OPTEMPO during “Retirement”

Operational Tempo or OPTEMPO for short is a term often used by the military in a few different contexts. In the operational sense, OPTEMPO is the speed at which operations are conducted. Generally speaking, the higher the OPTEMPO, the better effects against an adversary.

More commonly, OPTEMPO in the military, and especially in the Army, is used to identify the number of days a Soldier is deployed away from home. A high OPTEMPO unit in the military is one that is frequently deployed. In this context, OPTEMPO is tracked as a measure of the stressors placed on the Soldier and their Family.

Increasing OPTEMPO was one of several factors I considered when making the decision to retire from the military three years ago. Our children were getting into the teen years when I felt they probably needed me at home more. Additionally, bouncing around the globe lost some of the luster it had over twenty years ago!

So, after separating from the military, I looked forward to a reduced OPTEMPO in my personal life. Not exactly sure what I thought that would look like. Perhaps sitting on the porch with a glass of lemonade and reading a book!

I was in for a big surprise. My three years post military have actually seen a marked increase in personal OPTEMPO! That being said, it is a completely different OPTEMPO than many of us experienced in the military. In simplest terms, while I am busier than ever before, the things occupying my time are self or family related at home, not predominantly career related away from family. Allow me to explain.

First, a statement of the obvious. There are few similarities between the civilian workplace and serving in the military. While I had to travel some in my first job post military, my present job doesn’t require any travel. In both of my post military civilian jobs it’s been mostly 9 to 5, and work is seldom brought home.

I believe the increase in retired life OPTEMPO comes when we fill all that time we previously poured into our military careers with new activities. For me, the past three years have been a whirlwind of helping the kids, working side hustles, focusing on hobbies, looking for a forever home and going to doctor appointments!

I’ll use this past year as a prime example. I’ve blogged previously about my high school senior son. There were numerous nights helping him with his college applications, strategizing about the future or worrying sick until he got back from social events!

Both of our sons were on HS sports teams, fortunately one had a fall sport and the other spring. Almost every weekend there was a swim meet or tennis match. Our youngest got his learners permit the other day. We’ve already spent a few hours on the weekends doing laps in the HS parking lot!

Then there are the self-imposed increases in OPTEMPO. If you’ve visited this blog before, you may have noticed I enjoy investing in real estate. We completed construction on a duplex this past December bringing us to a total of 17 rental units. While we certainly enjoy the fruits of our labor, this side hustle takes up a lot of time on nights and weekends.

You may have also noticed; I like to write. Since retiring from the military, I’ve self-published three books and am working on a fourth. I’ve also been able to maintain this weekly blog for going on two years now. I am very thankful to have found a hobby that is a great way to share my story while also therapeutic, but it takes up a lot of time!

Add in other hobbies such as hunting and fishing along with the routine chores around the house and my weekends are pretty much filled from morning until evening. As I type this blog, we are making preparations for the family to head to Korea this summer for our second extended visit since retirement!

Then there is helping my wife search for our “forever” home. I fully admit, I’ve screwed this one up as we missed several golden opportunities over the past three years. For my punishment, every weekend we are still attending open houses and driving all over the area to look at homes. Factor in the near constant personal finance maneuvering required in this crazy real estate market and finding a forever home is certainly a time suck!

Lastly, and perhaps a sign of my age, I’ve gone to the doctor more over the past three years than any other period in my life. Seems like at around age 50 things on our body just start to break. I’m very fortunate to not have any major issues but enough small ones to keep me in a frequent scheduling-preparing-going do-loop of medical appointments.

You may be thinking, “what is he complaining about, these aren’t bad problems to have”. First, I’m not complaining and second, I completely agree, these are great problems to have! But I think the very real increase in personal OPTEMPO is something those retiring from the military need to consider and prepare for. I know I certainly didn’t.  

The bottom line is “retirement” from the military is a misnomer. While literally it is entering the retirement rolls of a beloved profession, it is in actuality the beginning of living life to its absolute fullest. This translates to an increase in personal OPTEMPO. Someday I’ll retire for real and slow down…but not today!

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