Learning in Retirement: Military Service - What Is It Really Like?

Jill Geoffroy was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1991 and retired at the rank of Major in 2013. She flew aeromedical evacuation missions and has more than 1,500 hours in UH-1 Huey and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. She served on active duty and in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and after retiring she was adjutant at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King.

This is a talk, not a hands-on session, and it covers the whole arc of her service. She explains why she enlisted, why she chose the Army, and the positions she held along the way. Those included platoon leader, unit commander, safety officer and aviation liaison officer, and the talk touches on the survival training and the ups and downs of the job.

Most people only see the polished side of military life, so hearing the day-to-day realities from someone who lived them is useful. The Learning in Retirement format is relaxed and informal, with no grades or tests, which suits a listener who wants the real story. Her later years as Marathon County's veterans service officer add a view of what comes after service.