The purpose of this study was to investigate the life-transition and the "meaning" encounter of three enlisted Marine retirees and to assess how their experience was comparable with the literature on life transition and meaning. The life-changing experience of retiring at a nontraditional retirement age of 38 to 40 called for a substantial literature review to provide background for the expected encountered themes during the interview process.;The methodology for this study was a Qualitative Phenomenological Research utilizing Moustakas' (1994) Phenomenological research methods. Phenomenological research was chosen because it illuminated the work experience of the retirees and it provided for a ground-based research. Few studies existed that illuminate the major life change encountered in transitioning into the civilian work force. Hence the need to utilize this approach, with the anticipation for further studies.;This dissertation is reflective, and by its nature deals with the retelling of the lived experience. The study was accomplished by having its participants recount the events they had experienced. The in-depth interview and follow-on telephonic validation were the primary means of gathering information. As a result of this process, several themes emerged midlife transition; stages of grieving; adult attachment theory, and reattachment to the participant's family; will to power versus a will to meaning; curve of a positive outlook for transition---turning to a negative experience, followed by a positive recollection of the transition.;Life transition, grief stages, adult attachment, meaning theory, and career transitions provided the structure to explain the greater meaning of the lived experience of the participants. Concepts of traditional retirement could then be contrasted with those of the military retirement and transition to the civilian work force. This could then be used by individuals to establish an awareness for the preparation needed to enter military retirement, and to illuminate these retirees' potential and suitability for civilian job placement.
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