1

yes I would start so much sooner on my VA benefits, I wouldn't let my supervisor take advantage of me and make me work long hours, and I wouldn't deploy my last 12 months in the military.

2

I would go to school and get my bachelor's degree first.

3

Save up more money. Make sure I had the correct information for a statement of service and get more certs.

4

Yes. I would have pursued a bachelors and advanced degree while still on active duty and would not have accepted a federal government position.

5

Complete a few civilian certifications relevant to my career field, so my resume would look more appealing.

6

Worry less. Take TAP sooner.

7

Skip Graduate school, transition as soon as possible, *then* work on the Graduate degree.

8

Maybe attend a third TAP class?

9

I'd start my resume sooner and make personal contact with specific companies to put a face, or at a least a voice, with a name. Just applying online and sending digital resumes does nothing to set you apart from the thousands of other job applicants.

10

I would pay more attention to the civilians' cultures.

11

Contact the Wounded Warrior program ASAP!

12

Enter school immediately and seek out opportunities for training

13

Start immediately in school and get certfied/licensed.Apply for unemployment and service-connected disability.

14

Look at jobs not directly related to my intelligence career field and get education, certifications and experience in those areas. I'd probably also network more.

15

Patience...didn't need the first job that was offered. It paid very well but my need was to feel value/happiness at my follow on job, more than pay. My 2nd post military job was a substantial pay cut but I look forward to it more

16

Get a career coach a year before terminal leave starts.

17

Network, practice, work with multiple agencies and recruiters, and connect with LinkedIn

18

I would have worked harder at making a job for myself at my retirement organization like many of my contemporaries have done, by either finding a way to civilianize my position in a money saving Mil to Civ conversion, for the organizations "sustainable continuity" sake.

Or by cozying up to our huge stable of civilian contractor's and having them create a job for me through one of their 8A sub-contractors who works for us. However I decided to concentrate on doing my job and my work well as that is what the military was paying me to do at the time.

At least this way I am able to live with myself daily in retirement.

19

Start earlier, systematically establish & utilize network group, and potentailly add a new skill set.

20

Probably re-work the resume

21

Keep transitioning even while employed as a defense contractor. I behaved like I was still on the military team. I needed to start thinking like a civilian and build those skills. It really is like starting over.

22

1) Fully understand how VA Benefits work, and seek out someone who could help me navigate that system. 2) Have a plan in place--for Education (including Benefit usage), and who to talk to for Employment. At the time, I didn't even know what types of careers were available to me. 3) Seek early Mental Health assistance to overcome the feeling that I was used up and thrown away--just sent out into society until I passed away (I was very ill at the time). 4) Use the plan to manage my life savings so I didn't waste it all attempting to open a small business in 2007-2008.

23

Tailor my individual resumes to specific job positions, skills required, experiences etc.

24

Ensure correct civil service/military grade classification

25

Nothing...as I had a job awaiting me. However, because today's job market is so much harder than when I retired...I'd say prepare earlier. If you may be forced to retire due to an impending assignment, have some money saved to support your job search...and enough money to live on for 3-4 months.

26

Take TAP, be mentally ready.

27

I never would have separated.

28

Identify what I want....exactly; start networking and getting certifications in that field. Get Masters degree too...

29

Save and invest money

30

Negotiated for a higher salary, and asked to have my hire date adjusted to the interim start date.

31

Get a higher education and graduate degree - screw my fellow enlisted/officers. Sorry, but it's the truth of how I felt because I didn't get to attend school I always had to pick up the slack from those that attended and didn't get any compensation. Even worse the classes I was able to attend, I'd say over 50%, were forced disenrollment due to someone else had a class conflict with mine or short/long term deployments.

32

1) I would seek professional advise from a qualified counselor, 2) Seek out any certifications, licensing or registrations needed and take all course work while under veteran benefits, 3) Make sure college or university has coursework or program to support such certifications, licensing or registrations, 4) Check for recruitments in given fields at college or university, 5) ask for companies that actively recruit from school, 6) Check accreditations needed for school (now available from US Department of Education), 7) Check completion rate (a must for Dept of Ed) of better than 80%

33

Save and invest money

34

Spend more emphasis on interviewing

35

Network, network, network.

Perfect your resume.

Pay down as much debt as possible before leaving!

36

Probably more help and advice available now to take advantage of. Sign up for everything.

37

Apply for jobs at a much earlier timeframe. This may help reduce the stress of having to accept a job that you may not care for.

38

Honestly, would have stayed in longer if current Commander didn't think he was so much better than the enlisted force.

39

All of it

40

Network better and start right away with a career worth something!

41

Use what ever resource you have in your transition.

42

Stay in military

43

I would have stayed in and got more computer training.

44

Stay in.

45

I would have someone with influence get me into the trade or state workers union.

46

Either re-enlist and make a career and take that 1 year in Korea right after I had my son.

If not then go immediately into the Federal Workforce.

47

Have a better resume

48

It is a matter of setting expectations. I wanted to return to my home of record and go to school. From there, I took a low level state job to have insurance to provide for the birth of my child. While still attending classes, I networked with a classmate and found out about traveling recruiter for the Air Force Civilian Intern Program. I was hired by them and started my job in less than one month.

49

Would have gotten vocational rather than academic training

50

Start the process at least 18 months prior to seperation or retirement 24 months is better though.

51

Beef up my interview skills and research companies of interest so I could speak of them during the interview.

52

Complete both my Bachelors & Masters degree programs

53

Attended more college classes while on active duty, and changed my degree program to something more sought after by the civilian sector.

54

Would have stayed in the military and retired.

55

I would have started preparing myself a lot sooner.

56

Take care of my disabilities first, get my health ignored so I felt like working

57

I would not separate, I would re-enlist and spend my 20.

58

Push for federal government jobs a little more.

59

Never retire while overseas. Pcs back stateside first.

60

Receive a better education before getting out.

61

Network a lot more.

62

keep all things open.

63

Again plan coordinate set goals and

64

create federal resume, job search earlier

65

Network or learn to network earlier and more efficient.

66

Stay active duty

67

More time to transition.

68

Get more certifications and document full medical problems.

69

I would have taken the U.S. Postal Service employment exam and gotten onto the hiring roster BEFORE I left the military.

70

Gotten better medical treatment and documentation of my medical issues before I left active duty.

71

Take some time off rather than retire on Friday and start my new life on Monday.

72

Go to college and get a degree in business

73

Talk to transition councillor

74

I certainly would not declare Architecture as my major in college! Still, it was part of my own process to learn who I was and what career I was best suited for.

75

Have a little more money saved.

76

Planned at retirement age...

77

Get promoted

78

Look ahead sooner

79

Start looking and applying for jobs sooner.

80

Yes. I would have done more research.

81

Finish my degree. Take more classes involving my job.

82

Might have tried to retrain to another career before separating

83

I would know what resources were available to me.

84

Stay on active duty!

85

I would start preparing earlier and talk to potential civilian employers

86

Yes, I would have researched more and been patient instead of accepi g first job

87

Oh yes!
Save money
Get career counseling
Network
Practice interviewing, selling yourself, etc
Learn about and have several resumes, not just one. Understand how and when to use the resume
Lastly, I would have paid to get some quality and realistic career coaching or counseling

88

Attend TAP.

89

Go to college immediately.

90

I would have taken the assignment in Germany and began preparing for my eventual retirement in England. I would have had 4 years to prepare instead of 4 months.

91

I would have started much earlier my educational pursuits.

92

Talk to more people with a wider variety of industry roles.

93

Prepare a lot sooner and better

94

Take more time off before I started work.

95

I would've established a retirement date a year out and not started applying until 6 months out from my terminal leave start date

96

A lot of things would have been done differently.

97

Take a little more time with family prior to starting a new job.

98

Everything would be done differently.

99

Apply to jobs much earlier.

100

I would have finished my degree

101

Stick to one plan and work harder on job interviewing skills.

102

I wouldn't waste my time with applying to government jobs.

103

Taken more leave

104

I would have submitted my airline applications much earlier.

105

I would sign up with a temp agency to get some immediate work going.

106

Broaden my career search from Federal and Government/DoD contractor.

107

Multiple TAP classes, working with a civilian mentor, AJC staff, get better educated

108

I would have gone to Law School before taking that first civilian job.

109

Research the local economy.

110

I would not have returned to my hometown.
I would have returned to college and pursued a second Masters degree in a different field.
I would have used a headhunter in order to secure a position commensurate with my experience.

111

I would have fought harder to stay in the military during the RIF. I liked military work and life more than what I found in the civilian world.

112

Stay in the military until they kick you out.

113

I'd have gotten my professional certification and my network established before I got out.

114

Set up a LinkedIn profile early, network madly online with any U.S. person having key words "recruiter" or "talent acquisition" in their profile, use the word "Transitioning" in my profile duty title, and use key words from my targeted job position descriptions throughout my profile and resume.

115

Get the VA stuff/disability documentation done earlier

116

Be more specific on my resume. Have a better understanding of exactly what the employer is looking for.

117

Well if I could see into the future I wouldn't have lost my job, so yes, I would have done things differently.

118

I would delay my retirement!

119

Start earlier. Establish linkedin while in the military and build connections. Potentially rely on previously transitioned connections.

120

Fix the oit processing system before going through it. Because everyone that completes it leaves, it never gets fixed. Total mess from my experience

121

YES! I'd finish up my last few classes for my degree while in, save more money, and make more professional contacts.

122

Understand that my military rank meant nothing in the civilian world.

123

I would have started applying for federal government jobs the first day of terminal leave.

124

Not leave. But otherwise, I would have picked a different geographic location to move to, and purposely situated myself closer to more friends.

125

I would've asked more life-work balance questions. I probably would've declined this position if I'd known I'd still be on call 24/7.

126

I wish I knew

127

locate near a military base and get a job on base

128

I would have remained in service for an additional period of time. I would have engaged the VA at the time of retirement!

129

I would have reenlisted.

130

I would have attended a government sponsored program.

131

Been aware of the full transition process. Overall i did very well. Had taken two months off to relax....had a job lined up but also had other options

132

Been aware of the full transition process. Overall i did very well. Had taken two months off to relax....had a job lined up but also had other options

133

Treat your transition as a critical part of your job. Your boss expects you to do so. Schedule specific time for the necessary tasks and defend it. You're entitled to the time to do it right.

134

I would have started my job search well before separation (6 months to a year).

135

Yell at the people teaching the transition courses that they are doing it all wrong.

136

Have housing, income, employment secure prior to separating.

137

Remain in the service 3 months longer to acquire GI Bill I could pass on to my children. I missed it by 3 months.

138

Find a way to secure a job before leaving the military.

139

I would have separated at the end of my first enlistment when my TS was still active.

140

Be on LinkedIn sooner. Get my PMP sooner.

141

I would start earlier and focus more on a broad skill-set as opposed to matching potential careers solely with my AFSC.

142

Be more proactive building a network

143

Look at getting the civilian certification before I retired.

144

Get another Masters Degree. Get a PMP certification. Get additional certifications.

145

I'd be more aggressive at lining up the timelines to avoid a "waiting" period in-between jobs.

146

I wish the military afforded me more time to transition--after turning down the promotion & assignment, I had to retire in less than 90 days.

147

Develop my network

148

I would've gotten some medical evaluation done sooner. I would have applied for certain benefits sooner and took school a lot more seriously at that time to utilize more benefits to maximum potential.

149

I would register with temp agencies so I could have some part-time or temporary income to supplement my retirement income while I was job searching for a new career.

150

Ensure my pay paperwork was filed correctly this time and get the medical process started sooner.

151

start earlier

152

Be more open minded, know the civilian world is not as regimented, and only do one enlistment. It is much easier to transition after 6 years, than it is 9!

153

Rethink where I wanted to retire at.

154

I would have stayed in till retirement.

155

I would have searched for more entry-level positions rather than waste my time interviewing for middle management jobs.

156

Hopefully would have medical documentation in hand and fully documented with all issues!!!!!
Additional review of the organization which would employ me.

157

I would have planned 5-6 years out from retirement and I would'nt have separated.

158

Spend more time networking the last 2-3 years before I left the USAF. More time at AFA lunches, more time talking to friends who retired, etc.

159

Start earlier. Begin looking at company websites to better understand what jobs I might be interested in. Most veterans don't understand the breadth of jobs available and how their skills translate into those jobs.

160

Start earlier as noted in a previous question.

161

Start TAP process earlier

162

Certify in skills areas; network, network, network

163

I would have separated earlier.

164

Be more patient with waiting for a contracting job that would have utilized by high-level security clearance.

165

I would have stayed in the military to complete my career.

166

Know more about myself - what values and motivations I was trying to fulfill.

167

Research civilian certifications suitable for my aspirations and acquire one before I retired. A PMP would have been perfect, as would have been a CISSP.

168

I would have started preparing sooner. I would have researched positions more so I knew what kind of things to prepare for and try to include on my resume. I would have sought out advice and information relevant to my career field, rather than just general job seeking information.

169

I launched my own company almost immediately after I left the Air Force. I encourage many veterans to do the same. There's funding out there, there are opportunities and it may be easier to put hard work into their own company than convince companies of how they'll be a tremendous asset.

The civilian sector doesn't understand one major thing...military members are trained to and demanded to perform at the highest levels of stress under life-threatening circumstances. We complete tasks and achieve goals under duress. Those who fought in war are expertly able to complete civilian taskings.

170

I would have had more money in savings

171

Take some time off. Breathe. I pretty much worked up until my retirement date, retired on a Thursday and was in the new job the next week.

172

Start the networking earlier, have a plan at least a year out (although I made the decision to retire 7 months before I retired).

173

Get my Bachelors Degree. Save more money.

174

Find a professional recruiter faster. The Kansas job placement could not help me because I had a master degree and some of the potential employers were not looking for individual like me.

175

I would change my actions so I would not have to make that transition in the first place. But I would definitely save more money and reach out to recruiters/agencies much sooner.

176

Be stationed at a full military installation, remote one hurt you badly.

177

I wouldn't have gotten out of the military.

178

I would attain my licenses and credentials before separating.

179

Make sure I had a little more in savings to cushion the transition.

180

Get more contacts as to where other reservist worked in their civilian jobs. Get information about the status of my security clearance so I could show I had one. Make sure I got copies of ALL my DD-214s.

181

Request officers training.

182

Get started in school right away take basics first to get a foundation on what i wanted to do with my life

183

Beg to stay in the military.

184

I would have started several years earlier, taking night classes to earn my degree, instead of spending my free time mountain biking and doing other sports.

185

Network earlier; establish relationships with companies and peers; get my Masters; I wish I hadn't spent so much time on the job because they really didn't care in the end...it destroyed my family and ultimately crushed any chance of a fruitful career after the military.

186

Not extend an extra year on my enlistment and get out a year sooner

187

Paid off consumer debt before retiring and saved more money while in and while working.

188

Maybe a Head Hunter to help

189

Not played the whole defense contractor route. I was seduced by the money and it took me a while to say no ... I want to do what I want to do.

190

Nothing except try to narrow down further what I wanted to do, just not sure if that's possible. I just knew I didn't want to keep doing what I did in the military.

191

Take time to think it through to a conclusion, not just the next objective.

192

I would have taken terminal leave. I did not take time for myself and it caused more stress than I expected.

193

Get more of my medical issues dealt with earlier. I ended up not having time to get one of my surgeries accomplished before I separated.

194

decide what I really wanted to do.
Develop different resumes for different jobs.

195

I would have gotten my Masters Degree while on Active Duty.

196

Start early. Also, Gov changed rules on prior military compensation if in Fed job. At the time, it made a Gov position unattractive. That has all changed.

197

Not do it

198

Choose a different degree to go to school for or not even go to school and try to join a new contract.

199

I would've obtained my degree before exiting the military so that more opportunities would've new present

200

I would use my transitional help much more.

201

I would strive harder to gain a position with a government agency or contractor and continue my service that way. It would allow me to continue working with G.I.s.

202

Not even begin to think about looking for work till after my VA Disability Claim was completed and I had received it.

203

Network like crazy! And prepare at least 18 months out to include getting the free certifications I was eligible for via education center (PHR/SPHR) or even starting PMP prior to retirement to have in hand.

204

Attended more job fairs.

205

Start the preparation sooner, if possible. Deployments and TDYs created challenges in my final year on active duty.

206

Complete a couple of certification such as PMP, Six Sigma instead of a masters...

207

Would have focused more in college.

208

More certs, more active networking.

209

I think in some ways I was naive and so I would change those things. But my actions and approaches were correct I think.

210

I would wait on a job moe in line with my skills and salary desires.

211

I wouldnt waste time getting voc rehab on the phone.

212

Would take advantage of all of the informational processes available today.

213

Finish my bachelors degree prior to separating.

214

not retire or get a Fed Govt job doing something similar that I was doing when in uniform

215

Network more, and earlier. Update a new resume yearly while on active duty. I didn't want to move, and that limited my offers.

216

Ask for assistance in finding work.

217

I was offered 3 GS 12/13 jobs the same week. I should have taken the job that I was most interested in and not the job I was most comfortable.

218

Delay my retirement until the economy improved.

219

I would have completed the VA Medical benefits claims prior to my retirement.

220

Slow down, be more patient. Give myself 6 months to find the right position in the right company.

221

Hold out for a much better position.

222

Better resume writing.

223

I would find someone to talk with who knew about how to start an entrepreneurial business. A business idea that only existed in my head but was consultative in nature.

224

Force the Reserve to do it correctly

225

Financially prepare for a long period of unemployment or seriously consider extending to obtain transferable skills.

226

Stayed in and finish out the last 9 nine years I needed to retirement.

227

start TWO yrs before I got out

228

I would seek more support from other veterans and would have found out about a transition program to help me adapt to the huge change. The USAF was not helpful in helping me when I got out and it was a very bad experience.

229

No, the transition to student was easy and I love my new career.

230

Wait for a better job.

231

Skipped TAP and gone straight over to the state labor office. This has been working out so much better with regards to preparing me for the transition.

232

Make sure my clearance was up to date. Get a certification. Stay in the area where the most jobs are.

233

Copy all paperwork

234

I would get a different degree, maybe a MBA or a second degree in technology. The AU-ABC degree program was near worthless.

235

Begin my career with the knowledge that ALL military members have and exit date, which means start planning for that date the same day you start charting your military career.

236

I wouldn't have left the Air Force

237

Take it more lightly.

238

Build network earlier.

239

I would have spent a little more time pricing myself. I probably left a little money on the table.

240

I would investigate locations more extensively.

241

I would take a interest survey ahead of time and see what I really wanted to do rather than following the expected path.

242

I would have written down my plans versus just thinking them through as well as would have created a website and better populated my LinkedIn site so that those companies and people I approached to seek work would have known exactly what I was capable of doing as a private consultant.

243

I would have started looking for employment much earlier, maybe as much as 2 years. I would have exploited friends and other contacts for advice and potential job leads.

244

start earlier with my medical documentation and organizing it all.

245

I would start far earlier

246

I would have better researched salaries. I would have taken time for myself to ensure physicals, etc., were done.

247

I would not have worked for a small town government. The politics were petty and unbelievable. The town management was terrible --- worst I've ever seen.

248

I would have taken some time much earlier to nail down some lingering medical issues. It would have made the whole VA process much easier.

249

Choose more wisely tho GS that dos not exacerbate my medical conditions

250

Job search earlier and move to a job instead of moving first and searching later

251

Start even earlier, like three years out.

252

yes I would relook at the skills I have and see what was available within the government sector.

253

I would have stayed in until I couldn't any longer.

254

Get certifications such as PMP. Perhaps even more than one certification.

255

Get my house on the market sooner

256

Not listen to Vocrehab

257

Research my VA benefits.

258

I'd potentially stay in.

259

would consider other government contractors with larger numbers and kinds of contracts locally, not one major local contract (higher risk).

260

Probably take a bit more down time

261

It went as well as possible. I enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer prior to hiring on. It worked for me twice this position and when my husband retired in 2012 and we moved to a new city.

262

Make the program realistic.

263

Networking was the hot topic during TAP. Very challenging trying to develop a network when stationed overseas and returning to a new stateside location with no contacts or connections in the area. Not sure of the mechanics I would have used, but developing some type of network would have been beneficial.

264

I would submit more resumes to more employers at higher positions than what I initially envisioned I was suited for.

265

Straight to college and set everything up BEFORE I got out

266

yes, Stay in longer

267

I took a year off to spend more time with my family. I should have used some of that time to stay involved with the job search.

268

stay in for 30

269

Enroll in school earlier. Not necessarily taking classes but to have something to plan on and look forward to.

270

I would have asked for a higher salary from the first company I worked for.

271

I would have utilized the full services of the local job center much, much sooner.

272

Go to job fairs and any program to help transition. And seek help for the retirement depression

273

I would take TAP class twice and start working my transition about a year earlier.

274

Retire earlier. I loved my job in the military, but it's a horribly run bureaucratic mess. I'd never work for the government again. Successful companies by definition are run effectively and efficiently.

275

Start looking several months in advance of getting out; use programs such as LinkedIn to find opportunities further afield.

276

Complete my degree programs with at least a Bachelor degree in each field of study.

277

The retirement process was a mess. I expected a well established process figuring there were many before me. I was wrong and should have given more time to the various offices to cushion the time lost for errors and confusion. Seems like I was the first to ever retire as I went through the process

278

I would have an easier time of it, knowing I would eventually make a civilian career from the job training and experience I had in the military.

279

I would have been a lot less rigid in my mentality, and frankly acting more like a civilian rather than "a military guy."

280

Start earlier.

281

I would have put more money into TSP. I would have planned differently to do some traveling before I was again "encumbered" with responsibilities and work schedules.

282

Network

283

Start actively working the transition while on active duty. I did not do this as I felt up until the day I left the service, I owed my time and effort 100% to my military job.

284

Again, previously stated. Look for help with resume, go to networking events, and search for a recruiter to help me find positions.

285

After retirement, I would have used the GI Bill and got my certifications while spending a year or so with my family, searching for a job.

286

Been more patient with job search

287

I would have more confidence in myself instead of beating myself up when no one called during the holidays.

288

Open the location I was willing to relocate to for a position.

289

I would have started the transition and job search a lot sooner.

290

Prepare for the unexpected expenses that you are not warned about.

291

Retire in a better job market, and be more prepared with relevant skills for the market.

292

I'd probably get involved more in my new organization and spend less time being frustrated at their way of doing business.

293

Pursue a dream...instead of a job

294

I would have started school earlier on in my military career.

295

Try to do as much of the transition process in the place where you will commute to a job from, if you know it unless you are open to relocating 100% for a job. Local networking is tough and expensive when you're a thousand miles away.

296

I would look at more job openings outside of my job experience.

297

Start looking for a job sooner, joined the reserves sooner, joined the guard, or go back to school sooner.

298

Find out everything I could before I transitioned.

299

I would have made the AF my career.

300

I would pay more attention in TAP, didn't have time to take again like I thought I would

301

Network more

302

Apply for jobs before separation

303

Take more time off.

304

Think hard about working in a family owned business. Probably would not have changed anything, but the only thing I could do.

305

make sure I had a house. Make sure I could financially keep the money I saved. I still would study.

306

I would have reenlisted.