12-Month Transition Checklist

This is the planning phase. You're still on active duty with plenty of time — use it. Most nukes who struggle didn't start early enough.

• Decide your career direction. Research the 6 main paths: commercial nuclear, data centers, utilities, field service, government/regulatory, defense contractors. Don't just default to commercial nuke because a recruiter called.
• Create a LinkedIn profile. Set your headline to something like "Nuclear-Trained Navy Veteran | Transitioning [Month Year]." Start connecting with people in your target industry.
• Start going to medical — now. Every ache, pain, hearing issue, sleep problem, mental health concern. You need a paper trail for your VA claim. Go to sick call. Get it documented.
• Register on Navy COOL. Browse available certifications for your rate. EPA 608, OSHA 30, and Six Sigma Green Belt are high-value and free while you're active duty.
• Research SkillBridge programs. Identify 3-5 programs that align with your target career. Check timelines — some have application deadlines 9+ months out.
• Order your training records. Request copies of your NAVSEA certs, NPS transcripts, prototype completion letter, and all qualification records. These take time.
• Enroll in USMAP (United Services Military Apprenticeship Program). Log your on-the-job training hours toward a DoL journeyman certification. Free and valuable on a resume.
• Talk to nukes who already got out. Find 3-5 people in your target industry on LinkedIn. Ask them what they wish they'd known. Real intel beats generic advice every time.

Time to start pulling triggers. SkillBridge applications, certification exams, and building the foundation for your job search.

• Apply to SkillBridge programs. Submit applications to your top 2-3 choices. Popular programs fill up fast. Don't wait.
• Schedule and take Navy COOL certification exams. Get EPA 608, OSHA 30, and at least one other cert knocked out while the Navy is still paying for them.
• Draft your civilian resume. Start translating your Navy nuke experience into civilian language. Use the resume translation guide — don't just strip out acronyms and call it done.
• Register for TAP/TAPS (Transition GPS). It's mandatory anyway, but schedule it early so you can pick the best dates. The entrepreneurship track is worth considering even if you're going corporate.
• Keep going to medical. Seriously. Every appointment you go to now is evidence for your VA claim later. Follow-ups count.
• Research salary ranges for your target roles. Use Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and industry contacts. Know your number before anyone makes you an offer.
• Open a personal email for job searching. Don't use your .mil email for civilian applications. Create a professional Gmail address.
• Build your emergency fund. Aim for 3-6 months of expenses saved. Transition costs money — deposits, moving, gap between paychecks.

This is where it gets real. VA claim filing window opens, SkillBridge approvals come through, and your job search kicks off.

• File your VA disability claim through BDD. Benefits Delivery at Discharge window is 180-90 days before separation. Don't miss this window — filing after separation is significantly harder.
• Get a free claims review from DAV or VSO. Disabled American Veterans will review your records and help you file. They know what the VA looks for. Use them.
• Route SkillBridge command approval. Get the NAVADMIN-required approval from your CO. Start this process early — it goes through multiple levels.
• Finalize your resume. Get it reviewed by someone in your target industry, not just a military resume service. A hiring manager's perspective is worth more than a template.
• Create profiles on target job boards. ClearanceJobs, Orion Talent, PKAZA, USAJobs, LinkedIn Jobs. Upload your resume and set job alerts.
• Start networking aggressively. Message 5+ people per week on LinkedIn in your target industry. Ask for informational interviews. Most people are happy to help a veteran.
• Attend your VA C&P exams. When the VA schedules Compensation & Pension exams, show up and be thorough. Describe your worst days, not your best. Don't downplay symptoms.
• Research where you want to live. Factor in cost of living, state income tax, VA healthcare facility proximity, and job market for your target industry.
• Understand your TSP options. Don't cash it out. Learn the difference between rollover to IRA, leaving it in TSP, or rolling into new employer 401(k).

Final stretch. You should be interviewing, comparing offers, and locking down your post-military life.

• Interview actively. Apply to 10-15 positions minimum. Your goal is 2-3 competing offers so you have negotiation leverage. Never accept the first offer on the spot.
• Practice behavioral interview questions. Prepare STAR-format answers for leadership, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and high-pressure situations. You have better stories than most candidates — learn to tell them.
• Negotiate every offer. Counter 10-15% above their number. Negotiate signing bonus, relocation, PTO, and start date separately. The difference between negotiating and not is typically $15K-$40K.
• Complete TAPS/Transition GPS. Finish all required modules. Get your DD-214 worksheet reviewed and corrected before final processing.
• Set up civilian healthcare. If your new employer offers insurance, understand the enrollment timeline. If not, register for VA healthcare and/or TRICARE transition coverage.
• Plan your move. If you have a DITY/PPM move, get quotes and schedule movers. Keep every receipt — you get reimbursed and it can be profitable if you do it right.
• Get copies of your medical records. Request complete copies from your base medical facility before you check out. Don't rely on the VA having everything.
• Register on VA.gov. Set up your account now while you still have a CAC for identity verification. (eBenefits has fully migrated to VA.gov.) Much harder to do after separation.

You're almost out. Handle the admin, tie up loose ends, and get ready for Day 1.

• Complete base checkout. Get your checkout sheet and start clearing: dental, medical, supply, housing, security, admin. Don't leave this to the last week.
• Review your DD-214 draft. Check every field — especially your rate, NECs, decorations, and characterization of service. Errors are extremely hard to fix after the fact.
• Verify your GI Bill eligibility. Confirm your remaining months and whether Post-9/11 or Montgomery is better for your situation. Transfer to dependents if applicable and not already done.
• Set up mail forwarding. Update your address with DFAS, VA, TSP, banks, and credit cards. Military mail forwarding ends quickly.
• Get your veteran ID. Apply for your Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) or get your state driver's license updated with veteran designation.
• Save your contacts. Get personal contact info from your chain of command and key colleagues. These references and connections will be valuable for years.
• Confirm your start date and onboarding details. Touch base with your new employer. Confirm report date, location, what to bring, dress code, and first-week expectations.
• Breathe. You earned this. You survived the pipeline, prototype, and fleet. You can handle a career transition. Go make bank.