Blogs for your consideration...
Over 20 years' worth of observations, recommendations, and considerations on life, family, and the military lie within these narratives. Cheers!
The Blended Retirement System (BRS) is the military’s 3-pronged approach at ensuring you have something to show for when you retire, whether that’s after a twenty or four year career. Most people are aware of the former retirement system that basically only provided a pension if you completed 20 yea...
This is part of a 3 blog series on TSP. If you want to be notified when the next related blogs post, sign-up here: Deliberate Military Experience Blog sign up
Even though the TSP tries to empower you to make an informed decision on whether or not to establish a traditional vs Roth account, things g...
This is part of a 3-blog series on TSP. If you want to be notified when the next related blogs post, sign-up here: Deliberate Military Experience Blog sign up
The military’s civilian-equivalent retirement plan, called the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), is the military’s best wealth-growing program. It’...
Before I had my first child, I had never seen a woman nurse her baby in real life. Never. I was a product of the 80’s, when formula was the norm and breastfeeding was something just in the background. Breastfeeding a baby just wasn’t something I was exposed to, had any interest in, or knowledge abou...
The standards of the military are high and, sometimes, mysterious. If you’re not within a certain weight, you can’t join. If you don’t score high enough on the ASVAB, you have limited jobs to choose from. The military ultimately tells you where to go. Both leaders and faceless entities decide if you...
At times in my career, I felt like my pay was lower than what I wanted, but at least I could easily look at the military pay chart and project as to when a step increase was to be expected. It gave me something to look forward to. If I could work through a temporary frustration point or wait out a l...
People join the military for a variety of reasons. The military is full of opportunities and benefits, from free healthcare for those on active duty to traveling around the world. The military is rich in heritage and duty. Some people feel compelled to serve because there is a legacy of volunteerism...
Over the years, I’ve been asked a lot of questions pertaining to my military career. From “Have you ever killed anyone?” to “Where have you been stationed?” and everything in between. I even had a friend ask me vehemently why I would join the Army over the Air Force when I graduated high school (it’...
As a medical-type person (for clarification, I was a medical administrator), being certified in CPR came with the territory. Every two years, I’d be at my mandatory refresher training. People in the class varied in skill level and experience, from dentists to public health technicians to emergency r...
I have never received a formal “bonus” of any kind. I have watched soldiers and airmen piece together the first decade of their careers, one year at a time, with the hope of scoring $3,000-$5,000 bonuses for a three-to-five-year commitment. I have watched some physicians and intensive care nurses ea...
