We designed this forum to be a repository of all things related to retirement. A place for those who are getting ready to make the transition to ask questions, and a place for those who have already made the transition to post their lessons learned.

So, if you have any questions about retirement and your benefits, ask away. Alone, we may not know the answer, but as a group we should...or at least we'll find it out.

Likewise, if you are retired and have any lessons you learned along the way, help out your shipmates and share your stories. Remember to include links or other references to help find the information.

And just because you are retired doesn't mean you have all the answers either. We continue to learn from the experience of others and, even in the mistakes others make. So, if you've had a good or even a bad experience, tell us all about it so that we too can learn from it.

I made it a point to look for jobs near military installations. I enjoy having the exchange and commissary benefit avaiable to me....and yes, the Army and Air Force seem to have nicer ones.

I recently retired on April 01 07. I have a few lessons learned. I foolishly took the CSB/Redux payment. When you do this apparently all of your retired pay has to be computed by hand at DFAS. If PSD doesn't get your orders and other paperwork over to DFAS(Retired Section) before you retire and they wait until after you retire, then your pay will be a few months late. So you should follow up with them(PSD) and make sure this is done and also call the retired section of DFAS to check and see if they can see you in their system. Another lesson learned. It's easier to go on job interviews while on Terminal leave because you know that your whole life doesn't depend on getting that job. And it's good practice.
Otherwise I'm enjoying my Retirement and was recently offered a very high paying job with a company I'm familiar with. Good Luck to all.

SK1(retired)

All
Reading this thread has brought some old issues to life.
1. Using the retirement leave ( terminal leave?) period worked well for me. I used some 60 days to land a job. I am not familiar with the rules now, but most companies understand what is going on during this period and will hold jobs, pass resumes, contact you and help with the process. Also, there are Internship positions useful during this period to see if the proposed company really is your cup of tea.
2. DFAS has an excellent on line system. Now I will probably use it for death benefits...
Retirement associations,,, It is a good idea to keep up with old shipmates, as they serve as good contacts in the job search. Also, as you enter the work force, these associates may be your counterparts in competing or associated vendor companies.
Benefit...Landing close to a Military commissary, NEX, etc has paid off highly in saved monies. The difference in sales tax alone is significant.
end

I also used the terminal leave routine. I mixed it in with job hunting TAD and househunting TAD to extend the period by two weeks. Talk with your local personnel types, I am sure they'll help you out.

Be careful choosing your retirement "home". BRAC is still out there, and a big ugly monster he can be. Getting your chosen base closed will not help you out with medical and commissary benefits.

And use those benefits. Medical costs a fortune (note - I didn't say a "small fortune"...I said a fortune). Sales tax here where I live runs 7%...

One of the things no one warns prospective retirees about is th Survivor Benefit Plan pluses.

At first glance you can do better by getting better private insurance for the amount being witheld. But, they should be advised to get the minimum, at least, because if their spouse has no other medical insurance and the serviceman dies, she has nothing. A minimum withholding will at least preserve her medical benefits.

I didn't realize that until it was too late to sign up. Fortunately, my wife had Blue Cross through civil service.

For me it's a moot point, since she passed away last March after 51-1/2 years of marriage, and 35-1/2 years after I retired.

Nevertheless, I think potential retiree should be advised of this. They should also avoid accepting the "favor" of skipping the final physical. I neglected to take the final physical and consequently can't get service connection for my damaged hearing and bum knee I acquired in Vietnam.

Nothing's in my record because I wasn't going to admit to a bunch of 20-year olds that a 36-year-old senior chief was hurt.

The outgoing physical would have revealed that.

So, that's the advice from the Master Chief.uforic@yahoo.com

All the info is great!!

I would like to know in particular the steps to apply to Fleet Reserve and how long before my 20th year should I apply?

Tks

USC, Google "MILPERSMAN 1830-040" or consult your nearest personnel office.

Can someone please inform me (and it may sound stupid)if I could accept a job at the VA Clinic while still on my terminal leave or must I wait????

Yes, you can work for the VA while on term leave. The only exception that I know of is if you were a O-4 or higher, or if you did procurement work for the Navy and will do procurement for the VA. Also, I think the O-4 and higher actually is for certain jobs within the defense community (contractors, etc), and wouldn't apply to civil service.

Join MOAA. Great organization, to a great job fighting for retiree issues. Good employment site.

If you need to replace SGLI go to Navy Mutual Aid Association, another great, non-profit organization.