Former military members?

[sconnieVLP]

I did 20, and have done another 13 in the civil service. Currently in my 4th agency. 9 job. I was mostly an aircraft mechanic in the Navy. Did a lot of things that were not that, and none my current job has any bearing on what I did in the Navy today.

I am 100% sure, I would rather make less money and be in a location I want to be in than make more money and be someplace I didn't want to be.

The only advice I can give.

Don't trust anyone, build friendships but be weary.

Try to do something you can live with, whatever it is.

A lot of vets struggle, even retirees with big deal jobs.

Whatever you did in the military, and for however long thank you for your service.

I’m currently on assignment #9 in 14 years. If there’s one thing I have decided about what to do when I’m done it’s that I’m going to prioritize living where I want to over chasing a specific job. The moving and being forced to live somewhere is hands down the worst part of all of this for me personally.

In hindsight, I should have left at the 8 year mark - that was the peak of the fun for me. I’d probably have wondered “what if” a lot about staying in, but I think at this point I’d rather be wondering that than being totally burnt out with a service commitment taking me to 17.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I’m currently on assignment #9 in 14 years. If there’s one thing I have decided about what to do when I’m done it’s that I’m going to prioritize living where I want to over chasing a specific job. The moving and being forced to live somewhere is hands down the worst part of all of this for me personally.

In hindsight, I should have left at the 8 year mark - that was the peak of the fun for me. I’d probably have wondered “what if” a lot about staying in, but I think at this point I’d rather be wondering that than being totally burnt out with a service commitment taking me to 17.

That’s a lot of moves. I had 8 moves in 20 years and personally I appreciated most of them.

To maybe add a “positive” to moving, we wouldn’t have known for sure where we wanted to settle down unless we would have seen all the places and been “forced” to live there.

The one assignment we were most frustrated about ended up being our favorite and making #2 on the retirement location list.

Almost to 20, hang in there!

(Side note: we actually “moved” 14 times but 6 of those were self inflicted moves at the assignments, which that much moving sucked….but our fault).

 

[Tahoe1305]

Another note. As mentioned I just got out two months ago (Retired). That process went smooth, but can be a bit intimidating. I’m happy to answer questions or provide advice to anyone in need.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Spent 14 years, eight months, and 13 days on active duty in the Marine Corps. I thought I was going to be a lifer, but my body and mind had other ideas. I am glad I did it, sometimes miss it a bit, but mostly I am glad I am out. I telework for a firm on the other side of the country with a great boss, but I keep thinking there’s got to be something more satisfying than helping DOD contractors get out of problems.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Navy nuke officer, now doing engineering consulting for a bunch of civilian agencies. It was a great job before 47, now not so much. Looking for the next chapter now so this one can end on my terms.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Wife got a great paying job when I got out, so I take care of the house and kiddos.

I fill my spare time with hunting or volunteering with a veterans non-profit. It is a blessing to be more present in my sons lives than I ever thought I would be and get give back to other vets and active duty service members as well.

I will say that I thought being a stay at home dad would be an easy transition... boy was I wrong

Man, you ain’t lying! I’m a full time FF now and a full time stay at home dad on my days off, I have 2 soon to be 3 girls under 4 years old it is 10x harder than anything I ever did in the army or the fire service…

 

[AKDoc]

I joined the Marines right out of high school at 17 (1970)...did a four-year enlistment to get an aviation guarantee. Scored well on tests, so spent the first 2+ years after basic and infantry training in Air Traffic Controller training (tower and radar), then a tour in the Viet Nam war and a few months later finished my enlistment. I was an FAA certified ATC'er when discharged...could have had an immediate and good paying government job, but I chose to directly go to college.

Went to college on the GI-Bill for my bachelors and masters...met the love of my life the second year (been together for fifty-years now), and then went directly on and completed my doctorate in clinical psychology. Had a long and wonderful practice, genuinely helping others for many years...and I just retired last Dec at 72yo.

Even though my training in the USMC had nothing directly to do with my career path in life...joining the Marines (for me) was truly one of the top-five best decisions of my life. In retrospect, joining the Marines at a relatively young age (17) gave me a chance to expand my perspective in life and experience a much bigger world, and I was totally motivated (more like "shot out of a cannon"!) to go to college when I came back from the war.

All that said...please keep in mind that what I shared began many years ago. Circumstances and options may have likely changed these days...not sure. Just saying...I'm very, very thankful and proud..."once a Marine, always a Marine".

 

[dribeerfeht]

Former Infantry... now Army Corps of Engineers.

 

[Mojave Kid]

4 yrs Army Infantry in 1970s, got out went to school, retired Fed. Now a PI/Consultant

 

[Shooter Mike]

Helicopter mech in the Marine Corps. Retired in 2013. Flight Paramedic now.

 

[SkinnyDoc44]

Helicopter mech in the Marine Corps. Retired in 2013. Flight Paramedic now.

How long did it take you to become a flight paramedic? Do you enjoy it?


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[Shooter Mike]

How long did it take you to become a flight paramedic? Do you enjoy it?


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It’s enjoyable, but like anything, after doing for a while it’s just another job. I started working full time Fire/EMS upon retirement. Did that for 5 years before getting hired in to a flight medic job. CAMTS requires 3 years experience for nurses and medics in CAMTS accredited organizations. I can tell you, unless you’re very studious, 3 years is not enough in either discipline. As a preceptor I’ve had nurses on orientation with just 3 years experience and even for the ones coming from an ER, they’ve struggled. ICU nurses struggle with the 911 side of the job, but do well on the inter-facility side. From the time I started paramedic school though, i jumped in feet first and devoured every bit of info I could, and passed the FP-C before even thinking about applying for a flight gig. The FP-C and CFRN are the same tests given by different organizations. The system I got hired in to is very autonomous and expects the clinicians to perform in their roles to the full extent of their training. Our nurses and medics have the same scope of practice, and rotate Lead after each flight. Other systems don’t operate that way, and Medics do the scene calls and nurses run the IFT calls.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Law enforcement first. Then education. Now I’m a principal. 19 years in education though.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

It seemed like a lot of the corpsman I worked with had prior degrees. It was always helpful having them around because it made them seem like more of an adult. The brand new out of high school corpsman were never as good.

Who with? I was in 2/2 and 1/8 and had a lot of friends in the STA platoons. After I did a little time in the reserves with 2/24.

When were you with 1/8?

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

02-06 USMC Combat engineer and now a General contractor

What unit? I’m 1371 and got out in 99 and 02. Wonder if we know some of the same people. I was 2nd CEB and 3rd CAC.

 

[Eship]

When were you with 1/8?

2018-2019