Tactical Transition Tips Round 108 of the Transition Drill Podcast offers practical guidance and career readiness for veterans and first responders, organized based on how far out your exit is. In this episode, the systems in place to protect you require documentation and use before you’re out.

Benefits don’t fail because they’re weak. They fail because they sit there unused.

In these careers, it’s easy to treat “benefits” like paperwork you’ll deal with later, once life slows down. But later is the trap. The system isn’t going to chase you down and make sure you’re set up. If you don’t learn what you’re entitled to, document what needs documenting, and use what’s available while you still have access, you can end up paying out of pocket, delaying care, or walking into transition with avoidable problems on your back.

This episode addresses benefits as protection, not perks. That includes medical documentation, but it also includes education options (like the GI Bill), financial and investing support, home buying programs, and even outside organizations that offer help for you and your family. The point isn’t to become a benefits expert. It’s to stop treating protection like background noise.

Here are the three transition tips covered:

Close Range Group (transitioning within a year): Get it on paper before you get out

You’re running out of time for “I’ll handle it later,” so this is about getting appointments, issues, and records documented now so you’re not trying to prove things from memory after you’re out.

Medium Range Group (transitioning in 3 to 5 years): Fix it while you’re still in

You’ve still got the advantage of structure and easier access, so you use this window to address real issues and use available resources before transition pressure makes everything harder to prioritize.

Long Range Group (transitioning in a decade or more): The most important equipment maintenance is you

This is where you build habits and track patterns early so neglect doesn’t become normal and small problems don’t turn into long-term damage that follows you into any future transition.

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