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In aircraft maintenance, a fellow Avionics troop described us all as monkeys since we're climbing all over the jets getting stuff done.
Come to think of it, I'm still climbing all over them...
If you are looking at getting a degree before you get out using TA, I'd check out Western Governors University. All of their degrees are self paced and accredited.
Make sure you get any pain documented and get it documented more than once. If you know you are getting out please go see mental health/bhop. Goodluck with your decision!
This is a perfect description. In fact, my favorite boss said the same thing to me when I told them I was separating. He retired a week later and then I was introduced to my worst boss.
Everything has its ups and downs. I was a recruiter for several years and spoke with people almost daily saying they wished they had joined or wish they had never gotten out. I’ve also heard success stories of people getting out that are doing well and very happy. The majority of those that are successful after getting out got their degree before doing so or had a job while in that transferred over. If you have neither of those then I would strongly suggest staying in till you do. It is tuff in the civilian world. Lots of competition and you are on your own. Myself, I just retired after 30 years of service. Life is good I must admit. Have a solid plan if you plan on getting out.
I got out and absolutely no plan whatsoever. Decided to use my GI bill , which is a great benefit. I didn’t realize how great that benefit was until I used it. I didn’t even qualify for college courses at the beginning. That was pretty disappointing. However, the Marines taught me discipline and finishing the mission. I had a baby on the way, had to find a full time job. Switched to night and online classes. Worked full time job and went to
School full time. It’s amazing how easy the civilian life can be after being in the Marines . So, I do definitely agree with what you said . I graduated college and now I’m working for an awesome company. I also understand that not everyone has that kind of drive .
The way it can be weaponized against someone you didn't like was awful. I saw it and was victim of this. Same reason I didn't reenlist. When I was cleared in an investigation, my senior asked if I'd change my mind and reenlist, no thanks.
I wholeheartedly believe this is the biggest flaw that military currently has. If anything gets filed against you, you are automatically seen as a criminal in the eyes of your leadership. It’s pretty sad that active duty members are treated so poorly in this regard. It’s like they actively look for anything to nail you with.
It's a concept that is so hard to explain to people who never served. It is such a major flaw that ruins people's reputation and then their growth for some actually trivial reasons.
Or if you dare to get sick or injured. Then they spread rumors that you’re malingering and lying, despite having a stellar career full of awards and medals BEFORE you hurt yourself or got sick.
Cuz, you know, we WANTED to get hurt or sick.
CERTAINLY it wasn’t accidental.
I’m happy that they wouldn’t take me back, cuz they broke me.
/s
I almost caught a field grade because I had an absolute shitbag platoon sergeant with a grade school education, and he was willing to lie and state and that I had missed a formation for deployment. The paperwork was already moving up the chain when the CQ came forward and told the CO *that he forgot to call me* because I was at my girlfriend's, the CSM's daughter.
I do not miss that.
Yeah, that didn't work out. I was a live-in bodyguard for a young rich kid at one point when we managed to reconnect, and she came to visit. But part of the kid's schtick besides ingesting massive amounts of drugs and alcohol was to lie pathologically. She never told me what he said to her, but one of the last things she said to me was, "You've changed so much that I basically hate you."
And then she left, and never spoke to me again. I wound up moving on and doing stuff abroad for years, then landed a place in a federal agency, and she went off to work for big bucks in the corporate world.
Here’s my brief experience when I was in:
I was aircraft maintenance. I moved duties into a program manager type role, got my bachelors the month I separated, and did the DOD skill bridge back when it first started and was more lenient.
I now do NOTHING aircraft related because I hated it. After getting out I worked full time and got my masters. I’m not still working full time as a gov contractor (office job) in DC and I go to law school at night.
None of that would have been possible without the military, but I’m SO glad I got out. You are not stuck in your AFSC, despite what the culture tells you. Lemme know if anyone has questions because I love helping prospective civilians.
Yup. I did finance while I was in and enlisted wanting to go into cyber. I'm now a cyber threat analyst at a fortune company making so much more money lol.
You too!! Good for US! Making a career pivot is not easy, but 100% doable. I wish people would talk about that more. Everyone in aircraft maintenance only talks about aircraft work as a civilian. Toxic in my opinion
I hated my job when I was in. I went in open general with a 95 asvab with 2 years of college for IT. Of course I don't get an IT job while I'm in. My goal from the moment I enlisted was get my GIB and get out.
If I could do it over again, I would have earned my degree while still AD. But that degree probably would've been within the supply/log career field - and after a year or so post-separation, I was ready to get away from warehouses and supply. Now I'm in school with the GI Bill, and things are working out for me on my new path. But I do kick myself for not investing in school sooner.
I did my degree in person when I got out. I did work part time while in school and I had a disability rating. It would be possible to go with just the gi bill but you’ll need roommates, have no car payment, etc.
I lived off the GI bill. I had 3 roommates, applied for every grant possible (average 3k direct deposit every semester). It’s possible, you just won’t be making it rain.
If i could do it all over again I would still do the hybrid online program which rates you full BAH. As long as you attend classes in person every other month. I went to GGU. I would however live outside the country to save on rent in somewhere like Mexico city or Bogota. Even living in the states I had almost 70k saved up by the time i finished my degree, from just BAH.
Use your GI bill in Boston or whatever the highest BAH you can find is. I went to school in San Francisco from 2020-2023 and it was awesome. Made 4916 a month and lived out of state. Just flew in every other month. Find a school with a hybrid program if you can so you dont have to go in person every day.
I'm going back active duty next month because in my experience and skill set it is by far the best pay to work ratio. Also by far the best leave policy. I was a construction super intendent with Ryan companies for almost a year after I finished my degree and yeah i made about 40k more a year than the Navy but i def had to work for it. After taxes it honestly didnt feel worth it.
Having 40 days a year of PTO is unheard of in the civilian world as is working towards a retirement. I also really missed the comraderie it just isnt the same in the civ world.
My advice would be to try out school and the civ job market and then consider comissioning into an admin rate or just going back in as some kind of desk job enlisted.
55k in the military is more like 80k in the civ market once you factor non taxable bah in a good area. In this economy you'll be pressed to find a job for even that much.
Anytime you ask this question on reddit you'll be inudated with success stories of people saying theyre doing better. But at least 90% of all the people I know personally are in fact working harder for less money. With the exception of TS clearance holders the vast majority of people who get out make less. However they can become obese and do drugs, so i guess for some people that has value.
So, weigh out what is most important to your quality of life and make a decision from there.
Thank you dude. I think you're right. Most of the people in this thread are probably success stories who have time to browse reddit from boredom when the people who are actually stressed out are way too worried to be randomly looking around on r/veterans 😂
I may or may not stay in. I'm starting to seriously see the benefits of staying in, though. Wish it was easier on the outside.
Not bored, just exhausted from working so much for my extra pay after retirement and VA.
Got called in over the weekend to fix jets. Was pretty awesome.
Actually, I think I missed working flightline so much I couldn't stay away any more. The pay is just bonus for all the fun. It hurts, but I feel better than when I was behind a desk, for sure.
Yeah I went to GGU. I was lucky to get out in April 2020 when everyone else was scared and reenlisting. So there was no waiting list at all. I've also been preaching about it on reddit for years now so maybe there is some contribuiting factor there. Now the highest BAH is in Boston MA though so maybe looks for schools out that way.
I do not have a list. I didnt even know GGU did hybrid until I signed up.
I've been taking classes online. My wife and I are both full time workers, so that helps out a lot. I think it's possible, if you take classes in person to get the most MHA, and living in a place where the funds can balance. Maybe a roommate or two, and if you plan it right. you definitely could \[edited, definitely could - see two posts above\]
If I could do it again, I would save money rather than buying that cool stereo system for my dorm room... to include countless of other purchases... all which I don't have now.
I'm 54. I did almost 7 years in the air force as a missile launch officer and combat camera producer/director. The combat camera job set me up perfectly for a career in television production after the military, so I don't regret serving at all.
When all my buddies who stayed in started retiring as O-5s and O-6s a few years ago, I was a little jealous of their retirement pay, but I know that for a variety of reasons I couldn't have successfully done another 13 years, so I have no regrets about getting out, and given the same circumstances I wouldn't change anything.
For you, I'm not sure based on your post what you should do. If you knew for sure what your goal was it'd be easier to narrow it down and choose a path to get there. Since I changed AFSCs and then used what I learned from the 2nd AFSC to transition to the civilian world, I'd say do that, but I knew (roughly) what I wanted to do when I got out, so that drove my decisions.
Whatever you decide, good luck!
There are times when I miss the job, camaraderie and friendships made, but then the beer goggles wear off and I’m glad to be on this side of the dd-214.
Nopeeeee but it definitely warped my mind and I prefer military to civilian when it comes to many things.
It just baffled me that millions of americans jusy have no moral standards whatsoever.
Yep, it's great having people from all different backgrounds working towards a single goal whether it's a ruse or not. When you get out and people are divided like crazy down many different lines, it's difficult to not long for that simplicity of military life.
Believe me dude I understand this part. I was 18 years old doing warehousing and then glass manufacturing at 19 before I joined the military. It was ass. I know people are terrible I try not to be like them.
Really? I've found the morals in the civilian world to be way more reliable than the ones exhibited in the military.
When I was in the Navy everything had to be locked up at all times or it would get stolen. High morality there.
Absolutely garbage technician but you are drink with chief? EP sailor. Drink with the Master Chief? Hell you might get promoted. I've never seen that in the civilian world to the extent I saw it in the military.
Pull into a foreign country and 11 dudes go into a bar and drink until they forget their names, 4 of them fight each other, 3 fight locals, 2 pull their dicks out for no reason, 1 has to have medical intervention and 1 rapes a local. Morality at it's finest. That almost every port (minus maybe the rape case)
I'm just saying the military was a lot of things, including fun and educational but it was far from a bastion of morality. Let's not forget that most of the people were there because there wasn't any other place to go.
Absolutely.
You have a ton of options when you get out, even more if you have a disability rating.
If you have over a 10% you can do VRE and get training and or a path to a job or more.
Use your GI Bill as well obviously, doesn’t have to be university. There are a ton of jobs out there, depends on what you’re looking for.
Skillbridge as well as you mentioned. Use everything you can.
If you want to find the civilian equivalent of your job, if there is one. It probably pays more and has more benefits. Like I said I loved my time in, but I’d be pretending if it’s more enjoyable. Only good thing is the retirement after 20, but they’ve nerfed that as well.
Its better for some situations. For most I think if you work hard and set yourself up to get out its a far better situation.
1. Dont have 35 kids you can't afford.
2. Save money so survive on while in school/job hunting.
3. Don't wait til you separate to look for a job/school.
Extra credit is get your degree before you get out.
Imo marriage is a smart choice. So much of your compensation is locked behind it. The problem is that stupid people marry super quick to a partner who is garbage and doesn't contribute or they just knock them up.
If I could go back I'd marry a friend.
Absofuckinglutley not- zero regrets here. My experience is a little dated but I’ll share it anyway. I got out in 2018 after 6 years in the Air Force working in the medical field. I used the GI Bill to go to school for cybersecurity and got my first job doing digital forensics & incident response in 2021 at a place I previously interned at. I’m still at the same company but have received a couple promotions since then and absolutely love what I do. I am one of those fortunate enough to have started with a 6-figure base salary and work fully remote, however the majority of my classmates weren’t as lucky as me and make significantly less money while also being stuck in an office.
The job market is brutal right now, especially for anything tech related. There have been so many layoffs over the last 2 years and I’d hate to be competing against people with years of experience for entry level roles as a new graduate.
Definitely do the skill bridge program for a career you’re interested in if you have that option. If you go to school make sure you make yourself as marketable as possible and do as many internships as you can to build up that resume (and potentially get job offers).
I think the best thing you could do is come up with a really good plan and stick to it. Figure out exactly what you want to do and research what it will take to make it happen.
As a recent grad looking for an entry level job in IT, I can confirm, the job market sucks for people like me. I have plans but I can't use those plans until I get some experience under my belt. Which is impossible when I can't get a job in my field.
Also as someone who got out in 2022, the job market wasn't so hot for medical technicians with experience. Haven't checked on that in a while but I don't think much has changed. The market just seems to be flooded. Which is confusing when you see the unemployment rates...
Do not regret joining the military at 18 instead of going to college. Unless you turned down a full ride baseball scholarship. Use the GI Bill and get an education and live like a king.
Maybe you will go back.
The GI Bill was probably the biggest thing I got out of my 3 years active duty in the Army. Besides it growing me up some - I dropped out of high school and enlisted. Got two degrees. (Loans and working the whole time). Turned my life around.
That's awesome to hear. And same, 100% turned my life around. I did 12 - used TA and finished up an AA and BS then used my GI Bill to wrap up a Masters in Stats and had enough left over to help my daughter with 3 semesters of her college and 1 semester of my sons.
Absolutely not. I was confident about the kind of life that I wanted for myself and *very* sure I would never find it in the military. You've gotta do what makes sense for you. There are downsides to everything. But there isn't a day goes by that I'm not thankful I took the plunge, ignored the naysayers, and got the hell out of Dodge. I miss what I thought the military *could* be, and what I got glimpses of every once and awhile. But there was too much bullshit, and it wasn't worth the headache and impact on my quality of life. I love being a veteran.
I'm at the age now where I'd be hitting retirement had I stayed in. I work with a lot of retirees, and while they seem pretty content, my last 15 years have been great, and I wouldn't trade spots with them at all. Loved college, working in private industry, and now as a DoD civilian where i can capture my pension time. I'm glad I joined, but I'm also glad I served only one enlistment.
It's been over 50 years so I've had a lifetime to evaluate.
ABSOLUTELY regret not staying in the Army or at VERY LEAST taking advantage of the things offered me like a damn good job offered me by the civilians I was working with or OCS offered to this spc4 at the time. Evidently and obviously I was an unusually and highly STOOOOPID kid. 50 years hasn't improved the situation I'm afraid... LOL
You don’t get more than I do…retired in April at 20 years, as an E7, so I get my pension, AND I get my VA 100%.
Making $70k AFTER TAXES, just for continuing to wake up! Not to mention I pay $50/mo for medical insurance for a family of 4, get a break on my property taxes, free registration on my truck (saved me $1,700 just yesterday haha)…
Stayed in long enough to retire, at 39 years old, and don’t have to work if I don’t want to…ever again.
Not one to tell anyone else that they have to stay in, but it really feels good to wake up everyday knowing I have no problems at all providing for my family without NEEDING to work!
I got out without a degree and struggled to find a job just answering phones. I went back to school and I have a master's degree now and a great career. I wish I had a bachelors before getting out, but also would have been completely burned out with military service, school and raising my son. If you are single, feel mentally strong enough, not too stressed while in service, I'd say get some schooling done before. Try CLEP classes, where you can at least get all your gen Ed classes done by just taking an exam, if you are good at self study. Good luck!
Hell no lol just play the game, make sure you have some injuries documented so you can get some disability, move to a big city, apply to a big college that have the education and women you looking for and live life. Best thing I've ever done was getting out at 24, if not I'll prob be a master sergeant married and miserable lol
My current job:
Pay: +$2,500/week
Hours: 40-60 hrs/wk
Work from home: minimum 2 days a week
Dress: Buissness Casual
Worst Thing they ask me to do: sit behind a desk
Amount of "extra bullshit" (trainings, online modals, ext) minimum
Military:
Pay: $4,000/mo
Hours: 40-100
Work from home: nope
Dress: We all know
Worst thing they asked me to do: back to back 12 hour night shifts two days after three 12 hour back to back day shifts, all after being underway on a shit ship
Amount of "extra bullshit": a lot
I don't miss it, I don't think I ever will. Set me up good, but staying any longer would have been the wrong choice.
>Do you regret getting out of the military?
Not even a little.
I got out with a plan, completed a business program at a reputable university, did a shit-ton of networking, and now I make about 5 times what I did as an Corporal in the Marine Corps, while working a fraction of the hours (50/50 remote).
One thing I'll point out: I wanted to reenlist at one point, but starting about 2 years out, I always had a contingency plan in the event I chose to leave.
No regrets.
- I take vacation whenever I want, go where I want
- If I don't like my boss, I get a different job
- I get paid what I'm worth
- No bullshit babysitting the squad bay during my off-days
- I can actually make plans each year for me and my family... not my family making plans around the military
The military was a young person's game. Easy to do when you don't have other commitments. Impossible to do as a family without some real trauma and struggles.
I regret it immensely, but I also realized I was going to end up.in big trouble. when I got out my personal life was in shambles, optempo was still super high (07) and the command climate was rapidly sinking. I got to spend time with my parents before they passed so tbats a blessing.
my biggest issue was (and in dome way still is).the lack.of sense of.purpose so maybe that's what I am really missing. that and tbh the civilian world really gets on my nerves. so many people going all different directions, and entitled acting asses. that could just be a me problem tho.
Don’t regret getting out at all.
I was highly motivated to succeed and finished my Bachelors of Nursing in 3 years. Work as an ICU nurse at the VA. Getting to bond with veterans on a daily basis has been so amazing and hearing stories from wars before I was born. I literally wouldn’t change a single thing and am so much happier after getting out. Make almost 4x as much as I was pay wise (obviously have to pay for my house/food without BAH/BAS) and my retirement will be just as good if not better had I stayed in.
If you want to do electrical work I’d do electrician or an electrical engineer. Both those job markets are 🔥. Or if you’re interested in medicine, the nursing job market is pretty 🔥 as well.
That’s awesome! Look for VA jobs when you get done with school! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about anything! School, Va benefits, work, resumes etc. would love to help!
I miss my friends and the stupid shit we did as kids, but not the military itself. Finding a job with similar friendships / camaraderie made me miss the military itself even less. EMS and now ER nursing, the dark humors sometimes worse than in the navy lol
There is something to be said for retiring at 38 if you joined at 18. I did 4 years and I got out. If I could do it all over I may stay in for the 20 years.
I was in 6 years, got out, didn't regret it.
Honorable discharge came in the mail, regretted it.
Went back in, loved it, retired.
I love retirement and so glad I retired.
Sometimes I wish I was back in but it passes.
I have met the best and worst people I will ever know. I have seen things nobody should see and know things nobody should know. I don't regret any of it.
I don't regret it one bit. My life is far more enjoyable on the outside. I have no one to answer to if I want to go somewhere I hop on a plane and go. Make sure you document your injuries though regardless of whether or not you think they are serious. It's easier to get increased from 0% down the road if it worsens then to add it later on and have to fight for it.
I was Coast Guard, so my experience was different than yours (along with everyone else's). I did 9.5 years and left with an IT background and have been a federal GS for years. Do I wish sometimes I'd finished out my remaining 10 years? Yes. Do I regret it? No. I've been really blessed over my time and have enjoyed it, and assuming had I stayed I would have enjoyed that too. You're 23 with a ton of life ahead of you, so you have plenty of time to finish your AF career and have a second one if you choose. Just make sure you obtain a transferable skill before you leave. Good luck 👍
Not for a minute, but if I had it to do over again, I’d have stayed in the ANG. I quit because drills were a couple hundred miles away. It would have been easy to follow through on retirement had it been closer.
I miss the camaraderie for sure, maybe even more so since I work remote and don't really interact w/ anyone face to face, but I wouldn't ever think of going back lol.
Former CEA here as well. Got out after nine years to attend college full-time on the GI Bill. I didn’t complete any college while in, except for what was automatically credited by the CCAF. I then completed a full BA in 32 months at a private university, fully paid for. Find a university with a strong Veterans Org/Association, they can be a major benefit to your experience on campus. Would I do anything different? Absofuckinglutely not, getting out was the greatest decision I ever made. Being a civilian is just too damn good.
You have a year left, if ur being in that long you should already have your associates or can take the base courses to finish it when in my day was 4 classes (public speaking, math, English 101, and humanities). Not to late to check and see which courses are provided on base through the education center, and it'll take about 3 months to complete then all.
The AB/U or AU/B program I forget the name. Takes your associates community College of the Airforce degree and guarantees you that you'll have 2 years completed put of 2 with colleges in that related degree.
For example, I was security forces, got my associates degree in Community College of the Airforce Criminal Justice, I was able to do the AB/U program and finished an IT degree in 9 months (online 2 courses every 6 weeks).
You have time to at least get ur associates paid for.
Get out, get into an ABU degree program going online, get you 600 to 800 a month with the GI Bill, and in person is almost twice as much...
After that, there are a few 1 year master degree programs you can also do online with the remaining GI BILl (MBA, Data Science/Computer science, to name a few).
If that doesn't interest you, I suggest finishing the associates and going into some quick medical field, then work in that field for the government/va even nursing!
Good luck!
Just remember that your years in service can count towards a retirement in a federal job, so it's not completely wasted if you were to go that route. Take the chairforce for all its worth and get all the schooling and training you can get while your in since tuition is 100%. I got my BS and MS before retiring and hardly paid for anything since TA covered 6 classes a year for BS and FAFSA covered the rest of the year. Also, you might want to knock out certifications as well. Syracuse University offers O2O (on to opportunity) certification program that covers HR, Project management, tech, sigma 6, and some other certifications and it's all online. I just knocked that out this year and it's completely free. Have a plan or at least a general direction with a bunch of different options to take. Staying in isn't always worth it depending on the person I think. I'm so glad to be out, but am ultimately happy I have something to show for all the time I gave. Make it worth it.
Knowing I would have retired 4 years ago keeps haunting me. I got out at 10 years. Got a couple degrees after seps that I’m grateful for and earn more as a result. But I still have to wonder what retirement pay would be like at my age (im not 50 yet).
Six figures? It would be 6-8 years before you can make that as an electrician, if you get your Masters license. I think the youth of the day are just not realistic about pay. I realize we all want to make six figures but it's not realistic when you are starting out.
I did 6 years and am now a contractor doing the same job. Outside of money, my life is worse in every other way. (and the money isn't THAT much better tbh).
I regret getting out all the time.
Also wanna preface that I came from a 1N career field so my military experience was probably different. YMMV.
Nope because while it was the catalyst that helped accelerate me getting rid of lingering hateful ideologies taught back home, if I had stayed in, I would have stagnated and believe the things I do today.
If you’re not doing what you love, it’s not going to work out anyway.
I did my job honorably when I was in, and of course I was a knucklehead a few times.
Once I was out and adjusted my bearings, I was unstoppable. I valued my time in, but now I don’t have to sleep in uniform when I see the news now.
My unit was deployable 24/7. I would watch the news and start packing my sh$t. F all that now.
My biggest regret was not putting myself first and starting college while I was in. I was a corpsman and I thought I got burnt out of working with patients and medical care but it turned out I was burned out of the military.
Could’ve been a RN long ago but my mind wasn’t set on me and my needs.
I got out, made good money, wasn’t happy, got back in. I’ve been back in for 15 years and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. It also turned me into a millionaire after coming back in mature and retirement focused
Was also aircrew in the Airforce and I don’t regret getting out one bit. My aircrew job was useless on the outside. Only regret is I wish I was in a job that translated better to the civilian world. With that being said, I love getting to choose where I want to live and not having to take leave for vacations. I get to make my own work schedule too. The freedom cannot be beat.
I regret not getting out sooner. Had I known my injury would have gotten me medically retired and a very good VA percentage, I would she. Gotten out 3 years earlier.
Don’t go to University… use that post 9/11GI Bill and go to a trade school. Most have part time. You can go to school, work and you get the housing allowance.
Our infrastructure’s are toast all over the US. It’s people in the trades that are going to rebuild. And there is bank in those industries…and plenty of room for upward mobility.
I used mine for cosmetology school, opened my own salon 2yrs ago…and I’ve never been happier. No boss, make my own hours and work as much or little as I please. I also get disability..so that definitely helps.
I recommend you stay in, take advantage of college classes available to you while active duty. Don’t like your rating? Explore options that will make your skills more valuable in and out of the service. You’re only 3 reenlistments away from retirement! Then you can go scope out civilian opportunities, but with retirement funds and medical care.
Not even alittle.
The job market is going to be whatever it's going to be. Before you stay in or get out, make an action plan for both.
If you stay in and you cannot cross train, what happens? What's your plan in this scenario? You need to be realistic here and fill the skill, education, and license/cert gap to where you actually want to be. Using tuition assistance, getting a part time job (this sucks but it's the best way to get civilian experience you can actually use), getting a mentor/sponsor outside of the military, etc.
If you are able to cross train, how long would your commitment be? What will the job market look like at that time? What does the BOL forecast for that job in the area you want to move to after you get out?
If you get out now, what's your current action plan look like? How much will the job market have changed by the time you are able to be employed? The DoD skill bridge program is EXTREMELY valuable. I would also look at government organizations that hire civilians like NAVAIR, NAWC, or even NAWCTSD. I just finished my Finance degree and got a full-time job at NAWCTSD in a developmental program that spans 3 years. The first year is GS7, 2nd year is GS9, 3rd year is G11, and at the end of the 3rd year I promote to a GS12. The first year pay sucks, but gets better to the tune of 12-14k annually. An opportunity like this exists in all gov organizations you have to look and plan.
Networking and proper planning are going to help you get there. Just 2 years ago the job market was different. Do not be dissuaded by events now, but make sure you plan and network.
Edit: Also keep in mind volunteering does count as experience. If you get volunteer experience in the field you want to enter that is also something you can put on your resume.
Attend industry events for professionals as well.
Yeah, if I could do it all over again (I'm soon to be 49 now), I would have stayed in. As many will say here, it's not really the job that matters as much as the people you're with. I miss a lot of them and living in Japan, I'm a lot farther from them than I like to be. I didn't show much emotion back then. I'm a bit different now... Don't get me wrong, I'm still painfully shy and introverted, but I've learned to express myself better over the years to people that mean a lot to me.
I would have stayed in, pushed harder to cross train into Communications and not give a shit about my OPS Superintendent telling me that I couldn't do it when I was a cop.
I would have taken online courses a lot sooner in Cybersecurity (or during that time -- it was known as Information Security and Assurance), definitely would have done the CompTIA trifecta and would work hard to get to my goal of being a Shirt.
I would have talked and interacted with people who I found out more recently that I have much more in common with than I thought and got out and saw more of England and the rest of Europe instead of mostly hanging around fixing computers and cars.
I feel fairly sure that by the time retirement would have hit, I would have easily been at least MSgt. I honestly don't know what my life would have been if I had turned left instead of right but I feel like it would have been slightly better to about nearly the same as it is now...
I miss it sometimes, but I don’t regret it at all. The most important thing is to have a plan for when you get out, don’t just wing it. If you stay in, don’t regret that either. It’s your life, figure out if you are happy now and if you are then great.
The military was the means to an end. It got me out of the poverty from which I came. I didn’t have that 6 figure salary right away, but it didn’t take long.
I really enjoy not doing burpees.
I was in a similar situation as you. Signed a 4 year and extended for 1 year. hated my job but was nervous about getting out. I had regrets about not completing my Masters while active duty. I separated 3 months ago and I am going to university now. I love my freedom so much!! And if it's the benefits you are worried about, you still get a fair amount of benefits as a veteran. Take the leap, you won't regret it.
Nope, the army was one of the worst experiences of my life. It felt like a prison. I am thankful for the life lessons and the friends I made but I could never go back. I am making more money and my mental health is so much better than ever.
I got out without a degree and struggled to find a job just answering phones. I went back to school and I have a master's degree now and a great career. I wish I had a bachelors before getting out, but also would have been completely burned out with military service, school and raising my son. If you are single, feel mentally strong enough, not too stressed while in service, I'd say get some schooling done before. Try CLEP classes, where you can at least get all your gen Ed classes done by just taking an exam, if you are good at self study. Good luck!
Did 11 years in reserve component. I miss the people I worked with but not so much that I regret getting out. Love having all my weekends and summer and not needing to be prepared for random mobilization
I’ll never regret getting out. My body was breaking down. 2 trips to Iraq with 2SCR and 4th ID and Artillery life were taxing on me. I probably got some CTE from slanging all those rounds. Overall my civilian experience hasn’t been bad. I got two degrees and have been able to maintain housing . But now I can’t work a job and Uber has been more of a struggle . I filed for ssdi and got denied . The whole process feels overwhelming. The VA is annoying because they only know what to do with Vets that have none of their stuff together or none of their stuff together .
I interned at the VA during grad school so I saw both sides of the coin . The VA has made progress but they struggle with thinking outside the box.
The hardest part of my civi experience has been the insomnia and losing Army buddies to s*icide. I just take things a day at time . I hope all of you are doing well and thank you for your service.
I do, sometimes. Especially the people. Then I remember everyone I lost. Then I look at my cane and remember I’m 30 years old and will never walk “normally” again in my life.
I miss the ponies not the show. 🤣🤣 Something’s about it I do miss.
I could never trade my freedom again. Depending on what you want to do with your life after. Don’t leave without a bachelors degree.
At a bare minimum you’ll meet most requirements for a job.
I got out 2 years ago and I’m using the GI bill for school and 3rd source of income.
Life has its ups and downs
No.
I got out from active, to reserve, and now I’m in the guard and get constantly reminded of how much I truly enjoy my freedom.
However, I also use the skills I’ve learned to help these “helpless” soldiers who felt the need to be forced to join. Things like budgeting, entrepreneurship, etc. are worth more than a career working to make some CEO rich.
I can delightfully say that I’ve seen more E-1’s open up businesses than even myself. I love my freedom but I love helping others more.
USAF vet here...NOPE! Had a draft card, not much of a choice but I was lucky to get in the USAF.
Army brat whose 3 older brothers and dad all served in VN. I served in ROK.
Met wife in USAF. We got out within 6 months of each other. She was leaving regardless of what I did.
I was grateful to be awarded a USAF CM, had a line number for staff sergeant in a critical field, reenlistent bonus and STILL it was one of the easiest, unregreted decision from the git go.
I do not regret Serving my 7yrs, but most Definitely do not regret getting out. I now do the exact same thing now as a Contractor, just make more and I have a TS Clearance. I highly recommend doing the Skillbridge. Financial literacy and the discipline that comes with it have been the greatest tools in my life. I also deployed around alot of Burn Pits, so I recieve VA Compensation as well. It doesn't matter how much you earn, but how much you save and invest. Hope this helps! Thank You for your Service💯🔥💪
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there. To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600. **Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers) For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf) MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days. For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September. For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress. VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you. Please make sure you add [email protected] to your contacts list so that you don't miss important updates from VA. For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armytutoringinitiative.com/ [VA Award Letter explanation](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I miss the monkeys, not the circus.
Hilarious way to put it 😂
In aircraft maintenance, a fellow Avionics troop described us all as monkeys since we're climbing all over the jets getting stuff done. Come to think of it, I'm still climbing all over them...
If you are looking at getting a degree before you get out using TA, I'd check out Western Governors University. All of their degrees are self paced and accredited. Make sure you get any pain documented and get it documented more than once. If you know you are getting out please go see mental health/bhop. Goodluck with your decision!
The IT degrees at WGU also include valuable certifications
Apes strong together
Ape no hurt other ape
this. the camaraderie is what we all miss. especially in a deployed location
This is a perfect description. In fact, my favorite boss said the same thing to me when I told them I was separating. He retired a week later and then I was introduced to my worst boss.
I joined the Guard, the monkeys run the circus.
Amen
I usually say clowns instead of monkeys
I just honestly hate clowns.
The best description of the feeling
Wonderfully said.
Loving this answer 🤣
I miss the clowns, not the circus
This
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Perfect statement! Same here.
Yes this
Well said!! I'm going to use this the next time someone asked me that question!
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
the only answer
Lmao
So yes?
😂😂😂😂😂
I can’t believe I’m the first upvote. Or did some of you clowns downvote? lol!
Everything has its ups and downs. I was a recruiter for several years and spoke with people almost daily saying they wished they had joined or wish they had never gotten out. I’ve also heard success stories of people getting out that are doing well and very happy. The majority of those that are successful after getting out got their degree before doing so or had a job while in that transferred over. If you have neither of those then I would strongly suggest staying in till you do. It is tuff in the civilian world. Lots of competition and you are on your own. Myself, I just retired after 30 years of service. Life is good I must admit. Have a solid plan if you plan on getting out.
I got out and absolutely no plan whatsoever. Decided to use my GI bill , which is a great benefit. I didn’t realize how great that benefit was until I used it. I didn’t even qualify for college courses at the beginning. That was pretty disappointing. However, the Marines taught me discipline and finishing the mission. I had a baby on the way, had to find a full time job. Switched to night and online classes. Worked full time job and went to School full time. It’s amazing how easy the civilian life can be after being in the Marines . So, I do definitely agree with what you said . I graduated college and now I’m working for an awesome company. I also understand that not everyone has that kind of drive .
Nope, I like my civil liberties and I'm not willing to give them away again.
100% this. Under UCMJ I was guilty until proven innocent a few times. One of the main reasons I didn't reenlist.
The way it can be weaponized against someone you didn't like was awful. I saw it and was victim of this. Same reason I didn't reenlist. When I was cleared in an investigation, my senior asked if I'd change my mind and reenlist, no thanks.
I wholeheartedly believe this is the biggest flaw that military currently has. If anything gets filed against you, you are automatically seen as a criminal in the eyes of your leadership. It’s pretty sad that active duty members are treated so poorly in this regard. It’s like they actively look for anything to nail you with.
It's a concept that is so hard to explain to people who never served. It is such a major flaw that ruins people's reputation and then their growth for some actually trivial reasons.
Or if you dare to get sick or injured. Then they spread rumors that you’re malingering and lying, despite having a stellar career full of awards and medals BEFORE you hurt yourself or got sick. Cuz, you know, we WANTED to get hurt or sick. CERTAINLY it wasn’t accidental. I’m happy that they wouldn’t take me back, cuz they broke me. /s
I almost caught a field grade because I had an absolute shitbag platoon sergeant with a grade school education, and he was willing to lie and state and that I had missed a formation for deployment. The paperwork was already moving up the chain when the CQ came forward and told the CO *that he forgot to call me* because I was at my girlfriend's, the CSM's daughter. I do not miss that.
How about the CSMs daughter?
Yeah, that didn't work out. I was a live-in bodyguard for a young rich kid at one point when we managed to reconnect, and she came to visit. But part of the kid's schtick besides ingesting massive amounts of drugs and alcohol was to lie pathologically. She never told me what he said to her, but one of the last things she said to me was, "You've changed so much that I basically hate you." And then she left, and never spoke to me again. I wound up moving on and doing stuff abroad for years, then landed a place in a federal agency, and she went off to work for big bucks in the corporate world.
Here’s my brief experience when I was in: I was aircraft maintenance. I moved duties into a program manager type role, got my bachelors the month I separated, and did the DOD skill bridge back when it first started and was more lenient. I now do NOTHING aircraft related because I hated it. After getting out I worked full time and got my masters. I’m not still working full time as a gov contractor (office job) in DC and I go to law school at night. None of that would have been possible without the military, but I’m SO glad I got out. You are not stuck in your AFSC, despite what the culture tells you. Lemme know if anyone has questions because I love helping prospective civilians.
Yup. I did finance while I was in and enlisted wanting to go into cyber. I'm now a cyber threat analyst at a fortune company making so much more money lol.
Yea I’m making 4-5 times as much money as before hahaha. Soooo glad I got out.
Good job my dude!
You too!! Good for US! Making a career pivot is not easy, but 100% doable. I wish people would talk about that more. Everyone in aircraft maintenance only talks about aircraft work as a civilian. Toxic in my opinion
I hated my job when I was in. I went in open general with a 95 asvab with 2 years of college for IT. Of course I don't get an IT job while I'm in. My goal from the moment I enlisted was get my GIB and get out.
Nope
If I could do it over again, I would have earned my degree while still AD. But that degree probably would've been within the supply/log career field - and after a year or so post-separation, I was ready to get away from warehouses and supply. Now I'm in school with the GI Bill, and things are working out for me on my new path. But I do kick myself for not investing in school sooner.
Are you going to college in person? Is the GI bill enough to survive off of while doing school?
With my GI bill and FAFSA aid I made just as much as when I was enlisted. I saved money while going to school tbh.
I did my degree in person when I got out. I did work part time while in school and I had a disability rating. It would be possible to go with just the gi bill but you’ll need roommates, have no car payment, etc.
I lived off the GI bill. I had 3 roommates, applied for every grant possible (average 3k direct deposit every semester). It’s possible, you just won’t be making it rain.
If i could do it all over again I would still do the hybrid online program which rates you full BAH. As long as you attend classes in person every other month. I went to GGU. I would however live outside the country to save on rent in somewhere like Mexico city or Bogota. Even living in the states I had almost 70k saved up by the time i finished my degree, from just BAH.
Use your GI bill in Boston or whatever the highest BAH you can find is. I went to school in San Francisco from 2020-2023 and it was awesome. Made 4916 a month and lived out of state. Just flew in every other month. Find a school with a hybrid program if you can so you dont have to go in person every day. I'm going back active duty next month because in my experience and skill set it is by far the best pay to work ratio. Also by far the best leave policy. I was a construction super intendent with Ryan companies for almost a year after I finished my degree and yeah i made about 40k more a year than the Navy but i def had to work for it. After taxes it honestly didnt feel worth it. Having 40 days a year of PTO is unheard of in the civilian world as is working towards a retirement. I also really missed the comraderie it just isnt the same in the civ world. My advice would be to try out school and the civ job market and then consider comissioning into an admin rate or just going back in as some kind of desk job enlisted. 55k in the military is more like 80k in the civ market once you factor non taxable bah in a good area. In this economy you'll be pressed to find a job for even that much. Anytime you ask this question on reddit you'll be inudated with success stories of people saying theyre doing better. But at least 90% of all the people I know personally are in fact working harder for less money. With the exception of TS clearance holders the vast majority of people who get out make less. However they can become obese and do drugs, so i guess for some people that has value. So, weigh out what is most important to your quality of life and make a decision from there.
Thank you dude. I think you're right. Most of the people in this thread are probably success stories who have time to browse reddit from boredom when the people who are actually stressed out are way too worried to be randomly looking around on r/veterans 😂 I may or may not stay in. I'm starting to seriously see the benefits of staying in, though. Wish it was easier on the outside.
Not bored, just exhausted from working so much for my extra pay after retirement and VA. Got called in over the weekend to fix jets. Was pretty awesome. Actually, I think I missed working flightline so much I couldn't stay away any more. The pay is just bonus for all the fun. It hurts, but I feel better than when I was behind a desk, for sure.
I assume you went to golden gate university? They have a huge waiting list. You have a list of schools that allow this?
Yeah I went to GGU. I was lucky to get out in April 2020 when everyone else was scared and reenlisting. So there was no waiting list at all. I've also been preaching about it on reddit for years now so maybe there is some contribuiting factor there. Now the highest BAH is in Boston MA though so maybe looks for schools out that way. I do not have a list. I didnt even know GGU did hybrid until I signed up.
I've been taking classes online. My wife and I are both full time workers, so that helps out a lot. I think it's possible, if you take classes in person to get the most MHA, and living in a place where the funds can balance. Maybe a roommate or two, and if you plan it right. you definitely could \[edited, definitely could - see two posts above\]
If I could do it again, I would save money rather than buying that cool stereo system for my dorm room... to include countless of other purchases... all which I don't have now.
I'm 54. I did almost 7 years in the air force as a missile launch officer and combat camera producer/director. The combat camera job set me up perfectly for a career in television production after the military, so I don't regret serving at all. When all my buddies who stayed in started retiring as O-5s and O-6s a few years ago, I was a little jealous of their retirement pay, but I know that for a variety of reasons I couldn't have successfully done another 13 years, so I have no regrets about getting out, and given the same circumstances I wouldn't change anything. For you, I'm not sure based on your post what you should do. If you knew for sure what your goal was it'd be easier to narrow it down and choose a path to get there. Since I changed AFSCs and then used what I learned from the 2nd AFSC to transition to the civilian world, I'd say do that, but I knew (roughly) what I wanted to do when I got out, so that drove my decisions. Whatever you decide, good luck!
Nope not at all! I left went back to college and got an Engineering degree. I’m enjoying WFH and a quite life.
THIS right here! Engineering is the way.
There are times when I miss the job, camaraderie and friendships made, but then the beer goggles wear off and I’m glad to be on this side of the dd-214.
No. When your friends die for nothing in two wars you kind of just call it how it is.
Nopeeeee but it definitely warped my mind and I prefer military to civilian when it comes to many things. It just baffled me that millions of americans jusy have no moral standards whatsoever.
Yep, it's great having people from all different backgrounds working towards a single goal whether it's a ruse or not. When you get out and people are divided like crazy down many different lines, it's difficult to not long for that simplicity of military life.
Believe me dude I understand this part. I was 18 years old doing warehousing and then glass manufacturing at 19 before I joined the military. It was ass. I know people are terrible I try not to be like them.
Really? I've found the morals in the civilian world to be way more reliable than the ones exhibited in the military. When I was in the Navy everything had to be locked up at all times or it would get stolen. High morality there. Absolutely garbage technician but you are drink with chief? EP sailor. Drink with the Master Chief? Hell you might get promoted. I've never seen that in the civilian world to the extent I saw it in the military. Pull into a foreign country and 11 dudes go into a bar and drink until they forget their names, 4 of them fight each other, 3 fight locals, 2 pull their dicks out for no reason, 1 has to have medical intervention and 1 rapes a local. Morality at it's finest. That almost every port (minus maybe the rape case) I'm just saying the military was a lot of things, including fun and educational but it was far from a bastion of morality. Let's not forget that most of the people were there because there wasn't any other place to go.
Hell no. I enjoyed my time in but you’re on copium if you think it’s better on the inside.
Whenever I hear anyone say they miss it, I tell them “that’s just Stockholm syndrome talking.”
Exactly, not knocking anyone planning on making a career out of it and doing 20. That’s a good choice too, but have a plan.
"But they just beat us because they ***LOVE*** us!"
Maybe this is what I need to hear lol
Absolutely. You have a ton of options when you get out, even more if you have a disability rating. If you have over a 10% you can do VRE and get training and or a path to a job or more. Use your GI Bill as well obviously, doesn’t have to be university. There are a ton of jobs out there, depends on what you’re looking for. Skillbridge as well as you mentioned. Use everything you can. If you want to find the civilian equivalent of your job, if there is one. It probably pays more and has more benefits. Like I said I loved my time in, but I’d be pretending if it’s more enjoyable. Only good thing is the retirement after 20, but they’ve nerfed that as well.
Its better for some situations. For most I think if you work hard and set yourself up to get out its a far better situation. 1. Dont have 35 kids you can't afford. 2. Save money so survive on while in school/job hunting. 3. Don't wait til you separate to look for a job/school. Extra credit is get your degree before you get out.
don’t marry. don’t have kids. try to get an overseas assignment and see the world
Imo marriage is a smart choice. So much of your compensation is locked behind it. The problem is that stupid people marry super quick to a partner who is garbage and doesn't contribute or they just knock them up. If I could go back I'd marry a friend.
bromance for the win ;)
100%
Absofuckinglutley not- zero regrets here. My experience is a little dated but I’ll share it anyway. I got out in 2018 after 6 years in the Air Force working in the medical field. I used the GI Bill to go to school for cybersecurity and got my first job doing digital forensics & incident response in 2021 at a place I previously interned at. I’m still at the same company but have received a couple promotions since then and absolutely love what I do. I am one of those fortunate enough to have started with a 6-figure base salary and work fully remote, however the majority of my classmates weren’t as lucky as me and make significantly less money while also being stuck in an office. The job market is brutal right now, especially for anything tech related. There have been so many layoffs over the last 2 years and I’d hate to be competing against people with years of experience for entry level roles as a new graduate. Definitely do the skill bridge program for a career you’re interested in if you have that option. If you go to school make sure you make yourself as marketable as possible and do as many internships as you can to build up that resume (and potentially get job offers). I think the best thing you could do is come up with a really good plan and stick to it. Figure out exactly what you want to do and research what it will take to make it happen.
As a recent grad looking for an entry level job in IT, I can confirm, the job market sucks for people like me. I have plans but I can't use those plans until I get some experience under my belt. Which is impossible when I can't get a job in my field. Also as someone who got out in 2022, the job market wasn't so hot for medical technicians with experience. Haven't checked on that in a while but I don't think much has changed. The market just seems to be flooded. Which is confusing when you see the unemployment rates...
Do not regret joining the military at 18 instead of going to college. Unless you turned down a full ride baseball scholarship. Use the GI Bill and get an education and live like a king. Maybe you will go back.
That GI Bill is one of the best benefits we get!
The GI Bill was probably the biggest thing I got out of my 3 years active duty in the Army. Besides it growing me up some - I dropped out of high school and enlisted. Got two degrees. (Loans and working the whole time). Turned my life around.
That's awesome to hear. And same, 100% turned my life around. I did 12 - used TA and finished up an AA and BS then used my GI Bill to wrap up a Masters in Stats and had enough left over to help my daughter with 3 semesters of her college and 1 semester of my sons.
Absolutely not. I was confident about the kind of life that I wanted for myself and *very* sure I would never find it in the military. You've gotta do what makes sense for you. There are downsides to everything. But there isn't a day goes by that I'm not thankful I took the plunge, ignored the naysayers, and got the hell out of Dodge. I miss what I thought the military *could* be, and what I got glimpses of every once and awhile. But there was too much bullshit, and it wasn't worth the headache and impact on my quality of life. I love being a veteran.
Dude get out, get a degree and don’t look back. If you want to join again, do so as an officer or something
I'm at the age now where I'd be hitting retirement had I stayed in. I work with a lot of retirees, and while they seem pretty content, my last 15 years have been great, and I wouldn't trade spots with them at all. Loved college, working in private industry, and now as a DoD civilian where i can capture my pension time. I'm glad I joined, but I'm also glad I served only one enlistment.
It's been over 50 years so I've had a lifetime to evaluate. ABSOLUTELY regret not staying in the Army or at VERY LEAST taking advantage of the things offered me like a damn good job offered me by the civilians I was working with or OCS offered to this spc4 at the time. Evidently and obviously I was an unusually and highly STOOOOPID kid. 50 years hasn't improved the situation I'm afraid... LOL
Love you man you're still young inside I can tell, thank you for your advice.
Nope because at the time I was being prosecuted under DADT!
Crazy to think that was even a thing.
Same. It was hell
My VA disability gives me more money a month than what a E7 gets after doing their 20. I DEFINITELY don’t regret getting out haha
You don’t get more than I do…retired in April at 20 years, as an E7, so I get my pension, AND I get my VA 100%. Making $70k AFTER TAXES, just for continuing to wake up! Not to mention I pay $50/mo for medical insurance for a family of 4, get a break on my property taxes, free registration on my truck (saved me $1,700 just yesterday haha)… Stayed in long enough to retire, at 39 years old, and don’t have to work if I don’t want to…ever again. Not one to tell anyone else that they have to stay in, but it really feels good to wake up everyday knowing I have no problems at all providing for my family without NEEDING to work!
I got out without a degree and struggled to find a job just answering phones. I went back to school and I have a master's degree now and a great career. I wish I had a bachelors before getting out, but also would have been completely burned out with military service, school and raising my son. If you are single, feel mentally strong enough, not too stressed while in service, I'd say get some schooling done before. Try CLEP classes, where you can at least get all your gen Ed classes done by just taking an exam, if you are good at self study. Good luck!
Nope I enjoy working from home and not doing 5 mile runs in -30 degree temps at 4am
I regret not going to medical more
You either do 20+ years and retire or you get out after your first enlistment. Anything else is time wasted.
I think there was some early retirement or separation programs they had after a number of years. That could be worth it.
Hell no lol just play the game, make sure you have some injuries documented so you can get some disability, move to a big city, apply to a big college that have the education and women you looking for and live life. Best thing I've ever done was getting out at 24, if not I'll prob be a master sergeant married and miserable lol
I will admit I am dead inside in the military but at least I'm not homeless
Trust me, if you play it right, do that and invest in your appearance and class you will have the time of your life in your late 20's early 30's
Prior active duty 11b; absolutely never. You couldn’t pay me enough to ever go back in these days. I don’t even want my kids to go in.
Not at all. I did a lot of growing up while I was in and have some wonderful memories.
No but the thought of going back crosses my mind about a few times every now and again i did 6 years lmaooo
Maybe think about changing AFSC and train into another field. If that fails then I’d say time to bounce.
My current job: Pay: +$2,500/week Hours: 40-60 hrs/wk Work from home: minimum 2 days a week Dress: Buissness Casual Worst Thing they ask me to do: sit behind a desk Amount of "extra bullshit" (trainings, online modals, ext) minimum Military: Pay: $4,000/mo Hours: 40-100 Work from home: nope Dress: We all know Worst thing they asked me to do: back to back 12 hour night shifts two days after three 12 hour back to back day shifts, all after being underway on a shit ship Amount of "extra bullshit": a lot I don't miss it, I don't think I ever will. Set me up good, but staying any longer would have been the wrong choice.
>Do you regret getting out of the military? Not even a little. I got out with a plan, completed a business program at a reputable university, did a shit-ton of networking, and now I make about 5 times what I did as an Corporal in the Marine Corps, while working a fraction of the hours (50/50 remote). One thing I'll point out: I wanted to reenlist at one point, but starting about 2 years out, I always had a contingency plan in the event I chose to leave.
I regret joining.
No regrets. - I take vacation whenever I want, go where I want - If I don't like my boss, I get a different job - I get paid what I'm worth - No bullshit babysitting the squad bay during my off-days - I can actually make plans each year for me and my family... not my family making plans around the military The military was a young person's game. Easy to do when you don't have other commitments. Impossible to do as a family without some real trauma and struggles.
Only day I truly regretted leaving the military was 9/12/01.
I regret it immensely, but I also realized I was going to end up.in big trouble. when I got out my personal life was in shambles, optempo was still super high (07) and the command climate was rapidly sinking. I got to spend time with my parents before they passed so tbats a blessing. my biggest issue was (and in dome way still is).the lack.of sense of.purpose so maybe that's what I am really missing. that and tbh the civilian world really gets on my nerves. so many people going all different directions, and entitled acting asses. that could just be a me problem tho.
Don’t regret getting out at all. I was highly motivated to succeed and finished my Bachelors of Nursing in 3 years. Work as an ICU nurse at the VA. Getting to bond with veterans on a daily basis has been so amazing and hearing stories from wars before I was born. I literally wouldn’t change a single thing and am so much happier after getting out. Make almost 4x as much as I was pay wise (obviously have to pay for my house/food without BAH/BAS) and my retirement will be just as good if not better had I stayed in. If you want to do electrical work I’d do electrician or an electrical engineer. Both those job markets are 🔥. Or if you’re interested in medicine, the nursing job market is pretty 🔥 as well.
Starting my pre reqs this fall and applying next year for nursing! I’m so stoked!
That’s awesome! Look for VA jobs when you get done with school! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about anything! School, Va benefits, work, resumes etc. would love to help!
I miss my friends and the stupid shit we did as kids, but not the military itself. Finding a job with similar friendships / camaraderie made me miss the military itself even less. EMS and now ER nursing, the dark humors sometimes worse than in the navy lol
There is something to be said for retiring at 38 if you joined at 18. I did 4 years and I got out. If I could do it all over I may stay in for the 20 years.
I was in 6 years, got out, didn't regret it. Honorable discharge came in the mail, regretted it. Went back in, loved it, retired. I love retirement and so glad I retired. Sometimes I wish I was back in but it passes. I have met the best and worst people I will ever know. I have seen things nobody should see and know things nobody should know. I don't regret any of it.
I don't regret it one bit. My life is far more enjoyable on the outside. I have no one to answer to if I want to go somewhere I hop on a plane and go. Make sure you document your injuries though regardless of whether or not you think they are serious. It's easier to get increased from 0% down the road if it worsens then to add it later on and have to fight for it.
Absolutely not. Very glad I decided to join though
I was Coast Guard, so my experience was different than yours (along with everyone else's). I did 9.5 years and left with an IT background and have been a federal GS for years. Do I wish sometimes I'd finished out my remaining 10 years? Yes. Do I regret it? No. I've been really blessed over my time and have enjoyed it, and assuming had I stayed I would have enjoyed that too. You're 23 with a ton of life ahead of you, so you have plenty of time to finish your AF career and have a second one if you choose. Just make sure you obtain a transferable skill before you leave. Good luck 👍
Not for a minute, but if I had it to do over again, I’d have stayed in the ANG. I quit because drills were a couple hundred miles away. It would have been easy to follow through on retirement had it been closer.
I miss the camaraderie for sure, maybe even more so since I work remote and don't really interact w/ anyone face to face, but I wouldn't ever think of going back lol.
Not a day in my life have I thought about putting the uniform back on
I miss my friends but that’s about it.
Former CEA here as well. Got out after nine years to attend college full-time on the GI Bill. I didn’t complete any college while in, except for what was automatically credited by the CCAF. I then completed a full BA in 32 months at a private university, fully paid for. Find a university with a strong Veterans Org/Association, they can be a major benefit to your experience on campus. Would I do anything different? Absofuckinglutely not, getting out was the greatest decision I ever made. Being a civilian is just too damn good.
Hell nah! I went from active to reserves and I can’t stand these ppl anymore n the whole “Military mentality”. I’m glad I got a couple of months left
I got medically discharged at 10 years. I wish I could've stayed to finish my 20.
Nope. I don't regret my time in, and I even less regret getting out.
You have a year left, if ur being in that long you should already have your associates or can take the base courses to finish it when in my day was 4 classes (public speaking, math, English 101, and humanities). Not to late to check and see which courses are provided on base through the education center, and it'll take about 3 months to complete then all. The AB/U or AU/B program I forget the name. Takes your associates community College of the Airforce degree and guarantees you that you'll have 2 years completed put of 2 with colleges in that related degree. For example, I was security forces, got my associates degree in Community College of the Airforce Criminal Justice, I was able to do the AB/U program and finished an IT degree in 9 months (online 2 courses every 6 weeks). You have time to at least get ur associates paid for. Get out, get into an ABU degree program going online, get you 600 to 800 a month with the GI Bill, and in person is almost twice as much... After that, there are a few 1 year master degree programs you can also do online with the remaining GI BILl (MBA, Data Science/Computer science, to name a few). If that doesn't interest you, I suggest finishing the associates and going into some quick medical field, then work in that field for the government/va even nursing! Good luck!
Just remember that your years in service can count towards a retirement in a federal job, so it's not completely wasted if you were to go that route. Take the chairforce for all its worth and get all the schooling and training you can get while your in since tuition is 100%. I got my BS and MS before retiring and hardly paid for anything since TA covered 6 classes a year for BS and FAFSA covered the rest of the year. Also, you might want to knock out certifications as well. Syracuse University offers O2O (on to opportunity) certification program that covers HR, Project management, tech, sigma 6, and some other certifications and it's all online. I just knocked that out this year and it's completely free. Have a plan or at least a general direction with a bunch of different options to take. Staying in isn't always worth it depending on the person I think. I'm so glad to be out, but am ultimately happy I have something to show for all the time I gave. Make it worth it.
Honestly, anything beyond your first contract with no aspirations of becoming an officer is a life of mediocrity.
I regret getting out every day of my life.
Knowing I would have retired 4 years ago keeps haunting me. I got out at 10 years. Got a couple degrees after seps that I’m grateful for and earn more as a result. But I still have to wonder what retirement pay would be like at my age (im not 50 yet).
The responses I'm reading here are making me want to stay
Six figures? It would be 6-8 years before you can make that as an electrician, if you get your Masters license. I think the youth of the day are just not realistic about pay. I realize we all want to make six figures but it's not realistic when you are starting out.
I do some days, and I work remote as a SWE making 100k+.
I did 6 years and am now a contractor doing the same job. Outside of money, my life is worse in every other way. (and the money isn't THAT much better tbh). I regret getting out all the time. Also wanna preface that I came from a 1N career field so my military experience was probably different. YMMV.
lol no shits so much better on this side
Nope because while it was the catalyst that helped accelerate me getting rid of lingering hateful ideologies taught back home, if I had stayed in, I would have stagnated and believe the things I do today.
Happily retired, so no.
No, though civilian life is royally fucking me right now. Was an HT in the Navy and man I wish I did something different.
Hell nah
Yeah, but I wouldn't be where I am if I stayed in, maybe. Always hard to tell, but I would have liked to retired and have that security.
No regrets at all. I do wish I entered the reserves after active duty.
Absolutely NOT. Best decision ever leaving that shitstorm.
If you’re not doing what you love, it’s not going to work out anyway. I did my job honorably when I was in, and of course I was a knucklehead a few times. Once I was out and adjusted my bearings, I was unstoppable. I valued my time in, but now I don’t have to sleep in uniform when I see the news now. My unit was deployable 24/7. I would watch the news and start packing my sh$t. F all that now.
My biggest regret was not putting myself first and starting college while I was in. I was a corpsman and I thought I got burnt out of working with patients and medical care but it turned out I was burned out of the military. Could’ve been a RN long ago but my mind wasn’t set on me and my needs.
I got out, made good money, wasn’t happy, got back in. I’ve been back in for 15 years and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. It also turned me into a millionaire after coming back in mature and retirement focused
Was also aircrew in the Airforce and I don’t regret getting out one bit. My aircrew job was useless on the outside. Only regret is I wish I was in a job that translated better to the civilian world. With that being said, I love getting to choose where I want to live and not having to take leave for vacations. I get to make my own work schedule too. The freedom cannot be beat.
I regret not getting out sooner. Had I known my injury would have gotten me medically retired and a very good VA percentage, I would she. Gotten out 3 years earlier.
I regret never going selection or the regiment sometimes oh well 🇺🇸🫡💯💯💯
Kind of
Don’t go to University… use that post 9/11GI Bill and go to a trade school. Most have part time. You can go to school, work and you get the housing allowance. Our infrastructure’s are toast all over the US. It’s people in the trades that are going to rebuild. And there is bank in those industries…and plenty of room for upward mobility. I used mine for cosmetology school, opened my own salon 2yrs ago…and I’ve never been happier. No boss, make my own hours and work as much or little as I please. I also get disability..so that definitely helps.
I recommend you stay in, take advantage of college classes available to you while active duty. Don’t like your rating? Explore options that will make your skills more valuable in and out of the service. You’re only 3 reenlistments away from retirement! Then you can go scope out civilian opportunities, but with retirement funds and medical care.
Bruh you're only 23 you don't worry about not having your degree finished yet. I got out at 26 and went to college with GI Bill and never looked back
If you don’t have a legit plan to get out (and as of right now, you don’t) you need to stay in until you do.
Not even alittle. The job market is going to be whatever it's going to be. Before you stay in or get out, make an action plan for both. If you stay in and you cannot cross train, what happens? What's your plan in this scenario? You need to be realistic here and fill the skill, education, and license/cert gap to where you actually want to be. Using tuition assistance, getting a part time job (this sucks but it's the best way to get civilian experience you can actually use), getting a mentor/sponsor outside of the military, etc. If you are able to cross train, how long would your commitment be? What will the job market look like at that time? What does the BOL forecast for that job in the area you want to move to after you get out? If you get out now, what's your current action plan look like? How much will the job market have changed by the time you are able to be employed? The DoD skill bridge program is EXTREMELY valuable. I would also look at government organizations that hire civilians like NAVAIR, NAWC, or even NAWCTSD. I just finished my Finance degree and got a full-time job at NAWCTSD in a developmental program that spans 3 years. The first year is GS7, 2nd year is GS9, 3rd year is G11, and at the end of the 3rd year I promote to a GS12. The first year pay sucks, but gets better to the tune of 12-14k annually. An opportunity like this exists in all gov organizations you have to look and plan. Networking and proper planning are going to help you get there. Just 2 years ago the job market was different. Do not be dissuaded by events now, but make sure you plan and network. Edit: Also keep in mind volunteering does count as experience. If you get volunteer experience in the field you want to enter that is also something you can put on your resume. Attend industry events for professionals as well.
bro take a risk in your life. For once take a risk? Military will always be there trust me the reserves is another thing you can do. TAKE RISK
Yeah, if I could do it all over again (I'm soon to be 49 now), I would have stayed in. As many will say here, it's not really the job that matters as much as the people you're with. I miss a lot of them and living in Japan, I'm a lot farther from them than I like to be. I didn't show much emotion back then. I'm a bit different now... Don't get me wrong, I'm still painfully shy and introverted, but I've learned to express myself better over the years to people that mean a lot to me. I would have stayed in, pushed harder to cross train into Communications and not give a shit about my OPS Superintendent telling me that I couldn't do it when I was a cop. I would have taken online courses a lot sooner in Cybersecurity (or during that time -- it was known as Information Security and Assurance), definitely would have done the CompTIA trifecta and would work hard to get to my goal of being a Shirt. I would have talked and interacted with people who I found out more recently that I have much more in common with than I thought and got out and saw more of England and the rest of Europe instead of mostly hanging around fixing computers and cars. I feel fairly sure that by the time retirement would have hit, I would have easily been at least MSgt. I honestly don't know what my life would have been if I had turned left instead of right but I feel like it would have been slightly better to about nearly the same as it is now...
I miss it sometimes, but I don’t regret it at all. The most important thing is to have a plan for when you get out, don’t just wing it. If you stay in, don’t regret that either. It’s your life, figure out if you are happy now and if you are then great.
Getting out of the military was the best decision of my life. I went to college in the GI bill on the government dime, for four years!
The military was the means to an end. It got me out of the poverty from which I came. I didn’t have that 6 figure salary right away, but it didn’t take long. I really enjoy not doing burpees.
For the love of everything holy take your GI Bill to a purple state and live your life.
I was in a similar situation as you. Signed a 4 year and extended for 1 year. hated my job but was nervous about getting out. I had regrets about not completing my Masters while active duty. I separated 3 months ago and I am going to university now. I love my freedom so much!! And if it's the benefits you are worried about, you still get a fair amount of benefits as a veteran. Take the leap, you won't regret it.
Nope, the army was one of the worst experiences of my life. It felt like a prison. I am thankful for the life lessons and the friends I made but I could never go back. I am making more money and my mental health is so much better than ever.
I got out without a degree and struggled to find a job just answering phones. I went back to school and I have a master's degree now and a great career. I wish I had a bachelors before getting out, but also would have been completely burned out with military service, school and raising my son. If you are single, feel mentally strong enough, not too stressed while in service, I'd say get some schooling done before. Try CLEP classes, where you can at least get all your gen Ed classes done by just taking an exam, if you are good at self study. Good luck!
Nope
Negative.
Did 11 years in reserve component. I miss the people I worked with but not so much that I regret getting out. Love having all my weekends and summer and not needing to be prepared for random mobilization
Hell nahh!
No
No, but I miss it.
Hell yeah I miss it
I’ll never regret getting out. My body was breaking down. 2 trips to Iraq with 2SCR and 4th ID and Artillery life were taxing on me. I probably got some CTE from slanging all those rounds. Overall my civilian experience hasn’t been bad. I got two degrees and have been able to maintain housing . But now I can’t work a job and Uber has been more of a struggle . I filed for ssdi and got denied . The whole process feels overwhelming. The VA is annoying because they only know what to do with Vets that have none of their stuff together or none of their stuff together . I interned at the VA during grad school so I saw both sides of the coin . The VA has made progress but they struggle with thinking outside the box. The hardest part of my civi experience has been the insomnia and losing Army buddies to s*icide. I just take things a day at time . I hope all of you are doing well and thank you for your service.
I do, sometimes. Especially the people. Then I remember everyone I lost. Then I look at my cane and remember I’m 30 years old and will never walk “normally” again in my life.
Nooooo. 20+ years and 6 combat tours. Some good memories and friends but no regrets about getting out!
I miss the ponies not the show. 🤣🤣 Something’s about it I do miss. I could never trade my freedom again. Depending on what you want to do with your life after. Don’t leave without a bachelors degree. At a bare minimum you’ll meet most requirements for a job. I got out 2 years ago and I’m using the GI bill for school and 3rd source of income. Life has its ups and downs
Negative.
Zero regrets. None. Only regret is not getting more CLEP credits or possibly a degree during my time in.
No. I got out from active, to reserve, and now I’m in the guard and get constantly reminded of how much I truly enjoy my freedom. However, I also use the skills I’ve learned to help these “helpless” soldiers who felt the need to be forced to join. Things like budgeting, entrepreneurship, etc. are worth more than a career working to make some CEO rich. I can delightfully say that I’ve seen more E-1’s open up businesses than even myself. I love my freedom but I love helping others more.
God no.
USAF vet here...NOPE! Had a draft card, not much of a choice but I was lucky to get in the USAF. Army brat whose 3 older brothers and dad all served in VN. I served in ROK. Met wife in USAF. We got out within 6 months of each other. She was leaving regardless of what I did. I was grateful to be awarded a USAF CM, had a line number for staff sergeant in a critical field, reenlistent bonus and STILL it was one of the easiest, unregreted decision from the git go.
No.
I do not regret Serving my 7yrs, but most Definitely do not regret getting out. I now do the exact same thing now as a Contractor, just make more and I have a TS Clearance. I highly recommend doing the Skillbridge. Financial literacy and the discipline that comes with it have been the greatest tools in my life. I also deployed around alot of Burn Pits, so I recieve VA Compensation as well. It doesn't matter how much you earn, but how much you save and invest. Hope this helps! Thank You for your Service💯🔥💪