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Leaving the Military and Adjusting to Your New Civilian Life

by ShellySteen

Your life as a civilian will be much different from when you were in the military. Programs offered by the VA will make getting through the transition much easier. You may even decided on your new career or to pursue an eduction after attending of of the 3-day Transitional Assistance Programs (TAPS) hosted by the VA.

Taking the time now to plan your exit from military life is smart. While you are on active duty, you have time to use your education and training benefits, and to start thinking about life as a civilian. It also gives you time to start saving your money. It's nice to have a bank account full of money to get started away from the military and to let you get the most of your GI Bill benefits and veterans programs.

You might discover that daily life as a civilian can be challenging when you first leave the military. After all, while on duty, the military gave you a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, a steady job and sometimes even your friends. But you don't find yourself with many freedoms or choices. When you leave the military, it's all reversed with you discovering a lot of freedom and choices to make, but very little support.

You might not have much experience living on your own "in the real world" if you joined the service at a young age as most military members do. A good way to shift back into life as a civilian is to go to school. In either a university setting or in a training program, you will be around others and make new friends, which can help you adjust to being out of the military more easily.

Small things may feel like a big challenge. Picking your own clothes, not saluting people, or waking up and not knowing how to spend your day can feel very foreign to you as a civilian. Don't give up! Adjusting will take time, but it will happen. If you start to feel the changes are too much to handle, don't hesitate to ask for help from your local VA center. The reason the VA exists is to be a resource and community for former service members like yourself.

About the Author: Frank Cole

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Leaving the Military and Adjusting to Your New Civilian Life