Well, I am a pharmacist who stumbled on this site but maybe able to help you. I am also a veteran and former VA and DOD employee. To leave the VA is a highly personal decision, but what I miss are the benefits and work/life balance. What I don't miss are the extraordinarily lazy coworkers, bureaucracy and politics which can be better or worse depending on management and the facility culture. I believe now that in order for me to have stayed and been successful for 30 years I would have had to been a VA employee first and a pharmacist 2nd. I hope this helps you.