Military Transitions

We've all delt with some form of Transition in our lives. From my experience with military Service, there comes a plethora of Transitions. "We don't know what we don't kow", this phrase I have heard and even utilized many a times throughout my military career. My takeaway from nearing two decades of military Service is that the more informed and proactive we as Servicemembers are from the onset of our Service to its inevitable conclusion, be it separation or retirement, the better hopefully we and our Families are to weather the impact of each Transition. From assimilation, sometimes referred to as indoctrination, to our eventual separation-no matter how prepared we think we are, there's usually the "we don't know what we don't know" factor.  Sometimes we don't know because we think we know and bypass the information in front of us that can shed some much needed insights. And sometimes, we don't know because the information we need to know isn't often discussed and is usually happened upon when we're in the thick of it-what I call 'OJL" (On the Job Learning). The more known before and during any type of transition in the military, from a permanent change of duty station, to deployment, to retirement, the less 'OJL' needed for us and/or our Families. Hopefully, what we touch on will lessen your 'OJL' during whatever Transition phase you and your Family are currently experiencing in your military Service journey. Thank you for your Service and Be Blessed!