I recently partnered with some great guys, Phil and Jake, over at Get Out Get Ahead to record a podcast series on getting out of the military.  If you have received any value from my sporadic blog posts on retiring from the military…check it out!

You can also download my entire step-by-step checklist for how to retire or separate from military service.

If you don’t have a current one, request a copy of your complete service record.

Review your service record thoroughly for all schools, awards, copies of Permanent Change of Duty Station Orders and/or Active Duty for Training Orders, and documentation of Earned Retirement Points if you were ever a Selected Reservist.

Formally request any missing information you discover to be included in your record.  You’ll need to provide copies of everything you want added.  Hopefully, you’ve kept originals and/or copies of all your paperwork in your personal files at home.  Have your Administration personnel stamp them “Certified to be True Copy” for inclusion with your letter.  Do not send the originals!

Why do this exercise?  You will never have a better chance to clean up your service record than now while you’re still on active duty.  There are hundreds of reasons you may need proof of something in your record in the future.  Having an updated record is like having insurance and will give you peace of mind.

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.

Generate a chronological list of all jobs/ positions you’ve held in the past.  Start with your current position and work backwards.  List dates as ‘From –To’ month and year held, job titles and a one line description of duties.  If you held more than one job within the same command, break them out individually.  Go all the way back to boot camp!

A good place to find most of this information is on your security clearance questionnaire, application for Officer Candidate School, past Fitness Reports/ Evaluations, etc.  Also list the type of equipment you worked on and the Command or Unit assigned to. Keep this list in a simple one or two line format.  Don’t try to describe everything you did during each tour.  You should have copies of fitness reports for that.

This list will become useful for a number of things; writing your resumes, your biography for a retirement ceremony program, a Command letter outlining your tours for an End of Career award, etc.  You never know who will ask for this information, so it’s a good idea to have it already done in an easy to read format!

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.

How many years has it been since you first joined the military? Ten, twenty, more?

For a long time you’ve put aside your personal life. You’ve been there when your team and your country needed you. Now it’s time to move on and transition from military service to civilian life. As you prepare for this change, you may find the choices overwhelming.

Where do you start?

Historically, people who experience the greatest success transitioning out of the service are those who enlist the support of experts. The business world operates very differently today than it did ten years ago. Competition is fierce.

In today’s economy, you won’t get a second look if you fumble an interview or submit a business plan with unclear intentions. Get the support you need with a team of experts committed to helping you achieve your transition goals.

Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes offer information on veteran’s benefits and basic job hunting skills. However, they don’t provide enough information for a thorough transition. Leaving the military involves much more than simply writing a resume and finding a job. To increase your chances for success, you will need more – more information, more resources, more help. You need a team.

A basic civilian transition team might consist of:

** A professional writer to help with resumes, cover letters or business plans. I know you’ve been told you don’t need to hire a writer. But why struggle? A professional can save you a lot of time and frustration.

** A headhunter or job placement expert to market you to companies looking for people with your skills and experience. They have inside information and access to jobs not advertised to the general public.

** A financial advisor or tax strategist to position you for what lies ahead. One of the biggest shocks during your transition will be your new tax bill.

** A business planning specialist to save you time and money if you plan to start your own business. They can help you avoid the mistakes and pitfalls that new business owners face.

** A Transition Coordinator to work with you to clarify your goals and co-create a strategy for achieving them. They will keep their eye on the big picture, coordinate your team’s efforts, and make sure nothing is overlooked during your transition.

At Front Line Transitions, we are experts at coordinating military transitions. Drawing from our extensive database of experts, we will help you put together a team that’s perfect for you. We have been through the “transition minefield” and mapped it out. We will guide you through and point out obstacles before you reach them.

You are navigating some dramatic changes in your life. You want assurance that you are making the right decisions. You know from the military that teamwork is essential to success. Let Front Line Transitions coordinate your team for you. Let’s work together to create your best life – Let’s start right now.

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.

Determine your retirement date and your last day in uniform.  You’ve already determined when you’ll be clear of all service obligations.  You’ve calculated when you’re eligible for pay raises that affect your retirement.

Officers must retire on the first of the month, enlisted on the last day of the month.

Now take a look at your leave status.  Do you want to take terminal leave or sell it back?  This is usually determined by what your follow-on plans are.  Do you want the time off with pay or do you want the cash?  I encourage you to do the calculations for payback.  The amount may surprise you.  And remember, you accumulate leave while you’re on leave.

Because you’re retiring, you also get an additional 20 working days of Permissive TDY if you retire INCONUS and 30 days if retiring OUTCONUS.  Verify with your Administration or Personnel Department how they interpret this instruction and how they will write your orders.

Take into consideration the time of year you’ll be leaving active duty.  If you’ll be moving from warm weather to cold…….do you want to that in February?   I made a move once from Chicago to Atlanta in February.  Let me tell you, watching the movers take my china hutch down an ice covered ramp in a white out blizzard was not my idea of a good time!  Or theirs!  Nor did I relish driving in that weather on unfamiliar roads.

Maybe the kids need to finish a school year.  Or your spouse has job or school considerations.  This is where it becomes important to have already discussed any other agendas with your family.  You have a unique opportunity being able to choose when you’ll transfer….so consider ALL the variables.

Starting from midnight the day prior to your chosen retirement date, count backward, using up leave days first, then PTDY days.  Remember to skip the weekends if you’re taking only working days for PDTY.  What does that make your real last day in uniform?

How does this date work with doing a turnover with your relief?  Do you or the boss need or want a turnover?  If your date is near your PRD, this might not be a big issue.  This may be an appropriate time to talk it over with leadership and let them know that you’re planning to retire.

Keep in mind that your last 30 days in uniform will NOT be the best time for a turnover!  You will not be thinking about turnovers or daily routine.

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.

Most of my clients call me while they’re still on active military duty. They’ve contacted me to help them find a job. Many times they’re hoping to find a job doing the same thing they were doing in the service. Our initial conversation usually goes something like this:

Client: I have a buddy who works for “XYZ” company and he said all I need to do is shoot him a resume and I’m as good as hired.
Coach: Does your buddy have hiring authority?
Client: No, but he’s good friends with the boss.
Coach: And has the boss asked your friend to solicit resumes for an open position?
Client: Well, no, but he says I’m a shoe-in.
Coach: What is the job he thinks you’re a shoe-in for?
Client: I don’t know exactly, but it would be doing the same thing I‘m doing now.

You get the idea…

Here’s the problem: My client is not clear about what they want to do, what qualifications they have, what jobs are available, and who has the power to hire them. In the military, we never had to search for or apply for a job. So it’s understandable why we don’t know how to do it. The good news is that it’s a skill that can be learned. Here are 5 basic tactics for Job Search success:

1. Treat your job search as a full time job.
Schedule time every day to work on your resume, make phone calls, set up interviews and visit companies that interest you. Your job search is an investment in you and your future; it deserves your best effort. It’s a job that can’t be delegated or procrastinated and be expected to succeed. If you’re on terminal leave, treat your job search as if it was your full-time job – work on it 8 hours a day!

2. Know exactly what your career objective is.
As with any goal you set in life, the clearer and more specific it is, the more likely it is you’ll achieve it. Have a specific answer to the question, “What type of job are you looking for?” People are usually eager to help you, but they need a clear picture of what you want to do. They can’t read your mind, so help them help you. Instead of responding with “Oh, I don’t know. I think I want to work with airplanes. I can do almost anything”, answer “I have 12 years of experience coordinating aircraft maintenance schedules. I plan to pursue a career as a Production Manager in the Aircraft Manufacturing industry.” See the difference?

3. Network, network, network!
Not just with military personnel or people in your office. Start adding civilians and other professionals to your address book. As your personal circle of contacts expands, your network increases exponentially. If you know 100 people and they each know 100 people, you have a network of 10,000 people! Some of your most powerful connections won’t be the people you communicate with regularly. Your most powerful connections will be with the people you know only as a brief acquaintance; Those folks who are on the fringes of your social and professional circle. The people you associate with regularly usually share the same experiences, beliefs and knowledge as you. They know what you know. People you barely know will tend to have new, different ideas and contacts. They will be the ones to provide access to the resources you need to expand and grow.

4. Practice interviewing before you go on one.
Interviews are similar to stage performances. They go a lot more smoothly if you’ve had a dress rehearsal before going in front of a “live audience”. You’ll be much more relaxed and confident during your actual interview if you practice! Ask a friend to role-play with you. Give them a list of questions that might be asked during an interview and have them play the role of the employer. Then you answer the questions as you would during an actual interview. This exercise is even more powerful if you schedule a specific time for it. Get dressed in the clothes you plan to wear to the actual interview. Then be on time for your mock appointment.

5. View rejection as a positive opportunity to learn.
When you’re rejected during your job search, understand that it’s not a personal rejection. It’s not that they don’t want you, they don’t even know you. Being passed on for a job opening simply means that your skills and talents didn’t match the position description. If you believe that you had the right skills for the job, then ask yourself why the employer didn’t think so. Could your resume be clearer? Did you confidently articulate your accomplishments during the interview? Is there anything you could do differently at the next interview to highlight your strengths? Maybe you truly weren’t a good match for the job or company. If that’s so, then you wouldn’t have wanted to get it anyway!

View rejections as opportunities to tweak your resume, polish interview skills and maybe even reevaluate what types of jobs you’re seeking.

You don’t have to have incurred injuries in military combat to qualify for veteran’s disability compensation. Any condition documented in your military medical record can be considered for this benefit. As long as the injury or medical condition was not pre-existing to your active duty military service, it can be submitted for consideration.

Contact the local Veteran’s Administration (VA) or Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to evaluate your military medical record for possible disabilities incurred during your active duty service. You will need to provide them with a complete copy of your medical record and DD form 214′s. Have them help you complete VA Form 21-526.

It makes no sense to “leave money on the table.” Take advantage of every veteran benefit your military service entitles you to…you’ve earned it!

Your Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) will expire 120 days after your military separation/ retirement date. Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) will be offered to you during your transition. It’s a bit more expensive than other insurance because it provides benefits for veterans and servicemembers who may not be able to get insurance from private companies due to the high risks involved in military service. You can read more about it at The Veteran’s Affairs Life Insurance .

It’s easier to get new insurance when you’re already covered, so you may want to purchase a policy before you leave the service. You can get price quotes from a variety of companies at Insurance.com.

Before you leave the military, take a good look at your current and future financial situation. If you’ve never done this before, I can offer some practical suggestions for getting started. You may want to begin by learning the basics about financial statements, the different types and what each tells you.

Begin with a simple Income and Expense breakdown. List all of your current income sources and their monthly amounts. Then list all of your monthly expenses. If you’ve never done this and would like help, contact the Fleet and Family Support Center or your Command Financial Counselor. They have pre-printed forms and can help you fill them out.

Next, project what your Income and Expenses will be after you leave the service. For a retirement pay projection, there are several online sites that offer this service. Do you have any debts that could be paid off before you leave the service? How might you simplify your lifestyle to lower expenses? Remember to include your new State and Federal tax bills.

One of the most frequently asked questions by people leaving the military is, “How do I calculate the equivalent civilian salary to my military salary?” Or “How much income do I need to maintain my current lifestyle?” A broad estimate would be to increase your gross military pay by 35%. {gross MIL salary + (gross MIL salary x 35%) = gross CIV salary}

For those of you comfortable with your Income and Expense Statement, complete your Balance Sheet listing all your assets and liabilities. I define assets as those things that generate income, and liabilities as those things that create expenses. By this definition, your home is a liability. Yes, its value may be appreciating long term but it does not generate income. It doesn’t put money in your pocket every month. Think about it…

Assets are things like bank Certificates of Deposit, rental income property, your own business, and interest earning savings. Liabilities are things like such as your mortgage, credit card balances, school loans, and car and boat loans. Is your Asset column larger than your Liabilities? How might you increase your assets? What could you buy that would generate positive cash flow every month? Are there any liabilities you can reduce?

A clear picture of your financial situation will help when you go into salary and benefits negotiations with a prospective employer. And if you plan to start your own business, your Balance Sheet may be required as part of a bank loan request package.

Which brings up an often asked question, “Will prospective employers use my military retirement retainer and benefits as bargaining chips during my civilian salary and benefits negotiations?” The answer is that they should NOT.

All the major corporate Human Resource Officers I’ve spoken with have told me they would never consider military retirement in calculating an offer. It’s clear discrimination.They don’t ask about your dividend payments from stocks or other income sources, why should they ask about your military retirement?

Your retirement is a benefit you’ve earned and is not to be used as a bargaining chip. If you’re asked about it, I suggest you say it’s not on the table for discussion. If they persist, you may want to go to another company. That one isn’t ethical.

Start the next chapter in your life on solid financial ground. Know where you are now, where you want to be in the future, and create a plan to get there. Manage your money with integrity and it won’t end up managing you!