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The quiet after retirement can be louder than jets. We unpack what really happens when the phone stops ringing, the uniform goes back in the closet, and the identity you built for decades begins to loosen. This is part four of our military-to-civilian series, where one of us is freshly retired and the other is closing in, so you get both sides of the line: how it feels, what to fix, and what to avoid.

We start with the first two weeks—why the silence stings, how to process the loss, and why taking a tactical pause beats rushing into the next grind. Then we pull apart the money piece: switching from two deposits to one retirement check, building a budget that actually works, leave sell-back as a smart buffer, VA disability expectations, and the reality of TRICARE fees and copays. We get practical about timing medical care and documenting conditions so service-connection isn’t a scramble later.

Career-wise, we challenge the default path. Your AFSC is not your ceiling. We map military leadership to roles in HR, operations, project management, training, and compliance, and weigh degrees against certifications that move the needle. We walk through LinkedIn cleanup—civilian titles, metrics that matter, no acronyms—and résumés tailored to the job, not the unit. Networking isn’t just who you know; it’s who knows you, and we share simple ways to build that signal without sounding like a brochure. We also set “red lines” for post-service work—no weekends, limited travel, sane hours—so your second career doesn’t steal the life you just earned.

Finally, we hit the admin that saves headaches: pulling education and travel records, converting logins before you lose your CAC, and lining up referrals and appointments while still in status. If you need momentum, use volunteering or nonprofit work to build credibility and connections in your next lane. Keep three mentors close, protect your mental health, and remember: your first civilian job isn’t your last one.

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