Why I Retired
“Why did you retire? I thought you were going to…”
I get this line of inquiry a lot. Here is the explanation.
Last year I started to have conversations with the Corps Chief’s Office about a post-command tour after Guam. I was told that the flag mess wanted me to get a surface warfare pin. In order to get one, I would have to become a CATF Surgeon and go to sea.
When I asked how long they would make me stay in the CATF billet before they let me compete for a more typical post-command position, they gave me the same answer that I would have given me if I was the Detailer or Deputy Corps Chief. The answer was that they would be writing me 3 year orders and that it would be up to the Detailers when I would be allowed to leave the billet for another position, hopefully a Fleet Surgeon job.
After spending 2 years in Guam unaccompanied, I was not willing to go to sea for an undetermined amount of time with an unknown endpoint. I would have been at 25 years, with only 5 years left before I was statutory. If I was going to be looked at for promotion, it would have happened very late in my 30 year career. I’d likely be age 53 or 54 before I got a serious look at promotion, and I don’t want to be working full-time at age 60.
My financial goal has always been to be financially independent by age 50 so I could retire if I wanted to. If I was having fun, I would hang around beyond that, but if I wasn’t, I’d have the option to leave. Going to sea after 2 years unaccompanied in Guam, and 2 of my last 3 sets of orders being unaccompanied/GEOBACH, was not my definition of fun. As a result, I retired.
The bottom line is that I didn’t want to go to sea just to get a pin after being unaccompanied in Guam for 2 years. If I was not willing to do what the flag mess wanted me to do, I’d rather just get out. As a result, I retired. It is that simple.
I hope that answers people’s question. I wanted to put my thought process out there.
As of now, the plan is to continue and improve the blog, helping people in Navy Medicine for as long as my help is useful.
July 5, 2026 at 07:13
Well at least unlike many others you went overseas late in your career. I hope you enjoy your retirement!
July 5, 2026 at 10:42
Joel, you have done more than enough. We are all grateful to have had you as a Medical Corps leader. The CATF Surgeon job would’ve been a HUGE step down for you. Believe me, I have been there.
Keep being you, that’s who the world needs.
V/r,
John Saenz
July 5, 2026 at 15:32
the worst part is that I’ve met many a MC officer who has spent less than 30 days at sea with their SWMDO. This whole organization is a joke.
July 5, 2026 at 17:07
I hope that Navy Medicine starts to do a deep dive into why we can’t keep tenured talent. If a pin was necessary your mentors, detailers, etc did a great disservice by not saying this earlier in your career. I remember you as XO at NMCP and you brought the balance that was needed. Enjoy your retirement, well deserved!
July 6, 2026 at 00:08
Dr. Schofer,
Thank you—not just for this post, but for everything you’ve done for Navy Medicine over the years.
I don’t think many people fully appreciate how much of your work has become part of the institutional memory of our community. Countless officers have made better financial decisions, negotiated contracts more confidently, and planned their careers more intentionally because you took the time to write things down. That impact will continue long after any of us have left active duty.
Reading your post, I found myself hoping something for you.
I hope there comes a day when you truly feel free to close the laptop, step away from the blog without guilt, and simply enjoy the retirement you worked so hard to earn. Your legacy is already secure. The lessons you’ve shared are recorded and will continue helping people for years to come.
Perhaps the greatest gift a mentor can give is eventually demonstrating that there is life beyond the profession—that after decades of service, it’s okay to choose yourself. For those of us still on the journey, seeing someone cross the finish line with peace and purpose may be just as valuable as all the career advice that got us there.
Thank you for showing us the path. I hope you now get to enjoy the view from the other side.