chaos

10 January, 201410 January, 2014

Transition recap

Since M and I made the transition from active duty to now civilian life, it has not been “a walk in the park”.

From budgeting for the move to still unpacking, it has been a stressful process.

We had to budget just in case we went over our alloted weight limit and it is hard to find space when you are merging two households. Which is why we rented storage space to put things that wouldn’t fit, no matter how hard we tried. It also helped us budget M’s pay while on terminal leave enabling us to stretch it until both of us were offered employment. In the process, we could try to revive our savings to help us during the transition process.

We had been meal planning for a while before we moved but decided to continue once our final move was complete. It would help us to continue budgeting and not purchase so many duplicate/triple items every week. I can also incorporate so many delicious slow cooker recipes too.

Overall, the transition process has had some hurdles but has been better than expected. We have made wonderful friends here while keeping in touch with friends everywhere (and I mean everwhere).

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4 December, 201322 November, 2013

End of a chapter…

Today is a day of lasts for M and I…

Last day on active duty for M
Last paycheck from DFAS
Last day with the brown ID card (for me)
Last day in uniform (even though that was two months ago..)
Last day of two deployments, three PCS moves (terminal leave counted as a PCS)
Last day of three different and unique units
No more PT runs at the canyon with L
Last day of being known as an active duty family

It is also a day of firsts for us…

First paycheck from the VA for M’s medical retirement
Hopefully, nice picture (again) for our new blue ID cards
First immersion into AF culture (since it is our closest base)
First day as a military retiree family
First of being retired and still being in the 20s age group for M
First day without wearing a uniform
No more deployments or PCSing
No more staff duty, CQ or hurried breakfasts after PT
Being able to workout with M in the early mornings…together
Being in a permanent location for at least a year (or so..)
Being “civilians” even though M has said he can’t really see himself as a civilian with his past military service and all

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2 December, 201322 November, 2013

What I wish I had known about medical retirement

This is just a list of things I wish we had known…:

It will take more than 2 months to transition medical records for your spouse and yourself; no records to give your new doctors in the meantime.
Your movers may have to change the date to pick up your HHG so you will have to get someone to stand in your place when they get there.
You have to leave before HHG gets picked up because that is when your husband’s PTDY starts (before terminal leave).
The closest base will prefer retirees to be seen by civilians but active duty has to be seen there…which means a 40 minute drive for your spouse.
You switch PCMs twice because you have issues with a referral due to not having your medical records..
The VA said they may not give your spouse their first paycheck until a few months after his retirement date has come and gone (thankfully, you have savings..).
The VA has said they will backpay which is great…but it may take awhile to get the final ratings from them…
You were warned by the RSO at the NG base that you shouldn’t go to the closest active duty base when your active duty ID expires because they will confiscate it.
You can go to the NG base to get your new ID card after it expires without any issues.
Patience is necessary when waiting on interviews/call backs from prospective employers.
Praying for God’s control in everything is a must.
Leaving on a Saturday from your previous duty station was a great decision; no traffic.
It’s weird having your spouse home when you are accustom to a set schedule.
It is strange to see your spouse still on active duty but wearing civilian clothes to doctor appointments.
Air Force is totally different from the Army; learning new acronyms was not how you wanted to spend your morning while on the phone with the base Med Group office.
You are thankful for even the option of medical retirement for your husband; 2 years of craziness was worth it according to him.
You would have both briefings for transportation two days before your husband’s last official work day in the Army; it was Transportation’s choosing on the dates.
Instead of a deployment countdown jar, you have a retirement date countdown jar.
You didn’t have to deal with a retirement ceremony; just a certificate and folded flag from Transition for your husband.