to let most of that go, and be ok with it.

For me it was accepting doing a job to provide for my family versus doing a job that was a calling, that served almost as a label.  It's hard to replicate that feeling.  What helped me was meeting other veterans who were in the same position I was in, or who had been through that transition.  It's also how I got my first job, a veteran Marine was the hiring manager for a veterans hiring program for that company.  They were looking for first and middle level leaders that already had proven leadership experience that they could teach the business.  It was an awesome experience for me.  Like a real world crash course welcome to the business world.  

My biggest recommendation is to hook up with other veterans, get plugged into those communities locally.  Many, many veterans are hiring managers or in positions where they know hiring managers.  Both jobs I've had since I left the Corps were 100% a result of running into a vet who happened to be the hiring manager.  It makes a big difference.  They don't need a translation of the DD214, they already know the value of your service, and they also understand how long the transition really takes.  

Fast forward to today, and while I miss the culture and the community, and some of the excitement, I appreciate not having to deploy all the time.  I don't miss the constant seperation, or living in the sand, or the dirt.  I've been able to see major milestones in my kids development that I know I would've missed.  The biggest thing was I had to be at peace with not being a war fighter, not being the tip of the spear.  I had to accept that my contributions are different now.  I'm raising and developing my kids, I'm doing my part to help grow our economy, I'm trying to help in my community, all of which help the country on some small level.  It's not as sexy as launching out of the back of an underway ship at night, but there are guys who are much younger than me that can do that now.

[USMC Kato]

Roguetad,
Hey thanks brother on your advice and experience in this matter. Your thoughts on retiring mirror my own. I thought this transition would be a piece of cake. I'm pretty well setup financially and I don't have to work for the rest of my life to live comfortably, but I'm 100% sure that will drive me crazy.


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[Gromit]

I retired from the Air Force on 1 Sept 12, and was exceptionally lucky to transition directly to a civilian job in a medium-security prison on 4 Sept 12.  The best part is that the civilian position pays more than what I was making as an E-7.  Combine that with my retirement check, and I'm clearing very low six-figures gross pay.  I haven't looked back since.

Makes me and my girlfriend happy campers.

[ATB]

I'm pretty well setup financially and I don't have to work for the rest of my life to live comfortably, but I'm 100% sure that will drive me crazy.

I could totally help you with this. I'm willing to set up the Kato Scholarship for ATB's Kids Fund to put some more pressure on you and get you motivated...

[Jancelot]

I have no idea what you guys are directly going through, but I have Mass Respect. I do know what it's like to define life by occupation and then have it suddenly altered. You *can* find it even in civilian life if you follow a passion. Best of luck to you and take care.

[Lee]

Joining you guys. I was staying in for the tuition assistance, but since we lost that, I applied for retirement on 1 Mar 14. With leave and permissive I will be done mid-late November. Heading back to WA and going to be a full time student living off the GI Bill and my retirement. It's going to be tight, but manageable. I am scared as hell, but for the first time in I don't know how long, I am excited about the future. I have been so stressed about this, it feels good to finally have a plan.

[USMC Kato]

Congrats and condolences on your upcoming retirement Lee. I start school in April using my G.I. bill for the first time, and I'm probably going to be the oldest dude in the class

Out processing is a pain, but I do like that most if the briefs will be very informative to make the transition easier. Did you clear CIF yet? That place is the devil's warehouse.

[CeeKay]

I start school in April using my G.I. bill for the first time, and I'm probably going to be the oldest dude in the class

just remember to wear what all the cool kids are wearing nowadays and you'll be fine:

Spoiler for Hiden:

[ATB]

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And congrats, Lee. Thank you for your service.

[ATB]

More like:

[ATB]

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[USMC Kato]

More like:




 

LMAO LOL LOL LOL

[Jarrodhk]

Congrats and condolences on your upcoming retirement Lee. I start school in April using my G.I. bill for the first time, and I'm probably going to be the oldest dude in the class

Out processing is a pain, but I do like that most if the briefs will be very informative to make the transition easier. Did you clear CIF yet? That place is the devil's warehouse.

You will probably be surprised by how many classes you Aren't the oldest dude in the class. Probably will be for the most basic courses, but, when I went back to school in 2003 most of my classes had at least a couple people older than myself.

Just look at it as an opportunity to share your real life experience with the other students.

[Isgrimnur]

Yeah.  They'll need someone to show them proper binge drinking and keg stand techniques.  These aren't hardened soldiers, you know.

[Lee]

Thanks Kato. My mind is completely else where at work. Really ready to be done. Thankfully, I don't have to deal with a CIF, I have a desk job, so nothing to turn in.

Trying to figure out what school right now, and where exactly. Thinking maybe DeVry, since they are a Yellow Ribbon school and will take some of my military stuff. But they have 3 different finance majors. So much to do and decide, I am used to decisions being made for me, it's an odd feeling.

[drifter]

DeVry is a private for profit school it is very expensive; its where I got my degree.  The draw for me was the online/campus hybrid classes in the evening.  I worked full time and went to school full time so I did complete a four year degree in 2 years and 10 months at three semesters/year 14 - 24 credit hours per semester.