Don't fool yourself they didn't care about you while you were in either 😂

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

But...🥺but...🥹they said we were "like a family"...😢

@derek4101

23 күн бұрын

@@the_bureaucrat HAHA.. Sad but true

@jonathankenton7182

23 күн бұрын

Only if you were 100% healthy and fit for duty. Nah, you’re right.

After the military, it’s time to live for you…..and civvies don’t care about your military service. What can you do for them….

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Bingo! The mission becomes taking care of yourself and your loved ones.

Retired Marine here, it’s been almost 22 years since I retired and I still remember the transition to the 1st CivDiv as a pain in the a**. I was blessed to have a number of friends and acquaintances who made the leap before me who gave me guidance when I put my uniforms away. My current employer is currently establishing veteran liaisons to assist veterans and hopefully those outside our company as well with the skills to make the transition. I’ve volunteered to be one of the liaisons.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Wait...how did you manage to get @SSgt- as a handle?

@SSgt-

Ай бұрын

@@the_bureaucrat I just put it in when I signed up on KZread. I was in one of those really slow promoting aviation MOS’s and retired as a SSgt. It’s really weird because I was filling a MSgt slot when I retired. 🤷‍♂️ After retirement I just embraced the rank as a title.

Nailed it 🎯 The quicker fellow Vets understand that your not a victim and whatever you “did”, doesn’t mean much to most will go a long way. The safety net of the military does a disservice in a way, to let you think big Sarg will always save the day. Now, It’s all on you!

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Indeed. I think you are right about the "safety net" doing a disservice. I'd argue that that net is full of holes and it's dangerous to trust it.

Another great video! Remember, emotions come from within (empty boat parable...) so dealing with the VA or others can be enhanced by professionalism and managing emotion. And, I'd like to challenge everyone recently retired to find a Vet...and help get them set up with a VSO or other source to make sure they aren't missing out on benefits (while the process is fresh in your mind). I have found two that are woefully under-reimbursed due to service related conditions, because the process was different when they retired or they became disenfranchised and said the heck with it...costing them terribly over the years. -Just another random anonymous person on the interweb, use as you see fit.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Oh...I like this one. The Army says your post retirement mission is to help recruiting. I say your post retirement mission is to benefit your family. But I really like this idea. Might steal it.

I love your channel; I am retiring from the navy at the end of the year and I takes lots of notes from your videos, thank you for making these videos

@the_bureaucrat

29 күн бұрын

Shoot me a note at chuck.weko@gmail.com if you want me to track you thru the process. I'm not sure it helps, but at least you can ask specific questions.

Got out of the navy in 2009; it’s true, they really don’t care. It would’ve been helpful if the military taught me how to make a good resume, how to do a job interview, how to look for and where to look for work, and how to apply for unemployment. I had to learn everything myself. Unfortunately there are those of us vets that don’t have support and end up being homeless.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Yeah, there is this downward spiral that folks get caught in...I wonder how someone would realistically assess a veteran's ability to fend for themselves?

When I retired I was glad to get away from the assholes and BS. I miss my buddies that’s it.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

True. The brass never cared. Your buddies did. And that is part of what makes this issue so hard. Your buddies who stay behind are too busy with their own journey.

The military can transition you in but can't transition you out.....

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Yep. Not a single person in the military has been thru a transition. Who would trust a person to lead a airborne jump...but that person had never jumped in their life. Same with "Transition Assistance Program".

@jonathankenton7182

23 күн бұрын

Just like a deployment?

@nolove857

23 күн бұрын

@@the_bureaucrat true!!

Once out, you're treated like a 3rd class citizen.

@user-cq9ph5pz1j

Ай бұрын

how? The VA gives you money for school. Many I know get disability. The government gives hiring preference. No one will hold your hand in life.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

A "broken" 3rd Class Citzen

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

@user-cq9ph5pz1j the dirty little secret about "government preference" is that it lures Vets into waiving their privacy rights. There are lots of places where "preference" for vets is on the front end of the process...guarantees of initial consideration, but in later stages information disclosed by the vet is used to disqualify them.

@thevet2009

Ай бұрын

@@the_bureaucrat But remember, some restaurants will offer Veteran discounts...

I work for the DoD and it's all about what you said, Chuck. Network with other veterans. BE the force of good for those who need it.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Thanks.

Another outstanding video sir. Regardless of time in service, transition should never be taken lightly and believing the DOD is going to “take care of me” is irresponsible. The military is great at turning young people into Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines, but it sucks at turning them into Veterans, only we (Veterans) can do that effectively.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Lemme paraphrase ('cuase you guys are piecing together a great script)..."If a transitioning Service Member thinks DOD or the VA is going to 'take care of me', they are dangerously incorrect." I'm toying around with the idea of how to do a "self assessment" for folks about a year out of retirement. I kind of like the idea of "on a scale from one to ten...how much support do you think you will get from DOD?" My suspicion is that folks who expect a high degree of support are in for the most difficult transition.

@Moto-foody

Ай бұрын

@@the_bureaucrat You are correct sir. As previously noted in comments and conversations, your transition is your transition, and if it goes poorly it’s usually due to lack of planning and understanding on your part. However, that being said and noted in my own experience, you have no idea about what you don’t know. So on your Likert Scale I’d give them an 8 for potential support, but a 2 on advertising and outreach for those supports. My transition was about as hassle free as one could expect, but I retired out of a unit purposely built to get Soldiers out of the Army and I took full advantage of the resources available as well as asking questions to anyone on their way out. I also had a very supportive chain of command and, this is absolutely critical, I set my replacement up for instant integration. Some of my buddies weren’t as fortunate as I was. My best friend, a brigade CSM worked up until five days before he retired. I helped them all out as best as I could, but some I was like “you’ve been in the Army for almost 30 years, how are you f**king this up?” I have some information and notes that I’ll get to you on Saturday.

True, once you've signed that DD-214 and completed your Final Out, the military cares nothing about you. "Thanks for your service, you did your time, but we have a mission to complete." Post-separation, it is very much up to you to get things done. Even pre-separation, it's up to you to set your family up for success. I'm a mixed bag of absolute who-knows-what... I'll begin with what I haven't done since retiring. I still have my expired AD CAC, over 1.5 years since retiring. The former Senior NCO and Drill Sergeant in me is waiting to get yelled at for not having a valid Retiree ID card (okay, I yell at myself), but the day-to-day civilian in me says there's always tomorrow. Same with the VA ID card, I haven't stepped foot in a VA facility yet. No one calls, emails, or does anything else prompting me to get the necessary IDs and I live hours away from the nearest military base, so it's not the end of the world. Maybe next week I'll get those IDs, or next month; I have my REAL ID driver's license--but, wait, it doesn't reflect my Veteran or 100% DAV status. 😱 Now, the important stuff (to me at the moment) that I have done. I started Benefits Delivery at Discharge 180 days out from retirement, with a 100% P&T rating out of the gate. I ensured I transferred my SGLI to VGLI, opted for the Survivor Benefits Plan, and enrolled my family in Tricare as soon as my AD status was over. I made sure I could log into VA, DFAS, MilConnect, TSP, iPerms, and other systems to stay up to date on my pay, benefits, and service records. I took advantage of federal, state and local benefits offered to disabled vets, getting permanent vehicle tags, property tax exemption, and tuition assistance for my older kids. I got a decent job with benefits providing additional insurance, contribute a decent amount to 401k, and am otherwise ensuring that my family is well taken care of once I'm gone.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Sounds like a template for success.

@kurtrussell5228

Ай бұрын

Well, since you waited so long you don't get the blue retired card, you'll get the same card that a private that was medically discharged for PTSD they got from basic training gets, only yours will have a tiny "retired" on it.

The best advice I can give about getting a high VA rating is have a good VSO and start reading CFR 38. Theres alot of great benefits and programs for veterans but you gotta do the leg work and research.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Reading that CFR is important. I need to do a video on it.

THIS VIDEO IS EVERYTHING! Just retired 01 APR 24 and I although I had been forewarned, I was still shocked 🫢 at how fast everybody dropped my ass 😂😂

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Here's the one that will blow you away. Check your RAS. They screwed up my withholding...tax season was a nightmare.

They didn't give a sh!t about us when I was in.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

True. Some of us just got confused because some of the people we worked with cared and we mistook them for "them".

Maybe, it is better to start even earlier. Got a buddy who is getting out? Get their contact info before they leave. Stay in contact with them, even if it just a call on their birthday and an Xmas card -- then at exit time you already have your network. Also being you worked with them, you know which of them are particularly talented at navigating bureaucracy.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

That's a great idea. Especially the part of picking the buddy who is good at working their way thru the maze.

Don't forget about Medicare plan B. You retire in your 40's and you have no idea at age 65 you must elect Medicare plan B. Tricare for life is now your secondary insurance. No one explained this to me and it almost cost me $60k in hospital bills. Yes, do your research and keep yourself updated.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Got point. I just recorded a discussion of that this morning. There are a whole bunch of things you have to do after you "final out" that are easy to overlook.

They do try to help through the required transition classes, but they could be improved. But, they are only going to help you up to your ETS date. After that, it IS up to you. But, this is true of every civilian job I had too. They were worse, because most of them just kicked you out, with no effort to prepare you.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

See? That is a good point. It's not that the military is "bad" at transition assistance (all employers are). Rather, the military may over-promise the degree of assistance they provide and service members may have unrealistic expectations of the experience.

Listen to me please As a Disabled Vietnam veteran here, Expect crappy treatment from the VA medical care. Cancelled appointments , the medical staff ar e rushed, or they just do not care, lots of "off book" prescriptions , broken equipment and or no techs to operate it. Listen there are exceptions to what I have said but ,These past 50 + years have been a crap shoot sure. Take whatever happens or not as it is not personal,just the way it is.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I love the implication here...none of this is personal.

True story - plan ahead and research the process to death…

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I find it helpful to think about it like taking the Oregon Trail...you need to think carefully about everything you need and what you can leave behind. You cannot overprepare.

Many military members get allot of benefits to help transition to civilian life. In the military your basic needs are taken care of. When you get out there is the realization that you need to become a civilian again. You need to find and develop a new community. Getting a consistant stable job. Joining a club , making friends that didn't serve. All things are difficult but it's no longer the military that is responsible. The military is meant to fight wars. The VA is there to help veterans, along with the many aid groups out there.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

You are right, there are a lot of benefits for transition. I think that fits into the whole mindset thing. DOD & VA give you benefits, but its up to you to take the appropriate action.

Lacking the hard power to punish them sadly

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

This is a fascinating point. Would you want to browbeat the command into "caring"? I suspect that the result would be even worse.

Oh I know

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Sorry 😟

@angelajohnson4666

Ай бұрын

I have always known that. I did not grow up when the government was taking of anyone. I grew up when the government was not in the school system yet. So what does that tell you? I was not born yesterday and I have been around the block. School of hard knox.

@angelajohnson4666

Ай бұрын

Sometimes I believe the younger generations believe that citizens have expectations of being cared about and taken care of. The older generations do not necessarily believe this. Older generations are more yes standing up for what is right and for the constitution with being more self reliant and individualists. These are the people who fend for themselves and want the government out of the way and do not care if they care.

@angelajohnson4666

Ай бұрын

Country is a pile of shit anyway. And is all intentional and doesn’t have to be. And the American people know exactly what is happening.

While I love the idea that the military should support former troops and retirees, I knew well that support would be more appearance than fact. And in truth, why should It be more? Shouldn't you, as a mature adult and providing you weren't terribly wounded and/or suffering PTSD, be able to handle your life without the military's help? Being in the military is a school for resilience. So again, unless you got some condition you got while in - you should be resilient. You should be able to get out, get a job, get a home, go to school (if that's the plan), start a career, start a family (or support one if you already have one) and move on with your life. Civilians with the resilience of a Styrofoam cup can do it, you can too. If you got out, you got out to be _sovereign_ from the military's nonsense. So spread them wings and fly! Don't look back. If you retired, you retired because your career ran its course and you needed a well deserved rest and/or a new career. So ride that office or lawn chair into the sunset. Again, don't look back.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

@EricDaMAJ, well said. You set the right goal. But as I think about this, I am suspicious that there are successful military folks who adapt to military life because they work well in an environment of mission command and task organization with specialized skill sets. The transition up ends that paradigm and requires a vastly more individualistic mindset. One that the military may have actively tried to train out of people. BTW..."resilience of a Styrofoam cup" 😂

Good morning

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

2034! Still working on the script.

@jovanni_orb5116

Ай бұрын

@@the_bureaucrat thank you

No National Veterans Transition/Manual/Bible/SOP!!! That is a red flag. The Gov't writes manuals, regs and documents galore about things they care about, even, let's say an Army 5ton truck, or weapon. The reason the book does not get written is because it would constantly cross lines that help the veteran and cost the government.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Yes. AND it would get written by people who are in the military who know next to nothing about the transition.

@carlclarkarmyret137

Ай бұрын

It was explained to me that “the greater good” ethic prohibited/s the government from creating systemic advantages for various groups, ie: Veterans, in the chutes-n-ladder game that is our civilian system. Mandates even prevent federal employees and VSO’s from advertising, marketing, or hawking federal benefits, but this has morphed into not effectively laying out any reception/transition model, or information service. Back room talk has suggested that the Gov’t’s are failure (right down to the VSO street level) to effectively transition other generations of veterans has given way to the non-system we have today. Ie “How can we start now?” One last thing is the screwed up notion that Veterans innately know veterans, and how to help veterans just because they served. Without a Manual/SOP it’s just a bunch of VSO holding a title, turning every Transitioning Veteran into a Disability case. Even our IRR folks who ostensibly are supposed to have a remaining service commitment if needed.

VFW and American Legion have been somewhat helpful post-retirement, there's information there but it's not served on a platter, you have to ask and always be looking out for number one.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Always be looking out for number one...

Chain of command treats you like shit once they find out your etsing or pcsing

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Kinda.