I don't think I ever had any real problems with that, myself. Of course, much of the work I have done since leaving the military has been with a defence contractor, so many of my colleagues are either ex-military or are experienced in working with the military.

Probably the biggest transition for me was the fact that, in a civilian company, you can't tell if the guy you run into at the water cooler/vending machine is a senior VP or works in the mailroom. I really wished that my co-workers would have to wear badges indicating their payscale, so I wouldn't offend them by treating them "inappropriately" (whatever that meant to me at the time). I think I started to get over that when the receptionist asked the president of the company if he'd mind giving me a lift to the airport to save me having to call a taxi, and he said he'd be happy to. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (He was on his way to catch a flight himself, of course.)