Posted on Dec 30, 2022
What advice would you give someone as they ETS?
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I know many who are transitioning at this time. I have some notes and resources jotted down that I share (posted below in comments), but I would also prefer to throw in an RP link where others can see advice or ask questions.
Useful Links:
- Travel: (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/plan-to-move/moving-personal-property/)
- ETS Checklist/Guide: (https://www.military.com/military-transition/checklist-active-duty-separating.html)
- Career Skills Program (CSP): (https://home.army.mil/imcom/index.php/customers/career-skills-program)
Other RP Posts:
- Overseas: (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-does-ets-from-overseas-work-i-currently-got-to-korea-on-july-3rd-and-my-ets-date-is-august-19th-2024)
- Applying for Jobs: (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-far-ahead-should-i-start-to-look-for-a-job-and-how-far-from-my-ets-date-should-i-be-applying-for-jobs)
Useful Links:
- Travel: (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/plan-to-move/moving-personal-property/)
- ETS Checklist/Guide: (https://www.military.com/military-transition/checklist-active-duty-separating.html)
- Career Skills Program (CSP): (https://home.army.mil/imcom/index.php/customers/career-skills-program)
Other RP Posts:
- Overseas: (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-does-ets-from-overseas-work-i-currently-got-to-korea-on-july-3rd-and-my-ets-date-is-august-19th-2024)
- Applying for Jobs: (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-far-ahead-should-i-start-to-look-for-a-job-and-how-far-from-my-ets-date-should-i-be-applying-for-jobs)
ETS/EAS
Transition
Civilian Career
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 9
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The biggest thing I see Vets struggle with is a lack of a plan. They have what I refer to as the "Getting Out Plan" and that means their only plan is to get out and they have nothing locked in afterwards. They normally have generic plans like " I will go to school" and "get a job" but they have no real plan with no prospects at all. They haven't applied for a job and they haven't applied to school at all. So many Vets hyper focus on their ETS/EAS and they fail to plan anything after that. They go back home and have a welcome home tour of the local bars and parties but they have nothing in stone and it causes a lot of immediate stress.
If you are getting out you need to be making strides towards your goals. If you want to go to school do your research on the schools you want and start applying. If you are getting out you can start going to the VA and do your evaluations that will build your compensation percentage. Don't wait till you get out to get that ball rolling. If you want to work start looking at jobs and applying. Don't wait for the monthly or quarterly job fair the week before you get out.
So many vets focus on the DD214 they are left with no other plan and they spiral a little.
If you are getting out you need to be making strides towards your goals. If you want to go to school do your research on the schools you want and start applying. If you are getting out you can start going to the VA and do your evaluations that will build your compensation percentage. Don't wait till you get out to get that ball rolling. If you want to work start looking at jobs and applying. Don't wait for the monthly or quarterly job fair the week before you get out.
So many vets focus on the DD214 they are left with no other plan and they spiral a little.
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I was given two bits of advice when I entered service in 1980. First: keep every piece of paper you are ever given in the military if it has your name or signature on it. You may need it later. Second: go to the TMC any time you have a medical issue. Don't tough it out. Get it seen to and recorded.
As I was leaving the service 16 years later I got some more advice: get and keep a copy of your medical record.
Twenty three years later, I reaped the benefits of following that advice when I -- crippled with arthritis and deaf as a post -- received a rating of 100% permanent and total disability from the VA. Had I not followed that advice, I could never have supported my claim for compensation.
Here's another piece of advice for the pot: expect the transition to civilian life to be difficult. If you've spent any serious time in the military, the civilian world is not going to make sense at first. You've become used to knowing exactly where you stand, exactly what is expected of you, and exactly what you should and should not do to ensure a happy life.
None of that will be true in civvie street. Fore-warned is fore-armed. Be ready to embrace uncertainty. It waits for you on the other side of your DD214.
As I was leaving the service 16 years later I got some more advice: get and keep a copy of your medical record.
Twenty three years later, I reaped the benefits of following that advice when I -- crippled with arthritis and deaf as a post -- received a rating of 100% permanent and total disability from the VA. Had I not followed that advice, I could never have supported my claim for compensation.
Here's another piece of advice for the pot: expect the transition to civilian life to be difficult. If you've spent any serious time in the military, the civilian world is not going to make sense at first. You've become used to knowing exactly where you stand, exactly what is expected of you, and exactly what you should and should not do to ensure a happy life.
None of that will be true in civvie street. Fore-warned is fore-armed. Be ready to embrace uncertainty. It waits for you on the other side of your DD214.
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1LT (Join to see)
Very wise advice. I recall a time when one of my NCOs was complaining about lower back pain and I empathized with him. I cautioned him not to wait and head to sick call the next morning as his first step. It was possible he could get referrals from there and get treated, and at the least get it documented. A few hours later, 1SG walks in and the conversation goes something like this:
1SG: Sees his NCO clearly in pain, "What's wrong?"
NCO: "It's my back 1SG, I did something to it yesterday and it's bothering me."
1SG: Steps closer, "What did I tell you? Go get that shit checked out. Don't be stupid and tough it out. If I hear that you haven't gone to the doctor by the end of the week I am writing you up. You do not want to have problems when you get out."
Some more tough love went on from there. What I learned is that in our modern Army culture, we need that tough love. You can teach people the right thing all day long, sometimes they need a little shove too.
1SG: Sees his NCO clearly in pain, "What's wrong?"
NCO: "It's my back 1SG, I did something to it yesterday and it's bothering me."
1SG: Steps closer, "What did I tell you? Go get that shit checked out. Don't be stupid and tough it out. If I hear that you haven't gone to the doctor by the end of the week I am writing you up. You do not want to have problems when you get out."
Some more tough love went on from there. What I learned is that in our modern Army culture, we need that tough love. You can teach people the right thing all day long, sometimes they need a little shove too.
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Get a copy of your medical record, you will be glad you did. At your final physical, I don't care if it is as small as a paper cut, get it on record. Later on with the VA, you will be glad you did.
How much time you got in? Think about staying in the Reserve. Think long run, retirement. I am collecting a military pension, love it. Plan ahead.
Make good use of your earned educational benefits.
Lots of good advice on here, pay attention and think.
How much time you got in? Think about staying in the Reserve. Think long run, retirement. I am collecting a military pension, love it. Plan ahead.
Make good use of your earned educational benefits.
Lots of good advice on here, pay attention and think.
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