I know this is pretty standard and should be common sense but evidently I’m stupid.
I rotated from a destroyer after 5 years. I figured that since I was on shore duty it really shouldn’t matter if I am separating. I had multiple chiefs and higher ups tell me I was destroying my future naval career by picking the shore duty I did because it was known as a relaxed chill command. (I had proven myself way beyond what was considered standard for my job) I’m now on shore duty and the treatment after informing them upon my arrival that I was separating has been insane. I have stood watch on Thanksgiving, all of Christmas, New Years, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, plus our department got a day off for no alcohol related incidents guess who stood duty then as well. It’s been pretty blatant that anything involving me is not a priority or seen as essential.
So here’s some advice. Just Google military separation calendar. It brings up a one year calendar that tells you everything you need to do to separate. You can lie to your chain about wanting until your 10 months out in my opinion. So be smart and lie. Because they will abandon you, the moment you say you’re going to separate.
