I’m three months out and I just want to leave. If I could I disappear without any notice.

@johnm249

Ай бұрын

When I got out I went to Goodwill donation box and dumped all my military crap into the box 😊

@elyseb674

Ай бұрын

​@@johnm249Navy Marine Corps thrift shop for me, when it's time. I read schools like to receive uniforms for their school play wardrobe or JROTC departments.

@gardnert1

Ай бұрын

Gotta keep one pair of cammies in case of paintball or airsoft fun!

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I feel you. Here's a technique you might try. On your last day at 5PM, go watch them play Retreat and lower the flag. Just stand there for a moment and salute the flag. It will be private, personal, and you will never forget the experience.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I'm making a quilt out of my old uniforms.

I agree with everything you said. It needs to be on your terms. You need to embrace the moment and enjoy your moment with family and friends. And most importantly, make this more about your spouse and kids, who had to move, support you, etc even though they had a choice not to. So yes, recognize them.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Thanks, Scott.

@kurtrussell5228

Ай бұрын

It's not about your dang wife, it's about you! Like at change of command ceremonies where they waste 10 minutes handing the wife flowers and the new commanders wife flowers and they talk kiss their butts making a whole formation of soldiers stand there for hours ( including rehearsals) at listen to it.....your wife isn't in the military, she isn't part of the ceremony

There was no red carpet when I walked in and I had no desire for one when I left. I walked to the front gate with my three bags and took a taxi away without looking back. No regrets.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I'm glad you have no regrets. And I'm glad that you were able to do it on your own terms in a way that fit your military journey.

I did not have a retirement ceremony. I simply had lunch with my fellow office workers at the O club. It was small and nice. Never regretted that decision. I figure I would go out as I came in, quietly with not a lot of fuss.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I think that is a great way to do it on your own terms. Have an event. Don't include the brass.

I left without a ceremony. My final years in Army G3 and G8 were good, and I truly enjoyed the work as a bureaucrat. However, I got tired of protocol and catering to the brass. I left in the spring of 2021 during covid. It was a great excuse for not having a ceremony. I sent a nice email to people who meant a lot to me. My final day in ACUs was spent clearing Ft Myer and I walked around most of the installation, talking to a few of the Old Guard Soldiers. Never mentioned retirement to them, but it was great to be around enlisted troops. I got to return a few salutes, which was a real privilege to do for a final way in an ordinary setting. When I left the company on Myer, I got a nice handshake from a senior NCO congratulating me. It was ust like a 1SG welcoming me to a unit. A 1LT signed my paperwork for me to leave. It was very much like the inverse of my first arrival at a unit. It was in many ways, the best way I could leave. Just like I came in.

@the_bureaucrat

26 күн бұрын

This theme of "reliving your first days at the unit" seems to be common and people seem to derive a great deal of pleasure from it.

I initially said I didn’t want one but then was basically told by my friend that I didn’t have a choice. It was amazing and I still appreciate it to this day.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I had something smaller happen. My wife doesn't like cut flowers (she hates the idea of being handed a dying object). So I didn't include flowers in my ceremony. In the middle of my ceremony, the MC said "And now a token of appreciation for Chuck's wife and mother" and these two LTC's stood up and handed them flowers. Afterwards the LTC's said "There's no way we were going to let you not present flowers to your wife and mother in front of everybody." Friends can have a huge influence on the experience.

No, they have treated like a janitor and a gopher my last months. Getting texts like who took out the trash and stuff. Shake my head after 21 years of active service.

@kurtrussell5228

Ай бұрын

Well....at least you weren't on permanent staff duty

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

What a way to wrap things up.

When I retired from the Corps I was not going to have one, but my FIL who was career USAF insisted that I have one for closure. I’m glad I had one, I sent a few invitations to individuals but I was surprised at who showed up by word of mouth.

@the_bureaucrat

21 күн бұрын

Awesome. I'm glad it worked for you.

My command structure wished me well on Nov 9, 98 Medically discharged on Nov 11 (solemn day) without any thought of "celebrating" Heck, all the Bn and Regt leadership officers referred to me as the "FAD Commander" for being my unit's representative during monthly USR's😂 Hey, I was just an E6 The painful revelation was what is referred to as The Clinton Draw Down, which captured me. 20% for a spinal compression fracture. You-godda-go (after I earnd my Master Wings) WJBVAA was my Unit Identifyer back when....last century. So many stories to tell about 80's and 90's Cold War Ft Bragg Thank you for your relevant postings on U-Tube

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

This is a kind of issue is serious. Years ago I saw a retirement ceremony for a LTC who was being medically retired for a brain tumor. He didn't want to retire. He certainly didn't want to have cancer. But for some reason the brass was forcing him to do a big retirement ceremony in front of everybody. In the middle of the event he broke down crying and going off script...it was painful. That's part of the reason I say you have to do things on your own terms...don't let other people made a difficult transition worse.

I did. No regrets. Got my best friend to officiate and I got to see some friends that I had not seen in years. We had a BBQ afterwards.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Perfect. I like the idea of using a close friend to officiate (I bet there were more laughs that way). And BBQ always draws a crowd.

I wish I had watched this video eleven years ago. My retirement ceremony took place in the 101st. I was a Warrant Officer and was included in the Division ceremony for those who didn’t have a command. It was awesome. My wife and I stood on stage in front of my unit, and a Colonel and CSM shook our hands while the division commander and his staff watched. It was the appropriate pomp and circumstance. I had a fantastic last-flight ceremony. I wish I had a reception with close friends and family. Not much to complain about but the reception would have been excellent.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Sounds like a pretty good ending to your Active Duty career.

Didn't make sense to me to attend a ceremony. I was in Germany when I decided to retire. I took a 45 day terminal leave. I did my final out processing at Ft. Carson, Co. at the beginning of my leave. They asked me if I wanted to attend the retirement ceremony which was at the end of the month. I wasn't staying in Colorado so I would have had to come back to attend it. I politely declined, got my final pay, and necessary paperwork and was gone. It's not like the people I loved and worked with for the last 20 years would be able to attend anyhow. I don't regret not having attended.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

I've seen a number of people who made this point. If your loved ones can't come, there's no point in a retirement ceremony. Or at least, there's no point in a ceremony until you get back to them. Then maybe its just a party back home.

Thank you for sharing this valuable information.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Happy to share. Some people are telling stories about variations on the "normal" retirement ceremony and there seem to be lots of ways to do it right.

I agree. Do the ceremony and no matter what focus on the good rather than the bad. Go into a space of your own focusing on the good. This nation will never know all the work you put into either training the next generation or deploying in defense of our beautiful country but extremely important you treat your family and yourself to the highest dignity your owed. Do the ceremony.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

You are 100% right about "the nation will never know".

I just left. Never looked back.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

We still love you.

I'm single, childfree, and will have lived OCONUS for 6+ years consecutively thru retirement. I flew to CONUS for my promotion to CDR with family and friends. I'm currently planning a colleague's retirement. I did 2 ceremonies within 3 months over 10 years ago. I'm going to have a themed dance party with family and friends to celebrate my retirement and 6th decade (I'll be 61 if I extend for March COLA trap). Retirement planning is stressful. Some days work feels like indentured servitude. I'll spend my money my way when I'm piped ashore.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Sounds like fun.

No wife, no kids, and mom passed away years ago. I'm going to head out the way I came in, silently and without a fuss.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

Awesome. Allow me to recommend a technique mentioned by someone in this thread...stand retreat on your last day. Just drive out to the flag pole at about 4:45 on your last day. Salute the flag as they put it to bed for the night. Get in your car and complete your last day.

I already had my flag, and was forced to attend, ended up with 2 flags which I flew off the USS Orleck and the USS Laffy.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

"Forced"?

@lelandgaunt9985

Ай бұрын

Yeah, shiddy detachment chief forced to go to the ceremony

@kurtrussell5228

Ай бұрын

From what i saw most guys were "forced" to write their own award also.......but at least they got one, i didn't even get a hand shake.

I just went to Waller Hall signed all my final paperwork got my DD-214 and then i went home and havent been back on Lewis ever since. After a full career as an Infantry NCO and standing in thousands of formations I didnt feel the need to subject Joes to another Bullshit formation just for my benefit.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

See? That is a great point of view. I mean, you turned your "retirement ceremony" into a gift for Soldiers. No wonder you are proud of your decision.

I got screwed when l left the military

@the_bureaucrat

18 күн бұрын

Really? How?

I was disgruntled and refused to have a fake ceremony where we both lied for an hour.

@the_bureaucrat

Күн бұрын

That's fair. I mean, even under the best circumstances, there is always this unhappy undertone. And if the retirement ceremony makes it worse, it is best to skip it. My personal favorite are the folks who go to Retreat and salute the flag as it comes down on their last day in the military. Something dramatic there.

No. You are not special. Your retirement means nothing to anyone else and you're just wasting their time. Bow out gracefully and humbly. Take the time to thank your subordinates amd superiors on your own.

@the_bureaucrat

Ай бұрын

You are not a unique snowflake. Focus on the dignity and thankfulness.