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…
Physical Readiness Program Updates
Depending on how you consume info, here are a bunch of resources on the new updates:
Navy Times Article – Navy doubles annual PT test requirement, updates failure guidelines
Task & Purpose Article – Navy rolls out twice-a-year fitness tests
Fact Sheet:
NAVADMIN:
All the Posts About Letters to the Board in One Place
It is time to start writing letters to the O6 promotion board, so here are all the posts about letters to the board in one place…
The question most people ask me is answered in these posts:
Should You Send a Letter to the Promotion Board?
Do You Still Need to Send the Above Zone Letter?
The bottom line is:
Pretend that you did not send a letter to the board, the board is over, and you were not selected for promotion. Are you going to be kicking yourself for not sending the letter? If the answer is yes or maybe, then send the letter. As long as you keep it short and sweet, there is no real downside.
Frankly, I think that when officers send letters to promotion boards they are often just making themselves feel better, and there is nothing wrong with that. You want to make sure that when the promotion board results come out, no matter what happened, you feel like you did everything you could to get promoted.
Here is how to request a letter from the Medical Corps Chief:
How to Request a Letter to the Promotion Board from the Medical Corps Chief
Letters to promotion boards have a new due date. You can’t send them the day before the board anymore:
Letters to Promotion Boards Now Due 10 Calendar Days Before the Board
If you know you are getting out of the Navy and really don’t care about getting promoted, you should read this post:
What is a “Don’t Pick Me” Promotion Board Letter? Why Would You Send One?
Have you been on active duty for less than 1 year? Read this:
How to Be Considered for Promotion if You’ve Been on Active Duty for Less Than 1 Year
You now need to use your DoD ID number and not your Social Security number on letters to the board. Read this:
Use DoD ID Number and Not Your SSN on Letters to the Board
You can now submit letters electronically:
Finance Friday Articles
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- How to Buy Life Insurance
- Medicare, TRICARE Price Increases and Tax Changes for 2026
- Why Physicians Should Retire as Multi-Millionaires
- Why we’re underweight stocks
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 