What is the best thing you did while transitioning from the military?

My advice - have patience and don't panic.

You have a good start if you have a plan. Just don't allow a setback or two discourage you.

So here is my story as I started my transition. My DOS is October of 2017. When I took my current assignment I knew it was going to be my last. So I started planning on my separation. Thankfully I was stalking the RP site for tips and advice. So I followed the advice given by so many members here. I have earned my first masters and start my second tomorrow. I will have it done before I get out. That way I will be more competitive, especially with my M.B.A degree. Secondly I made sure my credit was "excellent" and I have as little debt as possible. Currently only debt is car and motorcycle payment. I am networking here and LinkedIn with influencers and daily updating my linked in content to be more professional and "top notch" the master resume is being worked on focusing on what I did and not what I was responsible for. I am quantifying everything with numbers, percentages, dollars etc. Since my terminal leave starts in Aug 3017 I will start actively applying for jobs in Aug so I have a full year before I start leave, thus releasing the "oh crap I have no job and I am on terminal leave already". My plan is to start my new job while on terminal leave.

#1 item on my retirement plan. It started the day I realized it wasn't fun anymore and I put in my retirement papers. GET AS DEBT FREE AS POSSIBLE. I cut back on non-necessity spending, then I started by paying off the lowest bill at first. When that was paid off, I added that payment to the bill with the highest interest. When that was paid off, I added what I was paying to the next bill, and so on. When I retired, I had no bills whatsoever. I also learned a few good habits in the process that carry on until today. I don't allow credit card debt to accumulate. If I do you one, I pay it off as soon as possible.