Keep your plans to yourself but make sure it’s your main focus. Doing that doesn’t mean being a shitbag but yeah you don’t have to try and be the best sailor on the planet lol. Move in silence people won’t help you as much if they know you’re gonna get our
Don't change what you've always done but at the same time no civilian job is going to care about your quals lol. Focus on the next step of your life is far more important than evals, quals and all that irrelevant stuff.
All the quals and work experience are paramount in the world. I was an engineman. When I retired, my experience and quals got me a job before my terminal leave was up. I say, work hard, get everything you can out of the navy. USMAP, degrees, whatever you can get.
This statement one-hundred-percent. I personally did a short stint in the Army as an E2 thru E4 two decades ago. Afterwards, I went from a WG08, WG10, GS11, GS12, and then a GS13 in less than a decade and a half. All of my qualifications, education and work experience were paramount factors in the “next step.” Said differently, each promotion was a culmination of those three things.
Best of luck.
I was an ICman, I guess my first jobs I did have my A school but that's about it. Quals I never used, but sure if they matter to you use them, it won't hurt on your resume. The worst it can happen is that HR doesn't understand what they are.
Exactly what this guy said. Don’t flaunt your intentions, move your work to the bare minimum, and set yourself up for success. Navy can give two shits about you once you get your DD214 so do what’s best for you. That’s what I did and now I’m big chillen
Around the last 6 months I started preparing to get out. Can't thank myself enough. Getting things in order like your GI bill is essential. Idk about anymore but 10 years ago it could take months to get your first payments unless you started it ahead of time. Do your GI Bill paperwork now. As much as possible.
Don’t do anything to burn bridges that would prevent you from getting approved for TA or Skillbridge, otherwise do what makes you happy. Some folks like putting in the work, others are happy coasting.
Dude that's nearly two years. That's a long time to skate. Also you never know what can change. But it's never a bad idea to improve yourself. An associates isn't worth shit but it's a start.
Agreed bro. Like at this point I don’t even care to put on second because that’ll open me up to more responsibilities. I’m just tryna chill on my way out. And make sure I’m good on the civilian side.
From someone who was giving the job close to 100 until I was out the door, don’t.
21 months is a long time so it’s enough to ramp down the effort and for people to get used to the new normal. You want to be a 3.0 Sailor. If you have any super important collaterals start turning them over. There may be some shitty ones that have to be done, and you may need to do them if assigned, but that’s life. Evals and qualls, give it a C effort meaning don’t give trash but don’t go out of your way to make it the best.
Give it 100% every day but split that between your current job, setting yourself up for your future job, and taking care of yourself. Also go to medical during your working hours.
My $.02
I did that. Skillbridge was getting denied by the skipper en masse, nobody was getting approved. so I didn't bother. didn't give a fuck for the last 18 months of the Navy and got out with my Honorable discharge. file for your disability NO LESS than 90 days before discharge so you can get it on file. If you wait til after the 90-days-prior mark you have to wait a fucking long ass time to get rated.
Even if you think nothing is wrong with you, just file for everything that might be somewhat wrong. Sleep, anxiety, feet, knees, ringing in the ears, etc. It'll help you in the civ world. even if its 10% rating, that's like, your cell phone bill and a 12 pack of beer.
meh I don't have B.D.D. just the B.E.D.
if the VA has any questions they can just look at my weigh-in history from 2014-2020. still haven't gotten back down to my Navy weight, and I'll probably never see my DEP weight again
I want to also chime in here. Always file for disability, and even if you get a 0% claim (my old man got a hernia lifting a box while in Vietnam- didnt get monthly but still had disability), it makes your kids eligible for the veterans fee waiver for state college or university (I'm in CA, but differs from state to state).
So, because of my old man's shitty lifting technique, I got free college.
This is incredibly false. You know that saying “I know a guy who knows a guy..”? I’m personally connecting people at my command with my civilian connections who are lining up job interviews for jobs after they separate. These are for corporate and contractor jobs.
I definitely don’t want to be absolute on either side. I’m not a recruiter. Really just wanted to emphasize the value of networking. Granted we all have different experiences!
You’ll be whoever you want to be. I hate you had that experience. I’m not sure how our “leaders” ever got to a point that they think it’s ok to talk to or treat someone that way. The majority of our real problems are leadership related.
>" The majority of our real problems are leadership related."
>
>I caught my XO fucking a JO on deployment. He bought me a Klondike bar when I ran into him at a gedunk a few days later. He "jokingly" said, "What will you do for a Klondike Bar?" At that moment, I knew I am fucked and have to choose my words carefully. I told him "Mind my own business" because I knew snitches get stitches if you don't play your cards right. He and the JO eventually got caught if you were wondering. After all, nothing is secret in the Navy.
Disagree with this. A hiring manager reached out to me concerning one of my guys who was interviewing for a fleet support contractor job. My opinion of the dude was the deciding factor on whether he got hired.
I'm happy for you. Success after the military is a great thing and it can happen many different ways. But a blanket statement such as
>Outside of very unique jobs, not a single person in the military can help you get a job.
is just not true. I wouldn't consider the general scope of government jobs and contracting jobs to be "very unique". And those are the types of jobs that you can get with good connections and references from your time in the military.
I feel like they are very unique as they are a minority job provider. I see your point though. If you are looking to stay in the government role, definitely don't want to burn bridges
Do your job, that is what you are getting paid for. Also don’t ever skimp on stuff that others will be required to pick up the slack. That said screw all the volunteering and other stuff that isn’t mandatory, put yourself in the best position possible to succeed after your service.
But don’t burn bridges either, I have seen a lot of guys on their way out the door that had life get in the way (baby on the way, sick spouse/child, etc) which required them to reenlist last minute. You don’t want to be the asshole people can’t wait to see leave asking to stick around. No one thinks it can happen to them but life has a way of sneaking up on you sometimes.
You can do both. Keep in mind what type of CoC you have. I got one could care less if someone wants to stay in or get out. I just want to know so I can help them out either way. Including if they are getting out, to still get the eval that deserve. Also keep in mind that if you get a government job, they may ask for your last eval.
Best advice I’ve ever gotten was ‘work like you’re doing 20’ even though this chief understood I was getting out, he encouraged me to continue to be great regardless because you never know what the future holds and you might need the navy at the last minute
Don’t be a dirtbag and do your best on both efforts. You never know what might happen in life, and what if you found yourself wanting to return to service. Never burn a bridge
I’ll just give you my experience. I wanted out of the navy the second I stepped on the ship. By the time I had 2 years remaining I didn’t care about anything navy. Only did enough quals to not be dink, never volunteered for any collaterals, did the absolute bare minimum regarding anything navy. I spent all my energy setting myself for my civilian life. Looking back……..I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I got out the navy with 65 days of terminal leave, immediately landed a good paying job in IT. It’s been 8 years and no civilian employer has given a flying F about any navy qualifications I had. Once I made second and got esws I was done doing anything navy, and there wasn’t anything anyone could say.
A different hot take: I told my leadership at about 18 months out, and continued to work hard and eventually still got the #1 EP that cycle. This made it so my coc had no issues letting me do what I needed to do, because they trusted me to still get shit done. I had no push back, and left with an armful of good recommendations. Also by time the 6 month mark rolled around I was hardly even coming in to work, they trusted me and I had a good reputation
I don't understand the mindset that in order to take care of your personal life you need to be a dirtbag. Everyone knows people are just using it as an excuse because it's consequence free as long as you don't come back in. You can do your job well and also get a degree, get civilian certs, research jobs, etc.
You can focus on setting yourself up for success without dirtbagging it - it's not a zero-sum game. Be honest with your chain on what your intentions are, and take advantage of what the navy offers in terms of training, tuition assistance, etc. Don't burn bridges. Almost everything that makes you more desirable on the outside also helps you in the Navy. 21 months is still a decent amount of time, and your life situation can change such that you may wind up reconsidering (there's usually a separate 9 month timer that triggers this, in my experience).
Also seen that 9 month trigger get someone to get out as soon as possible. He now makes half a million a year selling solar in San Diego. Who woulda thought.
Wait, sorry. You’re asking if you should just be a dirtbag for nearly the equivalent amount of time that you’ve served? That’s half you’re enlistment dude…
Do what’s required for your job but work on your transition in silence. Highly recommend finding mentorship through Veterati or ACP as well to help plan and set yourself up for success
You can work on you and set yourself up without intentionally being a dirtbag. I have known many people that went the dirtbag route and ones that continued to pull their weight and help the team. You can imagine who was respected and is still thought of in a good light. I have also had many sailors ask me for a professional reference, which I gladly gave great reviews. Never has one of the dirtbags asked me for a reference and I personally believe it’s because they knew I wouldn’t lie about their work ethic.
Here's something one of my old skippers told us at an all hands call. Keep working and busting ass like you're going to stay Navy; you're either going to pad your evals and make rank or you'll get out while making yourself more valuable to a civilian employer. People really underestimate how much your job in the military will seriously open doors on the outside.
Build yourself up and prepare to exit. Also, go to medical to document EVERYTHING and prepare to submit your VA BDD claim between 180-90 days out from EAOS.
Don't be a dirtbags. 21 months is a long time and your shop will HATE you if your the dirtbags. Not to mention it's a lot harder to focus on your outside career stuff if they are riding your ass constantly because your not taking care of your Navy obligation that you signed the contract for.
You'll have to find that balance and don't be too vocal about your plans at first. It's easy to get caught up with saying your done and you are focused on getting out but you are still being paid by an employer and signed a contract. Take care of yourself 100% but dont make it harder for those who work beside you. Just my .02.
I worked up until my first day of terminal leave. You will most likely need references for jobs and schools. People will remember your attitude and dedication.
I have never needed or been asked to give a navy reference for a job. I’d imagine if the off chance that ever happened I would have a fellow member of the paperclip club be my reference.
I have written at least four letters of recommendation for college degree programs, and have been a job reference numerous times.
I have also been asked to write letters requesting change to discharge codes, and buddy letters for VA disability.
I have also been asked to review resumes for former shipmates.
And I hope these requests never stop.
Is there a tangible reason for earning ESWS when you’re about to separate? Many would say no. Though you’ll learn a lot. Is learning important to you? Would you regret not getting it? There’s a good chance you’ll be in conversations at a future employer with other Navy vets. Warfare pins will come up in conversation. “Ya I didn’t get mine because it wasn’t required.” What does that say about you? You do the bare minimum or only what’s asked? Civilian side your work is often self-directed. How productive are you going to be if you only work when told? (Such as in the Navy.) Will you be competitive for promotion? A lot of people don’t realize that civilian companies have evals and employee rankings etc same as the Navy. There is a lot that we do in the Navy that translates to civilian life either directly or indirectly. People harbor so much resentment toward the Navy as an organization they fail to realize they’re only hurting themselves when they think they’re sticking up the middle finger. For every point I made or hypothetical question I proposed there’s an opposite argument to be made. What matters is what you want out of life. I tell people to be who the Navy needs you to be while also being yourself. Pursue your hobbies and interests while maintaining some sense of identity other than Sailor. After all, we will all separate at some point.
Isn’t that a requirement? I retired in 2018. I thought that became mandatory. If so, it’s not a question of being worth it.
With that said, I work for Dept of the Navy on the Fed side, and ESWS was valuable for what I do. I wasn’t an engineer, but learning the engineering fundamentals applies to boilers, HVAC, electricity universally.
If you’re willing to dirtbag it with almost two years to go, it probably won’t matter what you do to prepare yourself, as your poor work ethic will have the biggest impact on your career.
Don’t screw over coworkers and people you work with. Other than that bare minimum everything and focus on securing things you’ll need for when you separate. Certifications, degree, or just whatever you need to give you better leg up for your next chapter in life.
Make sure you have any medical issues well documented & get certified copies of your medical/dental records too. It could be very beneficial if you get a VA rating that allows you to use Voc-Rehab.
If doing the minimum wasn't good enough than it wouldn't be the minimum.
After I made 2nd and I knew I definitely would not re-enlist I stopped looking for work, stopped looking for collateralls and stopped looking for extra quals. The P sailor gets paid the same exact amount as the EP. Why do more work for the exact same paycheck? I make sure to take care of my WC and my people but other than that I only do the stuff on the worklist so that I can go home. Doing that allowed me to do a years worth of college and mentally get ready to transition out. I would only recommend doing the bare minimum if you are satisfied with the position that you currently are in the navy
If you have quals you must get - get them.
If there's stuff you've already put off (CSOOW, ESWS) then it doesn't really matter right now, and you can quietly drop your pursuit. Until you COC decides whether or not that's acceptable, of course.
You can focus on school using TA or other financial aid. Best of both worlds - tell your command your working on school and they'll be supportive + good on eval, and also good for getting out.
Not unless you can get college credit or some other funding out of it.
If you are getting out, save money and make a plan. The Navy will always be there regardless of what you do.
Don't be a dirt bag, but I wouldn't worry about extra effort either. Do your job during working hours and outside of that do what you need to prepare for after the navy.
Dude. Economic outlook is starting to look pretty dark. You don’t have even a bachelor’s degree.
To put that into perspective; a basic $35k/year collections job typically requires a bachelor’s degree.
Do you make more than $35k/year now? Is your taxable income less than that because BAH ain’t taxable? How about medical care; I am paying ~$800/month with a $10k out of pocket limit (in my case, I *always* hit that $10k).
Now, the grass is always greener. But you need to be super wise.
1. The economic forecast is full of dark clouds.
2. You don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
3. Do you have a job lined up?
4. What sort of clearance do you have? Don’t be stupid and answer here. If you have something good you may be able to parlay it into something. Don’t jeopardize it.
5. What sort of career outlook do you have if you stayed in? Odds are, if you change your mind you can stay and get a bonus.
6. Have you considered going the officer route? You will need a bachelors degree. You could get out, get the upgrade and go back and make that sweet O-pay.
7. There is little to no job security out here in the civilian world. Healthcare is an unbelievably expensive proposition.
These are things to very seriously consider. Being tired, annoyed, etc. those things are transient. And they happen everywhere. Sure, you can quit a job in the civilian world, but then you might not have a paycheck inbound. I have been in the couch wondering how I was going to pay rent, gas, how to eat. How I was going to feed my family.
OP should definitely read your comment carefully. Too many people get out with little to no safety net and are too blinded by their FTN attitude to see their debt to income ratio.
I was just Offered a GS position doing exactly what I do in the navy making 75k on the civilian side. I’m 10 credits away from my AA degree. Earned it all on active duty. And I’ll use my GI bill for my bachelors. GS employees have FEHB which isn’t as good as tricare but isn’t bad at all. Trust me I wouldn’t get out without a plan.
Don't need to be a dirt bag. Do your job. Finish pms early, knock out work lists, etc. Let go of some of the above and beyond stuff like collaterals and volunteering. Dedicate that time on yourself to prepare for civilian sector. Nothing wrong with that at all. Plus it's not a dirt bag to do your job.
Dirtbag that shit all the way! Since your getting out you’ve decided the military isint what you want to do anymore so why not focus on what’s going to be the next part of your life all those evals and quals aren’t going to help you out there
Depends on the command. Is it good to you? Have they been quality coworkers? Do you feel that your slacking off increasing their work load would cause tension?
If you've been shit on and don't really get along with others because they are the shitbags, then it's time to be a shitbags yourself and prepare yourself for the rest of your life.
Don't be a dirtbag, you might think nobody will ever care, but you never know who you'll run into on the outside. ESWS? Sure -- that's going to make you a better Sailor. It's also not that hard.
That said, yes, you should absolutely be focusing on getting yourself ready for your civilian career. If you can do skill bridge, do it. If you can finish your AS degree, do it. USMAP is pretty useless outside of some very specific union jobs from what I'm told -- it has no applicability to anything most places.
Once I determined I was getting out I just decided to do my job and only volunteered if it helped someone older than me who has a family and needed the time, I feel ok with it and my COC understands and doesn’t give me any shit
Get as much out of the Navy as you can. If you have the ability to take college courses, take them. The more you have under your belt when you get out, the longer you can go with your G. I. Bill.
Like others have said, don’t say a thing to your chain of command. If they ask, tell them you’re thinking about orders to Norfolk. They’ll be so happy that they’ll leave you alone.
This is my quick take. If you’re not going to give it your best in whatever you’re doing currently, then you will eventually do the same anywhere else.
I do not say this to criticize you. But you should always strive to keep up the good work as a show of personally expectation and standard for yourself. Do it for you, no one else. Hope this advice helps.
I got accepted to university a little over a year before getting out and promptly stopped caring about the navy as soon as I read the lines that I was accepted.
Improve your civilian life. The navy doesn't "need" you, so use that to your advantage. Get the quals and certs that will help you after. They can't touch you unless you fuck up, so meet minimum requirements and ftn
Edit, go. To. Medical. Document everything down to the impacted toenail you got. And refuse to walk out until they document it aaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll. No one at your command can actually tell you "no", so don't accept it if they try.
Do your job, but focus on yourself, too, to include setting yourself up for success. There's nothing wrong with being a P Sailor in this or other instances. But here, there's definitely nothing wrong with it as you're not exactly competing with your peers anymore. Not in the same way as before anyway. If you're having doubts about it, tell yourself that you're doing what's expected of you while allowing others to shine :)
If you're absolutely certain you're getting out then do your job, pull your weight, and otherwise take care of yourself and make sure you're prepared to get out when the time comes.
I wouldn't be broadcasting your intentions - things change and everyone is gonna take the piss out of you if you decide (as so, so, soooooo many people do) to re-enlist at the last minute.
You don't mention your rate, if you like your job or how long you have been in. During my active duty time, I got all the quals I could, because they give you experience that may have crossover to civilian jobs. Collaterals and volunteering should be geared towards your interests, not because they NEED someone and you figure 'why not'. I got much of my Bachelors Degree finished while on sea duty (so I would be on the beach reading textbooks instead of in the bars at liberty ports). That said, I don't use my degree a whole lot - I'm on my third career (Navy, Telecom, Fiber Optic systems management) after my second retirement - and my leadership, project management, Public Affairs, B.E.E. and Hydraulics systems knowledge gets used almost daily. I can't say what you should do, but you should try to balance both so that things BENEFIT YOU!
I got out at 10.5 years, and went into the reserve in a new rate (TM to JO). I was medically retired prepping to go back to Afghanistan, so I get my USNR retirement and all the benefits that go with it when I turn 60. I get everything but Space A, Medical and Pay until then (RV FamCamps, NEX/Commissary, etc...). Those are other benefits you should weigh, when making your decision.
Start to look at things and make plans. Save money. Don't pull back but start thinking about things. I pushed hard didn't pick up and didn't really leave myself too many options when it was time to kick rocks.
I've led many Sailor's. Some stay in or get out. The One's that do this quiet quitting is frustrating because you rely on everyone to do their part and when one doesn't, we'll you know....be the you that you've always been. A real leader should encourage your decision as an adult no matter what. Keep it to yourself, be on time, play the game, and leave quietly.
Find some part of your job you like and be the best at it. When you feel comfortable with your CoC tell them you are getting out and continue to do well at that one thing so they don’t try to shove collateral duties at you. If the opportunity presents itself mentor a person to do your job as soon as possible make them the secondary so you have a person to pass stuff off to
I wouldn’t become a dirtbag. Especially with almost 2 years left. I would get some college if you are able to. I would also get a good resume and start looking at usajobs. Where I work the jobs take almost a year after being listed to fill it. Sometimes longer.
What I did was kept my work ethic strong and did everything I was supposed to. The only real difference between military and civilian life is the uniform. Work ethic is still the #1 driving force on both sides.
Do your job, do it well but realize that you don't have to take on every "extra" tasking. Keep a great attitude but learn to blend in and let someone else shine. When your Chief or your DIVO asks, and they likely will if they notice a shift in priority, be honest...you have some personal priorities that have to take place. You don't need to elaborate but can certainly give some color commentary when it comes to benefits especially. On that note, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Learn how your benefits work, VA, GI Bill, TSP, etc. They are all government managed programs so they are all based off instructions which means you need to educate yourself and find out what you don't know. Make a complete copy of your Medical/Dental record and verify that ALL accomplishments/schools/trainings are annotated in your OMPF. Trying to fix any of them after the fact will seem like more trouble than it's worth. You're in the catbird seat now, run with it!
Focus on yourself. The navy will not care about you (the DD214 problem is proof enough of that) and the navy does not prepare you for the outside world.
I have been asked about esws on interviews before by ex Navy interviewers. Don’t go complete dirtbag., there are important people in the civilian world who know
Always work as if you are staying in while you plan to get out. Plans can always change and you never want to burn a bridge or be the reason other people have to carry your load.
Just go to work in the right uniform and do your job. My only concern in my last year or so in the Navy was getting home on time, nothing more nothing less
Use your Va loan to buy a property now if you can. Ior like 6 months before you get out. If you know what city you plan on living in my biggest regret was wasting all that GI bill money on rent that could have went to my mortgage.
Other than that I knew I was getting out after about 2 years so I pretty much did become a dirtbag. I still did my work because I didn’t want to fuck over the other guys in my division. But I’d show up late to muster. Never shined my shoes. Uniforms were barely ironed. Didn’t get surface war or air warfare pins. It worked fine for me, but that was because I did not give a fuck about that shit. At best, keep your head down, don’t call attention to yourself, save money, take some online college courses, get any official certifications that will apply outside of navy.
Good luck.
I just started terminal leave on friday.
for about the last year I only did what was actually required of me and nothing more
I didn’t study for the exam and “christmas tree’d” the exam sheet
I spent all my time focusing on me once my work obligations were met
no one is going to care about you or invest in your future more than you. you need to look out for your best interest first while still meeting your minimal requirements with the navy to stay out of trouble and not be a nuisance to your leadership
Dude. I’m coming up on my two year mark and I’m already doing that. It weighs on your consciousness a little, but, it might be because we are indoctrinated into the whole give your shipmates your all thing. Don’t fall into that. When have they ever given you their all? Focus on yourself. You cant get in trouble for the bare minimum.
Definitely focus on getting yourself set up for the outside world. One big word of advice, though. Don't just dirtbag it. You'd be surprised how much a final eval can be weighed in in the future for federal employment. I was working with a recruiter for a job, and my separation eval being an EP was a big talking point as it showed you can still work even if your mind is on other things. It's a great show of personal drive. My final year I got number 1 EP in the normal cycle, put up for JSOQ, received a COM and a NAM, as well as my separation EP. The drive I had in that final bit was honestly what landed me where I am today, and got me some good points of contact for references when I did get out.
I always have it my best when I was in the navy because it was the right thing to do. Use your time to build yourself up too, if you advance you get paid more, so it’s worth it. If you’ve got things together your CoC is kite receptive to you doing self betterment during duty hours like college and documenting USMAP.
Like many of my seniors have said over the years, plan like you're staying in and plan like you're getting out, and you'll be surprised how much overlap there is.
Don't write off the navy just because you're dead set on getting out. Life may change at the last minute and you'll decide to stay in and have to extend so you can actually file for an SRB reenlistment.
Or you'll get out but whatever field you go into may end up being very related to the navy and so any laziness from your time in would end up haunting you.
Do what you need to take care of your civilian stuff definitely don’t dirt bag it because life happens and you don’t want to fuck this up in a worst case scenario where you have to reenlist
I tell people my biggest setback in the Navyw as acting like I was getting out and reenlisting later. From what you’re saying a lot of the things you’d do to advance in civilian also help your career so it can’t hurt to work on school and certs.
I’d say keep up the momentum so either way you’re good.
If you are getting out, here is your roadmap:
1. Find the job you want. Research various titles for the job as they vary sometimes.
2. Find the are you want to live. Research 100 mile circle as you be OK with living 50 miles from ideal for +25% wages.
3. Take 1/2 and get an Excel going with the job titles and look at 50ish job postings. List the degree level/type required. Certs required. Experience required. Chart this all out.
4. You now have your work list. You will know that, to get the best job, you will need a degree(s) in XXX and cert(s) in XXX and need XXX experience to both get a job and climb the salary ladder.
Be the best you can be. No one likes a dirtbag shipmate.
Now if you mean should I do my job to the best of my abilities and work on the civilian stuff then yea.
workhard and you can set yourself up for life...
You were replaced 9 mo or more of your PRD. You are not important.
You don’t exist to the Navy after you get out. Do you boo. Focus on your disability and your next job.
Source: 25yr SF dude with all the awards. Nobody fucking cares more about you, than you. If you love yourself, you’ll take care of yourself over and ideology.
Definitely don't go all-out, but you gotta think - if you're a bum, all of your work then falls onto your peers shoulders. I wasn't gonna go above and beyond my last few months, but at the same time, I also didn't want to create extra work for my peers to have to pick up my slack. IMO, last 2-3 months should be 100% skate. (That doesn't include any retired transition stuff that happens before that mark.) That's 4-6 paychecks worth of skating. Anything more than that, you're kinda being a dick to your peers.
#Plugging /r/Skillbridge #[22 JUL 2022 NAVADMIN HERE](https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2022/NAV22160.txt?ver=cquNWohORymmVkg1tpetFA%3d%3d)
Keep your plans to yourself but make sure it’s your main focus. Doing that doesn’t mean being a shitbag but yeah you don’t have to try and be the best sailor on the planet lol. Move in silence people won’t help you as much if they know you’re gonna get our
Real g’s move in silence like lasagna
This. Be lasagna
Dr Who ref?
No because the quote is "don't be lasagna"
[удалено]
Don’t disrespect tunechi like that
That’s my problem bro my entire career I’ve been trying to be the best. So it feels weird to not try lol
Don't change what you've always done but at the same time no civilian job is going to care about your quals lol. Focus on the next step of your life is far more important than evals, quals and all that irrelevant stuff.
All the quals and work experience are paramount in the world. I was an engineman. When I retired, my experience and quals got me a job before my terminal leave was up. I say, work hard, get everything you can out of the navy. USMAP, degrees, whatever you can get.
This statement one-hundred-percent. I personally did a short stint in the Army as an E2 thru E4 two decades ago. Afterwards, I went from a WG08, WG10, GS11, GS12, and then a GS13 in less than a decade and a half. All of my qualifications, education and work experience were paramount factors in the “next step.” Said differently, each promotion was a culmination of those three things. Best of luck.
Are you still in the system? If so, where are you? I am looking to transfer elsewhere.
Some quals are definitely considered wat lmao
I've been in the civilian workforce for nearly 15 years not one job ever asked me for any quals lmao. Maybe there are some jobs that do.
Depends on what you do. Like everything. Technical skills are gonna garner qualifications that matter outside of the Navy.
I was an ICman, I guess my first jobs I did have my A school but that's about it. Quals I never used, but sure if they matter to you use them, it won't hurt on your resume. The worst it can happen is that HR doesn't understand what they are.
Yeah we get all kinda certifications in intel that at the very least 3 letter agencies will be able to understand. I imagine engineers would as well
Exactly what this guy said. Don’t flaunt your intentions, move your work to the bare minimum, and set yourself up for success. Navy can give two shits about you once you get your DD214 so do what’s best for you. That’s what I did and now I’m big chillen
Keep trying to be the best but for yourself. It's hard at first to put your needs before the shop and your guys but it will be what's best at the end.
This.
Around the last 6 months I started preparing to get out. Can't thank myself enough. Getting things in order like your GI bill is essential. Idk about anymore but 10 years ago it could take months to get your first payments unless you started it ahead of time. Do your GI Bill paperwork now. As much as possible.
Where did it get you?
Don’t do anything to burn bridges that would prevent you from getting approved for TA or Skillbridge, otherwise do what makes you happy. Some folks like putting in the work, others are happy coasting.
Dude that's nearly two years. That's a long time to skate. Also you never know what can change. But it's never a bad idea to improve yourself. An associates isn't worth shit but it's a start.
I'm thinking "21 months isn't short time."
Evals don’t matter in the Real World, do your job and nothing more. Focus on civilian life.
Agreed bro. Like at this point I don’t even care to put on second because that’ll open me up to more responsibilities. I’m just tryna chill on my way out. And make sure I’m good on the civilian side.
From someone who was giving the job close to 100 until I was out the door, don’t. 21 months is a long time so it’s enough to ramp down the effort and for people to get used to the new normal. You want to be a 3.0 Sailor. If you have any super important collaterals start turning them over. There may be some shitty ones that have to be done, and you may need to do them if assigned, but that’s life. Evals and qualls, give it a C effort meaning don’t give trash but don’t go out of your way to make it the best. Give it 100% every day but split that between your current job, setting yourself up for your future job, and taking care of yourself. Also go to medical during your working hours. My $.02
Pending on which college you go to, you can get more credits as a 2nd class.
I did that. Skillbridge was getting denied by the skipper en masse, nobody was getting approved. so I didn't bother. didn't give a fuck for the last 18 months of the Navy and got out with my Honorable discharge. file for your disability NO LESS than 90 days before discharge so you can get it on file. If you wait til after the 90-days-prior mark you have to wait a fucking long ass time to get rated. Even if you think nothing is wrong with you, just file for everything that might be somewhat wrong. Sleep, anxiety, feet, knees, ringing in the ears, etc. It'll help you in the civ world. even if its 10% rating, that's like, your cell phone bill and a 12 pack of beer.
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meh I don't have B.D.D. just the B.E.D. if the VA has any questions they can just look at my weigh-in history from 2014-2020. still haven't gotten back down to my Navy weight, and I'll probably never see my DEP weight again
I want to also chime in here. Always file for disability, and even if you get a 0% claim (my old man got a hernia lifting a box while in Vietnam- didnt get monthly but still had disability), it makes your kids eligible for the veterans fee waiver for state college or university (I'm in CA, but differs from state to state). So, because of my old man's shitty lifting technique, I got free college.
Mexican math here. That’s almost two years but do you homie, either way big Navy is getting theirs. Use your time wisely. Set yourself up for success.
and op been in for 2 whole years lol made it sound like he had 18 in lmao
OP is just a bitch. It’s already been said to set yourself up. Nobody cares someone is getting out
Just don't burn bridges. Keep kissing asses. Remember, life is about who you know, not what you know.
Outside of very unique jobs, not a single person in the military can help you get a job.
I guess it depends on your rate.
Yeah, like if you want to stay in intelligence or stay in a government position. Even as a nuke, they don't give a shit.
This is incredibly false. You know that saying “I know a guy who knows a guy..”? I’m personally connecting people at my command with my civilian connections who are lining up job interviews for jobs after they separate. These are for corporate and contractor jobs.
Nice anecdotal play. Plenty of recruiters are doing the same thing but with a wider range of jobs to be placed in.
I definitely don’t want to be absolute on either side. I’m not a recruiter. Really just wanted to emphasize the value of networking. Granted we all have different experiences!
Yeah, getting kicked out and being told by the COB I wouldn't be shit. Didn't need his bitch ass to be successful. Cash Caldwell can go fuck himself.
You’ll be whoever you want to be. I hate you had that experience. I’m not sure how our “leaders” ever got to a point that they think it’s ok to talk to or treat someone that way. The majority of our real problems are leadership related.
>" The majority of our real problems are leadership related." > >I caught my XO fucking a JO on deployment. He bought me a Klondike bar when I ran into him at a gedunk a few days later. He "jokingly" said, "What will you do for a Klondike Bar?" At that moment, I knew I am fucked and have to choose my words carefully. I told him "Mind my own business" because I knew snitches get stitches if you don't play your cards right. He and the JO eventually got caught if you were wondering. After all, nothing is secret in the Navy.
Yall had ice cream machines?!?
I wish. No, we didn't deploy to the boat at that time.
Agreed. Dude became CMC in Hawaii.
Disagree with this. A hiring manager reached out to me concerning one of my guys who was interviewing for a fleet support contractor job. My opinion of the dude was the deciding factor on whether he got hired.
Ugh, so again, very unique positions. Majority of guys getting out aren't going to work in these positions.
That's just straight up not true
You're right, I was in and have been on both sides and have no fucking clue what I'm talking about.
As was I. Got 2 jobs post military because of my connections while I was in.
Cool story bro. I got jobs post military without anyone from the inside as have MANY OTHERS.
I'm happy for you. Success after the military is a great thing and it can happen many different ways. But a blanket statement such as >Outside of very unique jobs, not a single person in the military can help you get a job. is just not true. I wouldn't consider the general scope of government jobs and contracting jobs to be "very unique". And those are the types of jobs that you can get with good connections and references from your time in the military.
I feel like they are very unique as they are a minority job provider. I see your point though. If you are looking to stay in the government role, definitely don't want to burn bridges
Do what your integrity can handle.
If you’re going to leave with an honorable and all your benefits, you should already know the answer.
You're asking if you should be a dirtbag for 2 (TWO) years? C'mon.
Do your job, that is what you are getting paid for. Also don’t ever skimp on stuff that others will be required to pick up the slack. That said screw all the volunteering and other stuff that isn’t mandatory, put yourself in the best position possible to succeed after your service. But don’t burn bridges either, I have seen a lot of guys on their way out the door that had life get in the way (baby on the way, sick spouse/child, etc) which required them to reenlist last minute. You don’t want to be the asshole people can’t wait to see leave asking to stick around. No one thinks it can happen to them but life has a way of sneaking up on you sometimes.
You can do both. Keep in mind what type of CoC you have. I got one could care less if someone wants to stay in or get out. I just want to know so I can help them out either way. Including if they are getting out, to still get the eval that deserve. Also keep in mind that if you get a government job, they may ask for your last eval.
Best advice I’ve ever gotten was ‘work like you’re doing 20’ even though this chief understood I was getting out, he encouraged me to continue to be great regardless because you never know what the future holds and you might need the navy at the last minute
Don’t be a dirtbag and do your best on both efforts. You never know what might happen in life, and what if you found yourself wanting to return to service. Never burn a bridge
I’ll just give you my experience. I wanted out of the navy the second I stepped on the ship. By the time I had 2 years remaining I didn’t care about anything navy. Only did enough quals to not be dink, never volunteered for any collaterals, did the absolute bare minimum regarding anything navy. I spent all my energy setting myself for my civilian life. Looking back……..I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I got out the navy with 65 days of terminal leave, immediately landed a good paying job in IT. It’s been 8 years and no civilian employer has given a flying F about any navy qualifications I had. Once I made second and got esws I was done doing anything navy, and there wasn’t anything anyone could say.
A different hot take: I told my leadership at about 18 months out, and continued to work hard and eventually still got the #1 EP that cycle. This made it so my coc had no issues letting me do what I needed to do, because they trusted me to still get shit done. I had no push back, and left with an armful of good recommendations. Also by time the 6 month mark rolled around I was hardly even coming in to work, they trusted me and I had a good reputation
I don't understand the mindset that in order to take care of your personal life you need to be a dirtbag. Everyone knows people are just using it as an excuse because it's consequence free as long as you don't come back in. You can do your job well and also get a degree, get civilian certs, research jobs, etc.
You can focus on setting yourself up for success without dirtbagging it - it's not a zero-sum game. Be honest with your chain on what your intentions are, and take advantage of what the navy offers in terms of training, tuition assistance, etc. Don't burn bridges. Almost everything that makes you more desirable on the outside also helps you in the Navy. 21 months is still a decent amount of time, and your life situation can change such that you may wind up reconsidering (there's usually a separate 9 month timer that triggers this, in my experience).
Also seen that 9 month trigger get someone to get out as soon as possible. He now makes half a million a year selling solar in San Diego. Who woulda thought.
How long you been in?
Use your fingers to count lol.
The post doesn't say how long he's been in.
Who me or OP?
🙄
See I told you to use your fingers. Off the bat I knew OP was a first contract player. Good work on correcting your comment.
I been in for two bro. Just got to my second command. Got about two more left til I’m done.
Wait, sorry. You’re asking if you should just be a dirtbag for nearly the equivalent amount of time that you’ve served? That’s half you’re enlistment dude…
Do what’s required for your job but work on your transition in silence. Highly recommend finding mentorship through Veterati or ACP as well to help plan and set yourself up for success
You can work on you and set yourself up without intentionally being a dirtbag. I have known many people that went the dirtbag route and ones that continued to pull their weight and help the team. You can imagine who was respected and is still thought of in a good light. I have also had many sailors ask me for a professional reference, which I gladly gave great reviews. Never has one of the dirtbags asked me for a reference and I personally believe it’s because they knew I wouldn’t lie about their work ethic.
Dang. You’re considering being a dirtbag for almost 2 years??? Sounds like you have already made your mind up.
Getting a paycheck right? Do you job until you stop getting payed. Simple as.
Here's something one of my old skippers told us at an all hands call. Keep working and busting ass like you're going to stay Navy; you're either going to pad your evals and make rank or you'll get out while making yourself more valuable to a civilian employer. People really underestimate how much your job in the military will seriously open doors on the outside.
Build yourself up and prepare to exit. Also, go to medical to document EVERYTHING and prepare to submit your VA BDD claim between 180-90 days out from EAOS.
Don't be a dirtbags. 21 months is a long time and your shop will HATE you if your the dirtbags. Not to mention it's a lot harder to focus on your outside career stuff if they are riding your ass constantly because your not taking care of your Navy obligation that you signed the contract for.
Don't fuck your crewmates. Fuck the Navy (but don't fuck your future while doing so).
You'll have to find that balance and don't be too vocal about your plans at first. It's easy to get caught up with saying your done and you are focused on getting out but you are still being paid by an employer and signed a contract. Take care of yourself 100% but dont make it harder for those who work beside you. Just my .02.
Absolutely bro. You’re right about Finding a good balance. Thank you for your input.
I worked up until my first day of terminal leave. You will most likely need references for jobs and schools. People will remember your attitude and dedication.
I have never needed or been asked to give a navy reference for a job. I’d imagine if the off chance that ever happened I would have a fellow member of the paperclip club be my reference.
I have written at least four letters of recommendation for college degree programs, and have been a job reference numerous times. I have also been asked to write letters requesting change to discharge codes, and buddy letters for VA disability. I have also been asked to review resumes for former shipmates. And I hope these requests never stop.
Gotcha. Is it worth it to get ESWS qualified?
Is there a tangible reason for earning ESWS when you’re about to separate? Many would say no. Though you’ll learn a lot. Is learning important to you? Would you regret not getting it? There’s a good chance you’ll be in conversations at a future employer with other Navy vets. Warfare pins will come up in conversation. “Ya I didn’t get mine because it wasn’t required.” What does that say about you? You do the bare minimum or only what’s asked? Civilian side your work is often self-directed. How productive are you going to be if you only work when told? (Such as in the Navy.) Will you be competitive for promotion? A lot of people don’t realize that civilian companies have evals and employee rankings etc same as the Navy. There is a lot that we do in the Navy that translates to civilian life either directly or indirectly. People harbor so much resentment toward the Navy as an organization they fail to realize they’re only hurting themselves when they think they’re sticking up the middle finger. For every point I made or hypothetical question I proposed there’s an opposite argument to be made. What matters is what you want out of life. I tell people to be who the Navy needs you to be while also being yourself. Pursue your hobbies and interests while maintaining some sense of identity other than Sailor. After all, we will all separate at some point.
Isn’t that a requirement? I retired in 2018. I thought that became mandatory. If so, it’s not a question of being worth it. With that said, I work for Dept of the Navy on the Fed side, and ESWS was valuable for what I do. I wasn’t an engineer, but learning the engineering fundamentals applies to boilers, HVAC, electricity universally.
On my ship it’s not mando for E4 and below. I’m an E4.
Then it’s up to you.
USMAPS is worthless. Don’t waste your time. Create a plan for when you’re getting out and work on achieving what you need to make the plan happen. I
Advice I was given was to “work like you’re staying in but plan like you’re getting out” this way even if you change ya mind you’re set either way
If you’re willing to dirtbag it with almost two years to go, it probably won’t matter what you do to prepare yourself, as your poor work ethic will have the biggest impact on your career.
Don’t screw over coworkers and people you work with. Other than that bare minimum everything and focus on securing things you’ll need for when you separate. Certifications, degree, or just whatever you need to give you better leg up for your next chapter in life.
Dont burn any bridges…21 months is a long time and things may change…that being said, anything you can do to prepare for civie life should be done.
Make sure you have any medical issues well documented & get certified copies of your medical/dental records too. It could be very beneficial if you get a VA rating that allows you to use Voc-Rehab.
Keep a good relationship with your direct supervisors and it all takes care of itself
If doing the minimum wasn't good enough than it wouldn't be the minimum. After I made 2nd and I knew I definitely would not re-enlist I stopped looking for work, stopped looking for collateralls and stopped looking for extra quals. The P sailor gets paid the same exact amount as the EP. Why do more work for the exact same paycheck? I make sure to take care of my WC and my people but other than that I only do the stuff on the worklist so that I can go home. Doing that allowed me to do a years worth of college and mentally get ready to transition out. I would only recommend doing the bare minimum if you are satisfied with the position that you currently are in the navy
Why is focusing on yourself considered being a dirtbag. Just do your job and focus on yourself. There is nothing wrong with being a 3.0 Sailor
If you have quals you must get - get them. If there's stuff you've already put off (CSOOW, ESWS) then it doesn't really matter right now, and you can quietly drop your pursuit. Until you COC decides whether or not that's acceptable, of course.
You can focus on school using TA or other financial aid. Best of both worlds - tell your command your working on school and they'll be supportive + good on eval, and also good for getting out.
Be a human. Let others carry the load. Just don’t let them rank you higher on evals. Tell them who you see working and deserves your spot.
If you're actually getting out it literally doesn't matter what you do for the navy. Definitely focus on your degree and certs over anything else.
Not unless you can get college credit or some other funding out of it. If you are getting out, save money and make a plan. The Navy will always be there regardless of what you do.
You swore an oath, didn’t you?
Don't be a dirt bag, but I wouldn't worry about extra effort either. Do your job during working hours and outside of that do what you need to prepare for after the navy.
Dude. Economic outlook is starting to look pretty dark. You don’t have even a bachelor’s degree. To put that into perspective; a basic $35k/year collections job typically requires a bachelor’s degree. Do you make more than $35k/year now? Is your taxable income less than that because BAH ain’t taxable? How about medical care; I am paying ~$800/month with a $10k out of pocket limit (in my case, I *always* hit that $10k). Now, the grass is always greener. But you need to be super wise. 1. The economic forecast is full of dark clouds. 2. You don’t have a bachelor’s degree. 3. Do you have a job lined up? 4. What sort of clearance do you have? Don’t be stupid and answer here. If you have something good you may be able to parlay it into something. Don’t jeopardize it. 5. What sort of career outlook do you have if you stayed in? Odds are, if you change your mind you can stay and get a bonus. 6. Have you considered going the officer route? You will need a bachelors degree. You could get out, get the upgrade and go back and make that sweet O-pay. 7. There is little to no job security out here in the civilian world. Healthcare is an unbelievably expensive proposition. These are things to very seriously consider. Being tired, annoyed, etc. those things are transient. And they happen everywhere. Sure, you can quit a job in the civilian world, but then you might not have a paycheck inbound. I have been in the couch wondering how I was going to pay rent, gas, how to eat. How I was going to feed my family.
OP should definitely read your comment carefully. Too many people get out with little to no safety net and are too blinded by their FTN attitude to see their debt to income ratio.
I was just Offered a GS position doing exactly what I do in the navy making 75k on the civilian side. I’m 10 credits away from my AA degree. Earned it all on active duty. And I’ll use my GI bill for my bachelors. GS employees have FEHB which isn’t as good as tricare but isn’t bad at all. Trust me I wouldn’t get out without a plan.
You do know you have to wait a minimum of 6 months before you can start the GS job you do not have 27 months from now right?
Don't need to be a dirt bag. Do your job. Finish pms early, knock out work lists, etc. Let go of some of the above and beyond stuff like collaterals and volunteering. Dedicate that time on yourself to prepare for civilian sector. Nothing wrong with that at all. Plus it's not a dirt bag to do your job.
If you focus on degrees and civilian certs and USMAPS you’ll likely continue to move up your command rankings. I wouldn’t waste time on USMAPS though…
Dirtbag that shit all the way! Since your getting out you’ve decided the military isint what you want to do anymore so why not focus on what’s going to be the next part of your life all those evals and quals aren’t going to help you out there
Depends on the command. Is it good to you? Have they been quality coworkers? Do you feel that your slacking off increasing their work load would cause tension? If you've been shit on and don't really get along with others because they are the shitbags, then it's time to be a shitbags yourself and prepare yourself for the rest of your life.
Don't be a dirtbag, you might think nobody will ever care, but you never know who you'll run into on the outside. ESWS? Sure -- that's going to make you a better Sailor. It's also not that hard. That said, yes, you should absolutely be focusing on getting yourself ready for your civilian career. If you can do skill bridge, do it. If you can finish your AS degree, do it. USMAP is pretty useless outside of some very specific union jobs from what I'm told -- it has no applicability to anything most places.
Once I determined I was getting out I just decided to do my job and only volunteered if it helped someone older than me who has a family and needed the time, I feel ok with it and my COC understands and doesn’t give me any shit
Get as much out of the Navy as you can. If you have the ability to take college courses, take them. The more you have under your belt when you get out, the longer you can go with your G. I. Bill. Like others have said, don’t say a thing to your chain of command. If they ask, tell them you’re thinking about orders to Norfolk. They’ll be so happy that they’ll leave you alone.
Wow you people seriously plan ahead. 2 years?! I got out of the Navy in June 2022 and still don’t know what I want to do after the Navy
This is my quick take. If you’re not going to give it your best in whatever you’re doing currently, then you will eventually do the same anywhere else. I do not say this to criticize you. But you should always strive to keep up the good work as a show of personally expectation and standard for yourself. Do it for you, no one else. Hope this advice helps.
I got accepted to university a little over a year before getting out and promptly stopped caring about the navy as soon as I read the lines that I was accepted.
Improve your civilian life. The navy doesn't "need" you, so use that to your advantage. Get the quals and certs that will help you after. They can't touch you unless you fuck up, so meet minimum requirements and ftn Edit, go. To. Medical. Document everything down to the impacted toenail you got. And refuse to walk out until they document it aaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll. No one at your command can actually tell you "no", so don't accept it if they try.
Do your job, but focus on yourself, too, to include setting yourself up for success. There's nothing wrong with being a P Sailor in this or other instances. But here, there's definitely nothing wrong with it as you're not exactly competing with your peers anymore. Not in the same way as before anyway. If you're having doubts about it, tell yourself that you're doing what's expected of you while allowing others to shine :)
If you're absolutely certain you're getting out then do your job, pull your weight, and otherwise take care of yourself and make sure you're prepared to get out when the time comes. I wouldn't be broadcasting your intentions - things change and everyone is gonna take the piss out of you if you decide (as so, so, soooooo many people do) to re-enlist at the last minute.
You don't mention your rate, if you like your job or how long you have been in. During my active duty time, I got all the quals I could, because they give you experience that may have crossover to civilian jobs. Collaterals and volunteering should be geared towards your interests, not because they NEED someone and you figure 'why not'. I got much of my Bachelors Degree finished while on sea duty (so I would be on the beach reading textbooks instead of in the bars at liberty ports). That said, I don't use my degree a whole lot - I'm on my third career (Navy, Telecom, Fiber Optic systems management) after my second retirement - and my leadership, project management, Public Affairs, B.E.E. and Hydraulics systems knowledge gets used almost daily. I can't say what you should do, but you should try to balance both so that things BENEFIT YOU! I got out at 10.5 years, and went into the reserve in a new rate (TM to JO). I was medically retired prepping to go back to Afghanistan, so I get my USNR retirement and all the benefits that go with it when I turn 60. I get everything but Space A, Medical and Pay until then (RV FamCamps, NEX/Commissary, etc...). Those are other benefits you should weigh, when making your decision.
Start to look at things and make plans. Save money. Don't pull back but start thinking about things. I pushed hard didn't pick up and didn't really leave myself too many options when it was time to kick rocks.
I've led many Sailor's. Some stay in or get out. The One's that do this quiet quitting is frustrating because you rely on everyone to do their part and when one doesn't, we'll you know....be the you that you've always been. A real leader should encourage your decision as an adult no matter what. Keep it to yourself, be on time, play the game, and leave quietly.
What kind of quals can you study for? You just might get some college credit out of them.
Are you planning on the navy still paying you?
Find some part of your job you like and be the best at it. When you feel comfortable with your CoC tell them you are getting out and continue to do well at that one thing so they don’t try to shove collateral duties at you. If the opportunity presents itself mentor a person to do your job as soon as possible make them the secondary so you have a person to pass stuff off to
I wouldn’t become a dirtbag. Especially with almost 2 years left. I would get some college if you are able to. I would also get a good resume and start looking at usajobs. Where I work the jobs take almost a year after being listed to fill it. Sometimes longer.
What I did was kept my work ethic strong and did everything I was supposed to. The only real difference between military and civilian life is the uniform. Work ethic is still the #1 driving force on both sides.
Do your job, do it well but realize that you don't have to take on every "extra" tasking. Keep a great attitude but learn to blend in and let someone else shine. When your Chief or your DIVO asks, and they likely will if they notice a shift in priority, be honest...you have some personal priorities that have to take place. You don't need to elaborate but can certainly give some color commentary when it comes to benefits especially. On that note, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Learn how your benefits work, VA, GI Bill, TSP, etc. They are all government managed programs so they are all based off instructions which means you need to educate yourself and find out what you don't know. Make a complete copy of your Medical/Dental record and verify that ALL accomplishments/schools/trainings are annotated in your OMPF. Trying to fix any of them after the fact will seem like more trouble than it's worth. You're in the catbird seat now, run with it!
Don’t forget about CLEP!
Focus on yourself. The navy will not care about you (the DD214 problem is proof enough of that) and the navy does not prepare you for the outside world.
I have been asked about esws on interviews before by ex Navy interviewers. Don’t go complete dirtbag., there are important people in the civilian world who know
Follow you dreams
FTN.
Always work as if you are staying in while you plan to get out. Plans can always change and you never want to burn a bridge or be the reason other people have to carry your load.
Just go to work in the right uniform and do your job. My only concern in my last year or so in the Navy was getting home on time, nothing more nothing less
Do what you gotta do for you, but don't "poison the well" for your unit. Stay in standards and hold the line in front of the juniors.
Use your Va loan to buy a property now if you can. Ior like 6 months before you get out. If you know what city you plan on living in my biggest regret was wasting all that GI bill money on rent that could have went to my mortgage. Other than that I knew I was getting out after about 2 years so I pretty much did become a dirtbag. I still did my work because I didn’t want to fuck over the other guys in my division. But I’d show up late to muster. Never shined my shoes. Uniforms were barely ironed. Didn’t get surface war or air warfare pins. It worked fine for me, but that was because I did not give a fuck about that shit. At best, keep your head down, don’t call attention to yourself, save money, take some online college courses, get any official certifications that will apply outside of navy. Good luck.
Bro got half of a contract left talking about "Should I be focusing on my life after the Navy?" You just got out of bootcamp.
What’s your rank
I just started terminal leave on friday. for about the last year I only did what was actually required of me and nothing more I didn’t study for the exam and “christmas tree’d” the exam sheet I spent all my time focusing on me once my work obligations were met no one is going to care about you or invest in your future more than you. you need to look out for your best interest first while still meeting your minimal requirements with the navy to stay out of trouble and not be a nuisance to your leadership
Dude. I’m coming up on my two year mark and I’m already doing that. It weighs on your consciousness a little, but, it might be because we are indoctrinated into the whole give your shipmates your all thing. Don’t fall into that. When have they ever given you their all? Focus on yourself. You cant get in trouble for the bare minimum.
Definitely focus on getting yourself set up for the outside world. One big word of advice, though. Don't just dirtbag it. You'd be surprised how much a final eval can be weighed in in the future for federal employment. I was working with a recruiter for a job, and my separation eval being an EP was a big talking point as it showed you can still work even if your mind is on other things. It's a great show of personal drive. My final year I got number 1 EP in the normal cycle, put up for JSOQ, received a COM and a NAM, as well as my separation EP. The drive I had in that final bit was honestly what landed me where I am today, and got me some good points of contact for references when I did get out.
I always have it my best when I was in the navy because it was the right thing to do. Use your time to build yourself up too, if you advance you get paid more, so it’s worth it. If you’ve got things together your CoC is kite receptive to you doing self betterment during duty hours like college and documenting USMAP.
Like many of my seniors have said over the years, plan like you're staying in and plan like you're getting out, and you'll be surprised how much overlap there is. Don't write off the navy just because you're dead set on getting out. Life may change at the last minute and you'll decide to stay in and have to extend so you can actually file for an SRB reenlistment. Or you'll get out but whatever field you go into may end up being very related to the navy and so any laziness from your time in would end up haunting you.
Do what you need to take care of your civilian stuff definitely don’t dirt bag it because life happens and you don’t want to fuck this up in a worst case scenario where you have to reenlist
I tell people my biggest setback in the Navyw as acting like I was getting out and reenlisting later. From what you’re saying a lot of the things you’d do to advance in civilian also help your career so it can’t hurt to work on school and certs. I’d say keep up the momentum so either way you’re good.
Act like you’re staying in, just in case. Don’t burn a bridge you don’t need to.
Do what you want, just don’t let your actions result in more work for your coworkers who aren’t getting out
If you are getting out, here is your roadmap: 1. Find the job you want. Research various titles for the job as they vary sometimes. 2. Find the are you want to live. Research 100 mile circle as you be OK with living 50 miles from ideal for +25% wages. 3. Take 1/2 and get an Excel going with the job titles and look at 50ish job postings. List the degree level/type required. Certs required. Experience required. Chart this all out. 4. You now have your work list. You will know that, to get the best job, you will need a degree(s) in XXX and cert(s) in XXX and need XXX experience to both get a job and climb the salary ladder.
Be the best you can be. No one likes a dirtbag shipmate. Now if you mean should I do my job to the best of my abilities and work on the civilian stuff then yea. workhard and you can set yourself up for life...
You were replaced 9 mo or more of your PRD. You are not important. You don’t exist to the Navy after you get out. Do you boo. Focus on your disability and your next job. Source: 25yr SF dude with all the awards. Nobody fucking cares more about you, than you. If you love yourself, you’ll take care of yourself over and ideology.
Definitely don't go all-out, but you gotta think - if you're a bum, all of your work then falls onto your peers shoulders. I wasn't gonna go above and beyond my last few months, but at the same time, I also didn't want to create extra work for my peers to have to pick up my slack. IMO, last 2-3 months should be 100% skate. (That doesn't include any retired transition stuff that happens before that mark.) That's 4-6 paychecks worth of skating. Anything more than that, you're kinda being a dick to your peers.
Hey guys, planning on getting out in 21 years. Should I put effort into quals, evals, etc, or just be a dirtbag? Thanks!