An inevitable truth about military life? Every single person transitions out of it at some point. Whether it’s for medical reasons, retirement, or a planned exit, leaving the military is universal … and can be a tricky thing to navigate.

When my husband transitioned out of the military, and we transitioned out of military life, we made all the choices that conventional wisdom advises against: 

• We took a six-week road trip around the U.S. during his terminal leave. 
• John turned down lucrative job opportunities to start his entrepreneurial journey.
• We moved to rural Pennsylvania to make his dream of owning a coffee shop a reality.
• We bought a home without using the VA Home Loan.

And yet, John’s separation from the military went well. That’s because circumstances are unique and leaving the military looks different for everyone.

We all have different dreams and goals, different needs and obstacles, but if you keep these questions in mind, you’ll be laying a solid foundation for whenever your family leaves military life.

Do you have a plan?

While success has many forms, there’s definitely a wrong way to leave the military: By not having a plan. 

It can be easy to put off the really big questions if it feels like your exit from military life is far off in the distance.

But I promise you, it isn’t! Figuring out a plan now will give your family common goals and a way to get there confidently and efficiently. 

Consider these questions while you’re creating your transition plan:

• Where would you like to live? (And, where does it make sense for you to live?)
• What does your spouse need to do to reenter the civilian job market? (Or will they be doing something else, like going back to school? If so, what do they need to do to be prepared?)
• Will you need to reenter the job market? If so, what do you need to do to be prepared? 
• How will you cover expenses like health insurance, mortgage payments, and credit card debts while your service member is transitioning out of the military?
• Do you have any big goals for transition (like buying a house or taking a celebratory trip)? How are you planning for them now?
• What support system does your family need? How will you build it? 

Do you have a transition fund?

Transition is a lot less scary when you have a cushion for your transition plan. Don’t get me wrong: I know that saving money can be difficult on a military salary. That’s why saving now, even if you think your spouse is in for the next 20 years, is so very important. 

Socking away a few bucks here and there now can really add up and eventually lead to a sense of relief and security when you’re making the big leap from military to civilian life.

Is the whole family ready?

It’s important to recognize that when your service member transitions out of the military, the whole family does, too.

The stress of the transition can be compounded by other big changes—like moving to a new town, house, or school. 

Start the conversation around transition early so that your family can feel safe honestly sharing their fears, hopes, and concerns.

If the transition is bringing up some really big feelings, consider counseling. Military OneSource offers free services that include transitioning service members and their families.

What resources are at your disposal?

The benefits of military life don’t stop once your spouse isn’t reporting for PT every morning. There is plenty of support for veterans—you just have to know what’s available. 

If you’re not sure where to start, try these on for size.

• Buying a home after military service? You’ll want to know the ins and outs of the VA Home Loan to decide whether or not it’s a good option for your family. 
• There are many resources available to veterans who want to start their own businesses. This list can help you find the opportunities that are perfect for your situation.
• If the plan is post-secondary education, the VA offers a great place to start for education support for veterans. 
• Transition means lots of new and different expenses, so you want to make every dollar really count. That’s where ID.me comes in. Whether you’re updating a cell phone plan, planning a celebratory trip, preparing to go back to school, or starting another post-military transition, you can stack your savings through exclusive discounts and cash back offers for veterans at ID.me.

Leaving the military can be a stressful next step. There’s no doubt about that. The great news? With preparation and a plan, it can be the start of a brand-new adventure for your family. You can thrive in civilian life. You’ve got this! 

Joanna Guldin-Noll writes helpful content for military families and veterans for ID.me Insider.

She also writes one of the largest military spouse lifestyle blogs online, Jo, My Gosh!

Her writing has been featured in national and international publications.

She is currently the social media manager at Military.com and the co-founder of PILLAR, a free virtual deployment retreat for military spouses and significant others. Joanna lives in Pennsylvania with her Navy veteran husband John and her puppy Albus.

Mission:Milspouse is excited to partner with Jo and ID.me Insider on this blog post.