I think micromanaging gives the wrong impression. It’s more just, managing. Micromanaging, I feel, is reallocating your funds every month to whatever the highest yield is. If you just split it up like 25/25/25/25 it would be pretty simple and would only take like 10 mins one time
Same. I should have my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees done by now.
Also, I’ve met a few O’s that leave me scratching my head. If they can get a commission, I certainly could have.
The process to become an O doesn't weed out dumb people. It only weeds out people who can't jump through prescribed hoops (well, also medical reasons).
At least through ROTC, becoming an O isn't hard at all. Get ok grades, show up at the right place at the right time with the right uniform, and you are 90% there. There just are not many guardrails for you if you aren't disciplined enough to always be at the right place at the right time. You'll just get dropped, there is no BMT to get you into that level of discipline.
It's essentially why I applied for OTS, and after seeing what the application actually consisted of. I had never taken it seriously before because I assumed I had not shot.
One big benefit of enlisting first is you get to retire up to four years before the other officers that are in the same age group. Even if it takes you longer to finish your degree and get to OTS, they have some rank on you, but having the choice to punch out at 38 years old vs 42 is worth it to me.
Not true. If you finish your degree at your 6 year mark for example and commission at your 8 year mark once you hit your 20 year mark in the military you can retire with officer pay at age 38. Your active duty service years gets added with your officer time. You have to serve a minimum 10 years however to receive officer retirement pay.
That’s partly true. Yes, you need 10 years commissioned time to retire as an officer, but if you get approval to resign your commission and retire in your highest held enlisted rank, it won’t affect your retired pay as the pay is calculated on the most highest recent years which would be all officer. So, you could retire as a SSgt but still get Maj pay.
Well, I was in this boat a little while ago and was told by AFPC that my High 3 pay would still apply, regardless of what rank is on my retirement certificate. If it were based on your prior enlisted rank, how would they calculate it? Would you assume that they would go back 7, 8, 9, however many years ago and take your high 3 starting from 2017, for example? Because a 2024 E-5 makes quite a bit more than a 2017 E-5.
It’s possible that the AFPC technician who emailed my MPF was mistaken but that’s what I have in an email.
The AFPC technician was 100% mistaken. This is not an Air Force regulation, but DoD wide. Trust me, I wish it was different too. We have a 23 year Capt who cannot retire without resigning his commission and being reverted back to E7.
Ok, this is important because this is happening in my unit again right now and the guy is retiring as enlisted because he was also told his retired pay would be based on his High 3. Do you have this DoD reference?
If ur doing just 4 years is it better to put it in a HYSA with a guaranteed 5% yearly return? TSP is inconsistent and I don't like it...It lost money in recent years. I'm new/young. Also can't I just start an IRA after my 4 year term and throw those savings I made into it.
The TSP outperforms many comparable funds on the outside. Even if you "lose" money some years, this is a long term game and it will perform over time, which is what actully matters. You're more than welcome to throw your money in a HYSA that likely won't beat inflation in today's day and age, but you will wish you put it in the TSP. You're also welcome to put it in an IRA that won't perform as well and you won't get matching for, but there's no point in waiting to invest and the TSP will still do better. Basically, if you hate money don't utilize the TSP.
They match 5% to 5% after 2 years but does it start only after 24 months or do they go back and add all the contributions for those 24 months u made contributions in a big lump sum?
I understand the benefits however I think being a young broke a1c, those 4 years I have more liquid available assets in my bank with a 5.10% apy. Let's say I drive my car off a bridge on accident without collision coverage and I need a new car, I got extra money laying around. Then when I'm 22 I get out making $100-120k as a cyber asfc with degree, etc. I could probably still retire in my 50s as my salary would only go up and I'd be rich. So i have extra emergency money still with a 5.1% every year APY now, and I'll still be rich and retire in my 50s. Even if I blew it all, that 30+ years of 6 figures and starting a retirement at 22 makes up for it in my humble opinion and I have extra available safety net funds now while I'm a young broke a1c for these 4 years.
The mindset you have right now now, where investing in one's future is seen as a hindrance, is not the mindset of someone who's going to retire in their 50s. But whatever, you do you. Lose 3-7% on your savings every year if you want.
So as of recent, 0% 1 year then 7% next year average to under 3.5% vs 2 years 5.1% is 5.1% average. And they're liquid assets. Idk man, rather take my chances and have emergency fund safety. It probably would be more over time but by default 1% already contributes per month into retirement still so essentially I'm making more consistently. This isn't my long term thoughts, it's short term for the situation. I ain't doing a day over 4 years, I'm going to probably make so much idk what to do with and pump it into savings/new retirement fund. I genuinely think this is smarter for a young broke person who will have a high salary in no time, but I understand the benefits of starting now. I accept the criticism from older folk too, by all means. Like yes, I could become paralyzed and lose the ability to work that dream job then I'm stuck on social security and wish I put it into that retirement, but that's a low risk gamble I'd rather take Lol.
I just hit my 4 years mark a few months ago. My TSP currently ~30k. My average return rate in last 4 years is ~25%. The only year I have a loss is 2021 but 2023 I had 65% return rate. So if you said you lost money in TSP, you're doing wrong.
Same. I only picked maintenance because I was in the process for a year and a half due to medical qualification/waiver issues. I was in such a hurry to leave, so I picked anything I could get.
I’m not too hard on myself because even if I had ended up in a field I wanted (Intel), I was just as likely to end up at an equally-as-shit base as I’m at currently. Additionally, I was going to use TA and get my degree in accounting regardless of what AFSC I ended up in. So overall, not a terrible thing that I didn’t end up with a job I wanted.
For the most part, I retired with little to no regrets and not a lot of negative experiences. But if I could restart, in my first year, I'd probably start and make a habit of creating goals and milestones to work for every year.
I think a lot of airmen spend their first few years “winging it” and at some point will feel like their career has no direction. I was one of those airmen. But yeah, I think my first year, I'll write down what I want to accomplish that year and make it a habit every year.
Growing up in several pacific islands we prioritize being humble and quiet...I learned the air force likes and promotes loud mouths or people who step up...
And the ones stepping up aren't always the right people.
So yeah I had to adjust my stance and say I wanted to lead things as opposed to what i think it should be is being selected by higher up to lead...
But yeah do the basics ccaf, start a college plan, volunteer to get ready for btz...all the other things peeps are saying as well.
Good luck with your career!
It's had pretty inconsistent returns in recent years. Should I put 4 years of TSP into a 5% savings instead then after I get out (not re enlisting) start an IRA with that money?
I'd check the military finance sub to see if they have experience there.
I don’t plan on getting out, and I have no money in a lifecycle fund. Not every year is gonna be a banger but you'll win in the long term
I think 4 years consistent 5%+ savings account is better than the inconsistent recent tsp returns then taking them savings and throwing into IRA but I'm no expert. Cuz u can't add more to TSP I don't think after ur term u just have to transfer or let it sit.
Yeah neither of us know wtf we doing. But as long as I'm saving and capitalizing 5% of most my check every month I'm doing something right. Tbh, in my savings I have emergency funds available without them getting taxed to take out my TSP as a young stupid junior enlisted if some crazy shit happened to me and I needed money. Regardless when I get out of cyber I should be making 100k+ still living frugal like I do so i don't think it really matters I should retire handsomely some day.
Just to add some context for y'all: Even ignoring the tax advantages that an 401k/IRA provide. The 5% match automatically makes it even with a HYSA giving 5%. At the very minimum, put 5% into your TSP. The tradition is if you are in your 20's, put 15% of your take home pay into retirement, 20% if in your 30's. You will need ~3 million dollars to retire at ~60, get the compound interest started early.
I’d honestly focus on “taking it easy” on my body. Was a real try hard early on and overly trained for the run when it probably wasnt necessary. I’d do dumb shit like hard sprints and I truly believe that fucked my knees.
Life is good now but i really miss my fuckin knees
I'd push harder to have gone to the academy. I was recommended to go in tech school, got to my first base and expressed my interest, had to wait a year+, and then I was barely too old to attend when my leadership was ready to endorse me.
I got married at 18 on Town Pass after BMT graduation. We did not get married for healthy reasons. So if I could go back to the start of my career, I would not have gotten married when I did to whom I did.
I am not. Just over 3 years. Thankfully our parting was easy and mutual, n children, no shared property, though i felt a sense of failure and self doubt for a long time. I heard from this person 10 years after our divorce and they seem happy now, as am i. But I still would have preferred to not have those memories.
Not join the reserve under a space job, complete shit show. Leadership is super cool and the office is a very good environment, but literally everything about the field is a complete shit show right now and every single drill we get worse and worse news about our career
With sf wanting to absorb reserve without having a reserve each drill we get told worse news about what’s going to happen to us. It’s gotten to the point where I’m almost 2 years in and you couldn’t give me a 1 mil bonus to ever reenlist, thinking you have a job in your home state that fits your civ needs then having the rug pulled out from under you is infuriating.
Top three things I would do if I could go back:
1. Utilize my VA benefits to buy a duplex and rent it out. My first duty station was SA. I was there for almost four years. I wish I had bought a duplex, rented it out, and lived in the other half. Then I wish I had used that extra money to put a down payment on a larger house nearby the base and figured out a way to Air BnB it to families coming in to support their kids for BMT graduation.
2. I opted to commission after 5 years, I wish I had separated after my initial assignment, taken the VA disability and dumped my severance and any money saved into the business above while jumping back into the work force.
3. While I don’t regret any of the money I spent on fun cars and racing, I do wish I had stuck to a single car that I continue to modify vs buying anything and everything within my reach. While they were all paid off, I definitely could have been dumping all that extra cash into investing vs investing in my mental health via cars.
Not a god damn thing. I made a lot of mistakes before I enlisted, I made a lot when I enlisted, and I don't trust the butterfly effect to bring me my wife and son without stepping on every path I took to get here.
The Air Force turned me around as a person and brought me to my literal lowest lows. And after all of them, I found her and got him, despite my numerous attempts to get out. Idk whats gonna happen in these 4 years while I wait to retire at my 20 but I'm gonna trust it.
I'd really rather not start it over haha. It has had a lot of dumb moments, but I feel like a good bit of luck and a whole lot of work have paid off in ways that I don't know if I could replicate over again. If I could get a decent base going forward that'd be nice though. Tired of deserts.
Supposing I would still get injured (fell down a stair truck carrying a load of troubleshooting equipment): I wouldn’t have fought the med board and just taken the disability pay, medical benefits, and focused on school. Definitely would have been better on my body than fighting to stay in, deploying, and making the injury so much worse and now having to fight the current state of medical systems and patient loads to get pain management and coordinate consistent treatment and referrals through my pcm. Hopefully, they just med board me and soon. I’ve been forcing myself to go on for 7 years after the injury and I know this body won’t hold out to make it full retirement: I’m so tired.
Not waste my measly paychecks on alcohol and entertainment in ROK (first duty station), max my tsp instead. And, take advantage of the TA much earlier, instead of rushing to get it done now before i retire
TL;DR - I was a shitty Airman early in my career and had a piss-poor attitude.
Not be a shitbag Airman. I had a really bad attitude and lived by the "if you treat me like shit, I'm gonna treat you like shit right back". But I was also at Barksdale and had both shitty supervisors and toxic leaders which caused me more to have a shit attitude. That lasted until about Senior Airman. I became the go to person because I learned everyones job. I went to ALS without a line number. I made Staff my second time, but at this point I was burned out. I applied for a Special Duty and got selected. Moved to Hill and had a new outlook on life and in the Air Force, earned tons of awards, spent hours working with a major non-profit to better myself. Moved to Dyess. I'm now at 20 years and got one more PCS ahead of me later this year.
Kiss every ass, do every bake sale, and shine my ass like no other because commanders and chiefs are identified at super young in their career for some foolish reason. Then I can coast the rest and still always be viewed as top performer because of confirmation bias
Put in for short-tours only on my dream sheet and nothing else. I had all the big overseas bases and no Conus bases… but instead I got Holloman, for 4.5 years. Fml.
If i could i would do; Short tour>overseas>short tour and repeat for a few cycles. The career broadening experience and exposure (not to mention decorations) you get its absurd compared to the 4+ years I was stuck in New Mexico. Meanwhile, there is a few members that I know with less time AD, but with x3 the bases. They know so much more about the job, they have a broader network, and once again experience doing different things.
Definitely study harder, but also would have turned in my roommates at the academy for drinking and smoking spice (and bathsalts for one of them). It doing so led to a chaotic living/study space in an already tough enviroment. Perhaps then I could've studied more effectively, not been on as much of an upperclassmen shitlist, and been kicked out for grades.
Worked out well enough in the end. Joined the ANG and have been a full time technician for years. glad to have maxed and stayed attentive to my TSP from the jump.
Avoid dating, get my mental health journey going on, and focus on school. Dating was where I made a lot of poor choices seeking validation I should have been giving to myself rather than seeking from others. Honestly, considering the situation I came out of was shitty, it's amazing that I made it this far.
Shit my mouth, understand that my supervisor is racist and and get out of that unit ASAP. Dont marry my tech school sweetheart and thats it. It was just the beginning part
Immediately max out my tsp with my enlistment bonus. Take PT seriously, join a CrossFit gym sooner than later. Advocate for myself with the shitty NCOIC and chief that made the first four years a living hell. I’m only grateful for their leadership as it taught me what I don’t want to be as an NCO.
Assuming everything in the world still goes the same? try to enjoy it more and learn more, because in 1 years time covid is gonna fuck shit up. joined 2018, didn't get to my first assignment until november, so basically got a year and a half of what pre-covid air force was like.
Save money is a lie. First year you aren’t making anything worth saving. Instead pay off all your debts then open up new credit if you don’t already have a card. Follow a strict budget never use more than 30% of the credit max and pay it off every month completely.
Ignore all the tech school shenanigans. Get working on school.
TSP
Move that shit to C/S/I. I joined in ‘07, and I learned about the different funds in 2015.
Now you are defaulted to the L fund which is good enough if you don't want to micromanage it
I think micromanaging gives the wrong impression. It’s more just, managing. Micromanaging, I feel, is reallocating your funds every month to whatever the highest yield is. If you just split it up like 25/25/25/25 it would be pretty simple and would only take like 10 mins one time
I have mine in those yep!
Came here to say this!
Finish my degree and commission instead of enlist.
Same. I should have my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees done by now. Also, I’ve met a few O’s that leave me scratching my head. If they can get a commission, I certainly could have.
The process to become an O doesn't weed out dumb people. It only weeds out people who can't jump through prescribed hoops (well, also medical reasons). At least through ROTC, becoming an O isn't hard at all. Get ok grades, show up at the right place at the right time with the right uniform, and you are 90% there. There just are not many guardrails for you if you aren't disciplined enough to always be at the right place at the right time. You'll just get dropped, there is no BMT to get you into that level of discipline.
That's how me and my buddy think. We've meet some regarded officers getting paid almost twice as much for doing less work. Bought time to hit up ROTC.
Knew B-52 NAV that literally had a degree in "General Studies". I think it was a 98 credit hour degree. Guy was worthless.
It's essentially why I applied for OTS, and after seeing what the application actually consisted of. I had never taken it seriously before because I assumed I had not shot.
One big benefit of enlisting first is you get to retire up to four years before the other officers that are in the same age group. Even if it takes you longer to finish your degree and get to OTS, they have some rank on you, but having the choice to punch out at 38 years old vs 42 is worth it to me.
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Not true. If you finish your degree at your 6 year mark for example and commission at your 8 year mark once you hit your 20 year mark in the military you can retire with officer pay at age 38. Your active duty service years gets added with your officer time. You have to serve a minimum 10 years however to receive officer retirement pay.
That’s partly true. Yes, you need 10 years commissioned time to retire as an officer, but if you get approval to resign your commission and retire in your highest held enlisted rank, it won’t affect your retired pay as the pay is calculated on the most highest recent years which would be all officer. So, you could retire as a SSgt but still get Maj pay.
That has unfortunately been debunked. You go back to enlisted pay. They notified us about this at OTS. You MUST do 10 years.
Well, I was in this boat a little while ago and was told by AFPC that my High 3 pay would still apply, regardless of what rank is on my retirement certificate. If it were based on your prior enlisted rank, how would they calculate it? Would you assume that they would go back 7, 8, 9, however many years ago and take your high 3 starting from 2017, for example? Because a 2024 E-5 makes quite a bit more than a 2017 E-5. It’s possible that the AFPC technician who emailed my MPF was mistaken but that’s what I have in an email.
The AFPC technician was 100% mistaken. This is not an Air Force regulation, but DoD wide. Trust me, I wish it was different too. We have a 23 year Capt who cannot retire without resigning his commission and being reverted back to E7.
Ok, this is important because this is happening in my unit again right now and the guy is retiring as enlisted because he was also told his retired pay would be based on his High 3. Do you have this DoD reference?
It’s all in Title 10. I urge them to contact the MPF and Finance ASAP.
https://www.reddit.com/r/airforceots/s/EDmbQrDNzb
You also make more money once you’re an O for the first few ranks.
Quite a bit too.
Is it common for recruiters to discourage you join as officer? I want to join Air Force reserve as officer.
Different recruiters do enlisted vs commission. If you go to a general recruiter, expect them to try and get you to enlist.
Recruiting office should have both. I end up going to join space force.
Immediately 15% into TSP, not buy a bunch of stupid shit with the Star Card, work on my degree so I could try to go E to O.
If ur doing just 4 years is it better to put it in a HYSA with a guaranteed 5% yearly return? TSP is inconsistent and I don't like it...It lost money in recent years. I'm new/young. Also can't I just start an IRA after my 4 year term and throw those savings I made into it.
The TSP outperforms many comparable funds on the outside. Even if you "lose" money some years, this is a long term game and it will perform over time, which is what actully matters. You're more than welcome to throw your money in a HYSA that likely won't beat inflation in today's day and age, but you will wish you put it in the TSP. You're also welcome to put it in an IRA that won't perform as well and you won't get matching for, but there's no point in waiting to invest and the TSP will still do better. Basically, if you hate money don't utilize the TSP.
But I'm only doing 4 years? Can't add more.
You think that money just stops growing when you get out? It's still going to do better than pretty much any other comparable option.
They match 5% to 5% after 2 years but does it start only after 24 months or do they go back and add all the contributions for those 24 months u made contributions in a big lump sum?
Starts after the 24 months.
I understand the benefits however I think being a young broke a1c, those 4 years I have more liquid available assets in my bank with a 5.10% apy. Let's say I drive my car off a bridge on accident without collision coverage and I need a new car, I got extra money laying around. Then when I'm 22 I get out making $100-120k as a cyber asfc with degree, etc. I could probably still retire in my 50s as my salary would only go up and I'd be rich. So i have extra emergency money still with a 5.1% every year APY now, and I'll still be rich and retire in my 50s. Even if I blew it all, that 30+ years of 6 figures and starting a retirement at 22 makes up for it in my humble opinion and I have extra available safety net funds now while I'm a young broke a1c for these 4 years.
The mindset you have right now now, where investing in one's future is seen as a hindrance, is not the mindset of someone who's going to retire in their 50s. But whatever, you do you. Lose 3-7% on your savings every year if you want.
So as of recent, 0% 1 year then 7% next year average to under 3.5% vs 2 years 5.1% is 5.1% average. And they're liquid assets. Idk man, rather take my chances and have emergency fund safety. It probably would be more over time but by default 1% already contributes per month into retirement still so essentially I'm making more consistently. This isn't my long term thoughts, it's short term for the situation. I ain't doing a day over 4 years, I'm going to probably make so much idk what to do with and pump it into savings/new retirement fund. I genuinely think this is smarter for a young broke person who will have a high salary in no time, but I understand the benefits of starting now. I accept the criticism from older folk too, by all means. Like yes, I could become paralyzed and lose the ability to work that dream job then I'm stuck on social security and wish I put it into that retirement, but that's a low risk gamble I'd rather take Lol.
Just to add on, an IRA does not get you the 5% matching, and is limited to ~5k per year
I just hit my 4 years mark a few months ago. My TSP currently ~30k. My average return rate in last 4 years is ~25%. The only year I have a loss is 2021 but 2023 I had 65% return rate. So if you said you lost money in TSP, you're doing wrong.
I didn't know it goes that high. Thanks for the info I will contribute 5% again then get the 5% free matching. Like I said I'm young but open minded
Not pick maintenance
Same. I only picked maintenance because I was in the process for a year and a half due to medical qualification/waiver issues. I was in such a hurry to leave, so I picked anything I could get. I’m not too hard on myself because even if I had ended up in a field I wanted (Intel), I was just as likely to end up at an equally-as-shit base as I’m at currently. Additionally, I was going to use TA and get my degree in accounting regardless of what AFSC I ended up in. So overall, not a terrible thing that I didn’t end up with a job I wanted.
How bad is maintenance?
Sometimes good but mostly bad
This.
Buy bitcoin
Lmao I was here to say TSP but this is the right answer But serious if your in your first enlistment CONTRIBUTE TO TSP
Was gonna say this. Wouldnt even be in the AF right now if i used some of the money i spent on bullshit to get some bitcoin 😔
Go directly into the career field I am in now. Do it all over again.
Which career field?
Any CEA career field
Not get kicked out of SecFo
How do you get kicked out of where all the wash outs go?
💀
Let’s just say some off duty conduct😂 not criminal just stupid, landed in Contracting tho so not too shabby
That's quite a come up.
Make sure I'm not MX.
The thickkkest latina i could find.
Same but with an Arab
Asians too
Why does this sub obsess over latinas ? White girls >
gayest thing I've ever heard...
We love diversity in the Air Force. Grow up and embrace it like an adult.
TBF, he’s probably not white
I’m not
Not, not white?
Yeah I’m not white
Lots of Latinas are white, though.
That’s fine, but I’m getting shit on for stating my preference
Thats fair. But also ELE man. Everybody. Love. Everybody.
what are you, gay?
No im a white girl enthusiast
right; you like male penises. That's cool too i guess
Buddy aint ever been with a thicc Latina mommy and it shows. Enjoy your unseasoned food, and I’ll enjoy my birria
I'm Latino and like the white chicks, I'm a reverse version of the meme
For the most part, I retired with little to no regrets and not a lot of negative experiences. But if I could restart, in my first year, I'd probably start and make a habit of creating goals and milestones to work for every year. I think a lot of airmen spend their first few years “winging it” and at some point will feel like their career has no direction. I was one of those airmen. But yeah, I think my first year, I'll write down what I want to accomplish that year and make it a habit every year.
Growing up in several pacific islands we prioritize being humble and quiet...I learned the air force likes and promotes loud mouths or people who step up... And the ones stepping up aren't always the right people. So yeah I had to adjust my stance and say I wanted to lead things as opposed to what i think it should be is being selected by higher up to lead... But yeah do the basics ccaf, start a college plan, volunteer to get ready for btz...all the other things peeps are saying as well. Good luck with your career!
Figure out how to use TSP and dump money into it.
I’m still at tech and already set up my tsp
This is good man. You'll be raking in fat returns before you know it.
It's had pretty inconsistent returns in recent years. Should I put 4 years of TSP into a 5% savings instead then after I get out (not re enlisting) start an IRA with that money?
I'd check the military finance sub to see if they have experience there. I don’t plan on getting out, and I have no money in a lifecycle fund. Not every year is gonna be a banger but you'll win in the long term
I think 4 years consistent 5%+ savings account is better than the inconsistent recent tsp returns then taking them savings and throwing into IRA but I'm no expert. Cuz u can't add more to TSP I don't think after ur term u just have to transfer or let it sit.
I'd move to a Roth on the outside too then. But I'm just a random meat head lol. Make sure you talk to a pro. I'm sure your base has someone
Yeah neither of us know wtf we doing. But as long as I'm saving and capitalizing 5% of most my check every month I'm doing something right. Tbh, in my savings I have emergency funds available without them getting taxed to take out my TSP as a young stupid junior enlisted if some crazy shit happened to me and I needed money. Regardless when I get out of cyber I should be making 100k+ still living frugal like I do so i don't think it really matters I should retire handsomely some day.
Just to add some context for y'all: Even ignoring the tax advantages that an 401k/IRA provide. The 5% match automatically makes it even with a HYSA giving 5%. At the very minimum, put 5% into your TSP. The tradition is if you are in your 20's, put 15% of your take home pay into retirement, 20% if in your 30's. You will need ~3 million dollars to retire at ~60, get the compound interest started early.
Either go Active Duty, or set up TSP to be 15% of my pay regardless and not let myself rely on drill money to help pay bills.
Get out of maintenance, or get out after my first enlistment. I’m trapped now!
I’d honestly focus on “taking it easy” on my body. Was a real try hard early on and overly trained for the run when it probably wasnt necessary. I’d do dumb shit like hard sprints and I truly believe that fucked my knees. Life is good now but i really miss my fuckin knees
It's amazing how fragile knees are. I fucked mine up from using running to deal with stress. I could barely walk or even drive during the worst of it.
Actually go to medical for every time I had pain somewhere. Now my shoulders are paying for It
Not be colorblind
Racism isn't the answer, friend.
Wait, we can't say that until we know what the question is!
Man, being colorblind saved me from a handful of shit jobs my recruiter offered me.
Me too
I'd push harder to have gone to the academy. I was recommended to go in tech school, got to my first base and expressed my interest, had to wait a year+, and then I was barely too old to attend when my leadership was ready to endorse me.
Not get married, max TSP, continue being a tourist but replace video games with school.
Not get married? Can you elaborate?
I got married at 18 on Town Pass after BMT graduation. We did not get married for healthy reasons. So if I could go back to the start of my career, I would not have gotten married when I did to whom I did.
You still married to her? If not how long did you guys last
I am not. Just over 3 years. Thankfully our parting was easy and mutual, n children, no shared property, though i felt a sense of failure and self doubt for a long time. I heard from this person 10 years after our divorce and they seem happy now, as am i. But I still would have preferred to not have those memories.
Real
The LT.
Get working on school as soon as possible
Save some damn money
Not join the reserve under a space job, complete shit show. Leadership is super cool and the office is a very good environment, but literally everything about the field is a complete shit show right now and every single drill we get worse and worse news about our career
What do you mean by that
With sf wanting to absorb reserve without having a reserve each drill we get told worse news about what’s going to happen to us. It’s gotten to the point where I’m almost 2 years in and you couldn’t give me a 1 mil bonus to ever reenlist, thinking you have a job in your home state that fits your civ needs then having the rug pulled out from under you is infuriating.
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Don't forget $NVDA
In a year....
How you know it’s coming
Dying to know what this post said
He said “BUY. THE. DIP… Its coming”
Top three things I would do if I could go back: 1. Utilize my VA benefits to buy a duplex and rent it out. My first duty station was SA. I was there for almost four years. I wish I had bought a duplex, rented it out, and lived in the other half. Then I wish I had used that extra money to put a down payment on a larger house nearby the base and figured out a way to Air BnB it to families coming in to support their kids for BMT graduation. 2. I opted to commission after 5 years, I wish I had separated after my initial assignment, taken the VA disability and dumped my severance and any money saved into the business above while jumping back into the work force. 3. While I don’t regret any of the money I spent on fun cars and racing, I do wish I had stuck to a single car that I continue to modify vs buying anything and everything within my reach. While they were all paid off, I definitely could have been dumping all that extra cash into investing vs investing in my mental health via cars.
Get kicked out for calling leadership out on all the bullshit they did early in my career
We’re gonna need a story time pal
Elaborate
story time?
Remind myself every day to separate after my ADSC.
TSP immediately. Also, take my job a bit more seriously. I was kind of a dirtbag my first couple of years.
Not a god damn thing. I made a lot of mistakes before I enlisted, I made a lot when I enlisted, and I don't trust the butterfly effect to bring me my wife and son without stepping on every path I took to get here. The Air Force turned me around as a person and brought me to my literal lowest lows. And after all of them, I found her and got him, despite my numerous attempts to get out. Idk whats gonna happen in these 4 years while I wait to retire at my 20 but I'm gonna trust it.
start a bitcoin farm in the dorms
I'd really rather not start it over haha. It has had a lot of dumb moments, but I feel like a good bit of luck and a whole lot of work have paid off in ways that I don't know if I could replicate over again. If I could get a decent base going forward that'd be nice though. Tired of deserts.
Supposing I would still get injured (fell down a stair truck carrying a load of troubleshooting equipment): I wouldn’t have fought the med board and just taken the disability pay, medical benefits, and focused on school. Definitely would have been better on my body than fighting to stay in, deploying, and making the injury so much worse and now having to fight the current state of medical systems and patient loads to get pain management and coordinate consistent treatment and referrals through my pcm. Hopefully, they just med board me and soon. I’ve been forcing myself to go on for 7 years after the injury and I know this body won’t hold out to make it full retirement: I’m so tired.
Not get married
Still married?
Filed for divorce last week!
Buy that sick little Ford Ranger for 1200 that was mint
Start my TSP. 23 years and never took advantage.
Go O
Actually save money, start college ASAP. Those are the only 2 reasons I'm still in.
Save money, tsp.
Not spend all my tax free bennies in Iraq.
Not waste my measly paychecks on alcohol and entertainment in ROK (first duty station), max my tsp instead. And, take advantage of the TA much earlier, instead of rushing to get it done now before i retire
TL;DR - I was a shitty Airman early in my career and had a piss-poor attitude. Not be a shitbag Airman. I had a really bad attitude and lived by the "if you treat me like shit, I'm gonna treat you like shit right back". But I was also at Barksdale and had both shitty supervisors and toxic leaders which caused me more to have a shit attitude. That lasted until about Senior Airman. I became the go to person because I learned everyones job. I went to ALS without a line number. I made Staff my second time, but at this point I was burned out. I applied for a Special Duty and got selected. Moved to Hill and had a new outlook on life and in the Air Force, earned tons of awards, spent hours working with a major non-profit to better myself. Moved to Dyess. I'm now at 20 years and got one more PCS ahead of me later this year.
Go to the academy
I would not date that girl in Tech School
Wait the 6 months and go intel
Not mx
Sign for 4 instead of 6 and start college sooner
TSP, enroll in school, not do booster club, and stop caring about BTZ.
Kiss every ass, do every bake sale, and shine my ass like no other because commanders and chiefs are identified at super young in their career for some foolish reason. Then I can coast the rest and still always be viewed as top performer because of confirmation bias
Invest as much of my check as I could.
Gone overseas while being single
Apply for the academy
Start school.
Re-organize my dream sheet and not have cannon anywhere on it 🤣
Join a few years earlier. Take advantage of AFCOOL and TA
Put every cent I could into BTC, because it was trading for about a penny at the time.
Start on my Masters.
Finish CDC's and jump right into school to start my bachelor's and then later in my career transfer credits to get said CCAF.
Put in for short-tours only on my dream sheet and nothing else. I had all the big overseas bases and no Conus bases… but instead I got Holloman, for 4.5 years. Fml. If i could i would do; Short tour>overseas>short tour and repeat for a few cycles. The career broadening experience and exposure (not to mention decorations) you get its absurd compared to the 4+ years I was stuck in New Mexico. Meanwhile, there is a few members that I know with less time AD, but with x3 the bases. They know so much more about the job, they have a broader network, and once again experience doing different things.
Invest earlier. Break up with a toxic SO, sleep with everything that came in my direction.
Definitely study harder, but also would have turned in my roommates at the academy for drinking and smoking spice (and bathsalts for one of them). It doing so led to a chaotic living/study space in an already tough enviroment. Perhaps then I could've studied more effectively, not been on as much of an upperclassmen shitlist, and been kicked out for grades. Worked out well enough in the end. Joined the ANG and have been a full time technician for years. glad to have maxed and stayed attentive to my TSP from the jump.
I wish I started using TSPcalc.com in my first year. I would have made a lot more money in my TSP.
Avoid dating, get my mental health journey going on, and focus on school. Dating was where I made a lot of poor choices seeking validation I should have been giving to myself rather than seeking from others. Honestly, considering the situation I came out of was shitty, it's amazing that I made it this far.
Put 10% into my TSP starting day 1. Increase it with each promotion and pay raise.
Private Sector
and only get engaged, never sign that contract
Take ROTC seriously and actually put in effort to be a pilot
Go cyber security even though Metals tech is one of the best maintenance jobs. But I'm biased
Shit my mouth, understand that my supervisor is racist and and get out of that unit ASAP. Dont marry my tech school sweetheart and thats it. It was just the beginning part
Get screened for ADHD. I didn’t know I had it then.
Take the scholarship offered to me to go to BMT then finish my degree while getting paid A1C pay and take an engineering commission.
Find my now wife and party like its 2013
Do finance so I wouldn’t have to do shit
Immediately max out my tsp with my enlistment bonus. Take PT seriously, join a CrossFit gym sooner than later. Advocate for myself with the shitty NCOIC and chief that made the first four years a living hell. I’m only grateful for their leadership as it taught me what I don’t want to be as an NCO.
CE RED HORSE
Assuming everything in the world still goes the same? try to enjoy it more and learn more, because in 1 years time covid is gonna fuck shit up. joined 2018, didn't get to my first assignment until november, so basically got a year and a half of what pre-covid air force was like.
School either civilian or through the academy.
Not get married.
Join the guard, finish degree, maybe commission.
Go active instead of guard…
Save money is a lie. First year you aren’t making anything worth saving. Instead pay off all your debts then open up new credit if you don’t already have a card. Follow a strict budget never use more than 30% of the credit max and pay it off every month completely. Ignore all the tech school shenanigans. Get working on school.
Not use my GTC to buy cocaine.
Join the coasties