Word doc: Do not send this; just get it out of your system.
1 - When you decide to leave the military, do NOT send an angry email. Better yet, do not send an email at all. Make the tough phone call if you are on the road or schedule the meeting face-to-face with your supervisor. If you are angry about a particular situation such as sequestration or a bad boss put those words down on a MS Word document instead of into a MS Outlook email.
Word doc: Again, just get it out of your system and do NOT quote Sir Richard Branson!
2 - Make sure you are leaving on your terms and not because of a bad situation or bad leadership. This seems obvious, but a wise GS-14 once reminded me that bad bosses are everywhere. This same civilian also warned me that I was being called insubordinate during the same time I was applying to separate, which led me to repeat Step 1 and realize that the decision to separate was mine and mine alone.
Screenshot: Keep it short and sweet with AFPC, they don't read this crap anyway.
3 - Accept that you will have to do everything yourself. This includes communicating with AFPC, finance, TMO, and similar agencies as well as scheduling the pre-TAP and TAP courses. All of this must be done while also working full time and trying to find a replacement. I was unable to accomplish the last part and had to be both the Commander and Operations Officer the last month of Active Duty. This was to the detriment of the unit and for that I apologize.
Screenshot: Control what you can control...document, document, DOCUMENT
4 - Track and document everything. I realize that most everyone knows this, but AFPC will lose everything twice as will finance and TMO and AFRC. Simply create a transition binder or folder and carrying it around like the Holy Bible.
5 - Record all conversations so that you can remember who is supposed to do what. You will be overwhelmed with different instructions and told that certain people do not have access to your leave or your separation profile or whatever. Write it down or tape it. Whatever your method, record it.
6 - Record all conversations with your immediate supervisor because he has no clue who you are or why you want to separate and they will make you laugh. Over the course of a ten-minute conversation, we spent two-minutes talking about barbecue and I was actually tasked to email him that I had secured his steak 'rub'. Never once did he ask what I plan on doing when I got out or what new career I wanted to pursue. He also asked about the voluntary pay amount as well as the number in my year group getting force shaped. His previous source had been the AF Times.
Screenshot: In true wiki fashion (anime photo)...smile!
7 - Try to enjoy the process. It is the last time you will have to deal with that particular headache!
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