Is your enlistment obligation ending soon with that ETS date around the corner? Have you decided it’s time to move on from the military and begin the next chapter of your life? Here are some things to consider before leaving the military.
So, your initial enlistment is almost up, and you’ve decided the military isn’t something you want to do long-term. Or perhaps you’re near the end of your second or third enlistment, and you’ve determined it’s time to move on.
Better yet, maybe you’ve had a long military career and you’re finally ready to retire! Every service member’s circumstances are going to be unique.
Regardless of your situation, leaving the military is a decision you’ll need to make at some point. And just like joining the military, there are many things to consider before leaving the military. It’s a huge decision that requires being informed and having a solid plan in place.
I made plenty of mistakes when I left the military.
For starters, I didn’t have a plan in place when I got out. I was a victim of the infamous stop-loss program and was forced to serve past my enlistment since my entire battalion was deploying to Iraq.
By the time we returned stateside after a 13-month combat tour, all I could think about was getting out. I had around $5,000 in my name that I had saved up while serving in Iraq. Other than that, I just knew I wanted to become a police officer at the time.
I also knew that I could stay at my dad’s house until I got back on my feet. I had assumed that I could just figure everything out after leaving the military. That was a huge mistake on my part and is a good example of what not to do!
Luckily, everything worked out for me in the long run. But because I didn’t have a plan in place and think things through beforehand, it took me years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, get out on my own, and get a career going in a field I wanted.
You need a plan!
When I say you need a plan, I mean you need a solid, well-thought-out plan in place! You need a backup plan as well, in case your original one doesn’t work out the way you expected.
Believe me, there’s a good chance something will go wrong along the way! That’s just the way life is. So you need to be strategic, like the military! Let me explain what I mean here by giving you an example.
As I stated above, I initially wanted to become a police officer in my hometown of Phoenix. But I didn’t research the process and steps to becoming a police officer. And I didn’t look into the hiring criteria and requirements. I also didn’t study for the written exam.
I basically went in blind and was completely unprepared for what to expect. The only thing I was prepared for was the physical fitness test, which I passed with flying colors because I was fresh out of the Army!
Because I was unprepared, I suffered numerous setbacks and ultimately realized too late that becoming a cop wasn’t for me. I had worked my butt off during this time, taking on low-paying jobs to get by, expecting things to eventually work out.
I literally wasted almost an entire year because of this! To me, that was completely unacceptable on my part and could have easily been avoided. But it gets worse!
Yet Another Setback…
Eventually, I got an entry-level job in the information technology field through a friend. I finally found my dream career, or so I thought. It wasn’t until over six years later that I finally realized that a career in IT wasn’t for me either!
This was after I had used a large portion of my G.I. Bill benefits to obtain various IT certifications! The only reason I stuck with it so long was because I didn’t have any other options at the time, and the pay was decent.
Are you starting to see where I’m going with this? And these are just a couple of examples! While planning for a successful career when you return to civilian life is very important, there are many other things you need to consider as well!
Here are some additional things to think about:
- Are you leaving the military completely, or have you decided to serve part-time in the Reserves or National Guard?
- Where are you going to live?
- Are you going to stay with family or a friend, rent an apartment, or buy a house?
- Do you have a job lined up, or at least know what you want to do when you get out?
- Are you going back to school? And if so, where? And what are you going to major in?
- Have you looked into the G.I. Bill benefits that may be available to you and how you’re going to use them to fund your continuing education?
- Will the G.I. Bill benefits cover everything and fund your entire degree?
- Are you familiar with the VA benefits available to you when you return home?
- Do you have a disability that is the result of your military service? Are you going to file a VA disability claim?
- Do you have a support system in place as you transition back to civilian life?
- Do you know where your nearest VA medical center is, based on where you plan to settle?
- Have you fulfilled your eight-year commitment, or will you be serving in the inactive reserve for awhile?
- What are your short-term goals for the future?
- What about your long-term goals?
Then there’s the readjustment factor.
Make no mistake about it. Getting readjusted to civilian life after serving in the military is challenging. This is especially true for those who served for a prolonged period of time and/or were in a combat zone.
That’s why it’s important to take things slow and ensure you have a solid support system in place. This can be family, friends, veteran organizations like the VFW, and more.
But whatever you do, don’t go it alone! There are tons of resources, communities, and other areas of support out there for military veterans! So take advantage of whatever is available to you! You’ve certainly earned it!
These are just some things to think about.
So, do you have a plan in place? What are your plans, goals, and dreams when you get out of the military? Be sure to leave a comment below and share your thoughts! And remember, you have your whole life ahead of you, and the best is yet to come. Make it count!
For more information and to explore our full range of resources, visit phase2tactical.com.
