Door closes, door opens

bigliver · 09-03-2010, 07:22 AM

Yesterday I signed an acknowledgement that the Air Force no longer requires my service and that I am being medically separated. After 14 and a half years, my military career is rapidly coming to an end. I have severe knee issues that have plagued me for the better part of six years. The doctors finally caught up with me and the domino effect took over. It's kind of rough realizing you have spent almost all of your adult life serving and end that service with a 10% disability rating, equating to a one-time severance payment and a fast track to civilian life. I'm sad to be leaving. I've been so many places and I've done so much that I know I will miss my time here.

On a brighter note, I'm working to secure a job that will allow me to continue to utilize the skills the Air Force has taught me, remain on Okinawa, and continue to serve in virtually the same capacity I am at present. If all goes through, and it looks very probable that it will, I will continue to work as a civilian contractor with the same unit in which I am presently employed. Door closes...door opens.

My wife and are both very excited and very scared to begin this new journey. I am very thankful to the Air Force for equipping me with the skills that allow me to pursue this new road that has opened up before me. A Marine friend once told me, "Everyone has to put the pack down." It appears as though my time to do just that has come.

pnoon · 09-03-2010, 07:27 AM

Life is always full of surprises and changes. While this will be a significant change for you, it sounds like it will be for the good.

Thank you for your service and good luck in your future.

jonumberone · 09-03-2010, 07:29 AM

Best wishes Jason!

Thankfully you have the opportunity you described and the ability to stay with your family!!
My brother who just left Oki, has been without his family for eight weeks now and it's killing him.

All the best brother

elderboy02 · 09-03-2010, 07:30 AM

Thank you for your service. Good luck!

Chingas · 09-03-2010, 07:45 AM

Thanks for your service Brother. They say things happen for a reason, usually for the better. Lets hope THEY are right! Beat of luck to ou and your family adjusting to the changes.

mosesbotbol · 09-03-2010, 08:16 AM

If you get the contractor job, you'll be stoked! 14 years in AF should give you skills to land a job where ever you may end up.

CigarNut · 09-03-2010, 09:05 AM

Good luck Jason!

BlackDog · 09-03-2010, 09:45 AM

It sounds like you've got the right attitude to adapt to a change like this. Wishing you much luck in this new chapter of your life!

shilala · 09-03-2010, 09:57 AM

God Bless, brother. Thank You for your service.

RevSmoke · 09-03-2010, 09:59 AM

Thanks for your service.

God's blessings on the venture.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

bobarian · 09-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Good luck Jason!

Blindjimme · 09-03-2010, 10:29 AM

Thank you for your service. Best of luck to you and the missus on your new future!

IBQTEE1 · 09-03-2010, 10:53 AM

Thank you for your service. Good luck with everything.

Skywalker · 09-03-2010, 10:56 AM

Good thoughts and best wishes for your future!!!

bigliver · 09-03-2010, 11:06 AM

Thanks everyone for all the support. I'll know in the next few weeks how things will pan out. Until then, I just have to keep leaning forward.

icehog3 · 09-03-2010, 11:35 AM

Best of luck with the new opportunity, Jason, and thank you for 14 years of service.

CasaDooley · 09-03-2010, 12:59 PM

Good Luck Jason!

bvilchez · 09-03-2010, 03:10 PM

Best of luck to you Jason. I'm trying to work on some orders to Oki myself. Hopefully you'll be around to smoke a few sticks.

STEVE S · 09-03-2010, 03:50 PM

Thank you for your service.
Best of luck to you and your family.

hotreds · 09-03-2010, 03:52 PM

Thank-you for your service, and best wishes for your future. May the rest of your life be the best of your life!

09-03-2010, 07:22 AM	#1
bigliver Cigarmurai Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Jason Location: Oki Posts: 404 Trading: (9)	Door closes, door opens Yesterday I signed an acknowledgement that the Air Force no longer requires my service and that I am being medically separated. After 14 and a half years, my military career is rapidly coming to an end. I have severe knee issues that have plagued me for the better part of six years. The doctors finally caught up with me and the domino effect took over. It's kind of rough realizing you have spent almost all of your adult life serving and end that service with a 10% disability rating, equating to a one-time severance payment and a fast track to civilian life. I'm sad to be leaving. I've been so many places and I've done so much that I know I will miss my time here. On a brighter note, I'm working to secure a job that will allow me to continue to utilize the skills the Air Force has taught me, remain on Okinawa, and continue to serve in virtually the same capacity I am at present. If all goes through, and it looks very probable that it will, I will continue to work as a civilian contractor with the same unit in which I am presently employed. Door closes...door opens. My wife and are both very excited and very scared to begin this new journey. I am very thankful to the Air Force for equipping me with the skills that allow me to pursue this new road that has opened up before me. A Marine friend once told me, "Everyone has to put the pack down." It appears as though my time to do just that has come. __________________ Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a night. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for the rest of his life.

09-03-2010, 07:27 AM	#2
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: Door closes, door opens Life is always full of surprises and changes. While this will be a significant change for you, it sounds like it will be for the good. Thank you for your service and good luck in your future. __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

09-03-2010, 07:29 AM	#3
jonumberone Raw Dog Join Date: Jun 2010 First Name: Dom Location: Exit 8A Posts: 6,484 Trading: (62)	Re: Door closes, door opens Best wishes Jason! Thankfully you have the opportunity you described and the ability to stay with your family!! My brother who just left Oki, has been without his family for eight weeks now and it's killing him. All the best brother __________________ Sex junkie looking for a dealer

09-03-2010, 07:30 AM	#4
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,509 Trading: (133)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thank you for your service. Good luck!

09-03-2010, 07:45 AM	#5
Chingas Death Is Waiting Join Date: Jun 2010 First Name: Chingas Location: Slayerville, Jersey Posts: 5,295 Trading: (35)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thanks for your service Brother. They say things happen for a reason, usually for the better. Lets hope THEY are right! Beat of luck to ou and your family adjusting to the changes. __________________ ---Chingas--- ---Team Death Bomb Squad: Captain---

09-03-2010, 08:16 AM	#6
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Door closes, door opens If you get the contractor job, you'll be stoked! 14 years in AF should give you skills to land a job where ever you may end up. __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

09-03-2010, 09:05 AM	#7
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: Door closes, door opens Good luck Jason! __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

09-03-2010, 09:45 AM	#8
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Re: Door closes, door opens It sounds like you've got the right attitude to adapt to a change like this. Wishing you much luck in this new chapter of your life! __________________ "We live in the good of this."

09-03-2010, 09:57 AM	#9
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Door closes, door opens God Bless, brother. Thank You for your service. __________________

09-03-2010, 09:59 AM	#10
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,861 Trading: (51)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thanks for your service. God's blessings on the venture. Peace of the Lord be with you. __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"

09-03-2010, 10:18 AM	#11
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Door closes, door opens Good luck Jason!

09-03-2010, 10:29 AM	#12
Blindjimme Judgement Impaired Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: JB Location: North OC, CA Posts: 790 Trading: (14)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thank you for your service. Best of luck to you and the missus on your new future!

09-03-2010, 10:53 AM	#13
IBQTEE1 Crazy K Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kristin Location: Here and there Posts: 2,563 Trading: (6)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thank you for your service. Good luck with everything. __________________ It's a Good Day to Smoke a Cigar!!!

09-03-2010, 10:56 AM	#14
Skywalker BABOTL Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dice Location: Galaxy Far Far Away Posts: 10,168 Trading: (18)	Re: Door closes, door opens Good thoughts and best wishes for your future!!! __________________ Smoke what you like!!!

09-03-2010, 11:06 AM	#15
bigliver Cigarmurai Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Jason Location: Oki Posts: 404 Trading: (9)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thanks everyone for all the support. I'll know in the next few weeks how things will pan out. Until then, I just have to keep leaning forward. __________________ Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a night. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for the rest of his life.

09-03-2010, 11:35 AM	#16
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,441 Trading: (60)	Re: Door closes, door opens Best of luck with the new opportunity, Jason, and thank you for 14 years of service. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

09-03-2010, 12:59 PM	#17
CasaDooley Herf Crew of 2 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kevin Location: The birthplace of Fathers Day Posts: 2,465 Trading: (41)	Re: Door closes, door opens Good Luck Jason! __________________ *Founding member of the Lilac City Dedicated Herfers*

09-03-2010, 03:10 PM	#18
bvilchez En búsqueda..... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bolivar aka Jay Location: Back in SoCal Posts: 3,202 Trading: (76)	Re: Door closes, door opens Best of luck to you Jason. I'm trying to work on some orders to Oki myself. Hopefully you'll be around to smoke a few sticks.

09-03-2010, 03:50 PM	#19
STEVE S Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Steve Location: Coconut Creek, Fl. Posts: 1,092 Trading: (1)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thank you for your service. Best of luck to you and your family.

09-03-2010, 03:52 PM	#20
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,665 Trading: (63)	Re: Door closes, door opens Thank-you for your service, and best wishes for your future. May the rest of your life be the best of your life! __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.