Posted on Jun 7, 2021
How often do Officers leave the military as O-2s?
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I'm looking down the barrel of another deployment (I'm looking forward to it). During my last IDT, the SXO approached me and asked if I was planning on staying in or leaving. I'm looking to move to Florida upon our return from this deployment and by the time we get backed I'll have 8 years in. Balancing life as an Officer in the Army (National Guard) and a Police Officer is quite the challenge. Add a family on the way and it's rather daunting. I could have promoted a couple years ago but found out that my current unit (in 2018) was possibly deploying to Afghanistan and I REALLY wanted to go as a PL (since my time as a PL was rather checkered). That mission got scrapped so I'm going where we are going now as the Troop XO. It dawned on me that a good part of me doesn't care about making Captain. My evals have always been good and I've always performed well at PT. But the way the SXO and a few other Officers talked about it made me wonder...is it considered bad if an Officer leaves the military as an O-2? I was curious what anyone here, Active, Guard, or Reserves thought.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 135
Don't discount a reserve career, whatever you decide. I retired active duty; my husband left AD and did a total of 30 AD and in the AF reserves. Someone once told me, "Blink once and you're 18, blink again and you're 25, blink again and you're 40." I could add, "Blink again and you're 65." You WILL get old (God willing). Maximize the retired pay you're receive, both civilian and military. It's the difference between managing and living comfortably.
Hey tanker. Nothing to be ashamed of. National Guard is a whole other animal when it comes to promotions. Active, you'd be a CPT by now and done with your command time. Plus you could be continuing your education all paid for by Uncle Sam.
I would imagine that your college loan is all taken care of and not owe any more money since being in for 8 years so far. Just remember that you have to take care of you and your family. As I learned early in my career, No one takes better care of you than you.
Good luck on your deployment tanker, keep safe over there. Keep your head on a swivel out there wearing the badge. I got your 6.
I would imagine that your college loan is all taken care of and not owe any more money since being in for 8 years so far. Just remember that you have to take care of you and your family. As I learned early in my career, No one takes better care of you than you.
Good luck on your deployment tanker, keep safe over there. Keep your head on a swivel out there wearing the badge. I got your 6.
If you decided to stay in, take the slow boat and you will retire. The slow boat is maxing out as long you can before taking that promotion and you will learn a lot more than your peers. now, 1Lt's that I knew wished they have stayed. I prefer the NG over the Reserves; but the Reserves is easier to balancing life.
Depends on the circumstances but with what I've seen happening to the Army these days you couldn't keep me if I wanted it. So no, I don't think so. Not anymore. And most civilians don't know or care.
Waaaaay back in 1996, I had a PL who was a good officer and great leader, he just had other plans that didn’t include making the army a career. He got out as an O-2. It’s probably not as uncommon as one might think. You have to do whatever is right for your personal situation.
If you really want to be a soldier, stay in. If you have other things you really want to do, complete your time and remember to encourage other folks to enlist and see how it works for them. There's more truth to the old Jody call about "Got a letter in the mail/join the Army, go to jail!" than people thing. You answered a call, you came, you served and you need to decide based on your situation. What looks bad about leaving the service is leaving because they kicked you out.
Your situation can go several directions. As others have pointed out, you served honorably and have little to worry about.
I work with several new-hire pilots who are anxious to start their airline careers and leave the military as senior O-2s/ junior O-3s/CW2 or 3. There seems to be little problem. There was one who got about half her flight time as a student pilot and that raised some eyebrows.
You’re at a point where one seriously considers leaving the military all together or continuing in a civilian career while still serving in the ARNG/USAR. I’m in the category of staying in to get 20 years. The pension is nice but Tricare as a retiree is even better. If this is a viable option, I strongly recommend you consider it.
Good luck, soldier!
I work with several new-hire pilots who are anxious to start their airline careers and leave the military as senior O-2s/ junior O-3s/CW2 or 3. There seems to be little problem. There was one who got about half her flight time as a student pilot and that raised some eyebrows.
You’re at a point where one seriously considers leaving the military all together or continuing in a civilian career while still serving in the ARNG/USAR. I’m in the category of staying in to get 20 years. The pension is nice but Tricare as a retiree is even better. If this is a viable option, I strongly recommend you consider it.
Good luck, soldier!
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Roger, sir
I was discharged as an O3 (so was my wife). We both went into the Reserves and completed 20 (28, in my case) good years. I became an O5, and my wife was an O4 when each of us retired.
You do as you see fit. There is no hanging your head in any case.
You do as you see fit. There is no hanging your head in any case.
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