Ronald L. Krannich - Military-to-Civilian Success for Veterans and Their Families: The Ultimate Re-Imagining Guide for Making Smart Re-Careering, Relocation, and Retirement Decisions

Much of your future will center around questions of passion, purpose, and meaning. While youre talented in doing many things, what kind of person do you want to be? What really makes you happy and fulfilled?

W ELCOME TO THE REST of your life! To varying degrees, youre about to start a new adventure centered around the 3Rs of military-to-civilian transition:

Re-careering

Relocating

Retiring

Indeed, much of what you do in the months ahead will involve re-engineering your life around three important transformational processes for shaping an exciting future.

So, what employment decisions will you make? Where will you live? When and where will you retire? Better still, where do you see yourself five, ten, 20, or 30 years from now?

Youre about to encounter several forks in the road, which could take you in many different directions. Curious about where this is all going for you and your family? Lets take a test drive together. This will be an interesting journey filled with many revealing questions about you and your future, starting with What do you want to do with the rest of your life? Buckle up... and bring your family along for this exciting ride!

Anticipating and then actually facing the future is both exciting and unsettling. As many seasoned travelers know all too well, putting the plan together is often more exciting than making the actual journey. While youre used to dealing with change, like many other ex-servicemembers and their families, this one is the BIG LEAP. Indeed, chances are youve never been down such a transition road before. Having a detailed map would be good, but this road has yet to be mapped. Thats your job in the weeks ahead as you face many new challenges. Well-intentioned people will often give you unsolicited advice, including whats in this book; listen to it for useful tips, but dont consume such advice as the ultimate solution. Only you can know whats right for you.

The only cure for transition anxiety is to take a serendipitous trip into the unknown and learn-as-you-go with your values serving as a trusted compass. You dont want to under- or over-plan this transition you want to get it just right. Lets start with your mindset it may need some tweaking!

Even if you stand still, your new life will soon become more and more serendipitous and interesting. Youre now in charge of your own fate. No more orders to anywhere just your plans. Whatever you do, become more and more curious about life in the civilian world. Above all, welcome and embrace that wonderful experience of serendipity as you move on and discover fresh opportunities and develop new relationships. If you combine curiosity with serendipity, youll visit some interesting places along the way. Wherever you go or whatever you do, life will never be the same. Go for it!

Thanks for your dedicated service and sacrifice to your country. Youve had an interesting journey. Now its time to say your goodbyes, pack, and go. This will be your last military-sponsored move. Best of luck in the future. The military is well prepared for your final departure. After all, they separate nearly 250,000 service-members a year. Youll probably receive some last-minute awards or special recognition, must-complete forms, a transition book, tips for dressing like a civilian, canned advice on how to make it in the civilian world, and a checklist of must do items before you finally pass through the gate and more or less become a civilian newbie. Youll be just fine after you jump over some final bureaucratic hurtles. Youll be out and on the road to your new civilian life in no time... and then youll occasionally come back to take advantage of your hard-earned military benefits. Youll always be part of the military family, regardless of what happens to you in the civilian world.

Youre anxious but not really too worried. However, you probably cant say the same for your concerned spouse! The protocol is usually the same when its finally over and out. In the end, youre vacating a spot that will soon be filled by your replacement. Friends and colleagues wish you well and say how much you will be missed while, at the same time, you need to complete your separation papers. But similar to those who have preceded you, eventually everyone is replaceable. After youve packed, moved out, and said your goodbyes, like with so many other assignments and deployments, life will go on just fine without you. Have a good life wherever it may take you. Come back soon, before we all rotate out, and tell us some interesting transition stories. Remember, were all going to be in your situation someday. Stay in touch!

Since youre a loyal, enthusiastic, disciplined, take-charge self-starter with lots of military experience and perseverance, it shouldnt take too long before youre up and running as a civilian, settling into a new community, making new friends, and impressing a new boss and co-workers. Everyone wishes you well land a great job, make lots of money, and become successful in whatever you do. Youll try to keep in touch with your military friends through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media channels. Indeed, those virtual platforms may well become your best friends as you stay curious, regain a focus, and try to remain involved with your network of military friends and colleagues.

You sometimes wonder what others are doing since you last saw them. From what you see online, life seems really good for many of your buddies. Some found great jobs, others moved again, and still others finally retired full-time. You often wonder where all of you will be in another five, 10, or 25 years. Is everyone still having fun?

Thats what it all comes down to in the end firm handshakes, awards, some paperwork, a few parties, many goodbyes, several encouraging words, and a graceful exit from your immediate military family into the unknown civilian world. Its a new transition time, which may or may not work out according to plan. For many veterans and their families, this will be a great adventure filled with mixed emotions.

For most transitioning military personnel, this exit is not quite retirement, since most will continue their worklife in the civilian world. If all goes well, youll have many exciting years ahead as you turn your military experience into civilian successes.

Each year thousands of servicemembers and their families share a similar experience they leave the military for a new and yet uncharted life in the civilian world. Nearly 90 percent seek new jobs and careers. A large percentage will leave their new job within the first 12 months for a variety of personal and professional reasons, but the most important reason for leaving relates to how well prepared they were in making the transition to their first job out. In most cases, that first job out wasnt a good fit. Some veterans will literally go through two to five difference civilian jobs before they discover what they really want to do in the civilian work world.

You may be surprised by so many new out-of-pocket expenses that come with being a civilian.

Landing a civilian job is only one, albeit the most important, aspect of your transition. As you leave the military, you must deal with a host of additional issues affecting your family and finances, from relocation and housing to schools, wardrobe, communication, and benefits, which are no longer covered by the military. Indeed, you may be surprised by so many new out-of-pocket expenses that come with being a civilian. After a while, you may reflect on your military pay and benefits it wasnt really as low as you thought. Indeed, many officers quickly discover they earned more in the military than in their first post-military job! The big bucks may come sometime down the road, after youve had a chance to figure out what you want to do and establish a new track record of bottom-line performance with civilian employers. In the meantime, its best to have realistic expectations, get motivated, and keep focused on this next important stage of your life.