Why I Started the USAF Retirement Blog

We PCS every few years. By the time we've been in 20+ years, we know exactly what to do. Retirement is different. You only retire from the Air Force once. It's something entirely new to everyone who approaches it. And those who have already been through it, those who could walk you through it and give you some "gouge", those guys are, well, retired; they aren't hanging around the office to teach the younger guys the ropes.

As I found myself facing retirement, I first turned to the Internet for some inside information on how to gracefully retire, what are the real-world rules of "dropping papers" beyond the black-and-white guidance in AFI 36-3203. To my surprise, the Internet didn't have a lot of answers. There were no "gouge" sheets. So I'm starting one.

I submitted my retirement application a week ago. This blog will capture the issues and insights I run across over the next few months. Things like:

• How much notice do you really need to give?
• How much does staying in an extra month affect your retired pay?
  
• What outprocessing items need to be completed, and when?
• What's the deal with VA claims?
• If you're looking to retire in a hurry, what's the shortest possible timeline?

So, read on, and please do share your comments and questions. Thanks!