Honorable Discharge

I just received my Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Navy. After four and a half years on active duty and twenty-four years of various levels of activity as a Reservist, it feels a little strange not to have a DOD ID card.

On the OTHER hand, I imagine that there are a good many middle aged officers and senior enlisted in Iraq right now that would think it a blessing to get one of these.

So I am a COMPLETE civilian now!

 

Thanks for all those years of service. What's the next step?
Jack

 

No course change in sight. I was not all that active a reservist for the last decade or so which is why I didn't acquire enough "points" each year to retire with pension eligibility at age 60.

 

The Navy? Las Cruces NM?

(Camels are the ships of the desert, so maybe...)

Seriously though, I agree with Jack. All of you military people are there for us and we appreciate your service.

After 28 years active and in the reserves, being discharged has gotta be a shock on your system.

But continuing to be a busy attorney and a serious DL student is a pretty active "retirement".

 

Nos,
Welcome to the fam! I received my honorable discharge last January (of course I am only 34 so I have lots of life left in me HAHA ... kidding )

Civ life isn't all that bad. At least I got some great all weather PT clothes out of the deal.

 

Congratulations, Nos!

All this time I had somehow missed that you were in the Navy Reserve. I say this sincerely: Knowing that our Navy Reserve has a few around like you is a comfort, to be sure.

 

What they said.

 

I've been in and out of the military, to include active and reserve.

All of my discharges are honorable. LOL

 

But are you Shellback? In any case, congrats on the milestone.

 

Nosborne along everyone else who has served,

Thank you. It's unfortunate that the number of Americans who have ever served keeps getting smaller.

 

Nosborne,

sorry you missed the retirement, I a assume you explored all your options, IMA, etc... before leaving.

So, Congratulations on your discharge.

Kevin

 

Just to make things clear:

I entered active duty as an Officer Candidate in 1976. I was separated from active duty and became a drilling (selected) reservist in 1981. I became an Individual Ready Reservist in 1992 (when I sailed for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company as a civilian in support of Bush War I. From that point forward, I did annual training duty both schools and duty in support of the fleet, occasional courses, and a WONDERFUL training cruise with the Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets.

What has happened now is that I have served the maximum number of years of commissioned service allowed to a Commander and was therefore discharged.

All that has happened now is that I have received my final, ultimate discharge. It just feels a little weird to no longer have a connection, however tenuous, with the U.S. Navy.

Thanks to all for your good wishes.

I am indeed a "shellback"having been initiated into the mysteries of Neptune's realm off Singapore in 1978 and having crossed the line a second time near Barbadoes in 1994. (No, I didn't torture any cadets in my turn; I can still remember the sunburn blisters on my legs from the first go around.)

 

Re: Re: Honorable Discharge

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Could it be that they transport their ships down to the Rio Grande one weekend a month and two weeks every summer?

 

I was discharged a total of 5 times, the final one resulting in my regular retirement. (Plus one status change while a reservist.) That's a lot of paperwork, but it's all worth it on the first day of each month.

 

So far I've only been honorably discharged twice; once by the Army National Guard and once from the active duty Army.

One more honorable discharge to go! (5 more years and an Army Reserve discharge/retirement)

 

Nosborne,

Thank you for your service. Too bad you had to have all those hard earned retirement points go to waste. It would have been a nice check when you turned 60 and it sounds like you came close to that 20 year letter.

 

Congtatulations, airborne Nosborne!

Oh, no, wait, forgive me ...... you are Navy, not Air Force!

No matter, much congrats to you, Sir. You are a true officer and a gentleman.

Anytime you and your family are in the nation's capital or area and need to drop your anchors for a while, at least, in a warm and friendly place, give me a ring.

Thanks for your many honorable years of service working (on and off-sea - in air, on land, everywhere) to keep the high seas and rough waters safe and secure for all of us.

I/We salute you!

Thanks.

 

Retirement

Got my retirement certificate from the U.S. Navy on Saturday, backdated to 1 March 2005. My wife said, "Now you can move on." The reality is that if you have been military, it's always an important part of your life.

Ternahan

 

Re: Retirement

Congratulations to you (and to all) for your honorable service. And thank you.

Some people really struggle with "moving on." At my retirement I had an advantage in that (a) I'd left active duty once before (as an NCO I went into the Air Force Reserve) and (b) I was only 36 when I retired from active duty (as a captain). But even with those, it was still a struggle. I didn't start making real money (as compared to my active duty salary) until several years after retirement. And to this day, more than 9 years since retirement, I still dream about being on active duty. (Almost always as a captain who's way beyond his high-year tenure and wondering why I'm still around--kinda like a marriage )

Anyway, some folks are able to put it all behind them. I don't have any uniforms hanging in the closet, nor do I have any memorabilia on display. I'm not a member of an officers club, nor of The Retired Officers Association. But I'm very proud to have served, and continue to enjoy my service.

A tale. I recently found myself in Panama City with reservations at what turned out to be a crummy hotel on the beach. I balked--my wife refused to stay there--and they refunded our money (more than $400 for 3 nights). But we were stuck without a hotel room. I called Tyndall AFB and got lodging at the officers quarters for, get this, about 25 bucks a night. Nice room, full maid service, and a beautiful beach nearby. And I humbly submit, it was nice to get a salute at the gate each time we entered. (And even better to return it with pride.)

I'll always be an Air Force officer. And I'll always be ready to serve, even if my time (at 45) has surely passed.

Maybe the Civil Air Patrol is looking for someone to do some cadet training....?

 

I certainly agree with your sentiment. In my case, I'll always be a Chief. I spent six years in the Fleet Reserve following 24 years of active duty. So this certificate was my transfer to the retired list.

Lots of people have difficulty transitioning, even if they feel they are well prepared. I certainly did.

Those who have taken advantage of the educational opportunities available have an easier time, in my opinion. There's something about education that increases mental flexibility to deal with change. The saddest are those who aren't able to deal with the loss of structure because the military is all they've ever known.