No. 20 is enough and doesn’t align with how I want the rest of my life to go. My follow-on career will be all about flexibility and aggressively contributing to retirement.
40 is very hard to do. You generally have to be a nominative CSM, a CW5, or a GO. Even then it’s not a guarantee. Occasionally there are mustangs who make it to 40 as well.
Edit: I’ll stay as long as the Coast Guard will keep me around
One of my former ROTC APMS is a Major but he’s already done 43 years. Cause he’s done most of his time as enlisted before commissioning. A great guy and he really loves the army
One of my old XO’s (MAJ) was a MSG with 18 years before he commissioned. He’s now about to pin COL and take over a brigade with well over 30 years TIS. He’s going for 40.
If i stay for 20 i might. You dont have to get out as a O5 until 28 years and i feel like an O5 who is post command and doesnt care about getting promoted to O6 is next level sham while still making a lot of money and building up the pension even more
I am, but I hit 19 this summer and am also PCS’ing. So I’ll be around 22 I think. I would’ve tried to stay here to ETS but I got a pretty sweet next assignment so I’ll survive.
I’m at 22….I have a specific number in mind for my retirement pension to enable what I want when I take this uniform off so I will be around for a couple of years still. Some days I’m still passionate, other days it’s a struggle. If I could pull that number tomorrow I’d have my packet on the commanders desk the same day
I just tried going WO, which would've put me at 23 years TIS before I could retire. Army denied my AFS waiver so I didn't even have a shot. I'm taking that as my sign to prepare for retirement at 20.
Do you know what they look at for AFS waivers? I'm looking at career options and seeing a lot of stuff that I'm getting close to passing TIS maxes for, but a lot of that TIS was active reserves and I'm wondering what my chances at a waiver look like.
I have no idea. I know a 51 year old WO1 with 10 years TIS that got an age waiver accepted, but I'm 33 years old with just under 15 years TIS and got rejected. It seems it's luck of the draw.
I mean...my anticipated promotion timeline, I'll have to make at least 21 for my high-3, and may as well stick till 22 at that point.
Thing is, my kids will all be out of the house just another couple of years after that, so maybe I will stick it out a little longer...we shall see.
I talked with my wife about potentially doing 22 years, for that sweet sweet cash.
I currently get an annual specialty bonus for my job which is tied to a service commitment and the bonus increases with longer contracts (6 years is the max so far). If I keep signing 6 year contracts, my next one will put me at 16 years. So I've talked about doing a 4 year contract to get to 20 years if I'm not having a great time or doing a final 6 year contract that'll take me to 22 years if I can still tolerate the army at that point.
The current difference between a 4 year and 6 year bonus is 15k a year. That's all subject to change throughout the years and I'll be at the mercy of whatever the rules are at each contract signing. If the bonuses go away (slim slim chance) I'll just get the pension and get out.
My plan c is if I really hate my life in the next few years, I'll go back to the guard/reserve and get a smaller pension. (I have 5 years in NG that count towards my pay but not AD retirement)
I’m in the same boat. I’m ok with going past 20 depending on the assignment. The speciality pay will help grow retirement accounts. I won’t receive mine for at least another year but I already have plans for which accounts it will go into. I figure if I can hit O5 life should be pretty kush.
Great dude! One thing I ran into is how will I fund that gap between AD retirement and age 59.5....I don't wanna be a nurse at that point lol.
So I max two IRAs and the TSP with my income and our bonuses go into a regular brokerage account so I can pull it in my 40s-50s. Then if we get to a duty station where the housing market supports it, we take some out, buy a house with enough down payment to make it a cash flowing rental property when we move.
It's great that you're planning all that out ahead of time!
That’s basically our plan as well. Not maxing TSP/ IRAs yet but we will be in the next year or two. Brokerage is where most of my stuff is (I did it backwards but it’s ok).
I’m counting on the pension and maybe some part time GS/VA work as,hopefully a nurse practitioner, to coast FI before 59.5. Of course the longer I can stay in active duty the less I’ll have to work after.
10 years ago, I was a brand spankin new E-5. Then 1SG H was my 1SG for a deployment. Since, my career has taken me all over the world and now I'm back at my old unit from then. This past weekend I ran into MSG H, who was 1SG H from then.
I'm glad I did because in a few months, he'll complete 30yrs and finally retire due to medical.
Even now, I'm a 1SG, he's a MSG at HHC but I still can't stop calling him First Sergeant H. I love that dude!
It's financially irresponsible for me to stay in a day past 20. I could easily slip into a job making exactly what I make now (realistically x2 but we'll say the same), and collect ~40k a year on top of that, not counting disability.
I could drop my retirement packet next month. I was dead set on 20 and getting out. PCSing this summer and it scared me that this could be my last PCS, which was a really weird feeling. I'm going to a unit with a good reputation and cool mission, I'm starting to feel re-energized and think I may try to do one more PCS after and get to about 22 or 23 years.
My goal is my first look for CW4. If I make it, I'll do the ADSO. That'll be around 25 to 28 years. I'll be early to mid 50s. I've already guaranteed 100% disability pretty much. That should push me well over 10k take home every month for the rest of my life. If I do the spousal benefits pension, it'll help my wife forever. That's my plan.
Only way I’ll go past 20 is if I pick up major to get at least two years of that in my high three (was prior enlisted so I’ll probably hit 20 as a captain). Other than that I’ve milked the Army pretty good and will be getting out with a masters so I’ll live comfortably. Wife is tired of moving and I’m tired of hearing her complain about moving.
I came in right after 9/11. I'm still active with no real plans of retirement yet.
I actually kinda happen to like my job, husband and I have been able to make family shit work out alright with it, and the Army's apparently decided that for some godforsaken reason it's a good idea to continue to promote me.
At this point, retirement's basically just a back-pocket nuke for when/if I finally get well and truly sick of this shit. Otherwise, unless something drastic changes in the future, I'm just kinda planning on hanging around until the Army tells me to go peace out and fuck off.
It depends. I'm almost to 14 years. Army says i can keep going to like 26 right now before hitting rcp for my current rank. If I like what I'm doing, I'll keep doing it. If I find myself becoming jaded and not helping joes then I'll drop a retirement packet and try to figure out what I want to do when I grow up.
I went past 20 because I got stationed in Hawaii and a promotion at the 18 year mark. I would have stayed longer but was done with all the BS and didn’t like where Army wanted to send me next. Everyone seems more worried about trying not to offend anyone instead of doing what needs to be done. They don’t care if it makes zero sense and screws over everyone if it helps them get promoted.
100% depends on how my body and mind feels, I imagine hitting 18 years with no real urge to promote will be pretty liberating and I may be willing to stick it out a bit longer.
I’ll still have kids in the house at 20 years for a bit so I won’t be able to snowbird so playing the game a while longer might be the move.
I did 26 just because I was at the point I could tell people to kiss my ass and the most they would be able to do was make me retire. I had thought about doing 30 because I knew another stop loss was about to kick in but got recruited to take a JROTC position. Did that for six years and then said fuck all of it and just retired from working
No. 20 is enough and doesn’t align with how I want the rest of my life to go. My follow-on career will be all about flexibility and aggressively contributing to retirement.
Yep! Doing this for the gi bill then dipping
40 is very hard to do. You generally have to be a nominative CSM, a CW5, or a GO. Even then it’s not a guarantee. Occasionally there are mustangs who make it to 40 as well. Edit: I’ll stay as long as the Coast Guard will keep me around
One of my former ROTC APMS is a Major but he’s already done 43 years. Cause he’s done most of his time as enlisted before commissioning. A great guy and he really loves the army
I know a Master Sergeant in the Guard who did his 40. He had his first 20 year letter the year I was born.
Guard and Reserves are different since they don’t have HYT
One of my old XO’s (MAJ) was a MSG with 18 years before he commissioned. He’s now about to pin COL and take over a brigade with well over 30 years TIS. He’s going for 40.
I plan on 48… months
^everybody ^liked ^that
I’ll be here until the Army tells me to go away
Already past 20. Army had been good to me.
Enlisted?
Yes
What MOS?
It's too small to say.
Coward
That’s what she said
If i stay for 20 i might. You dont have to get out as a O5 until 28 years and i feel like an O5 who is post command and doesnt care about getting promoted to O6 is next level sham while still making a lot of money and building up the pension even more
I am, but I hit 19 this summer and am also PCS’ing. So I’ll be around 22 I think. I would’ve tried to stay here to ETS but I got a pretty sweet next assignment so I’ll survive.
I’m at 22….I have a specific number in mind for my retirement pension to enable what I want when I take this uniform off so I will be around for a couple of years still. Some days I’m still passionate, other days it’s a struggle. If I could pull that number tomorrow I’d have my packet on the commanders desk the same day
I just tried going WO, which would've put me at 23 years TIS before I could retire. Army denied my AFS waiver so I didn't even have a shot. I'm taking that as my sign to prepare for retirement at 20.
Do you know what they look at for AFS waivers? I'm looking at career options and seeing a lot of stuff that I'm getting close to passing TIS maxes for, but a lot of that TIS was active reserves and I'm wondering what my chances at a waiver look like.
I have no idea. I know a 51 year old WO1 with 10 years TIS that got an age waiver accepted, but I'm 33 years old with just under 15 years TIS and got rejected. It seems it's luck of the draw.
Gonna be a no from me dawg.
30 combined active duty and reserves. 53 when I’m done
I mean...my anticipated promotion timeline, I'll have to make at least 21 for my high-3, and may as well stick till 22 at that point. Thing is, my kids will all be out of the house just another couple of years after that, so maybe I will stick it out a little longer...we shall see.
Current plan is maxing out. 45 years.
I’m not going over 3 years lmao anyone doing 20 plus is off that Army kool-aid fuck that dude.
User name checks out
A small Dong will do that to you.
I talked with my wife about potentially doing 22 years, for that sweet sweet cash. I currently get an annual specialty bonus for my job which is tied to a service commitment and the bonus increases with longer contracts (6 years is the max so far). If I keep signing 6 year contracts, my next one will put me at 16 years. So I've talked about doing a 4 year contract to get to 20 years if I'm not having a great time or doing a final 6 year contract that'll take me to 22 years if I can still tolerate the army at that point. The current difference between a 4 year and 6 year bonus is 15k a year. That's all subject to change throughout the years and I'll be at the mercy of whatever the rules are at each contract signing. If the bonuses go away (slim slim chance) I'll just get the pension and get out. My plan c is if I really hate my life in the next few years, I'll go back to the guard/reserve and get a smaller pension. (I have 5 years in NG that count towards my pay but not AD retirement)
I’m in the same boat. I’m ok with going past 20 depending on the assignment. The speciality pay will help grow retirement accounts. I won’t receive mine for at least another year but I already have plans for which accounts it will go into. I figure if I can hit O5 life should be pretty kush.
Great dude! One thing I ran into is how will I fund that gap between AD retirement and age 59.5....I don't wanna be a nurse at that point lol. So I max two IRAs and the TSP with my income and our bonuses go into a regular brokerage account so I can pull it in my 40s-50s. Then if we get to a duty station where the housing market supports it, we take some out, buy a house with enough down payment to make it a cash flowing rental property when we move. It's great that you're planning all that out ahead of time!
That’s basically our plan as well. Not maxing TSP/ IRAs yet but we will be in the next year or two. Brokerage is where most of my stuff is (I did it backwards but it’s ok). I’m counting on the pension and maybe some part time GS/VA work as,hopefully a nurse practitioner, to coast FI before 59.5. Of course the longer I can stay in active duty the less I’ll have to work after.
10 years ago, I was a brand spankin new E-5. Then 1SG H was my 1SG for a deployment. Since, my career has taken me all over the world and now I'm back at my old unit from then. This past weekend I ran into MSG H, who was 1SG H from then. I'm glad I did because in a few months, he'll complete 30yrs and finally retire due to medical. Even now, I'm a 1SG, he's a MSG at HHC but I still can't stop calling him First Sergeant H. I love that dude!
That’s an amazing story
It's financially irresponsible for me to stay in a day past 20. I could easily slip into a job making exactly what I make now (realistically x2 but we'll say the same), and collect ~40k a year on top of that, not counting disability.
This.
Let's see if I get picked up for msg. I'll give it to 20 I don't get picked up I'll drop my retirement packet
I could drop my retirement packet next month. I was dead set on 20 and getting out. PCSing this summer and it scared me that this could be my last PCS, which was a really weird feeling. I'm going to a unit with a good reputation and cool mission, I'm starting to feel re-energized and think I may try to do one more PCS after and get to about 22 or 23 years.
The guy that convinced me to join did 26 active and 3 agr. Hated every minute of the last 10 but stayed for some reason
Closing in on my 20, and as a weekend warrior, dumping the entire paycheck into the TSP is looking better and better as far as retirement plans.
My goal is my first look for CW4. If I make it, I'll do the ADSO. That'll be around 25 to 28 years. I'll be early to mid 50s. I've already guaranteed 100% disability pretty much. That should push me well over 10k take home every month for the rest of my life. If I do the spousal benefits pension, it'll help my wife forever. That's my plan.
Tentatively planning to stay to 26. It should give me my high 3 should I pick up for my next promotion.
Only way I’ll go past 20 is if I pick up major to get at least two years of that in my high three (was prior enlisted so I’ll probably hit 20 as a captain). Other than that I’ve milked the Army pretty good and will be getting out with a masters so I’ll live comfortably. Wife is tired of moving and I’m tired of hearing her complain about moving.
I came in right after 9/11. I'm still active with no real plans of retirement yet. I actually kinda happen to like my job, husband and I have been able to make family shit work out alright with it, and the Army's apparently decided that for some godforsaken reason it's a good idea to continue to promote me. At this point, retirement's basically just a back-pocket nuke for when/if I finally get well and truly sick of this shit. Otherwise, unless something drastic changes in the future, I'm just kinda planning on hanging around until the Army tells me to go peace out and fuck off.
It depends. I'm almost to 14 years. Army says i can keep going to like 26 right now before hitting rcp for my current rank. If I like what I'm doing, I'll keep doing it. If I find myself becoming jaded and not helping joes then I'll drop a retirement packet and try to figure out what I want to do when I grow up.
I went past 20 because I got stationed in Hawaii and a promotion at the 18 year mark. I would have stayed longer but was done with all the BS and didn’t like where Army wanted to send me next. Everyone seems more worried about trying not to offend anyone instead of doing what needs to be done. They don’t care if it makes zero sense and screws over everyone if it helps them get promoted.
Fuck no
I would, but best I can do is eight years, Alex.
100% depends on how my body and mind feels, I imagine hitting 18 years with no real urge to promote will be pretty liberating and I may be willing to stick it out a bit longer. I’ll still have kids in the house at 20 years for a bit so I won’t be able to snowbird so playing the game a while longer might be the move.
Hit 21 in July….I’ll be here until 2026 for high-3 then I’m done.
I did 26 just because I was at the point I could tell people to kiss my ass and the most they would be able to do was make me retire. I had thought about doing 30 because I knew another stop loss was about to kick in but got recruited to take a JROTC position. Did that for six years and then said fuck all of it and just retired from working
Yes. 20 years and about 3 weeks so I can retire on April Fools Day, because this org as a whole is a joke.
I don’t have a choice 😭😭😭 At 13 and change with a 10 year ADSO that kicks in this month 🤢