Re-enlistment

[pterrell]

Well, I'm at that point in my career and I'm honestly torn on which direction to go. If I stay in, I realistically push my school and then my career further on down the road but I continue working in a job that I enjoy. OTOH, I get out, go to school, get a career (possibly making more money), and I don't have to work in an institution that values how fast you can run over your work ethic.

I'm all for physical fitness, but in a technical field (Air wing) I feel that your work ethic and competency should have a higher priority than physical fitness.

Anyone else face this dilemma? Did you get out and regret it? Hoping to get some insight from those who have hit their 4 or 5 year mark and made that choice.

Btw, I'm in a fast filling MOS and I've been in for just shy of 4 years. I'm also FY 15 so I have some time before an EAS but not much time before I need to choose.

[PRODRIVE]

Stay in and finish your 20
U still can find job after 20

[Tacit Blue]

Def, stay in. The job market for a veteran is still rough. It gets noticed, but employers are really looking for a MOS that translates into the civilian sector depending on what your career goals are.

Some of them aren't impressed. You said air wing, look into contractors that work on the same equipment you do now. Only difference is the pay


I see your in San Diego along with me. San Diego, is heavily saturated with veterans so there is going to be competition if you ETS. I'd try to land a job before you ETS or go reserves and still try and have a shoe in.

[downdiver2]

Stay in. I make more now, but I regret not doing my 20. I would be 6 away from that. And in my industry of employment, I could easily start at 42, when I would have retired.

Think about it. Most of the work force out there has just started over at a new company or just reached senior management by the time their 42 - and most likely in a company that does 401K's and not a pension. You would have a pension at that age and can have the liberty of doing what you want and still being able to retire.

I envy my father:
22 years Air force
20 years Northrup Gruman

He joined when he was 18 and he's only 68, young and healthy.
He has two pensions so now he kayaks everyday and lives life with no worries.

[GMG]

Step grandson 3.5 yrs. in the Corps (E-4), puts in for early discharge so he can go to college. Other than the Corps he has not worked a day in his life, enlisted just out of HS. He has no idea of the job market on the outside.

Tried talking his grandma into convincing him to ship over, he will miss out on a retirement check down the road. He and I don't talk ( that's a long story).

Every time he talks to his grandma it's a different story on what he's going to study. He changes his mind more than I change my underwear!

As an E-4 he makes $1600 + a month and splits an off site house with four others, instead of living on base for free.

As an E-4 I made $124 a month (with sea pay) and lived aboard my ship. I guess it's a different time.

[GardoneVT]

On the flip side, theres no guarantee a military pension will still exist in the years to come.

[GMG]

On the flip side, theres no guarantee a military pension will still exist in the years to come.

You might be right, just like Social Security is supposed to run out. If SC runs out, then I think there will be blood in the streets.

[tnlrat37]

Its a tough decision believe me i know. Job market sucks right now and for the foreseeable future. If you talk to most guys they say they wish they would've stayed in. I'm glad I got out but miss alot of it too.

Try reenlisting in a different mos or better yet have them send you to school to become an officer. Your USMC correct? Do they still have the MECEP program? If you qualify they pay you e5 pay to go to civilian college and then you become an officer. I was gonna do that but got out instead.

I would've retired at 37 with full benefits. I couldve had another career and been double dipping. Instead I'm 39 and have 20 more years to go and not much medical when I get there. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I got out and later regretted it. ETS with caution!

[devster55]

I got out and regret it. I got a great job but it's not the same as when I was in. I was a AT and now work in hospitals on sterilization equipment. The only reason why I got out was I didn't want to miss out on watching my kids grow up. If you do get out start going to Orion international job fairs a few months before you separate. I had a job guarantee about a month before I got out.

[Killer Bee]

stay in AND go to school..

don't be a complacent coaster..

earn, learn, and promote!

senior enlisted, warrants, ldo, ocs, etc. are all good income levels and benefits.. make 20 mark or better and lock in decent retirement pay for life while you seek your second career..

I took an alternate route but locked in 20 years of mixed service.. fleet>seabees>coastal warefare.. damn glad I did but I wish I hadn't wasted so many years passed out under pool tables in dive bars.. none the less, I've still been more places than most people can name and done things they can't show on cable tv.. wouldn't trade one day of it for anything..

unless you've got something airtight locked in at sep time, I recommend strongly consider working harder on your career.. and if the wing nuts aren't blowing up your skirt, cross deck into another branch or mos that excites you..

good luck!

[pterrell]

stay in AND go to school..

I've been trying to do this my whole enlistment. I keep getting denied TA by my command because I'm too valuable to the workcenter to dedicate my time elsewhere. I've heard that with just about everything my whole career. Leads into why I never got a deployment.

"Who wants to go to (Fill in the blank)?"

Me: "I do! I'm fully qualified and want to go!"

SNCO/NCO: "Can't send you. You're my most qualified Marine. LCpl Schmuckatelli, you're going instead"

I quit counting at 5.

[mikenewgun87]

Stay in bro. I did 8 yrs active all in the infantry....got flagged for recruiter, when i wanted combat instructor....i couldnt lie to myself and let fat kids who play call of duty all day eatting cheetos into my beloved Corps. So i got out a little over a year and hate it....i know i would of been a damn good combat instructor, but gotten lazy and missed my chance...

STAY IN!!!

[tnlrat37]

I wanted to go embassy duty and they kept telling me they needed me and try later. It's one of the reasons I got out. Re enlistment in another mos and they can't say crap because you'll most likely be changing duty stations anyway. Keep fighting for what u want

[pterrell]

I appreciate the motivation all. Much needed shot in the arm I'm thinking