(This article by MOAA's Transition Services Team, part of MOAA's 2025 Transition Guide, originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)
Leaving the military offers a new chapter, but it’s one that can be daunting. From A to Z, MOAA’s Transition Services team explains what to expect as you move from the military to the civilian world.
ACADEMIA: It is more than just teaching or adjunct professor roles, consider the business of education, administration, training, and higher learning. There is often a great quality of work/life balance with a defined schedule tied to the academic school year. The Association of Military Colleges & Schools of the United States is a valuable resource for transitioning servicemembers and veterans considering career and employment opportunities.
BUSINESS CARDS: Your business card is a practical tool, so keep it simple by including your name, email address, and a phone number where you can be reached over the next year. Choose a matte finished card stock instead of glossy, as it allows for easy writing without smudging. Often, writing a note on your card before handing it over can help the recipient remember the encounter and prevent it from being discarded.
While digital business cards are on the rise, it’s wise to have both physical and digital versions to accommodate everyone’s preferences.
[RELATED: Do Business Cards Still Matter?]
CONCURRENT RECEIPT: There are two concurrent receipt programs — Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). CRDP eligibility requires the veteran to have 20 or more years of service and a VA disability compensation rating of 50% or higher. Those with less than 20 years and/or a rating of 40% or less have the “VA Waiver” applied. The VA waiver offsets the VA disability amount from retired pay. Veterans must apply for CRSC from their service component.
The service will look at the veteran’s VA ratings and determine which are “combat related.” This will generate a separate combat rating. Chapter 61 (medical retirees) with less than 20 years of service are eligible for CRSC. Under CRSC, the VA waiver is applied to retired pay, and the veteran receives a tax free CRSC from the pay center commensurate with the combat rating.
[MOAA PUBLICATION: Concurrent Receipt: Your Guide to CRDP and CRSC (Exclusive to Premium and Life Members)]
DISABILITY COMPENSATION: Military service is demanding on our bodies. Those leaving or retiring from service are encouraged to submit a VA disability compensation claim to offset physical disadvantages compared to civilian counterparts.
Veterans should submit claims for chronic disabilities incurred or aggravated due to their service. The VA will review claims and service medical records, schedule medical exams, and determine whether each claimed disability is either service connected or denied. Individual ratings will be combined into a final rating, and the veteran will receive a tax-free payment based on the rating and number of dependents.
Get more details from the VA at this link.
[2025 TRANSITION GUIDE: Support for Servicemembers-Turned-Entrepreneurs]
ESTATE PLANNING: No matter what stage of life you are at, it’s vitally important you have an estate plan to protect your loved ones and to make sure your estate is distributed according to your wishes.
MOAA has several publications that help you decide what you should have in your plan. It’s best to consult a legal professional in your state of residence to make sure your estate plan is executed correctly.
[RELATED: MOAA Members Save With Everplans]
FINANCIAL CALCULATORS: MOAA’s suite of calculators can help you do the math when it comes to a variety of financial decisions, such as determining how much civilian pay would be needed to match your military pay, choosing when to claim Social Security benefits, comparing Roth versus traditional retirement plans, and getting the best deal on mortgages.
There’s even a retirement pension planner to help you figure out the best way to take withdrawals when you have both a pension and retirement savings.
GI BILL: The “Forever Post-9/11 GI Bill” provides up to four years of education benefits for undergraduate or graduate level degree programs, vocational schools, flight training, correspondence courses, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training programs.
This no-enrollment-fee benefit covers the net cost of tuition, fees, housing, and books. The exciting aspect of this GI bill is that it may be transferred to a spouse or children with the requirement to serve an additional four years. You can compare school costs at this VA link.
HEALTH CARE TRANSITION: Retirees must enroll in their preferred TRICARE program within 90 days of leaving service. Your two main stateside options are TRICARE Prime (TP) or TRICARE Select (TS). TP will cost less, but you’ll have less flexibility than TS. If you live near a military treatment facility, you’ll spend even less. Unlike TP, TS allows you to seek specialty care without a referral from your primary care manager.
Once you’ve decided on your plan, contact the regional contractor — Humana Military (East Coast), TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp (West Coast), or International SOS (TS Overseas) — with your preference. Click here to compare TRICARE plan costs.
[RELATED: MOAA's TRICARE Guide]
INTERVIEWING: For those transitioning from the military, you may be going on your first interview ever. However, don’t let it stress you. That potential employer is not trying to trip you up, instead they are trying to ascertain whether you are the best candidate for their job need.
So, relax and remember you know your accomplishments better than anyone. Moreover, advance preparation will help ensure a more effective interview — one that is akin to a comfortable conversation where you “seal the deal.” For a deep dive on interviewing, Premium and Life members can check out a recent MOAA Career Transition Tools Workshop.
JUNIOR OFFICER: When transitioning from active duty as a junior officer, it is wise to reflect on your reasons, as “getting out” may not be the solution to your situation. Consult your mentors and explore the possibility of transferring to another community if you feel stifled, restless, or stuck.
If leaving active duty is definitively your path, consider continuing your service in the Reserve or National Guard. Be prepared for the possibility that your peers at your new employer may be younger than you. Remember, leadership is not defined by the number of people you lead.
KSA: This acronym stands for knowledge, skills, and abilities. Most federal government jobs will outline the KSA requirements in the job announcement.
Be sure your résumé reflects these KSAs by demonstrating how you can employ them in the role for which you applied. KSAs should be concise, emphasize your achievements and accomplishments, and showcase your unique value proposition on how you would perform in the position. Looking to land a federal job? MOAA offers an exclusive MOAA Life member benefit for a personalized consultation session with a federal hiring consultant.
[LEARN MORE: MOAA.org/Fedjobs]
LINKEDIN: Put a strong emphasis on having a polished and professional LinkedIn profile. Someone is far more likely to see your profile long before they see your résumé. As the world’s largest professional network, with over 1 billion users, your profile allows you to be found by employers looking for your particular brand of talent.
You want to ensure your profile effectively conveys who you are and what you can do. LinkedIn provides free, one-year Premium access for active duty/Guard/Reserve, veterans, military spouses, veterans affairs caregivers, and Fry scholars.
MENTORING: American Corporate Partners (ACP) helps veterans achieve career goals through a free national mentorship program and is a proud partner of MOAA. Thousands of veterans have already taken advantage of these opportunities with great results.
A mentorship relationship can help you build a stronger network of professionals, improve your résumé and interview skills, and help you to advance at your current job. Seeking a mentor? Learn more about the ACP Veteran Mentoring Program for MOAA Members.
NETWORKING: Given that about 80% to 85% of job seekers find their next job through networking, be sure to spend 75% of your time actively networking to help you discover opportunities by connecting with associates, industry leaders, and peers. By networking with peers, colleagues, friends, and associations, you’ll gain valuable insights and find job openings, often before they are posted for hire.
There are myriad opportunities to network in-person and at one of our regularly held virtual career fairs.
[RELATED: Upcoming MOAA Events]
OVERALL COMPENSATION: Salary is typically the major barometer of your overall compensation package. But other factors must be considered when making the decision to either accept, decline, or renegotiate an offer.
Consider bonus potential, health care, retirement plan matching and vesting schedules, vacation time, life insurance, and other work/life balance issues. Are work hours flexible? Is telework an option? What is the personal growth potential with this company? These other employee benefits may turn what you believe to be a lackluster salary offer into an excellent overall compensation package.
To find salary ranges for different professions and locations, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website or Salary.com.
PUBLICATIONS: MOAA Premium and Life members have free access to MOAA publications, with select items available to Basic members. Written in plain English, MOAA’s suite of print and digital publications will help you navigate all stages of your career and life by offering the insights and trusted advice you need.
From personal finance and earned benefits to transition, spouse, family, and survivorship, MOAA is here to support you along the journey.
[READ MORE: MOAA Publications]
QLE: Qualifying life events allow you to make changes to your TRICARE health plan. QLEs include marriage, birth of a child, retirement from active duty, divorce, or moving. Depending on eligibility, a QLE opens a 90-day window that may allow you to enroll in a new TRICARE health plan or change your existing coverage.
Without a QLE, you can only make changes to your health plan during TRICARE open season, which occurs each fall.
RÉSUMÉ: Your résumé is essentially unlocking the “power of you.” Paint a compelling picture by telling a coherent story of how your skills and accomplishments relate to the job at hand. Always be sure to include the “so what” — in other words, why should the reader care about what you’ve written?
Use the job announcement and key words as sources for the employer’s needs. Adding your special results, impacts, and accomplishments is a way to prove that you can add value to an organization. For more on résumés and career transition, visit MOAA's Résumé Help page.
STATE REPORT CARD: Picking a place to live is one of the most important
decisions you’ll make as you transition. The costs of living vary wildly from place to place, and so do state taxes, which can take an unexpectedly big bite out of your post-military budget. MOAA’s State Report Card is an invaluable tool to help you make that choice. It tracks each state’s tax treatment of military retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments.
[RELATED: Uniformed Services Retirees in These States May See Changes in 2025]
TOTAL FORCE+: MOAA’s inaugural conference, Oct. 28-29, 2025, will address critical issues for the military and veteran community, including pay, benefits, health care, recruiting, retention, transition, and retirement. Key topics are talent management, leadership development, quality of life, and the veteran experience.
The conference unites decision-makers to tackle these challenges, ensuring our military remains the world’s best while improving the lives of those who serve.
[JOIN THE WAITLIST: TotalForce+]
UNIQUE PATH: Chart your own course! While transition is common, it is unique to everyone. Learn from others’ best practices and pitfalls, but don’t feel compelled to follow their path exactly — that’s a recipe for disappointment and frustration.
Own your journey by understanding your unique strengths, values, and preferences, and pursue them. Remember, your dream job might be someone else’s nightmare and vice versa. So, do you.
VA: The best advice MOAA can offer when dealing with the VA is to consult
with a veterans service organization (VSO). VSOs provide claim and appeals services at no cost to the veteran or survivor, with no obligation to join their association. Click here to find a VA accredited VSO.
Most states participate in the County VSO program. To find a County VSO, type “[your state] department of veteran services” into an online search engine.
WEBINARS: MOAA's Transition Center regularly presents webinars offering in-depth analysis on finance and benefits, valuable advice on careers and transitioning, and information on your earned veteran benefits. These educational offerings are free and open to all ranks, military spouses, and
surviving spouses.
Even if you can’t make the live event, register and we will send you a link to view the recording at your convenience.
[MORE: MOAA's Webinar Archive]
SIGN ON THE X: One of the most exhilarating steps in the hiring process is when you hear: “We would like to make you an offer.” When considering a job offer, you have three options: Accept, decline, or renegotiate.
If you opt to discuss salary, benefits, and possible perks/incidentals with your future employer, strive to do it in person, make it conversational, understand your bottom line, and demonstrate a willingness to compromise. Get more personalized advice from a MOAA career transition expert at the Executive Career Transition Accelerator Seminar or a salary and benefits negotiation workshop. Watch our upcoming events for a future opportunity to learn more.
TRICARE YOUNG ADULT: Many military families don’t realize that their children age out of TRICARE at age 21, or age 23 if a full-time student. TRICARE Young Adult is a premium-based health care plan that adult dependent children can purchase after their eligibility for “regular” TRICARE coverage has ended.
Enrollees can choose between Select and Prime options and can be covered until age 26.
ZOOMING: Oftentimes, people zoom in on résumé writing. While the résumé is crucial to landing an interview, it is not the first step in landing a role that you love.
Rather, zoom out and take a strategic approach to your transition. Zoom in on the type of work that makes you feel most satisfied, versus all of the things you can do. Give yourself permission to pursue the roles that leverage your strengths and energize you, and you will find your fit in the workplace.