Damin Kirk ⋅ North Charleston, SC Boeing ⋅ 21 years experience

Hi Derick -

Employers won't really look at you until you're around the 3 month mark. I found that out the hard way when I was transitioning out. If you have enough terminal leave saved up, you can take about 3 months to make yourself available, however, don't be shocked if you don't get any call backs until about a month out from your ETS date. Most job processes take around 30 days to complete. Good Luck!

Damin

John Green ⋅ Cary, NC Information Technology ⋅ 40 years experience

Hi Derick -

My recommendation is to hang out and complete your full contract. While your serving out your last year, you can sign up for ACP mentorship program. Your ACP mentor will help you with things like preparing your resume and transitioning to civilian life.

http://acp-usa.org/Mentoring_Program

Employers typically want you to start within two weeks. You can either take terminal leave or you can have that paid out to you in cash.

What is your career of choice ? What do you want to do ? Have you piled any cash into VEAP ? The government matches your contributions on a 2-for-1 basis.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/veap.asp

If you choose to go back to school, highly discourage taking out student loans. Try to find some other way to pay for school than student loans. Also be sure to align your career path cost with your school cost. For example, if your potential income for xyz carrer is $50k per year, and the school costs $300k, then obviously that is not a match. Rule of thumb is 3x annual income to pay for school.

Best of luck to you.
JG

todd moore ⋅ Terre Haute, IN U.S. Army, Specialist ⋅ 4 years served

You should really hold off on wanting to jump straight into the civilian job market. I would look into attending a college or trade school(No for profit rip off schools. AKA Devry, University of Pheonix, IIT tech, etc.). From there, go for a STEM related degree(Electrician, Plumber, etc. apprenticeships work too) because you are more likely to find employment, and you are less likely to be unemployed post graduation.

Courtney Gordon-Tennant ⋅ Port Washington, NY US Navy JAG Corps ⋅ 7 years experience

Hi Derick,
Did you receive any bonuses? The reason that I ask is if you did and don't complete the time, then you will need to repay your remaining obligation. For example, if you got $4,000 for 4 yrs and you completed 3 yrs of service, then you need to repay the remaining $1,000.

Did you attend a TAP class yet?

You should be 100% eligible for the GI Bill.

I don't think it hurts to start looking now. Are you geographically located where you are looking? Also recommend checking out a Hire Own Heroes job fair.