Posted on Dec 10, 2024
How did you finish out your last couple years of service before you retired?
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I am coming up on 18 years. I finally PCSed to my final duty station and in a matter of time I will start my final transition. I know about getting your medical records in order but what other advice would you give to someone that is nearing their 20 years?
Retirement
Transition
Soldier for Life
Posted 1 d ago
Responses: 9
The best advice I give to retiring servicemembers is to completely embrace the concept that retirement is a process and not just an event.
Starting the transition two years out is actually on the low-end of the suggested transition timeline for RA retirees. However, you're still in great shape timewise and are in a significantly better situation than those that see it as a "check the block" exercise to get out of the military.
My advice is to start with the retirement section of the Soldier For Life* website with a specific emphasis on kicking off your retirement planning*. Additionally, now (24 months out) is when you should attend your Retirement Planning Seminar (RPS) if your local Retirement Services Office (RSO) gives one.
Check the RSO website* and follow the link provide to your local RSO's website. If they aren't giving an interactive RPS (some still haven't started them back up again after shutting down during the pandemic), you can get most of the same information from the Army's RPS briefing*.
If you want to start with more of an overview of everything, I would look over the Army's latest Information Retirement Planning briefing*.
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* Soldier For Life (Retirement) - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/
* Army Retirement Planning Guide (2025) - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/Retirement/USArmy_RetirementPlanningGuide.pdf
* Retirement Service Office location - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/rso
* HQDA Retirement Planning Seminar - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/documents/static/Pre/DA_Retirement_Planning_Seminar.pdf
* Informational Retirement Planning Briefing (3 October 2024) - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/static/Pre/HQDA_MilRetPlan_InfoBrfg.pdf
Starting the transition two years out is actually on the low-end of the suggested transition timeline for RA retirees. However, you're still in great shape timewise and are in a significantly better situation than those that see it as a "check the block" exercise to get out of the military.
My advice is to start with the retirement section of the Soldier For Life* website with a specific emphasis on kicking off your retirement planning*. Additionally, now (24 months out) is when you should attend your Retirement Planning Seminar (RPS) if your local Retirement Services Office (RSO) gives one.
Check the RSO website* and follow the link provide to your local RSO's website. If they aren't giving an interactive RPS (some still haven't started them back up again after shutting down during the pandemic), you can get most of the same information from the Army's RPS briefing*.
If you want to start with more of an overview of everything, I would look over the Army's latest Information Retirement Planning briefing*.
-----------------------------------
* Soldier For Life (Retirement) - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/
* Army Retirement Planning Guide (2025) - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/Retirement/USArmy_RetirementPlanningGuide.pdf
* Retirement Service Office location - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/rso
* HQDA Retirement Planning Seminar - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/documents/static/Pre/DA_Retirement_Planning_Seminar.pdf
* Informational Retirement Planning Briefing (3 October 2024) - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/static/Pre/HQDA_MilRetPlan_InfoBrfg.pdf
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SFC Kevin Childers
I'd suggest looking for the most civilian job possible in whatever unit you are assigned too.
Contrary the military mindset, when your out in the civilian world, the emphasis is often not on the toughest most dangerous jobs. I watched our logistics guys sort through more job offers than combat commanders who had proven themselves under fire and through the Army combat arms fields. Think of it from the perspective of, "What can this guy do for our company."
Contrary the military mindset, when your out in the civilian world, the emphasis is often not on the toughest most dangerous jobs. I watched our logistics guys sort through more job offers than combat commanders who had proven themselves under fire and through the Army combat arms fields. Think of it from the perspective of, "What can this guy do for our company."
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a few off the top of my head...
Even if the body part doesn't "hurt", it "hurts" -- get xrays and create the baseline for future healthcare. -- lesson learned the difficult way
Start crafting your resume -- a basic skeleton that can be tweaked for different jobs opportunities easily is a force multiplier
There are no pay scales on the outside -- take the time to determine your worth, but don't be the 1st to offer the number in job negotiations
good luck
Even if the body part doesn't "hurt", it "hurts" -- get xrays and create the baseline for future healthcare. -- lesson learned the difficult way
Start crafting your resume -- a basic skeleton that can be tweaked for different jobs opportunities easily is a force multiplier
There are no pay scales on the outside -- take the time to determine your worth, but don't be the 1st to offer the number in job negotiations
good luck
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Got my ducks in a row, then did the IRR thing. Did 22yrs, 4m, 18 d for retirement.
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