Countdown to Departure...Gradual & Focused - NOT Chaotic
Looking back...way back...to my entry into active duty in the late 90s, it seemed like "joining up" was one of the easiest processes in the world. I met with a recruiter, signed a few things, and discussed my interests. He'd later meet with my folks so that they could sign off and approve their 17-year old to set off on a great adventure with Uncle Sam's Misguided Children...off to the Island of Misfit Toys, some might say.
...but as easy and seamless as that seemed, getting out of the military is proving to be quite the chore. Wifey and I identified lots of variables early in the process and began attacking them:
- Secure a home
- Start ironing out the requirements for living in Thailand on a visa...
and what kind of visa would that be? This one was written about
before and involved lots of envelopes, money orders, and
paperwork as I mailed off our marriage certificate for multiple
layers of authentication stateside (MS Sec. of State, US State
Dept., Royal Thai Embassy DC, etc.). This process will continue
for a bit after we land there in retirement, until visa is secured.
- Secure a vehicle
- Engage our son and get him energized on his own plans: College,
enlistment, tradeschool, etc. (easy task, right?!)
- Think about what we're moving, and what we're selling/donating
here on Okinawa (cars, couches, plants...)
- Separation location: Mississippi is an already approved option
and affords an opportunity to catch up with family and friends at
home, as well as touring parts of the country we haven't seen.
Separating on Okinawa seems like the least logistically
burdensome approach, and while approved by HQMC, it's still
pending final approvals here. I should've researched this a bit
more before routing it the wrong-ish way. No wrong way to eat a
Reese's, right?
- Life insurance is sorted, so that I can avoid both SBP and VGLI.
- And then...what in the world am I going to DO once settled abroad
again?! In the words of Napoleon Dynamite, "Whatever I feel like I
wanna do. Gosh!" Gardening, YouTubing, long walks, exploration,
etc.
I'm drifting and can't remember why I started this. Ah, yes, the countdown. In 120ish days I'll begin a remote SkillBridge program that will take me right to the edge of my terminal leave and retirement next year. It is highly advisable that you start your planning early. There are alot of things to get after (a few mentioned above).
- Go to medical - they aren't going to come to you. I mean, they
might...if you have a heart attack or something. But go to medical.
- Start letting go. Say that one again. Nobody cares about
your performance reviews.
Submitting that Appendix J (retirement application) can take place as early as 18 months
out...and as close to your selected date as six months out:
Make a plan and keep attacking. If you're considering retirement, that date'll be here before you know it. We've got work to do. Cheers, gang.
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