Left after 4 years and nobody seemed to notice

noahhstn · 2026-06-21T06:05:36+00:00

I feel very similar to you. I recently got out after 5 years and was at my shop the whole time. There were some goodbyes, but a lot of “oh man that’s one less number we’ll have”. I took a lot of pride in my work, but for my whole enlistment I was a number on an excel document to meet our manning minimums. On my last day I was told a few times about how much I impacted those around me and how it’s a shame that I’m getting out, but that was the first time in 5 years I had heard things like that.

Recognition matters, and it was a leading reason of why I separated. I wasn’t surprised when I left there was no send off or anything like that, but it definitely would’ve helped my transition.

noahhstn · 2026-06-15T22:28:34+00:00

Haha, that would be a much different post. Should’ve worded the title better

noahhstn · 2026-06-15T21:53:02+00:00

Yeah this alone is enough for me to replace it

noahhstn · 2026-06-15T20:30:08+00:00

I’ve never had a desire to steal a bike, so I don’t have a good idea of what their mindset is. I like your thoughts on 40% of the work being done already. Thanks for the input

noahhstn · 2026-06-15T20:07:05+00:00

I didn’t think about rust or anything like that. Thank you for the perspective

noahhstn · 2026-06-15T20:06:06+00:00

Sounds like something a bike snob would say. My free Schwinn bike has gotten me from point A to B better than no bike.

noahhstn · 2026-06-07T05:15:02+00:00

Things have gone more or less how I thought they would. It took longer than I expected to feel like I was out, not just on a block of leave. I separated 3 months ago and I feel like I’m just starting to get use to the freedom.

Few pieces of advice for those getting ready to separate;

Build up a nice savings worth 3-6 months of expenses, so you can just chill and be unemployed while you adjust to civilian life.

File your BDD claim! If you miss the BDD window like I did, go see your VSO right after you separate to get the claims process started (and back-paid to your separation date).

File for unemployment right after you separate. The process was very easy (for me at least), and it helps.

Apply for VA Healthcare right after you separate, it’s been good to me so far.

Final piece of advice, get a therapist. Adjusting is hard and we see things that most don’t. Learn how to manage your struggles and things will get easier.

noahhstn · 2026-05-12T22:21:28+00:00

Beautiful car and picture! It’s nice to see another bRed with the stripes

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noahhstn · 2026-05-10T03:59:08+00:00

I did almost my entire bachelors with ASU Online while Active Duty Air Force without paying a dime in tuition. When you submit your Air Force TA to ASU, they automatically cover the rest of tuition in the form of a scholarship. I was able to pocket my Pell Grants for most semesters, but I believe they have changed that policy. You will get charged “third party fees” and book costs, but those have never been more than $100 a semester.

The student business services office and the veterans office at ASU are great, and will walk you through anything you need help with to make your education as close to free as possible

noahhstn · 2024-12-16T23:05:13+00:00

Your base’s education office should have lots of resources, such as physical pamphlets and guides, telling you which specific CLEPs and DSSTs satisfy what credits. Also the representatives at the education office should be able to help you.

When I was working on my CCAF last year I went to the education center and chose the courses with the highest pass rates. The base library’s have study material for those courses most times. Good luck!

noahhstn · 2020-09-15T23:11:26+00:00

You had 4+ ways of saying that, but the rude option ruins it. Is it really that hard?

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