Retiring

[rero360]

A little while I decided to drop my retirement packet. I’ve been asked why, I’ve completed phase one of the Sergeants Major Academy and am making good progress on phase two, I’m almost guaranteed promotion next year, and my answer is multifaceted.

The big and easy answer is the way the current administration has handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan, I have lost all faith, trust, and confidence in the civilian and military leadership at the federal level.

Beyond that though, it gets a bit more personal, my current commander put me on blast in an email to the battalion CSM Commander and XO, Division CSM, saying I haven’t done my job and is removing me from the 1SG position, but I was away on orders from February through mid July, I had a replacement in place as well. Additionally, I spoke with the commander over the phone maybe four times in the year we worked together, I initiated three of those calls, and not once was my performance mentioned in the calls. I spent most of last month’s drill by his side and he didn’t say a word about my performance at all.

There’s other stuff but that’s the bulk of it, but I have noticed that my attention and judgment just isn’t the same, it’s started to slip towards the end of the riots last summer.

I was really looking forward to wearing the pinks and greens, going to the joint firepower course and deploying one last time, but it’s just not in the cards. My CSM asked me if a deployment would help keep me in and I told him that I don’t trust the current administration to deploy to Nevada without incident.

21 years, good enough I guess.

[Jeepergeo]

Thank you for serving. Americans appreciate it.
It's too bad to hear it will end under the conditions described. Hang in there and do what you believe to be right....I suspect there will be others to follow.

[coryhenry]

If you want to travel to San Diego we are opening a new BN that will need a CSM.

[phroggunner]

Good for you. There was a stong change in the culture of the military under the Obama administration, and it seems to have gotten much worse.

I can only imagine that to continue to stay in it will feel as if you have made a deal with the devil in order to increase your retirement and maintain your current financial stability. You would inevitably have to drink the kool aid, or struggle with the internal dilemma of supporting ideals you fundamentally disagree with.

You've been a longtime member here, and through your posts I know you to be a talented and motivated person who will find purpose and success elsewhere.

[Snoopy47]

Are you collecting your retirement check upon retirement, or have to wait until you're 60?

Can you lay low in the IRR? From there be more selective where you want to move next?

I get it. I barely have half the time you do. I gave myself the time I spent in my next assignment to decompress from my previous nonsense (having still to finish out my obligation). If I couldn't get life back under control I'd simply leave at the first window.

I guess when you're holding your 20 year letter you have a soft place to land when you jump.


**********
My decompression time in my current unit has really helped. I went from being 1st in seniority of 160PAX to like 30th out of 90. Now I feel I can control my fate (within reason). I certainly can limit my professional exposure.

It's has given me time to sort out my next move.

[tigerpan]

If you don’t have any plans, you can join reserve in meantime.
20years retirement is not that much after tax.
If you don’t have any debt, you are in better place.

[rero360]

Thank you everyone, I’ll be start collecting once I turn 60, I’m not worried about it. I learned earlier today that my commander is also retiring, my CSM tried using that to get me to stay but I told him it’s a combination of things, and I think I really need to focus on the civilian side and get a real career started. I initiated my paperwork today and have an appointment to turn my gear in. I will officially be in the retired reserves come November 1st.

[SnWnMe]

One day you'll wake up and it's not fun anymore, that's when you know it's time.

In 2015 I walked away at 24 yrs. Had a good chance to put on MCPO but the prospect of limited billets (and obligatory conversion to the Navy equivalent of CSM) away from home didn't appeal to me. Now I'm home every night.

[cgseanp1]

Originally Posted by rero360

A little while I decided to drop my retirement packet. I’ve been asked why, I’ve completed phase one of the Sergeants Major Academy and am making good progress on phase two, I’m almost guaranteed promotion next year, and my answer is multifaceted.

The big and easy answer is the way the current administration has handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan, I have lost all faith, trust, and confidence in the civilian and military leadership at the federal level.

Beyond that though, it gets a bit more personal, my current commander put me on blast in an email to the battalion CSM Commander and XO, Division CSM, saying I haven’t done my job and is removing me from the 1SG position, but I was away on orders from February through mid July, I had a replacement in place as well. Additionally, I spoke with the commander over the phone maybe four times in the year we worked together, I initiated three of those calls, and not once was my performance mentioned in the calls. I spent most of last month’s drill by his side and he didn’t say a word about my performance at all.

There’s other stuff but that’s the bulk of it, but I have noticed that my attention and judgment just isn’t the same, it’s started to slip towards the end of the riots last summer.

I was really looking forward to wearing the pinks and greens, going to the joint firepower course and deploying one last time, but it’s just not in the cards. My CSM asked me if a deployment would help keep me in and I told him that I don’t trust the current administration to deploy to Nevada without incident.

21 years, good enough I guess.

Are you AD now or reserves?

[1recluse]

Congratulations on your retirement. I certainly understand why you would not want to stay, under the current administration. Best of luck on a new career, I can imagine it will be great
Thank You for Your Service!

[rero360]

Originally Posted by cgseanp1

Are you AD now or reserves?

National Guard, been a traditional M-Day guy my whole career, although between all the deployments I have something like 6 or 7 years of AD time. In the past few days I’ve spoken with 4 different SGMs trying to get me to stay in, including the top CSM for CA, and the NG liaison for the academy, I figure there’s probably two more at least who will be calling and giving it a shot.

There’s things that I wanted to do and accomplish before I left but like SnWnMe said, when it’s no longer fun, it’s time to go. I did a lot, seen a lot and met a lot of great people over the years.

[Unit74]

I was told once……



Sometimes, you have to let the system fail to prove they are wrong.


Thank you for putting your money where your mouth is on the problems we face. I support you 100%.

[norcalAF]

Congrats. Start making some calls, leave Friday in uniform, come in on Monday in slacks.

[Trapper]

I left in 2009 after 20 years. It wasn’t fun anymore, wasn’t making me a better person .. it was time to go. Used my VA 33 benefits for a couple years before starting a second career. In my case it was a great move, more time at home, less stress, better pay, etc.

[Howie44]

Originally Posted by rero360

A little while I decided to drop my retirement packet. I’ve been asked why, I’ve completed phase one of the Sergeants Major Academy and am making good progress on phase two, I’m almost guaranteed promotion next year, and my answer is multifaceted.

The big and easy answer is the way the current administration has handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan, I have lost all faith, trust, and confidence in the civilian and military leadership at the federal level.

Beyond that though, it gets a bit more personal, my current commander put me on blast in an email to the battalion CSM Commander and XO, Division CSM, saying I haven’t done my job and is removing me from the 1SG position, but I was away on orders from February through mid July, I had a replacement in place as well. Additionally, I spoke with the commander over the phone maybe four times in the year we worked together, I initiated three of those calls, and not once was my performance mentioned in the calls. I spent most of last month’s drill by his side and he didn’t say a word about my performance at all.

There’s other stuff but that’s the bulk of it, but I have noticed that my attention and judgment just isn’t the same, it’s started to slip towards the end of the riots last summer.

I was really looking forward to wearing the pinks and greens, going to the joint firepower course and deploying one last time, but it’s just not in the cards. My CSM asked me if a deployment would help keep me in and I told him that I don’t trust the current administration to deploy to Nevada without incident.

21 years, good enough I guess.

It makes me sad that have to end it that way.
I have really enjoyed watching you advance from when you were a bucky......
We were all very proud of you at each promotion.
Good luck with whatever you do next, and if you're going to be off for a while come up here and go fishing on the snake with me.
You have the number.

[rero360]

Originally Posted by Howie44

It makes me sad that have to end it that way.
I have really enjoyed watching you advance from when you were a bucky......
We were all very proud of you at each promotion.
Good luck with whatever you do next, and if you're going to be off for a while come up here and go fishing on the snake with me.
You have the number.

Thanks brother, I’m really ok with it, allows me to focus on family and my new career, which, in the span of 7 days, received calls from 5 companies wanting to interview me. All five are promising but the first one is the best bet I think, mechanical engineering manager with an aerospace/fishing company in Chino, the owners and everyone else in the company I’ve met so far has been super friendly and it seems like a great work environment, should know within the next few days if I get the job or not.

[M1NM]

When a friend of mine retired he went to the IRS (in El Monte) in their division that goes out and seizes assets. Along with his LTC retirement and IRS retirement he did well.
There was a house in Pasadena he called his. He had attached it on 3 different occasions. The guy always paid and got it back.

[rero360]

I spoke with a friend today who is also currently a 1SG and is attending the SGM academy. He told me that he is going to retire as soon as he hits 20 years next spring as he doesn’t want to get the jab and is also disgusted by how Afghanistan was handled. I’ve been told by various SGMs that I’m an outstanding 1SG and would have made a great SGM, my buddy who is also getting out makes me look like a loser, the military is going to be hurting for decades due to the quality individuals getting out all around the same time because of all this crap.

[Coolguy101]

Talent lost won't be recognized. Lessons won't be learned. It will only come to light when we enter our next conflict, much like the Korean War. Hopefully we come out on top.

[Supertankerm60a3]

I am in the same boat. 26 years total, 20 active in January. Top, you said it about the current admin, but it goes deeper, just look at Roberts. I am tired of it all. Have not heard back from the higher headquarters about my retirement memo and need that and orders to start the whole thing. I have been instructing wheel vehicle and generator mechanics for 8 years full time here at Roberts. Looking for a real job now. can always go back to driving a truck but would rather work near home.

[rero360]

Originally Posted by Supertankerm60a3

I am in the same boat. 26 years total, 20 active in January. Top, you said it about the current admin, but it goes deeper, just look at Roberts. I am tired of it all. Have not heard back from the higher headquarters about my retirement memo and need that and orders to start the whole thing. I have been instructing wheel vehicle and generator mechanics for 8 years full time here at Roberts. Looking for a real job now. can always go back to driving a truck but would rather work near home.

I know exactly what you're saying about Roberts, I remember the scandal of the embezzled money, the warehouses full of equipment rotting away while nothing was being done. I spoke with my CSM about Roberts getting those plastic barriers for the pop-up range for the new qual, said they are junk and need to be replaced with concrete, he said it was too expensive. Sure concrete is expensive, but it's not going to deteriorate in the sun in just a few years and need to be replaced like the plastic will. it's been a year since I've been to Roberts and I'm likely to never go there again.

I say if you can, stick it out until you get your Active 20 year letter then punch out, right now the job market is freaking bizarre, tons of openings but not everyone actually wants to fill them. hopefully things will be better in January, it's already improved from how it was over the summer. I got my M-Day 20 year letter 10 days after I hit the mark, hopefully the Fed letter will be just as quick for you.

[Supertankerm60a3]

My active 20 is January. Good advise. My first day or retirement is (should be) 1 April. Rather unique I think

[mike.h]

Thank you for your service

[caliprep]

From one vet to another, thank you for your service brotha. Enjoy your retirement.

[chris]

Originally Posted by rero360

I spoke with a friend today who is also currently a 1SG and is attending the SGM academy. He told me that he is going to retire as soon as he hits 20 years next spring as he doesn’t want to get the jab and is also disgusted by how Afghanistan was handled. I’ve been told by various SGMs that I’m an outstanding 1SG and would have made a great SGM, my buddy who is also getting out makes me look like a loser, the military is going to be hurting for decades due to the quality individuals getting out all around the same time because of all this crap.

I hear you it's absolute crap what the Army has become. I was in Kuwait last year and it was an absolute joke COVID made it even worse. I was in a class and I told them that I'm the person they want gone. They don't want people like myself who come from the 80's Army. We don't think like they do, don't talk like they do and we act different as well. Lets just say the look on their faces was priceless.

My friends at work are getting out because they are DACs and no longer need to be in the Reserves. It hasn't been fun for over half of my 33 years in. I cannot get out because I'll lose the job I do enjoy. I like the people I work with and being a mechanic life at work is pretty simple.

I wish you all the best in retirement and your new career.

[Supersapper]

Agreed on all from everyone here. My MDay/TPU 20 year letter comes in January, as does my board for LTC. All at the same time so it puts me in the quandry with a bunch of others. The brain drain and experience loss will get the military soon enough. I only want to stay long enough to finish my AOC course (I just don't like quitting) and holding LTC for retirement.

After that, it's over.

To all who have served: Thank you for your service to what is still our great nation, even if it's being run by people who put on a better show than Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey.

[DougJ]

I retired effective 1 Apr 2020. After 37.5 years total, about 26 active. It was time, it's certainly nothing like the Army I started with. The final straw for me was all the wokeness out there being pushed down into my Army. I was already frustrated with the focus on "mandatory training" that does nothing to prepare my people for their actual duties, and my attitude and dedication was waning.

I retired out of the AGR program as a CW5, with a start date for my new job 2 1/2 weeks into my terminal leave. Unfortunately, that just in time for COVID. 5 weeks into training we were sent home. (Airline job) My whole post retirement plan was in tatters, and I could see the dark times coming for my Country. It was not a good time.

However, things have a way of working out. I sort of learned to live on my retirement, then I found a great job locally flying helicopters. (EMS) The Airline has since called me back to training, but I'm not going.

It was disappointing to leave the Military world the way I did, so I can definitely relate to your situation. You will do fine, once you get out there you'll realize you've got an advantage over many civilians.

[jorgi23]

Good luck and never stop being great! "life" never stops!!

[anthonyca]

Thanks for your service. I know how bad Clinton F'd up the Army and Bush didn't do anything to fix it. I couldn't imagine serving through Obama and this criminal.

[sonofeugene]

One of my brothers retired from the Air Force after 23 years or so. He went to work for one of their civilian contractors and retired from that gig as well. He now has two retirements. Later, when he gets older, he’ll add SS to the mix.

[rero360]

Retirement packet has been finalized, however, they still owe me a DD214 from the cocos mission back in the spring and 13 days of leave that I’ve been trying to sell back

[caliprep]

Originally Posted by rero360

Retirement packet has been finalized, however, they still owe me a DD214 from the cocos mission back in the spring and 13 days of leave that I’ve been trying to sell back

The GS workers can process you one @ Ft. Irwin, up-to-date. I have a civilian contact that did mine, pm me if interested.

[rero360]

Thanks but I got the contact info for the guy up in Sac who does it and he took care of me. Now I just need my leave/debt issue resolved and the NGB 22.

[Supersapper]

Originally Posted by rero360

Thanks but I got the contact info for the guy up in Sac who does it and he took care of me. Now I just need my leave/debt issue resolved and the NGB 22.

Just make CERTAIN it's correct and signed.

[rero360]

Oh for sure, it’s my 7th DD214, got a 215 as well from my last deployment.

[Supersapper]

Originally Posted by rero360

Oh for sure, it’s my 7th DD214, got a 215 as well from my last deployment.

Good job sir. Beats my 5.

[jcourson]

Originally Posted by rero360

He told me that he is going to retire as soon as he hits 20 years next spring as he doesn’t want to get the jab and is also disgusted by how Afghanistan was handled.

I think there are a lot of us in this boat. Between the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, the way they have gone about handling the covid vaccines, and another piece of garbage as my current SgtMaj - I'm done.

21 years in, but only 18 for retirement due to some reserve time. I've also seen a couple of LtCol's who are looking at being forced out by the vaccine program, and the Marine Corps doesn't have the manpower to be shedding senior leadership like this.

I have 0 trust in this administration or any of the generals who failed to speak up about Afghanistan or put their own careers on the line rather than the careers of the roughly 10k per branch that are being discharged rather than granted the exemptions that this piece of crap SecDef said were still in effect to the Pfizer vaccine.

[Supersapper]

Originally Posted by jcourson

I think there are a lot of us in this boat. Between the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, the way they have gone about handling the covid vaccines, and another piece of garbage as my current SgtMaj - I'm done.

21 years in, but only 18 for retirement due to some reserve time. I've also seen a couple of LtCol's who are looking at being forced out by the vaccine program, and the Marine Corps doesn't have the manpower to be shedding senior leadership like this.

I have 0 trust in this administration or any of the generals who failed to speak up about Afghanistan or put their own careers on the line rather than the careers of the roughly 10k per branch that are being discharged rather than granted the exemptions that this piece of crap SecDef said were still in effect to the Pfizer vaccine.

I hear you. I'm in a similar boat. I'm just hoping I can appeal this requirement for the next 6 to 8 months until I can pin LtCol in the Army. Then I have to hold the rank for 6 months to retire with it. The pay is a different story. I have my 20 year letter coming in 30-60 days and hopefully I can make it until then.

I have a feeling they will relent at some point. Servicemembers can be a forgiving lot owing to our overly regimented lifestyle, but there are lines in the sand and even the SecDef will come to realize that this decision is going to cripple military readiness due to the losses. They had a retention problem before this, now it will get worse. Especially poignent in the Reserves/Guard.

What's more is that this next generation (I teach high school) is the "don't tell me what to do" generation. I can't see them replacing those losses with this group soon and apparently, the military is the only employer not subject to the decision about not being able to force jabs.

With everything that has been happening politically (in the Army at least) that you've referenced, I've actually started telling the kids I teach to avoid the military now, at least until it fixes itself.