Thinking about hanging it up

[usmc858]

Thanks for all the input. I am taking it in and weighing options.

I would be in the stay in and finish group.

Use the last years to finish a degree, get a masters also. (If you haven't already).

See about changing MOS's to keep it interesting.

What about putting in for recruiting duty or something like that?

[19K]

I know how you feel, I'm in just about the same boat you are and have finalized my decision to get out. At the end of the day, I just had to ask myself if the juice was worth the squeeze. How much more time am I going to have to spend away from my family in order to earn the 20 year retirement? Is leaving my young children for months or years at a time really worth a $2000 a month pension? I'm going to have to find a new job at 40 anyway, I might as well just start looking now while I'm younger. I refuse to believe that I am incapable of being successful outside of the military.

Don't listen to all of the naysayers who make it sound like a military retirement is the only way to secure your future, I believe that's what they call being "institutionalized". Sure the pay is pretty good as an E-6, but unless you're willing to stick it out to the 30 year mark the pension leaves a lot to be desired. If you've already got a job lined up in law enforcement, you couldn't be in a better position to get out. If you can keep working towards a military retirement in the reserves, or transition to the national guard, then that's just icing on the cake.

You're not getting any younger. Don't be scared and just do it already.

better hope you have a degree already. jobs are available, but unless you have an actual real certified skill from the military and not just AIT, youre looking at 10 an hour.

[phroggunner]

better hope you have a degree already. jobs are available, but unless you have an actual real certified skill from the military and not just AIT, youre looking at 10 an hour.

Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, Endurance. These are all highly transferable skills if you can effectively market them.

A degree will help open more doors depending on the job you are looking for, or increase your chances for advancement if it's not an entry level requirement. I guess it's probably a good thing the GI bill is available to make that an achievable goal.

[19K]

Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, Endurance. These are all highly transferable skills if you can effectively market them.

A degree will help open more doors depending on the job you are looking for, or increase your chances for advancement if it's not an entry level requirement. I guess it's probably a good thing the GI bill is available to make that an achievable goal.

You'll see when you get out. Not many employers really care about all that. Just because they tell you that it's good to say in an interview or put on your resume during you tap classes doesn't mean it'll work. If you're getting out at anything higher than e5 you will need a job in the 18-25 an hour starting. And unless you have a degree like I said it'll be 10 an hour or less.

And yea the gi bill is great. But it goes fast. I have 12 months of payments left. And it went quick.

[epwegmann]

You'll see when you get out. Not many employers really care about all that. Just because they tell you that it's good to say in an interview or put on your resume during you tap classes doesn't mean it'll work. If you're getting out at anything higher than e5 you will need a job in the 18-25 an hour starting. And unless you have a degree like I said it'll be 10 an hour or less.

And yea the gi bill is great. But it goes fast. I have 12 months of payments left. And it went quick.

You know, you can't downplay your military experience. You can definitely sell it to employers, but YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW! I've found a lot of guys just don't know how to interview well, and it's killing them trying to get a job. Call it dumb luck, but I was able to sell those experiences and my technical background to land me a job starting at right about $75k. But it wasn't being in the Navy that sealed the deal, it was knowing how to interpret it, and sell it during the interview.

-Erik

[jmsenk]

I got out for a lot of the same reasons you mentioned, along with some other issues with my post and chain of command - but after the initial euphoria of being a free man, I hated myself for it. My regiment deployed without me and I was seriously depressed for a bit. I have made the most of my "civilian time" - I used the GI Bill and got my MBA, as well as moving to Cali to be with the woman I am going to spend the rest of my life with, but I miss it. I miss being a soldier. I miss feeling like I am good at something, and worth a damn (because believe me, when you're a civilian again after a long time in uniform, you'll feel like you suck at every job you try, and moreover, that those jobs are useless, and you won't care on bit about them.)

I had two years out while I was in grad school, and then I lost a buddy in Afghanistan and moved heaven and earth to get back into uniform - even if it is just the National Guard. I lost that time, and I lost the position that I ought to have if I had stayed in. I am trying right now to finish my 20 years and get a pension - even if it is just a reserve pension. It will be worth it when you get that. There is a huge difference between being a "retired Chief petty officer" and just being a random Navy vet.

I think of it this way: What do I want to say I do in 10 years? Do I want to say I'm a financial analyst who used to be in the Army, or do I want to be a soldier... who also happens to be a financial analyst?

The longer I am a civilian, the more I realize that my first and only true profession, is the profession of arms.

[19K]

You know, you can't downplay your military experience. You can definitely sell it to employers, but YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW! I've found a lot of guys just don't know how to interview well, and it's killing them trying to get a job. Call it dumb luck, but I was able to sell those experiences and my technical background to land me a job starting at right about $75k. But it wasn't being in the Navy that sealed the deal, it was knowing how to interpret it, and sell it during the interview.

-Erik

That is true, I call it luck. I've only ever had good interviews but I do know some former service men who completely suck at them.

What I was saying is unless you have a real certified skill. You probably won't do much. The army doesn't really like to do civilian certifications. I don't ever down play my service but a service member vs someone with a degree and more than half the time they will go with the degree. The highest starting pay job I got offered was 14 an hour. I couldn't take it because they wanted me to work during my school hours and I was only offered that because the store manager was also a veteran.
Point is telling an employer you are "dependable. Trust worthy. Can always complete the task and blah blah blah". They hear it all day from everyone they interview. Most of the employers are too worried about you having PTSD. If you're more than half way to your retirement. Stick it out and finish it butter cup. You aren't the only one who misses their family.

[kermit315]

That is true, I call it luck. I've only ever had good interviews but I do know some former service men who completely suck at them.

What I was saying is unless you have a real certified skill. You probably won't do much. The army doesn't really like to do civilian certifications. I don't ever down play my service but a service member vs someone with a degree and more than half the time they will go with the degree. The highest starting pay job I got offered was 14 an hour. I couldn't take it because they wanted me to work during my school hours and I was only offered that because the store manager was also a veteran.
Point is telling an employer you are "dependable. Trust worthy. Can always complete the task and blah blah blah". They hear it all day from everyone they interview. Most of the employers are too worried about you having PTSD. If you're more than half way to your retirement. Stick it out and finish it butter cup. You aren't the only one who misses their family.

I was offered a 75k a year starting job with Raytheon/L3 when I was still stationed in California based only on my military background. I turned it down.

Regarding your point re: interviewing: There are just many people out there that, regardless of military background (or maybe because of it depending on circumstances) would not make good employees at a job with higher pay. I am sure we have all seen somebody at work that we truly believe, in our hearts, would not be qualified to run the sour cream gun at Taco Bell. Well, those people end up getting out eventually, and think the military is an instant 'in' with any and all outside employers. But, low and behold, they are still not qualified to run the sour cream gun, and they blame 'employer bias' instead of their lack of skills or present ability.

[19K]

I was offered a 75k a year starting job with Raytheon/L3 when I was still stationed in California based only on my military background. I turned it down.

Regarding your point re: interviewing: There are just many people out there that, regardless of military background (or maybe because of it depending on circumstances) would not make good employees at a job with higher pay. I am sure we have all seen somebody at work that we truly believe, in our hearts, would not be qualified to run the sour cream gun at Taco Bell. Well, those people end up getting out eventually, and think the military is an instant 'in' with any and all outside employers. But, low and behold, they are still not qualified to run the sour cream gun, and they blame 'employer bias' instead of their lack of skills or present ability.

That's the issue. No matter who you are in the military you cannot believe that you are a shoe in for any job once you get out because of what the military "taught" you Those "honesty. Trust worthiness, dependability" skills mean nothing.

[epwegmann]

It's not just those skills, for me, it was also in addition to all of my technical training. Companies view that as a form of train ability as well

[phroggunner]

If you're more than half way to your retirement. Stick it out and finish it butter cup. You aren't the only one who misses their family.

This is the wrong reason to stay in. There are plenty of other service members waiting it out until they hit 20, and I don't need to be one of them. While you have many valid points worth considering in your posts, this is one that I reject whole heartedly.

I think of it this way: What do I want to say I do in 10 years? Do I want to say I'm a financial analyst who used to be in the Army, or do I want to be a soldier... who also happens to be a financial analyst?

The longer I am a civilian, the more I realize that my first and only true profession, is the profession of arms.

This is the right reason to stay in. It is this mind set amongst the leadership that has a huge impact on the junior enlisted and helps to cultivate our future leaders.

To quote jmsenk from a different thread:

Technical skills, stress fires, all of that is great, but they pale in comparison to the importance of mindset. Your skills will fail you if you don't have the mindset established to use them when it matters.

This is important for service members not just in combat, but any challenge they are undertaking. You cannot leave the military thinking that you deserve a job, or that everything after the military is going to be easy. Entering the civilian work force should be viewed as a challenge just like any other you may have had in your military career.

I do have technical training and experience that I know can get me a decent job when I get out. That is my plan B, maybe even plan C. It just isn't what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have the proper mindset to start a challenging and rewarding career outside the military. If I'm lucky, I will start soon after my EAS. If not, it might take a few years but I will get there.

Kermit315, it sounds like you've got a great job waiting for you if you get out. If your heart isn't in it to stay active duty, then you should do everyone a favor and get out. If you do some soul searching and decide that the Navy is your life and you want to stay in, more power to you. Whatever decision you make, I wish you the best of luck.

[The War Wagon]

Reserves? With 13 down, I wouldn't want to pass up the pension after 20!

[sdkevin]

Again, thanks for serving! It's an honor few deserve.

I put my SRB's to work, live a modest lifestyle blocks from the beach (which makes a few just jealous), and at 10yo retired, only debt is mortgage.

I was in your shoes at my 10yo mark did Gulf I and II w/o even email, the job was not fun anymore and now it was a career. Then 911 hit.. port visits went to crap.

Todays sailors think they have it rough -- phalease.

I'm glad I got out when I did, I didn't like the snot nosed punks coming in and If I had to salute that fvck of a POS each time crossing the Qdeck - I'd have problems.

If you are not putting your housing allowance to work, shame on you.

[sdkevin]

Also, use those deployments to crank up your higher education credits.