Transition from the Active Duty Air Force to Civilian Life: A Guideline

The end of your Air Force enlistment or commission is coming up and you've already made the decision to separate. Whether you want to go to school, go to a civilian job or simply go back home, there is a wealth of information and resources at your hands that can make your transition from Air Force to civilian life easy. I made the transition a number of months ago after 10 years of service, so I can tell you from experience what you should have taken care of before you hang up the stripes or the bars. If you are about a year out from the end of your enlistment or commission, this article is for you.

Get EVERYTHING checked out at the hospital. Remember that stubbed toe from two years ago that still hasn't healed? Have the Air Force take a look at it. Have them look at everything. You want to do this well before your official final check up. This is because the Veterans Administration partly bases their medical claims on if you have been examined by a doctor for whatever you are claiming. If it wasn't treated, it may not get you benefits down the road.

If you have a family, get them checked out, too. Heard about those rising health care costs on the outside? They aren't a rumor. Get updated on shots, school physicals and all the other routine exams. The Air Force will provide continuing coverage for at least 6 months should something be discovered during an exam.

Scan and copy all your training and qualification documents. You would be surprised how the Air Force training you've received can count in the "real world". Did you attend Airman Leadership School? You have management training if you did! Those technical schools? That's training, too! Nothing looks better on a resume than some high-quality training that was provided at the Air Force's expense. Copy those documents and save them to a thumb drive while still keeping the originals. If your training is anything like mine was, you have certificates for about 20 different areas besides your AFSC. If you have a Secret clearance or better and think you will go into a job that requires one, get a print-out of your clearance from your Security Manager. That shows a future employer that you can save him money needed to conduct an expensive background check! And of course, your DD214 is your life saver. When you get out, get a copy and store it somewhere safe. A DD214 can get you ahead of the work force in so many ways by showing proof that you are a veteran.

CLEP And Learn. If you haven't already done so, sign up to CLEP classes at the Air Force education center on your base. You can get college credits for courses by paying little or no fees. My education rep told me that it was highly possible to get a degree in a week! It's all a matter of scheduling and those training documents I wrote about earlier. Hopefully you signed up for the G.I. Bill. If you did, you can use Tuition Assistance to finish paying for the classes you couldn't CLEP.

Sign up for those nifty computer classes, too. Take leave if you have to; just get those classes done. Excel, Word, Database...those are all useful tools for any job or school you go to. You wouldn't believe the amount of money those classes cost on the outside. But the Air Force will provide them on the inside. If you are looking to get hired your boss may see you as ready-to-go instead of ready-to-train with these classes in tow.

Hit the gym. You pay no fees for most Air Force gyms so make the most out of access while you have it. If your future job requires some sort of fitness test, take up some of those free classes and 24 hour access to equipment on some bases. Heck, your squadron might have a mini-gym! Transition that Air Force fit to fight body into the civilian world.

Get connected. Start taking down professional and personal e-mails from everyone you want to stay in touch with. The Air Force also has the e-mail 4 life program that adds a "@us.af.mil" to everyone who stays with the Air Force as a reservist, active duty member, or civilian. However, if your friends or connections get out then you'll need that personal e-mail address as well. You never know who's moving to your hometown! And by staying in touch with supervisors, Chiefs and commanders, you have good, high-ranking people that can vouch for you on a resume or school application.

Don't burn any bridges. I save this for last because it is the most important. Life can take you crazy places beyond where the Air Force can take you. If you didn't have such a good time in the Air Force it's still in your best interest to keep a positive attitude, especially with people who didn't do you wrong. You may need that person as a reference or as a source of information after you get out. Who knows? You may end up coming back in all together!

I didn't land in my ideal job situation at my last location. I was given a "utility" position that had nothing to do with my AFSC and required many, many classes and certifications. But I learned a ton of new skills and gained an opportunity to attend grad school. When I decided to get out of the Air Force to pursue school full time I needed to find a job. I found an opening with another agency on base that needed a civilian to do work much like one of the jobs I was performing. After I was hired, my supervisor said that many people were thrown into the same position I was in as an active duty person and grumbled. But he saw my positive attitude and thought I would be a good hire. Now I am gainfully employed and going to grad school. The bottom line is that the Air Force transition to civilian life is what you make of it.