I was on the phone recently with a friend who left the army within the last year. We were just casually catching up. I was informing him about a new business idea I had and he was sharing his experiences of clerking for a federal judge.
Our conversation led to my transition. At this point, I was within a couple of months of signing out on terminal leave and earnestly starting life after the military. This can be an intimidating part of the process. How will I get healthcare? Who do I talk to if I have a financial problem? Where do I find information about good housing?
He reminded me of something we had once spoken about before- “just do what the other 99% does.”
The military takes care of A LOT for you. Free healthcare. Counseling services for marriage, finances, and mental health. Offices to help you find housing or plan your next vacation. Everything you need is well taken care of. And this makes sense. The military needs you to focus on your job and not worry about all the “life” stuff that fills out everything else.
But in becoming a civilian, you have to start worrying about those things. The offices and free services and on-post counseling and free gyms and pools and all the other benefits that come with serving will no longer be available (unless you are retiring).
So what do you do? You do what the other 99% does. And by the other 99%, I mean every person who lives in the United States but doesn’t serve in the military. They can make it happen.
Somehow the other 99% is able to access healthcare. They can save for retirement. They find good housing and have gym memberships. They can make it happen. And so will you.
Sure, it may not be laid out for you as easy as it was in the military, but once you are out you will also have more freedom to choose how you want to set all the other “life stuff” up.
Your transition can be intimidating. Scary even. But you will be fine.
Everyone else finds a way, and so will you.
Related:
You’re a Vet? Great. No one Owes You Shit.