Military spouses have more experience transitioning to the civilian world than their military service members. With every PCS move, the spouse is often the one enrolling the children in school, seeking out the best grocery store, and engaging with the local community to get involved. Service members go from working at one duty station with those who wear camouflage to a new duty station where most of their coworkers also wear camouflage. Military spouses build a bridge between the civilian community and the military community at each duty station.
The experiences of a military spouse are vital to the service member who is preparing to transition from active duty to retired status. A military spouse’s support for the service member continues into retirement in three fundamental ways.
Understand veteran benefits for service members and spouse
Spouse Seminars
The first step for military spouses approaching their servicemember’s retirement date is to take a spouse retirement seminar. While service members are restricted from taking their retirement seminars until they are within a specific window of retirement, there is not a restriction for the spouse course. Take it a few years from retirement, to begin preparing for the transition.
In the Marine Corps, this seminar is called Spouse Transition and Readiness Seminar, or STARS. The information covered includes resources for job searches, continued education, financial planning and emotional preparation. They are all important to plan for in the months leading up to separation from the military.
If your branch or duty station does not offer a retirement class for spouses, plug into MilSpouse Transition. They are standing up a full-scale transition support program specifically geared toward military spouses.
Get Connected to Veteran’s Organizations
From the Veteran’s Business Outreach Center to networking and support organizations like Upstate Warrior Solutions in Greenville, South Carolina, seek out the local veteran’s support organization where you will live. This has two benefits: Job search support and community. Retirement is an opportunity to build a new chapter of life and set new goals.
Going from a work environment that prides itself on homogeny to the civilian world that does not, transitioning service members benefit from organizations that are made up of fellow veterans. They have wisdom to share because they have completed the transition.
Day-to-Day Life Changes in Retirement
Military life comes with expectations attached to rank and MOS. The biggest change in retirement is there are no military orders to follow. Retired service members can hang up their superhero capes and start indulging in the freedoms they defended during their military careers. For some, this will feel exciting. For others, this may feel heavy and overwhelming.
As a spouse, it is important to keep open communication. Be aware of the service member’s stress levels and any difficulties they are experiencing in the transition. Military OneSource or your local veteran’s group may have resources to help should the stress level of the transition be too tough to handle alone.
This awareness should be applied to the military spouse too. Retirement is a major life change. The entire military family endures the transition to retirement. Each family member will handle the transition in their own way.
Put Down Roots and Thrive
As military spouses, transitioning to retirement alongside your partner presents challenges and opportunities. Advocating for your retired spouse does not end when they receive their DD-214. Supporting your veteran involves understanding the benefits they are entitled to, helping navigate the changes in their day-to-day life, and ensuring a smooth shift to civilian life.
Gain resources for staying informed about veterans’ benefits, leveraging community resources, and fostering open communication about new roles and expectations. When the transition is complete, putting down roots is the final step to a solid life beyond the military.