How often do Officers leave the military as O-2s?

I've served in all three components of The Army. I am prior enlisted. Being in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard is different from in many ways especially when it comes to finding a unit needing a given grade and branch. There are historically, I'm sure, many cases when people left The Army as a 1LT. Think of WWII, lots of discharges in a rapidly downsizing army. I was discharged from Active Duty in 1997 a 1LT (involuntarily) as part of a reduction in force (RIF). It was referred to as the 20,000 officer draw down. Fast forward a few years to 2003 and I received a call that I was going to be ordered to active duty from the IRR. My options were to return to Active Duty, Join the Ready Reserve, or be called up from IRR. I chose the Ready Reserve. By Summer of that year, I became aware that I was being mobilized in support of OEF. My wife was very supportive (a key to keeping things together at home); she also is a veteran discharged as a 1LT during the same RIF. I was leaving her manage the home front with 3 in diapers. 545 days of active duty followed and upon my return home I decided to go for it. Balancing full time civilian employment, Army Reserve/National Guard, and family lift is challenging. It is especially challenging for leaders; the more responsibility you have the more difficult it becomes to balance. The key is support from employer and family. When I retired, my wife received a certificate of appreciation (man did she earn it). There are also programs to recognize employer support of The Guard and Reserve. Think about requesting recognition for your employer.

If I read your post right, you are facing a deployment. My advice, be the best leader you know how. Do what is right and moral. Know and follow Army Regulations and Army Doctrine. When you get home, I hope you can reach an experience informed decision. When I looked on my collar and later my chest, I never thought I would seed two bars or let alone oak leaves. Life has a funny way of making turns and loops. In the meantime, be deliberate about your career until you decide. That way your positioned for promotion. In any case, you have served your country I presume with honor. That is a thing that many are unwilling or unable to do. In my opinion, that is a good not bad. Best of Luck. Come home safe.

Sir, going from combat officer to law enforcement is not a good choice. You only know how to use a hammer therefore everything is a nail. Get my drift "shoot now ask questions later". Just go regular army quit screwing around, maybe get a new mo's, just stay in. Be a good dad and a good husband it'll be fine.

I can guarantee you one thing, when your twenty year date approaches, you will say I could have retired from the military. Everybody that I have came across that served, said that. I served 39 years in, came across allot of people. Make sure you are willing to give it all up. With eight years in, that is your jump out or go the distance

I think you have to do what’s best for you!

I work in the dental clinic at Ft Bliss now as a GS civilian after retirement and I can honestly tell you between 5-10 1Lt's every week come thru the clinic to clear because they are ETS'ing. Think nothing about it as an honorably discharged veteran. What I will say is consider finishing up your 20 as a reservist or guardsmen since you are almost half way there. Consider it like an IRA. When you are about 60 you can start cashing in your retirement options. I tell people to look at the big picture this way by saying this "if I am 95 years old on the 1st of the month what's going to happen"? They look at me like they have no idea what I am talking about then I repeat it. When they say " I don't know", I say "I'm getting my retirement check". They get it then. That's the big picture, a lifetime pension.

Reality is I came across some very sharp highly competent 02's that elected to get out and pursue civilian opportunities, similar to law enforcement officers who elect to step away from police work at 5 to 10 years, lives and priorities change, the opportunities especially these days are substantial for hard chagers with that military leadership foundation , work ethic. ability to quickly adapt to change and civilian world, especially those frontline leaders

Its better to leave as an O-5 or O-6, even as a USAR or NG, in the words of a wise old O-5 who encourage me to stay when I was up for Capt.; "You won't believe in the size of the check you will get when you retire." He was a WWII Vet.. All the courses etc. that come beyond O-2 have to be dealt with, but the same effort would also apply to civilian life. What we get in life is what we put into it. A Civilian/Military career worked fine for me. E-1 to O-6, my co-worker was correct, that retirement check was unexpected.

As long as you did your duty and were a good LT, you have no reason to despair. Do what is best for your family. Officers do not advance as fast as we did. There is no reason to think that 8 years and 1LT is anything but good. Enjoy Florida and your baby and live the rest of your life with no doubts.

Let’s start with. No one cares about your career but you. But. Dude. I’d look real hard at your state. They are fucking you somewhere. It’s very easy to move someone into excess and promote an O2 to O3. Your state is doing you no favors. The joy of the guard that the grey beards don’t realize these days is that you can vote with your feet. If your state won’t take care of you it’s very easy to IST. Drive 2 hours for drill and get better support and care somewhere else. I tell soldiers to move all the time from states with shitty tuition assistance to good tuition assistance.

The pay for an 01 or 02 is so low . College grad. get almost 3 times the pay on the outside !