5 Visible Changes Following Military Retirement

Retirement from the military is not quite the same as retirement from a civilian employer. It is the end of one world and the beginning of a new one. Active duty personnel who retire will soon be faced with many life changes. Where will they live? What will they do for a living? But this article will take a close look at some visible changes that will take place once they have retired.

5 Visible changes following military retirement#1 Hair length

Civilians may take their hair length for granted and be lax about having regular haircuts for work. However, active duty personnel, particularly men, must have their hair neatly trimmed on a regular basis. In the Air Force, men's hair must not be allowed to grow long, sideburns must be short and trimmed and hair should not be so long that it cover their ears. Newly retired military members can find it hard to make the adjustment after twenty years or more of strict regulations that governed how they could style and cut their hair. Faddish hairstyles that were frowned upon for the military can be worn, if they so choose.

5 Visible changes following military retirement #2 Shaving

The military expects men to shave on a daily basis. They must be clean shaven for work and present a professional image in front of their peers, superiors and troops. Mustaches are allowed, but they must strictly abide by military guidelines and be trimmed. They normally cannot extend past the corners of the mouth and they certainly cannot reach the cheeks. But once a person retires from the military, they can allow a three day beard to grow, if they so wish. Of course, once they start a new job, they will need to pay attention to shaving once more.

5 Visible changes following military retirement #3 No more ironing of the uniform!

Military uniforms must be ironed or dry cleaned each week. Creases must be in all the right places and starch is often used for a crisp finish. Retirement means that people can hang up their uniform and no longer have to worry about ironing it anymore. That can be a huge weight off of the shoulders of retirees or their spouses who slaved over a hot iron each week.

5 Visible changes following military retirement #4 No further need to defer to rank

Active duty personnel are all aware of their position in the military chain of command. That means enlisted personnel can call someone of equal rank to them by their first name, but they must refer to an officer by their rank or "sir" and "ma'am". Officers also subscribe to the same rule, but they can also call someone of a lower rank by their first name. Superior officers again merit the respect due to their rank, in the same way as enlisted personnel do so, which is why junior officers will avoid familiarity in addressing another officer who is of a higher rank to them by their first name. Retirees are no longer in the chain of command and can therefore return to the civilian world confident in the fact that they can start calling people by their name again. Many people find it hard to do at first.

5 Visible changes following military retirement #5 Less pay

Active duty personnel are guaranteed a regular income for the duration of their career. But once they retire, they will face a pay cut by up to half, in some cases. Military retirees will receive a pension for the rest of their lives and their spouse's too, if they opted for this, but their monthly income will decrease. That is unless they start a new job straightaway.

Retirement brings an end to a familiar way of life. But it also brings with it many freedoms that active duty personnel may never have experienced before.