4 years, 10 years, or a career Service Member: Did you have a career plan and did you stick to it?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 07:41:41 -0400

Was the Military always a career goal or did you have other plans? What was the deciding factor to either make it career or to move on and pursue other options?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 9 at 2015 7:48 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 07:48:31 -0400

I may not be a soldier but when I joined up all I knew was that I was going to do 20 years. I ended up staying 26 years. I made my decision early in my career to stay.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 7:55 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 07:55:28 -0400

Sir, I'm at 4 years and 2 months. God willing, I will stay enlisted for 20 years and then retire as a First Sergeant. I'm sticking to my career plan, despite everyone's advice to either reclass or go Warrant.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 8:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:18:59 -0400

So far, Chief, I am (almost) right on track.

I knew within my first year that I was a career Soldier, and I just recently signed my Indefinite Re-Enlistment paperwork. I wanted to make SSG by time I went to my 10 year high school reunion, and I was a little late on that one, but no big deal.

The deciding factor for me to make the military a career was the sense of pride in my job and myself that I feel doing what I am doing. All the money, perks, etc. cannot replace that.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 9 at 2015 8:56 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:56:02 -0400

Initially, the military was a means to an end. I enlisted right out of high school to a) mature, b) see the world, and c) save for college. That was all I wanted from the military. When it came time to re-enlist, while I wasn't unhappy serving, I chose to ETS so that I could continue with my plan to attend school full-time. I never intended on making the military a career.

However, after my enlistment, I went to college and had time to reflect on my military experience. I reassessed my time on active duty, fondly recalling all of the friends I made along the way (many of whom I still keep in contact with) and the great experiences I had while serving. I was relatively successful as a young enlisted soldier, so I thought maybe a military career could be attainable and worthwhile. So, I decided to give the military another try by joining ROTC. I was commissioned immediately after graduation and went back onto active duty.

From that point, the real decision was whether I wanted the military to be my only career (meaning a 30+ year career and aiming for O-6 or above), or just a career along the way in life (meaning retiring at the earliest opportunity and pursuing something else). I didn't want the military to define my whole life and identity, so I chose the latter. My goals were to serve until 20 years (I actually stayed in until the 23-year point), retire, and then move onto a second career in my mid-40s. That's where I am now, in a faculty position at an established private university in the Midwest.

Along the way during my military career, I did have a moving 5-year plan. It involved making sure that I hit the key assignments, completed the professional courses, and furthered my formal education at the appropriate times. As fate would have it, the Army sent me back to school a couple of times to get my MBA and my PhD, and my last assignment was as a professor. That formal education and academic experience enabled me to easily transition into my second career (and for that, I'm very grateful for the opportunities the military provided). In fact, I signed out on a Friday, and started at the university on the following Monday. My "transition" was that weekend.

So, coming out of high school at 17 did I think I'd be a career soldier? No way. That kind of evolved over time.

Response by SGT Chris Hill made Jun 9 at 2015 9:18 AM

SGT Chris Hill — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 09:18:34 -0400

I originally entered with the intent of only serving my initial 3 years, but then decided to re-up to feel it more through. Now after 10 years, my intention to retire in the army changed and now slowly on my way out the door in December, time to move on and experience civilian life again, but this time with MUCH better discipline and responsibility.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 9 at 2015 10:04 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:04:44 -0400

I wanted the active side to be a career but that got derailed with a 15% opportunity promotion board. So I shifted to Plan B and finished off reserves while doing civil service and buying retirement credit for the later. With all the recalls, ADT, etc. it felt like I never left. So yes I stuck to a plan but just had to adjust fire.

My advice is to make a plan, follow it, and change if it makes sense to do so. No plan means you're standing still while the world passes by.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 9 at 2015 10:05 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:05:00 -0400

I retired after serving 26 years, this was the only career that I really wanted to have from the time I was about 5 years old. Initially my plans were to serve as a commissioned officer, but I got burned out on school when I was in college and my grades went to crap, except my ROTC grades lol. I dropped out after my sophomore year, went home, worked for a while, and then talked to a recruiter one day when she called my house looking for my younger brother who was a recent high school grad. One thing led to another and voila, I tested, had my physical and initially enlisted to be a 95B (MP back in the day) with 1st duty station to be Italy; no tanks available that day at MEPS lol. Had to re-negotiate my enlistment contract due to ROTC command wanting their money back lol, and took tanks as that is what I really wanted, only regretted it the 3-years I was sent to be a recruiter.

Response by SGT Kevin Brown made Jun 9 at 2015 12:08 PM

SGT Kevin Brown — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:08:41 -0400

Sir, the military we definitely a career goal for me, strictly because I loved it. Before I was injured I was well on track in my career. Unfortunately I was found unfit after fighting two MEB's and will be medically retiring this Friday. I am happy to be retiring, but will always be disappointed that I didn't get to finish my career and because of the MEB board was frozen from schools and promotions. The MEB was my deciding factor.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 9 at 2015 12:09 PM

PO3 David Fries — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:09:02 -0400

I had intended to be in for at least 20. A few things happened after 6 that changed that. I still regret it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 4:47 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:47:14 -0400

When I joined I looked at it like this. I will do a 6yr enlistment to get the extra rank as I needed it to sustain my current lifestyle/debt. I also looked at it as once I was at 6 yrs, I am already a good distance towards an retirement end game. I am currently looking to re-enlist once this enlistment is up as I believe I am going to be too old to start pursuing working for somewhere else. My line of thinking now is as long as the AF is treating me well and I am getting where I feel I need to be (education goals, career goals etc..) I will gladly raise my hand and re-enlist. I am still enjoying my current progress and it still looks like I have many great opportunities ahead of myself so I will continue to push and enjoy my career!

I am getting to the point to where I Can retrain as a FTA (first term airman) so I will be exploring those possibilities! Then I think I will seriously try to make a clear cut path.