Holiday Retirement Update
I’m 3 months into this retirement journey. Here is an update on some important things:
Timing of Retirement Orders
I requested retirement on 2 OCT 2025.
On 15 NOV 2025, I received notification from NSIPS that my retirement date of 1 JUN 2026 was approved.
On 25 NOV 2025, my orders were released in NSIPS.
Not bad! PERS seems to be moving things along after the government shutdown.
Beware of Unsolicited Recruiters
Once you indicate on your LinkedIn profile that you are “#opentowork” you will probably be contacted by recruiters. So far, I’ve been contacted by three.
One is legit. He is from a legit firm. He helped me update my resume to apply for a position. He charged me nothing.
The other two both were eerily similar. First, both had e-mail addresses from gmail. Both claimed to have positions I was a fit for. Both reviewed my CV/resume, and then both tried to hand me off to someone else to develop my “executive portfolio” for a fee.
I don’t doubt that executive level jobs would require an executive portfolio, but I was not sure that the positions they said were open actually were. I’m suspicious that they just saw where I lived, what I was looking for, and made up positions that were a fit for me.
What’s the nearest hospitals to where he lives? Let’s just tell him that they are advertising their CEO or CMO position. And then we’ll ask him for money to develop an executive portfolio.
These two people may be legit, but I have my doubts.
The Retirement Physical
I had my retirement physical. At the recommendation of a friend who’s done this before, I had every major joint x-rayed. I’m 50 and they all hurt to some extent occasionally, so why not?
They all showed arthritis. This is not a shock, but perhaps will help me document the service related nature of any arthritis that progresses to the point where I need care at the VA. Consider x-rays of all major joints when you get your separation physical.
The VA
As I type this, I have my first appointment with the VA in 5 days. I’m using a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) in Guam to file my Benefit Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claim before I leave active duty. Here is an article that briefly explains why you should probably use a VSO rather than try to do it yourself:
Why should I use a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to assist with a VA claim or appeal?
More updates to follow as this progresses…
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 
January 4, 2026 at 18:42
Did the COLA Trap/pay inversion influence your decision to choose 1 June? Or did it come down to “needs of the Navy”?
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January 4, 2026 at 18:45
I did not consider that at all. I consider it “budget dust” and didn’t worry about it. I got out as early as I could for family reasons.
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