Before you go any further, get yourself off to the side for some quiet time and do some soul searching.  Ask yourself if you’re REALLY ready to retire.  Be sure it’s the right time and for the right reasons.  I call this a “location” check.  Where are you with this?

Are you at peace, looking forward to the next chapter of your life, hopeful and a little excited?  Or are you suffering, edgy and fearful?

If you’re anywhere but peaceful and hopeful, do whatever you have to do to change “locations”, get to that place of peace.  Talk to someone you can trust…..a mentor, a good friend, a counselor or a transition coach.

The Fleet and Family Support Centers offer trained counselors and workshops in areas of stress, anger management, transitions, etc. for the whole family.  If you’re a long way off from peace, maybe get with a therapist for a short time to work through some deeper issues.

Now’s the time, early in the process, to get clear on what your military career has been, what it has meant to you and where it has brought you.

You may find that you aren’t ready to leave yet!  There are many good reasons to stay in the service.  It’s okay to decide to stay in at this point.  Better now than later.

This is part of a complete step-by-step military retirement checklist. I’ll be posting weekly action steps here, so please subscribe over in the right-hand column so you’re sure to get each update.