How does everyone like retirement?

MSgt Robert DiFilippo — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:06:36 -0500

Response by MSgt Rob Miller made Feb 23 at 2016 5:10 PM

MSgt Rob Miller — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:10:19 -0500

I love it! But I also miss the people I served with & some days I even miss the Air Force

Response by MSgt James Bowers made Feb 23 at 2016 5:20 PM

MSgt James Bowers — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:20:05 -0500

I miss the AF every day. I never realized how nice it was to know what and where you stood and what to expect both from others and yourself. The civilian world adds many layers of management so no one is truly held accountable.

Response by MSgt Mike Ruikka made Feb 23 at 2016 5:36 PM

MSgt Mike Ruikka — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:36:14 -0500

At first I felt guilty, because right after I retired, my unit deployed to Baghdad. Also, since I retired as a traditional guardsman, I don't get all the benefits yet.(not a complaint. Nine more years to go for full retirement.). Fortunately for me, I found an extremely well paying job with great benefits. I look forward to enjoying the free time my civilian career doesn't give me.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Feb 23 at 2016 6:17 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:17:04 -0500

Love it
Retired from the guard enjoy having more than one weekend off

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Feb 23 at 2016 6:52 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:52:41 -0500

I miss the people. I even miss the mission most days.

I do NOT miss the politics and bovine feces that interfered with efficient execution of the mission.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 7:06 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 19:06:19 -0500

Retirement, what is that? I still have to work. lol Actually, it is 50/50 for me. I do miss the people, TDY's, deployments. However, it is great that I do not have to worry about writing/reviewing EPR's, Decs, or having to get up early or stay late for PT.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 7:09 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 19:09:20 -0500

I got a whiiile to go, but I'm preparing myself to hopefully be able to enjoy my retirement. Unfortunately I think most people and up having to work because they didn't save enough. I personally see myself working but not because I'll need too, but because I can't just do nothing for long periods of time. I'll go get a ZERO responsibility job somewhere like at a gym personal trainer or maybe home depot lol.

Response by MSgt Lionel (Leo) Rondeau made Feb 23 at 2016 7:18 PM

MSgt Lionel (Leo) Rondeau — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 19:18:50 -0500

I love military retirement. Yes, I'm still working, and yes, I still miss some of my friends from the military, but that would have been inevitable had I stayed in. I would have PCS'd and missed them anyway. Do I miss the grind, relentless exercises, mandatory PT, urinalysis duty, and all the other duties? Nope, not one bit. I'm working full time for a great company, I have my evenings and weekends to myself and with my family. If I go on a trip for work it lasts a week, not months. Yep. Retirement IS everything it's cracked up to be!

Response by MSgt Kurt Woodward made Feb 23 at 2016 9:13 PM

MSgt Kurt Woodward — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:13:36 -0500

I miss the comrade that you would form on Deployments, especially if it was a small group that was deployed. I also miss a lot of the old traditions that are not Politically Correct. And of course if you were lucky enough to serve with one; the "crusty" old Chief that was most likely your Superintendent. He would say what was on his mind; no matter who was around. Plus, it seemed like people had tougher skin back then and you could joke around with coworkers without the fear of an E.O. complaint. And, people seemed to genuinely care about their jobs and took pride in completing it. Before I got out in 2010, I didn't feel that same vibe in my Airmen as when I was an Airman.

Response by MSgt Tim Fennema made Feb 24 at 2016 7:13 AM

MSgt Tim Fennema — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 07:13:52 -0500

My wife says I probably am more "Air Force" now then before I retired. I loved my time in, especially developing airmen and watching them move up. I even enjoyed writing the EPRs, awards, decorations, etc. Having people really doing a great job and being in a position where I could actually impact their development, guide them, and reward them for their work. That was what I miss.

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Feb 24 at 2016 8:58 AM

MSgt Stephen Council — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:58:32 -0500

MSgt Robert DiFilippo I remain disillusioned in retirement. I work for the DoD as a Gov Civ. There is no camaraderie. The lifelong civilian leaders (I will call them "managers" and henceforth) and employees have a stranglehold on management and processes, and have ABSOLUTELY no concept of leadership or team building. Heck most of them never learned followership, how can they ever be expected to lead? I enjoy the paycheck, but I do NOT enjoy the predatory attitudes of the "managers" who feel very threatened by veterans because we can out work them even when we half step! I have a great wife and awesome friends outside of work but spend way too much time around the acerbic, ineffective "managers" and the status quo personnel they surround themselves with. All of that said, my personal life is rewarding and fulfilling so I do what I must and enjoy my life. As stated by George Hebert: "Living well is the best revenge!"

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Feb 24 at 2016 9:33 AM

MSgt James Mullis — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:33:41 -0500

I love it. If joining the AF at 18 was one of my best life choices, then retiring at 38 was my second best. Yes the civilian world is different than the military, but the tradeoff is that you get to make the decisions: where to live, who to work for, what job you take, etc.

Response by MSgt Devon Saunders made Feb 25 at 2016 6:42 AM

MSgt Devon Saunders — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 06:42:40 -0500

Yes, I'd like to know as well. I will be starting this new chapter in my life in 6 glorious days. I will miss a plethora of friends I've made during my 21 years, but I won't miss the politics, the "mission", the changes taking place and some other things. I truly enjoyed my time and wouldn't change a thing. Well, maybe a different career path. Lol.

Response by MSgt Richard Rountree made Apr 25 at 2016 9:23 PM

MSgt Richard Rountree — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 21:23:07 -0400

I decided when I was 17 years old that I wanted to be in the USAF, make MSgt, and retire at 20 years. That is exactly what I did. The only real glitch was I made MSgt in 13 years...and never reset my goals. But if you are competent, honest, and got results, there was nothing wrong with being a MSgt. So, in 1992, I retired at 20 years and 13 days...and never looked back. In a little over 3 years after retiring I decided I didn't want to work for anyone else and started my own business. Next Sunday, May 1, 2016, my business will have survived for exactly 20 years. It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride at times but if I were to do it again it would be hell yeah! There is NOTHING like working for yourself. You take all of the risk and, if you're good...and a little lucky, you will reap the rewards. BTW, Just before I retired, the Commander of the USAF Recruiting Service called me and asked why I was retiring so soon? I told him that once you hit 20 years you are working for half the pay. When asked to explain, I told him that after 20, I could be out doing nothing and drawing 50% of my pay. I don't think he liked that answer...but it worked for me.

Response by MSgt Jonathan Stump made May 7 at 2016 6:02 AM

MSgt Jonathan Stump — Sat, 07 May 2016 06:02:41 -0400

It has almost been 3 years and I do not miss it one bit. The insane politics and backstabbing. I have owned my own business for the past two years and have been WAY happier than anytime that I was active duty.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made May 10 at 2016 3:39 PM

MSgt John McGowan — Tue, 10 May 2016 15:39:01 -0400

MSgt. I was able to hook up with a tire company that for one liked vets. We have about as many supervisors that were ex military as civilian. We were not treated just as dependable help but treated as equals. I was able to speak my mind and disagree when necessary. I was maintenance, they were production. I worked for production but had a maintenance supervisor. Guess I was one of the lucky ones. I stayed over 18 years thus I am a triple dipper. Life was good.

Response by MSgt Devan Debarr made May 25 at 2016 10:31 PM

MSgt Devan Debarr — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:31:51 -0400

Coming up on 9 years in Dec...Time flies...I am LOVING retirement...but miss the flying and camaraderie as a crew dog...I am fortunate to have a GS job where I still work with aircrews...the faces are different (And YOUNGER...LOL) but the stories the same. Used to see allot of the guys I flew with coming through my course, but not so much anymore...

Response by MSgt Rob Weston made May 26 at 2016 5:04 PM

MSgt Rob Weston — Thu, 26 May 2016 17:04:14 -0400

It is enjoyable for the most part, it takes time to adjust to a slower pace of life. Take time to really digest the change and immerse yourself. However, also realize some traits will still be there regardless. But I do miss the comradeship and people. Like others I don't miss the BS

Response by MSgt Jonathan Stump made Jun 2 at 2016 3:47 PM

MSgt Jonathan Stump — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 15:47:27 -0400

Want to know the one thing that you are going to miss the most? Dental care.

Response by MSgt Gary Miller made Jan 1 at 2018 11:31 PM

MSgt Gary Miller — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 23:31:08 -0500

I'm loving retirement. It was a little shaky when I first retired after being fired from two good jobs I learned that the civil world was a lot different. In the military when I was given a new job I jumped in with both feet and went to work. Evaluated the position, learned what needs to be done, and made corrections along the way to improve the position or work section. I quickly learned that this was not what the civilian world wanted. They just wanted you to go with the flow.
So I went back to school burned up my GI Bill on two associated degrees. Then started my own Sole Proprietor Farrier Business totally unrelated to my degrees or my military job. Now I work for myself when I want to work and answer to no one but myself. I'm now semi-retired and loving it.