Have you recently separated from the military? Or maybe you’ve been out for awhile now but are struggling to get readjusted back to civilian life? Read on for some tips and strategies on planning your life for success after the military!
Anyone who has served in the military and returned to civilian life is aware of the many difficulties and challenges that come with the transition process. Planning your life for success after the military isn’t an easy task.
But with proper planning and the right mindset, the sky is truly the limit for what you can accomplish! And the best part? You already have an edge over the majority of the population due to the skills gained from your military service!
Now you just need to take action and put it to good use! So let’s dive in!
Here’s a recap of my last blog post.
In my last blog post, I discussed the importance of having a plan in place before leaving the military. I also shared some of the mistakes I made along the way. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, I highly recommend you check it out here.
This blog post is more for veterans who have already separated from the military and the challenges unique to them. However, I’ll expand on some of the topics covered in my previous blog post, as they apply specifically to veterans.
You need a solid support system in place!
I mention this first because it’s perhaps the most important, especially if you’ve recently separated from the military. While serving, your battle buddies are like family and become your primary support system.
And while you probably won’t need anyone to provide cover fire for you while you take point as a civilian, a support system doesn’t go away when you hang up the uniform!
While it might be tempting, going it alone is never a good idea. Humans were meant to help and support each other through good and bad times. And depending on how long you served, coming home may seem like a bit of a culture shock.
You’ll also be essentially starting over again as you resume your life as a civilian. So I would argue that at this particular stage in your life, you need a support system more than ever!
It doesn’t matter who your support system is, as long as they’re reliable and trustworthy. Just keep in mind that anyone who hasn’t served in the military isn’t going to fully understand what you’re going through. So try to include at least one veteran in your support system!
Some examples of people in your support system may include family, friends, those that you served with, and members of your church or other groups that you’re a part of, like the American Legion or VFW.
And while it’s okay to have a few long-distance individuals in your support system that you can only talk to over the phone or Zoom, make sure you have some that are local so you can meet and connect with them in person!
Enroll in the VA health care system.
Another task that needs to be a high priority when you come home is getting enrolled in the VA healthcare system and applying for any VA benefits you’re entitled to. You can easily apply online or go down to your nearest VA medical center to do this.
There’s a good chance that you won’t have any health insurance when you get out. And going through the VA is a lot cheaper than going to a private doctor. Some services might even be free, depending on a number of factors, like your priority group.
There’s also another very important reason you’ll want to enroll in the VA health care system as soon as possible that a lot of veterans don’t even think about.
While you may not be aware of any current problems, you might develop health conditions later on that are due to your military service. This includes things like PTSD and even chronic medical conditions that can sometimes take awhile before noticeable symptoms materialize.
As an example of this, I developed lung complications resulting from my exposure to carcinogens in the air from the burn pits in Iraq. However, there were no noticeable symptoms until a few years after I got out!
The good news is that I was enrolled in the VA health care system. So they had all of my medical records on file and were eventually able to connect the dots.
I was also able to go to the ER free of charge and get seen when the symptoms got really bad. And it’s a good thing too, because by the time they got me in, I was almost dead!
What happened is a long story that I’ll explain in a future blog post. But if I wasn’t in the system and they didn’t have my military records on file, who knows what the outcome would’ve been?
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!
Keep an eye out for Planning Your Life for Success After the Military: Part 2, where I’ll cover the following topics:
- Applying for VA Benefits (a separate topic from health care enrollment)
- Continuing your education and getting a career established
- Goal setting for your future and how to create S.M.A.R.T. goals
- And more!
For more information and to explore our full range of resources, visit phase2tactical.com.
