Advice for service members separating to join the civilian sector
I'll likely edit this over time as I come up with different things, but here goes:
Document every ache, pain, and problem you have physically or mentally. It may not be a problem now, while you are in, but if it develops into something debilitating down the line you may be covered by VA health care.
Get a fresh paper copy of your medical record, your wife's medical record, and your wife's OB records. And your kids. And dental. Don't give these copies away. Keep them. Make copies of them for your future doctors.
Don't be ashamed to file for any and all disability. I'm currently rated 30% due to depression (due to being fat and getting kicked out of the navy), ringing of the ears (tinnitus), and hip pain and mobility limitation due to a car accident while I was in. That disability rating pays for my VGLI, and my gas to and from work each month.
GET VGLI. Don't let it lapse. Don't forget, or put it off, or think it's not worth it. Too often my friends in the civilian world have left their jobs, or gotten new jobs, or started private small business ventures, then one of them suffered medical problems or even passed away. It's a benefit that veterans have earned and too few have taken advantage of. My wife regrets letting her lapse.
Copy all your records. I keep a copy of all my evaluations, awards, etc. in a dropbox folder inside my google drive, triple + redundancy.
Keep a copy of your DD-214 with you. I keep mine, again, in digital form in my dropbox in my google drive. I can usually print it right from my phone or show it to someone if necessary on the phone.
Keep in touch with your network of contacts in the Navy, including some of your previous superiors. I think that's one that I'm more sad about than anything. My Senior Chiefs and Chief's I'd like to be able to get in touch with weren't part of the facebook age. LinkedIn is good, Togetherweserved is garbage, but I keep an account there as well.
Get a professional picture of yourself in uniform with your current/highest rank (while it still fits).
Don't be afraid to ask for help in transitioning to civilian terminology. It's a whole different world out here.
By now you are used to being the top dog, go to guy for everything. Be prepared to get treated like a Dinq Nub for quite a while. All ears, ask for clarification.
Get instructions/expectations in writing from your superiors for a while in the civilian world. Sometimes I would overdo or undershoot project expectations because I was expecting one result and my boss another.
Document every ache, pain, and problem you have physically or mentally. It may not be a problem now, while you are in, but if it develops into something debilitating down the line you may be covered by VA health care.
Get a fresh paper copy of your medical record, your wife's medical record, and your wife's OB records. And your kids. And dental. Don't give these copies away. Keep them. Make copies of them for your future doctors.
Don't be ashamed to file for any and all disability. I'm currently rated 30% due to depression (due to being fat and getting kicked out of the navy), ringing of the ears (tinnitus), and hip pain and mobility limitation due to a car accident while I was in. That disability rating pays for my VGLI, and my gas to and from work each month.
GET VGLI. Don't let it lapse. Don't forget, or put it off, or think it's not worth it. Too often my friends in the civilian world have left their jobs, or gotten new jobs, or started private small business ventures, then one of them suffered medical problems or even passed away. It's a benefit that veterans have earned and too few have taken advantage of. My wife regrets letting her lapse.
Copy all your records. I keep a copy of all my evaluations, awards, etc. in a dropbox folder inside my google drive, triple + redundancy.
Keep a copy of your DD-214 with you. I keep mine, again, in digital form in my dropbox in my google drive. I can usually print it right from my phone or show it to someone if necessary on the phone.
Keep in touch with your network of contacts in the Navy, including some of your previous superiors. I think that's one that I'm more sad about than anything. My Senior Chiefs and Chief's I'd like to be able to get in touch with weren't part of the facebook age. LinkedIn is good, Togetherweserved is garbage, but I keep an account there as well.
Get a professional picture of yourself in uniform with your current/highest rank (while it still fits).
Don't be afraid to ask for help in transitioning to civilian terminology. It's a whole different world out here.
By now you are used to being the top dog, go to guy for everything. Be prepared to get treated like a Dinq Nub for quite a while. All ears, ask for clarification.
Get instructions/expectations in writing from your superiors for a while in the civilian world. Sometimes I would overdo or undershoot project expectations because I was expecting one result and my boss another.