Author Topic: Army to Civilian  (Read 715 times)

Offline JunkyII

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Army to Civilian
« on: January 21, 2015, 12:18:51 AM »
During the next year I will be transitioning from Army to Civilian life....any tips to making this transition smooth would be very helpful.

I've already started looking into my next career that I want to go to (Air Traffic Control) and I'm getting all of my current medical conditions well documented/ work out so I leave as close to what I came in as (Went from running 11:55 2 miles to not being able to run 2 miles....Knees who needs those anyway :aok ).

I'll appreciate any advice, thanks in advance :salute
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Offline guncrasher

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2015, 03:28:55 AM »
take a deep breath and relax. then try to understand that most of us will never know what it's like to be in your shoes.  dont take things personally when people talk about if we were right or wrong.  just be proud you served, just like a lot of us are proud you did  :salute.


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Offline -ammo-

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2015, 05:00:34 AM »
During the next year I will be transitioning from Army to Civilian life....any tips to making this transition smooth would be very helpful.

I've already started looking into my next career that I want to go to (Air Traffic Control) and I'm getting all of my current medical conditions well documented/ work out so I leave as close to what I came in as (Went from running 11:55 2 miles to not being able to run 2 miles....Knees who needs those anyway :aok ).

I'll appreciate any advice, thanks in advance :salute

Congrats first and thank you for your service.

Make sure you take advantage of the Army's transition Assistance Program.  There is a lot of good information provided and some you haven't thought of.

There are resume/career services out there that specialize in Military transitions.  They are able to take the military skills you acquired and put them into Civilian sector language.

One of my squad mates is an Army Civilian ATC.  If you are interested, I can PM you his name to contact.
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Retired USAF - 1988 - 2011

Offline -ammo-

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2015, 05:03:21 AM »
Side note: I didn't bother advising on the VA process.  I hope you know all the the prudent things to do to expedite the process and assist your claim ending in a fair and favorable decision.

I did all these things in 2011
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Offline USRanger

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2015, 03:54:52 PM »
We'll have to chat Junky. :salute

Btw, still proud of you troop from where you started pre-Army, to the man you've become. Hooah!
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Offline Obie303

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2015, 04:11:10 PM »
First off, Congrats for a job well done! :salute 

Sadly, all of my info is outdated by a couple decades.  A good friend just retired last year and his biggest complaint was having a mortgage and paying for utilities. 

I'm sure that some of the younger vets on the boards will be able to point you in the right direction.  Best of luck with the ATC prospects.

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I have fought a good fight,
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Offline Serenity

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2015, 05:19:58 PM »
Congrats, and thank you for your service!

I don't know if the Army does this, or if it varies between officer and enlisted, but Navy officers have the option at the end of their time to "sell back" their excess leave days. Basically, try to leave with a full basket of leave days, don't waste them before getting out, and the government will give you cash for your unused leave time.

Offline mbailey

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2015, 05:32:08 PM »


Wow I remember when you were first going in......man I'm getting old.

Thanks for your service, hope the transition runs smoothly ( and on a side note, I'd feel much better flying knowing gents such as yourself were in the tower)
Mbailey
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Offline JunkyII

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2015, 05:45:03 PM »

Wow I remember when you were first going in......man I'm getting old.

Thanks for your service, hope the transition runs smoothly ( and on a side note, I'd feel much better flying knowing gents such as yourself were in the tower)
I'll make you feel older....that was 6 years ago ;)
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Offline mbailey

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2015, 06:00:39 PM »
Yep, that did it  :lol
Mbailey
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Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

When the game is over, the Kings and Pawns all go into the same box.

Offline BuckShot

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2015, 08:46:49 PM »
Thank you for your service.

There are more idiots out there now than when you enlisted, so try to be patient and tolerant.
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Offline Scotch

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2015, 11:22:38 PM »

Wow I remember when you were first going in......man I'm getting old.

Me too. That's crazy
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Offline CAV

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2015, 10:18:08 AM »

After my 24 years in the Army I had to remine myself that "I am not in Command anymore"

By-the-Way Civilians are odd............ they don't think like we do.... :aok


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Offline phatzo

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2015, 03:05:32 AM »
Geez already, how time flies. I still remember you flying at our times when you were in Korea.
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Offline JunkyII

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Re: Army to Civilian
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2015, 11:24:04 AM »
Geez already, how time flies. I still remember you flying at our times when you were in Korea.
I used to get up at like 0600 to fly with the Pigs, they were all hammered...I was eating breakfast :aok
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