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Within one year before you plan to retire, write your Letter Requesting Retirement, or Request for Transfer to Fleet Reserve, and submit up the Chain of Command for endorsement.  Reference MILPERSMAN 1810-020.

The approved request will then be sent electronically to BUPERS by your Personnel Support Office.  You can expect an acknowledgement back in 5-7 days.

ENLISTED: An Extension of Enlistment is required if you don’t have enough obligated service to meet your Fleet Reserve/ Retirement date.  Submit a Request for Extension along with your letter if this applies to you.

Prepare and submit your Requests for Separation Leave and PTDY.  These leave requests should NOT have a Leave Control Number assigned by your command.  They will be controlled by the Station Personnel Support Office managing your records.

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.

Contact your Command Career Counselor or the nearest Fleet and Family Support Center and schedule yourself and your spouse for the Ruehlin Career Transition Course.

This is a one week career transition management program that is specifically designed to meet the unique challenges of Navy senior officers and senior enlisted personnel. There are two types of sessions intended for either officers (O4 – O6) or senior enlisted (E7 – E9) who are transitioning within the next two years from military to civilian careers.

This course provides a small amount of self-evaluation guidance, but mainly focuses on how to structure a resume and plan a job search.  It may or may not be available in your area.  If it is, it’s worth the time to attend.

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.

If you have begun the process of getting or upgrading a security clearance, check with your Security Officer about its status.  You’ll want to have all the paperwork completed before you retire.

If you think you might seek a position that would require a clearance, take action now to ensure all documentation is accurate and complete.

A security clearance can be worth an additional $10,000 or more in annual salary or bonuses, if your new employer can forgo the cost of doing a background investigation.

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.

The military provides complete medical and dental care for all its members and their dependents. From prescriptions and immunizations to hospitalization and complete annual physicals, it’s all provided. There isn’t any need to shop around for a doctor or dentist.

Once you make the transition, you’re on your own for these services. Let’s start with your doctor. If you are looking for a doctor outside the military system, ask family members, friends, and other health care professionals for the names of doctors they recommend.

Then find out the answers to some important questions. First determine if the doctor is accepting new patients. Ask if they offer introductory visits for people who want to meet before deciding on a doctor. If so, ask what you should bring with you to such a meeting and what the fee will be, if any.

Suggested questions when meeting:
** Where did they receive medical training?
** How long have they been practicing?
** Do they accept your health insurance plan?
** Is this a group practice or would you be seen by one doctor exclusively?
** Are they able to complete simple lab tests on site?
** What days and times do they see patients? How far in advance do you need to make appointments?
** What are their procedures for after-hours emergencies? Which hospital do they admit patients to?
** What is their philosophy for prescribing treatment or recommending procedures? Do they consider you a partner and work with you to maintain your health and well-being?
** Do they consider alternative treatment options such as nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, or chiropractic?

Choosing a dentist is much the same process. In addition to most of the same questions for a doctor, here are some suggested questions for your initial meeting:
** What is their philosophy for performing dentistry? For example, how do they determine whether to crown or simply fill a tooth?
** What subject has their continuing education been in recently? Do they keep up with current techniques?
** What is their specialty?
** Do they perform a thorough oral cancer examination of your entire mouth or just look at your teeth?
** Who are the specialists they would refer you to for work outside their expertise?
** How many dentists are in the office? How many staff do they have?

The more dentists that work out of an office, the more staff they need. This means they have a larger overhead and have to see more patients in order to pay the bills. This usually translates into less time for personal service because they need to hurry patients through. You’ll be better served by choosing a dentist that works alone or with 1- 2 other dentists in the office.

The front office staff is a direct reflection of the doctors or dentists they support. When you visit the office, take note of how the staff treats you.
** Are they helpful, friendly and attentive, or harried, tense and impersonal?
** Are the phones answered quickly and do they seem organized and professional?
** How easy does it appear to be able to make arrangements for payments and follow-up appointments?
** Do they respect patient privacy, or do they discuss details in front of the entire waiting room?
** Do the facilities look, smell and feel clean?

Your family’s new medical support team is important. Take time to choose them wisely.

Think about things you like to do outside of work.  BIG things.  Now instead of trying to figure out how you can ever afford them, ask yourself if there’s any way to get paid for doing them.

For example, if I wanted to take a scuba diving trip to Grand Cayman, how could I do that and get paid for it?

Maybe I could coordinate a trip for 4-6 couples making all the reservations and arrangements.  Their cost for the trip would include all my travel expenses plus a fair amount to cover my time and effort.  Or maybe I could offer to teach a personal development workshop for resort guests in return for travel and accommodations.

I have a friend who does this.  She takes small groups from the USA to Ireland twice a year.  Two all-expense paid trips to visit her family, plus the tax deductions for her home business.  Erin Go Braugh!

Another friend loves to cruise.  She books herself as an edu-tainment speaker and receives an all-expense paid cruise for two with full passenger privileges.

Do you have a dream you could turn into a part-time business?  (Warning: You could end up living the life of your dreams)

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.

Make a list of jobs or businesses you might be interested in or that you’ve always been interested in.  Commit to ‘try on’ these careers temporarily to see if you really like them.  Pick one at a time and focus on it for 1-2 weeks.  Go to the library, read books about it, and surf the internet for information.

Call several people who are working in these jobs and ask for an information interview by phone or in person.  Tell them you’re researching the industry and simply want to ask some general questions.  Ask them what the standard salary range is, type of work done, hours, travel requirements, skills required, or anything that’s important to you. Ask them what they like and don’t like about their job.  Maybe you could volunteer to actually work in the environment for a short time.

This exercise will give you valuable information whether you plan to look for a job or start your own business. Do this for each of the careers/ businesses you listed one at a time.  Be thorough and learn everything you can.  Keep notes on what you like and don’t like about each one.

Do NOT use this time for serious job hunting. This is research.  You do not need a resume, a portfolio or a blue suit.  All you need is sincere curiosity, some enthusiasm and enough courage to make that first phone call!  That said, be sure to add the names and numbers of people you speak with to your now-growing network.

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.

When you’re very clear on what you want, your chances of finding it are significantly increased…

Identify what is important to you in a job/ career.  Make 3 columns on a sheet of paper.  Label the first column ‘Things I Love’ and list all the things you love about your job.  Some things might be flexible hours, travel, no direct supervision, great boss, location, stable paycheck, etc.

Label the second column ‘Things I Hate’ and list everything you hate about your job.  These might include long hours, changing schedules, lack of rewards, lack of leadership, travel, location, etc.

When you have completed your lists, go back over them and circle the top 2-3 items on the ‘Things I Love’ list that are important to you to carry into your future.

On the ‘Things I Hate’ list circle the top 2-3 items you do not want to have to tolerate in the future and would just as soon leave behind forever.

In the third column, list all the things that are important to your choice of job/ career.  These are things like a certain salary level, location, health or dental insurance, profit sharing, 401K Plan, paid sick and personal leave, number of leave days per year, advancement opportunities, type of work, child care, professional association dues paid, relocation allowance, expense account, education tuition benefits, etc.

List everything that’s important to you, then go back and number them in order of importance, 1= most important.  For example, if salary is the most important thing to you, number it 1.  If location is the next most important thing to you, number it 2, and so on. Continue numbering everything on your list.  Finally, circle items numbered 1, 2 and 3.

Use this list of priorities to help you choose a job/ career/ or business to pursue.  Refer to it also when negotiating an offer!

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.

Develop a Personal Assessment Sheet.  This will contain your natural talents or gifts, your skills, and your interests.  List everything you can think of without judging if you like it or not.  We’ll break the list down later.

Make 3 columns on a sheet of paper.

Start with your natural talents or gifts. In the first column list everything that you are naturally good at.  Those things that come easily, that don’t require any thought.  These are usually things other people comment on by saying “you’re really good at that”.  Some of my talents or gifts are coaching, counseling, motivating, listening, reading, solving puzzles, and making people laugh.

In the second column, make a list of all your skills. Skills are those things that can be taught and learned.  They may be talents that have been enhanced by study or practice.  Some of my skills are writing, speaking to large groups, cooking, planning and scheduling projects, swimming, internet marketing and repairing small appliances.

Finally, make a list of things that interest you. You may or may not know anything about the subject, but something about it draws your interest.  For example, I’m interested in personal development, travel, all things Irish, sailing, gardening, island living, gourmet food and wine, and good mystery books.

When you have completed your lists, go back over them and circle the top 3-4 items in each column that you really enjoy. The ones that make you smile, that you would be happy doing or being involved with everyday.

Do you see any trends with the items you circled?

Do they, or can they, relate to each other in any way?

How might you integrate them into your life right now?

Do you see how they might be part of your next career?

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.

Make a list of jobs or businesses you might be interested in. Pick one at a time and focus on it for 1-2 weeks. Go to the library, read books about it, and surf the internet for information.

Call several people who are working in these jobs and ask for an information interview by phone or in person. Tell them you’re researching the industry and simply want to ask some general questions. Ask them what the standard salary range is, type of work done, hours, travel requirements, skills required, or anything that’s important to you. Ask them what they like and don’t like about their job. Maybe you could volunteer to actually work in the environment for a short time.

Do NOT use this time for serious job hunting. This is research. You do not need a resume, a portfolio or a blue suit. All you need is sincere curiosity, some enthusiasm and enough courage to make that first phone call!
(Be sure to add the names and numbers of people you speak with to your network. )