I'm not ready to be a civilian.

I'm not ready to give up my (daily) trips to the Commissary or the tax-free shopping at the PX and Shoppette.

I'm not ready to give up the annoying Safety Checks and RAMP Checks.

I'm not ready to give up going through a Gate to get home.

I'm not ready to give up looking all around for MPs to tell if the coast is clear when driving.

I'm not ready to give up seeing men and women in PTs, ACUs, and Multicam.

I'm not ready to give up the gunshots and loud bangs that shake my house at all hours of the day.

I'm not ready to give up staring into my neighbors back yard.

I'm not ready to give up paper thin walls and children screaming on the other side of them.

I'm not ready to give up Reveille, Retreat To the Colors, or Taps (I mean how else am I going to known what time it is?).

I'm not ready to give up road blocks during PT and Retreat To the Colors.

I'm not ready to turn my ugly tan and black ID in and drive away from all that I know.

I'm not ready to relearn what life outside of the military is like.

All I have known for the past eleven to twelve years is the hustle and bustle of the military life. My Civilian days are long gone and are now fuzzy memories. I lived and breathed Army and as much as I hated it and loved it, it's all I know. I don't know how to survive out in the Civilian World.

However, it is happening and happening fast. My life is turning over onto itself and things will never be the same again. The era of being a military child is over and this chapter of my life is ending. Thank you, Army, for giving me some of the best and worst experiences of my life. I will never forget you.