Update:
I’m about one year post-MEB retirement, and life is so much better outside the military. The care I receive at the VA has been excellent, and I truly prefer it over what I experienced on active duty.
Through VR&E, I’ve already graduated with my bachelor’s and started my master’s program—all without touching my GI Bill. On the financial side, once everything was finalized with the VA in October, I began receiving VA pay on November 1, 2024. Before that, I had Air Force retirement pay (about $1,600/month since I only served a few years), plus VR&E provided BAH while I was in school. That combination kept us afloat during the transition.
Health-wise, I still deal with pain, but I no longer face the constant pressure and shame I felt in the military. Now, I can manage my conditions with flexibility, working part-time in a role I love while attending school, all with accommodations that support my medical needs.
I recently dropped Tricare because VA care has exceeded my expectations—it covers everything at 100%, unlike Tricare where I had to pay out of pocket for things that were previously free on active duty. My husband, as my dependent, still has Tricare for only about $30/month plus $20 for FEDVIP dental, which works well for us. He’s also back in school on the VA’s dime, which has been a huge blessing.
One of the best resources I’ve used is the VA’s Whole Health program. Services like massage therapy and acupuncture have helped tremendously with my pain. I also completed about a year of weekly PTSD therapy (EMDR, ACT, and more), and my care team was outstanding—far better than the mental health support I received while active duty. I now see a functional medicine doctor at the VA, which means my treatment options go beyond just medication. For example, I’ve only received pain meds when I specifically asked, and instead I’ve been provided free recovery tools like a TENS unit, knee sleeve, and heating/cooling pad.
VR&E has also been a huge help—they provided me with a brand-new laptop, accessories, and a printer for school. I’ve recently requested noise-canceling headphones and an iPad for note-taking, and I’m waiting to hear if those will be approved.
I won’t sugarcoat it—the first month after separation was tough. I had panic attacks just trying to navigate the VA hospital, and when I went to get my ID, I was mistakenly told I wasn’t 100% yet (since my claim wasn’t finalized until October). That led to a breakdown in someone’s office, but thankfully my VA social worker stepped in and fixed everything. If you look at my ID photo, you can definitely tell I’d just been crying! Even before my rating was finalized, though, I was still able to receive full VA care—it just delayed benefits like using the VA home loan. As soon as things were finalized, we bought a house in November, and between the VA loan and waived property taxes, we even got money back at closing.
On a personal note, I did put fitness on the back burner for a while and gained about 20 lbs, but I got back into working out this past March. I’ve been feeling better, losing weight, and enjoying a really nice gym—honestly, much better than anything I ever had access to for free on base.
All in all, it’s been a great journey! I love my life now and wish I could tell active duty me that it was all going to be alright!
I’m about one year post-MEB retirement, and life is so much better outside the military. The care I receive at the VA has been excellent, and I truly prefer it over what I experienced on active duty.
Through VR&E, I’ve already graduated with my bachelor’s and started my master’s program—all without touching my GI Bill. On the financial side, once everything was finalized with the VA in October, I began receiving VA pay on November 1, 2024. Before that, I had Air Force retirement pay (about $1,600/month since I only served a few years), plus VR&E provided BAH while I was in school. That combination kept us afloat during the transition.
Health-wise, I still deal with pain, but I no longer face the constant pressure and shame I felt in the military. Now, I can manage my conditions with flexibility, working part-time in a role I love while attending school, all with accommodations that support my medical needs.
I recently dropped Tricare because VA care has exceeded my expectations—it covers everything at 100%, unlike Tricare where I had to pay out of pocket for things that were previously free on active duty. My husband, as my dependent, still has Tricare for only about $30/month plus $20 for FEDVIP dental, which works well for us. He’s also back in school on the VA’s dime, which has been a huge blessing.
One of the best resources I’ve used is the VA’s Whole Health program. Services like massage therapy and acupuncture have helped tremendously with my pain. I also completed about a year of weekly PTSD therapy (EMDR, ACT, and more), and my care team was outstanding—far better than the mental health support I received while active duty. I now see a functional medicine doctor at the VA, which means my treatment options go beyond just medication. For example, I’ve only received pain meds when I specifically asked, and instead I’ve been provided free recovery tools like a TENS unit, knee sleeve, and heating/cooling pad.
VR&E has also been a huge help—they provided me with a brand-new laptop, accessories, and a printer for school. I’ve recently requested noise-canceling headphones and an iPad for note-taking, and I’m waiting to hear if those will be approved.
I won’t sugarcoat it—the first month after separation was tough. I had panic attacks just trying to navigate the VA hospital, and when I went to get my ID, I was mistakenly told I wasn’t 100% yet (since my claim wasn’t finalized until October). That led to a breakdown in someone’s office, but thankfully my VA social worker stepped in and fixed everything. If you look at my ID photo, you can definitely tell I’d just been crying! Even before my rating was finalized, though, I was still able to receive full VA care—it just delayed benefits like using the VA home loan. As soon as things were finalized, we bought a house in November, and between the VA loan and waived property taxes, we even got money back at closing.
On a personal note, I did put fitness on the back burner for a while and gained about 20 lbs, but I got back into working out this past March. I’ve been feeling better, losing weight, and enjoying a really nice gym—honestly, much better than anything I ever had access to for free on base.
All in all, it’s been a great journey! I love my life now and wish I could tell active duty me that it was all going to be alright!