Lessons Learned from an 'Almost Retired' Military Guy

I just started terminal leave last week, and I’ve already learned a few things. First of all, it isn’t leave if you are looking for work. Secondly, you can only watch so much lousy midday television (Bar Rescue, The Lottery Ruined My Life etc). Instead of channel surfing like my Dad does during football season I fill my days with the employment search, housework, and errands. I do these things because I feel my military internal clock ticking every day. For me, that sound is both exciting and terrifying. A couple of months ago I told you I was a Rule & Order type guy. That means I thrive on routines. Last week, I developed a method based on a good cup of joe, some brain stimulation and a little learning. 

The Games People Play

Every morning I sit at the kitchen table with my coffee, a dog by my side (they choose to rotate the duty) and good article. It is a way for me to wake my brain up, dust off the cobwebs and it settles my mind after battling two teenagers who sleep through their alarms. Oh the struggle! One of them has an alarm that says "Wakeup! It's time to start the day. Best way to be a superstar is to get out of bed" in the voice of Missy Elliott. Sorry, Missy I never liked "Work It." You are becoming the bane of my existence! I digress.

Yesterday, I found a great article in “Popular Mechanics” that was all about board games. It lists the top game of every year dating back to 1950 when Candy Land took the top spot. This article made me go back to a simpler time. A time that didn't include countless hours of tweaking resumes, prepping for interviews and scouring the web for employment. It was back to 1985 when nine-year-old Trevor spent his days playing "Electronic Battleship". I distinctly remember the sounds of sinking my opponent’s destroyer. I won most of the time because I had played the game a million times and developed a strategy that worked. It was my favorite game until my parents bought me "The Game of Life" for my birthday the following year. 

That day the boxy grey ships were replaced by colored cars with blue and pink pegs representing my future. The sound of navy watercrafts sinking was replaced with a clicking wheel that always came loose (That wheel was very annoying!). New rules and different strategies became a part of my game playing repertoire. Forget yelling out combinations of letters and numbers. Now, my focus was all about setting up my future with a good education, avoiding pitfalls and supporting my family. Thirty-two years later, current day Trevor is doing the exact same thing.

Every day, I make choices that align my goals with my current trajectory. I read about companies, their benefits, and available jobs. I think ahead and develop a strategy. Then I tackle the actual game of life. No, I don’t spin that annoying wheel to navigate my days, but you get the gist of it. It’s funny how a game created in the 1950s is mirroring my actual life right now.  

Lessons Learned

My lessons learned during my highly caffeinated, article reading and mind settling morning is that this transition from military to civilian is like “The Game of Life.” You have choices to make that jump start your next move. The key is to remember that you have the power to make these choices. It’s refreshing to have the opportunity to make decisions that help you down the path.

Just like Life pitfalls and roadblocks will rear their ugly heads. It might be in the form of a rough interview. Maybe it is a job that you wanted that didn’t come into fruition. It could be a situation like in my last article where the organization had a five-month hiring process. 

Think back to when you last played a board game. Whether it’s Life or my new favorite "Fluxx", the rules change with every job application. The key is to develop a routine to settle your mind, learn the rules, develop a strategy and head down the path to your next chapter. You'll get there eventually. For now, embrace the uncertainty, unwrap a new "game" and enjoy the journey. 

Best of luck in your transitions and stay tuned for more “Lessons Learned.”

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Trevor Pedro is an Air Force veteran that is transitioning from active duty to retirement. He has served 21 years as a broadcast journalist for the Air Force. Trevor has led teams in 20 nations and traveled to 48 countries advancing the Air Force story through superior storytelling.