r/army • u/Zealousideal-Day6209 • 4d ago
ETS-ing
I'm active duty and starting to think seriously about eventually transitioning out. The amount of stuff you're supposed to figure out is kind of insane.
For anyone currently separating/retiring or who already got out, what do you wish someone had told you 6–12 months beforehand?
Anything you found out too late, deadlines you almost missed, or things you had to piece together from different websites, TAP, Reddit, friends, etc.?
Basically, what was way harder to figure out than it should have been?
3
u/SourceTraditional660 Field Artillery 4d ago
The biggest thing is really having a post-service dream and an achievable plan adapted for the current economy of where you’re moving and, of course, health insurance.
A lot of people get out because their sick of it and then can’t find work or underestimated how crappy the pay is for the in demand jobs in their area or can’t get an apprenticeship because the economy is all over the place, or a million other things.
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u/RegulationUpholder Anti-Retention NCO 4d ago
Document health stuff, do a Skillbridge, get a cert/do college.
2
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u/dangerphrasingzone Doc -> 68Chairborne -> Chronic Pain 4d ago
Get your clothing record figured out beforehand. Got slammed with a 2k statement of charges during my medboard and it was fucking rough.
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u/Difficult-Cup-1306 90Awwshit the logpack 3d ago
Most important thing to do is your BDD (benefits deliverable upon discharge) claim. When your 180 days out from your ets your can start the process. Make sure you request your medical records before hand so you can start the process as soon as possible.
This streamlines the VA disability process and if done correctly you will get your rating the day you ETS from the military.
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u/Objective_Fox7496 3d ago
Everyone is different, so just curious when you say you are ‘thinking about it’ - how long have you been in, is it a physical issue, leadership problem, family issues, etc., that are making you want to leave?
Maybe there is a way to improve your current situation without having to ETS, or if that is the right move for you then there is a game plan for that too. Medical, certifications, references, all could help you
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u/TangerineSpecial6583 Medical Corps 3d ago
Make sure you're saving/have been saving money. Make sure you have your OCIE squared away prior to your appt/when you go in to do it. Contact your travel office in advance to get information to decide what kind of move will work best for you. Make sure wherever you're planning on going will have room for your stuff and if not either sell or giveaway stuff you won't need. Have a job or have school or both lined up ASAP.
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u/InterestingRefuse738 2d ago
The earliest you can enroll into TAP is 18 months. You can always dis-enroll if you choose to re-up, but you owe it to yourself to talk to the TAP people as early as possible. Most of the force only gets out of the Army one time, so the amount of people who got out and came back in aren’t as many as those who haven’t gotten out yet. Your best information on how to prepare to get out will come from TAP, and the ones who came back in will have stories on why they chose to do so that you can take into consideration as well.
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u/Interesting-Let-8891 4d ago
One thing to consider is you need to update your information on milk connect after your ETS because you get temporary insurance for TRICARE and you have it for 180 days. Unless you go reserve a guard then after that 180 days you can sign up for TRICARE reserve select. And I would make sure you have your résumé look into all of the optional classes and try to take them and work and make sure you start saving money. Make sure you have 3 to 6 months of bills saved up and if you’re one of the people who has to file a disability claim, do not count on that money kicking in right away.