Establish 2 files to accumulate and organize all the paper you will be acquiring in the next several months. One file will be for military papers and one will be for collecting information about your follow on plans; job search, resumes, new business start-up, etc.

These can be anything from small accordion files to 1-2 drawers of a file cabinet.  You’ll need space for service, medical, and financial records, copies of letters you’ll be writing requesting various things, and lots of information you’ll gather on Veteran’s benefits, resume writing, job searches, business plans, and more.

The following lists are suggested categories only.  Use whatever titles make sense to you.  The key is to have an organization system you will use that serves you well.

Suggested Military Folders:
AWARDS (Letters & Medals),
CEREMONY (Retirement Party, Hail & Farewell)
COLLEGE (Credits & Transcripts),
DENTAL (copy of Record),
DD214s & SERVICE RECORD (+Statement of Service),
FINANCES (Leave & Earning Statements, W-2, W-4, Allotments),
LAST MOVE (+Travel Claim),
MEDICAL (copy of Record),
MILITARY SCHOOLS (Completion Letters, Certificates, Proof of Attendance),
ORDERS (Permanent Change of Duty Station, Reserve AT, ADT, TDY, PTDY),
PERFORMANCE REPORTS (Fitness Reports, Evaluations, Promotion Letters),
RESERVE DRILLS (Proof of Retirement Points, Diary of Drills Performed),
SECURITY CLEARANCE,
SPECIAL REQUESTS,
TRAVEL CLAIMS,
VA BENEFITS (education, disability compensation),
FINAL TURN-IN (temporary folder to collect papers and records required by Personnel Office prior to releasing your final DD Form 214)

Suggested Civilian Folders:
APPEARANCE (Wardrobe, Briefcase, Pens, Stationary Portfolio lists & ideas),
HEALTH AND DENTAL PLANS (TRICARE, etc.),
INSURANCE (Life, Health, Dental, Long Term Care),
NETWORK (contacts, phone numbers, biz cards),
RESOURCES (Reading List, Websites),
VISION (Goals, Primary Aim),
EXPENSES (Receipts for Tax Deductions),

If planning a job search, add:
INTERVIEWS,
RESUME (Objective, Skills, Job History, Accomplishments)

If planning a new business, add:
BUSINESS PLAN,
FINANCES,
MARKETING PLAN

Don’t stress about trying to find all the paper to fill these folders now. As you come across paper or generate it in the next several months, you’ll have a place to put it.  If you know where you have this information and have been somewhat organized over the years, go ahead and start sorting through it a bit at a time.

I strongly suggest you scan all your papers into your home computer and save them on a CD for long term storage.  It will provide a backup in case you lose any of the original paper files in the future.

Start today keeping all your receipts for any expense you incur during this transition.  Everything from phone calls and new clothes to printing paper and mileage is tax deductible.

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.