I started my Army career on 26 JAN 1994. It will end on 31 AUG 2021. I'm on terminal leave now and will finally have a chance to let the hair on my head and face grow out. Life is good! I'll be off the net for a while. We're moving back home soon.
Make sure you do all that's necessary before you get out to receive all the benefits you earned while in service. Go to the doc, take all the test, get the rating you deserve before you sign out. Have a plan for retirement from the service, it can be a shock after you're out. Best of luck to you, God bless!
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
Congratulation! I found it funny how after 20 yrs. some proclaimed how "lucky" I was. (to which I would reply that if you serve 20 you too can be lucky) while others in the chain of command considered me a "quitter". Don't listen to them. Enjoy what you've earned for a change. Aside from the aforementioned advise I will say this, take time to mentally remove the "uniform" before starting the next chapter. Decompress as best you can. Civilians are, well, civilians. They don't respond well to "aggressive conversation". Oh, and start saving for the next tax season.
Bore size is no substitute for shot placement and Power is no substitute for bullet performance. 458WIN
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
Be certain you have copies of ALL your medical records.My wifes records of her cancer and all treatments had disappeared at her separation but she kept copies of everything and when she told them all the records reappeared. She was a medic and it was duty related. My records of treatment post Desert Storm had the same problem. I'd picked up some weird infection there and had to have emergency surgeries. I had copies so mine reappeared, too. Trust but verify.
Congratulations Dinny, I finished on Sept 30,1999. Only could let my hair grow for a bout 2 months before I got a hair cut. Ready to retire again on Oct 28th!
Congratulations and enjoy retirement. . I retired in August 2008, seems like yesterday. I got another job with the DoD and in another eight years I'll be celebrating my second retirement.
Enjoy retirement, Dinny, but not from the easy chair. I've lost count of the number of guys who retire from the military and don't survive a year afterward. I think it was because of lacking a sense of purpose, so stay busy!
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
Congrats on your well earned retirement! I retired in 2013 and found it takes a while to get into the swing of it. Enjoy and do the things you enjoy now.
Congrats. Take the time to enjoy everything you havenโt been able to. Coming from someone who works in LE, your sacrifices are very much appreciated.