Louis has “four main questions” that he challenges each of his readers to ask themselves before or during the process of separating from the military.
I suggested to him (Louis), from very early on, that his first question purposed to CBD readers (or anyone he talks to for that matter) should be, “Why are you getting out of the military?”. Because, this question is fundamentally different than all others. It forces one to do some soul-searching. All of his other questions are certainly important and absolutely merit an answer. However, all of those other questions are geared toward “preparing you” for a successful transition into civilian life rather “accessing why” you want to make the leap. “Preparing you” is notably the crux of his book. But looking at the “why” (as it relates to leaving the military) is the first, and arguably the most critical step in the entire process of becoming a civilian again. That is why I chose the topic of, “Why are you getting out of the military?” as my second post.
Getting ready your finances, creating a marketable resume, preparing for interviews, researching your options, negotiating your salary, building a business plan, etc., etc., all have one thing in common: they are all vital to the planning process for being successful in civilian life. None of those other questions, however, produce a reason to actually do it.
You may notice all of the “to do” and “how to” instructions from Louis are similar to the components of the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). Weird, right? An Army Officer explaining things in our native tongue, who is surprised? Using the MDMP to prepare for the transition is certainly helpful and will contribute to your success; whether it be Initial Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), Mission Analysis (MA), Course of Action Development (COADEV), etc. You owe it to yourself to be thorough. The application of such an intense and thorough format (such as MDMP) is important, extremely important. After all, why wouldn’t you want to apply such a robust anaylsis and planning method to the next steps of the rest of your life? Louis does a wonderful job of mapping out the “how to” part of transitioning from military service to civilian life in CBD and continues to refine that map with his blogs. That is what makes the CBD book and FB page so great!
I understand why Louis can’t elaborate on the topic of “why” more than he already has, and I am relieved he did not try. The reason he cannot and should not elaborate more is because the motivations to “get out” for each complex and unique individual are as numerous as the motivations to join. This is a very personal choice. After all, it is you and no one else who is going to be living with the consequences (good or bad) of the decision. I would like to remind you that the “why” question is NOT actually a component of MDMP. I believe Louis strategically avoided getting into the trenches on this. We all know that Louis is a combat veteran and while he made the personal decision to “hang up his spurs,” he is not suggesting that you need to as well. He deliberately did not provide a universal reason to leave the military. He knows that it is a personal decision. He does, however, require you to ask yourself that question though. Why are you getting out of the military?
Some veterans may accidentally confuse “why” with “in order to.” The simplest answer for distinguishing the difference between these two things is this:
All of us (veterans) never get to actually decide “why,” while we are wearing a uniform. Our “why” (for any assignment, deployment, mission, etc.) is simply because the “boss” said so. The “in order to” is the “boss’s” explanation of why he or she is deciding to make us do something. More simply put, it is his or her statement on what they are trying achieve. The only time we (as subordinates at any level) got to decide “why” was when we made the personal decision to join the military in the first place.
So, whether you commissioned or enlisted into the military, you have not made this type of “why” decision since you joined. Deciding “why” to separate from the military is the first time you have had that level of power, since your enlistment/commissioning date, to make a decision all on your own. The decision to “get out” should be taken as seriously as the decision to “get in” or join. Understanding “WHY” we are doing something is likely more important than understanding “HOW”.
I, like Louis, will not suggest that you should get out of the military.
If you have already determined your “why” with sound reason then congratulations on making the first step to a successful transition. You can now proceed to the “how to” list with confidence and clarity. If you are still unclear on a decision as to “why” you want to get out of the service, I would encourage you to stay in until you formulate one. I would also encourage you not to rush this step. Give it your best mental energy, pray about it, and talk to people who care about you or who you respect for ideas, feedback, and perspective before proceeding. You’ll be much more prepared to face “the devil that is in the details” if know why you are doing it.