Remember that 30 days of vacation every year? Well, forget it, soldier! Many companies start you at one friggin’ week a year. On the good side, you accrue sick leave and don’t have to ask permission to be ill. Work hours are more flexible in many cases, which was hard for me to get used to.
On the other hand, guys, all those things Skippy isn’t allowed to do in the army? They still pretty much apply in the civilian employment world. 
[url=Skippy’s List]33. Not allowed to chew gum at formation, unless I brought enough for everybody.
- (Next day) Not allowed to chew gum at formation even if I did bring enough for everybody.
[/quote]
Brilliant!
After getting out of the Air Force, my father was surprised that he couldn’t get away with holding meetings in rooms without chairs.
After getting out of the Navy, my brother-in-law was shocked at how little civilians drink at parties.
…with one exception, come to think of it: some police departments are now limiting or banning tattoos for their officers.
This is why I suggest that active duty just slide sideways into defense contractor work. The money is better, the hours are better and you don’t have to wear camo (unless you have to wear camo). But overall, it’s less of a shock to the system.
On the other hand, I understand some of us want to get as far away from it all as possible.
The adjustment is not that tough, I did much better than yard bird work. Of course many of us that do one term and out head back to school with the money we saved up.
[slight hijack] Did anyone else have to take a class to prepare yourself to be a civilian before their discharge? The Navy had a program where you wore civilian clothes, referred to your classmates by first name only, and were lectured about the difference between being in the military/returning home. [/slight hijack]
I was Navy, I got out at the end of 1988. We did not have a class. (USS Ranger CV-61)
I don’t understand the civvies part. We wore civvies all the time of the ship. We called people by a mix of first name, last name and nicknames. Why did they feel this class was needed and what year did you take it?
Jim
At the very least, I know that Air Force trainees who have been in medical hold for a long time take a class on how to reenter the civilian world and deal with their discharges, especially if they have a mental health discharge.
A good chewing out is no longer admired as a work of art. And you can feel like shit if you make the kid at the front desk cry for giving her a two minute lecture on the stupidity of asking someone coming into the hotel at ten PM in a blizzard if they want a room, and only waiting til after the response is, “Yes, please,” to inform the person that there were no vacancies on the premises.
I no longer have to tell people to shut up for 1MC announcements. I’ve even, after nearly 15 years, begun being able to talk over announcements in stores.
Speaking without cursing every second word is considered polite. Not effeminate.
Nicknames should no longer be based upon things that might be considered TMI incidents.
For that matter, I have to keep reminding myself what TMI means to most people. (Three Mile Island, isn’t that what everyone thinks at first when they hear/see TMI? 
)
I do not remember the name of the class, but it was mandatory for personnel at overseas duty stations. Not sure about shore commands in CONUS. This was in 1993. We could only wear civvies at the class, and every one was on a first name basis; the higher pay grades would slowly grind their teeth at the enlisted folks being “familiar” towards them instead of our being deferential as usual.
It was a little disconcerting to see a Lt. Commander the next day, (and having to salute him) after saying 24 hours earlier “You know, Bob, I think that’s bullshit.”
The only time that I could wear civvies on board is if I had liberty, or was not leaving my berthing area. We also used a mix of first/last/nicknames in the fleet, but this class really stressed that once we got out, we were all the same, rank-wise.
I think that the Navy wanted to ensure that our adjustment to life back state side would go as smoothly as possible.
I never kept in touch with anyone in the class, so I’m not sure if everyone had a smooth adjustment.