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I got out a little less than a year ago. Retired at 20, or as they say in the Navy, transferred to the Fleet Reserve. That means I can be recalled but only by order of the Secretary of the Navy.
I miss the camaraderie, I miss the steady pay and the benefits, but not much else. The Navy I joined in 1993 is not the Navy I left in 2013. It has become a place for politicians and their minions to inject themselves into anything and everything and by so doing reduce our fighting ability.
As the great General Patton once said, "He's [Bernard Montgomery] more concerned about not losing a war than he is about winning one." That's where the DoD and the nation it defends finds itself nowadays.
I miss the camaraderie, I miss the steady pay and the benefits, but not much else. The Navy I joined in 1993 is not the Navy I left in 2013. It has become a place for politicians and their minions to inject themselves into anything and everything and by so doing reduce our fighting ability.
As the great General Patton once said, "He's [Bernard Montgomery] more concerned about not losing a war than he is about winning one." That's where the DoD and the nation it defends finds itself nowadays.
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I've been retired for nine years and am so much more busy/involved with what I do now (The DrillMaster) than when I was in- I did 20 in the USAF after 4 years of JROTC and 2 years at New Mexico Military Institute- had Army and AF Basic as well.
When I was nine years old my uncle took me to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb. I knew I wanted to wear a uniform for the rest of my life. At about the 14-year mark, I could not wait to get out. While many have rightly stated here that petty people exist everywhere, I was so disappointed in where the AF was going.
I enlisted in '85 and had about 8 great years and then I saw the politics and it slid downhill steadily after that. It was actually depressing for me to be so eager to get out after loving the military (I still do to a point) for so long.
When I was nine years old my uncle took me to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb. I knew I wanted to wear a uniform for the rest of my life. At about the 14-year mark, I could not wait to get out. While many have rightly stated here that petty people exist everywhere, I was so disappointed in where the AF was going.
I enlisted in '85 and had about 8 great years and then I saw the politics and it slid downhill steadily after that. It was actually depressing for me to be so eager to get out after loving the military (I still do to a point) for so long.
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Cpl Clinton Britt
I agree with you there. Politics and political correctness is destroying our Military as we speak. That is my opinion of course
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I miss the Army every single day of my life.
The daily mental and physical challenges of being an Infantryman cannot be reproduced in the civilian world. Security contracting is the closest thing I have found to the military, but it is more about the money than the sacrifice and brotherhood.
The daily mental and physical challenges of being an Infantryman cannot be reproduced in the civilian world. Security contracting is the closest thing I have found to the military, but it is more about the money than the sacrifice and brotherhood.
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The only thing I miss is the free travel to foreign ports.
Well.... and the "free" healthcare.
Other than that.... no, not really. I accomplished what I went in for. I really don't think I was cut out for it as a lifer. I'm a better person because of my experience, but it was not a life that I could have been happy with. It was by far the 4 darkest/hardest years of my life. Maybe it was simply my age. Being that typical 19-22 year old little ISH who was simply trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life was hard enough.
Miss the military politics, favoritism and complete BS though? Nope, not at all.
Well.... and the "free" healthcare.
Other than that.... no, not really. I accomplished what I went in for. I really don't think I was cut out for it as a lifer. I'm a better person because of my experience, but it was not a life that I could have been happy with. It was by far the 4 darkest/hardest years of my life. Maybe it was simply my age. Being that typical 19-22 year old little ISH who was simply trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life was hard enough.
Miss the military politics, favoritism and complete BS though? Nope, not at all.
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I did 33 years total, and spent much of the time between 9/11 and 2014 on Active status of one kind or another. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything, and I loved being in the Army. There may have been things I would like to have done differently, but overall I'm satisfied that I did the best I could under every circumstance and hopefully had some lasting impact on a few people along the way.
But the last 5 years of so have changed the Army in ways I'm not sure I like. I don't think I would want to be in the Army now. It's not because "that's not the way we did it in MY Army", it's that the changes I see really make being a soldier much less rewarding. Many of the activities the Army deems "critical" now have very little to do with making us more combat effective, or a better team, or anything more than satisfying politically-correct mandates and demands to "DO something" about various perceived ills while doing little to actually solve them. Being very good at one's job is less important, and means less to your advancement, than the right positions and associations along the way.
But the last 5 years of so have changed the Army in ways I'm not sure I like. I don't think I would want to be in the Army now. It's not because "that's not the way we did it in MY Army", it's that the changes I see really make being a soldier much less rewarding. Many of the activities the Army deems "critical" now have very little to do with making us more combat effective, or a better team, or anything more than satisfying politically-correct mandates and demands to "DO something" about various perceived ills while doing little to actually solve them. Being very good at one's job is less important, and means less to your advancement, than the right positions and associations along the way.
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LTC Stephen C.
I served 28 years, LTC Charles Sherman, and although at times I miss it, I must say that I agree with the sentiments expressed in your second paragraph entirely.
SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
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hell yes some of the best times and memories we jumped into a canyon and at 1500 every day
all hell would break lose tornados and rain we spent 90% of are time setting back up bitched about it every min, but thinking back we had a ball
all hell would break lose tornados and rain we spent 90% of are time setting back up bitched about it every min, but thinking back we had a ball
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Sometimes I do miss the military, and sometimes I don't. Depends on the memory going through my mind at the moment!
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I was medically retired in 2012. Yeah I miss it especially because things seem to be ramping up again. I miss leading soldiers, getting dirty and being in the fight.
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I miss the great people I had the pleasure to work with. I miss the port visits. I don't miss the stress, leaving the family or the bull crap.
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PO1 Michael Fullmer
I too miss the travel and a lot of the folks. However, there is NO way I would enlist now, the way the services have changed even since I left in 1997. WAY to many self-serving whinny, crybabies who have to ask "WHY" they are being told to do something...especially if it's something they dont want to do.
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Suspended Profile
Yes.
CDR Dave Bradley
I miss it more every day! I miss the people and the mission. A guy asked me today if I would do it again - and I said YES
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