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The moment you decide to retire isn’t just a click—it’s a reckoning. We open up about the weight behind “pushing the button,” the quiet guilt of choosing family over another tour, and the real work of shifting your identity from rank and ribbons to purpose and people. You’ll hear why staying past 20 isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all decision, how higher tenure and slating collide with a spouse’s career, and what happens when you stop planning next year’s calendar and start planning your life.

We get into the unglamorous but critical choices: who to tell and when, how to avoid the “checked out” label, and why some members keep retirement plans close until the timeline locks. We compare retiring CONUS vs OCONUS with clear tradeoffs—ceremony access for family, state benefits, and job hunting where you’ll actually live. Then we dismantle the six‑figure fairy tale and the risky habit of budgeting around a VA rating. The better path: honest skill translation, smart networking, and a resume that shows outcomes, not acronyms.

We also wrestle with ceremonies—why they matter for families even when the planning is stressful—and the big post‑uniform question: do you lead again or reclaim your time in a non‑supervisory role? You’ll hear strong arguments for both, along with candid stories from recent retirees who chose faith over fear and found alignment on the home front. If you’re standing at the edge of the button, this conversation gives you clarity, language for tough talks, and a plan to honor your service while building a life you want.

If this helped you think differently about transition, follow the show, share it with a teammate who needs it, and drop a review with your biggest question—we’ll tackle it next.