I am coming close to my ETS and I have no idea if I want to stay in or get out. For those who have ETS'd how is it?

I got out over 20 years ago and I still miss it everyday. I loved the Army. I did 6 years and I loved every minute of it. Mine came down to get out or get a divorce. If I knew now what I didn't know back then. I would of stayed in and let happen happen.

I think you have to stop and really think about where you expect to be in 10 years, and what matters most to you in life. I mostly got out because I was tired of bringing an A-game to work every day and watching bottom feeders make rank just about as fast. I'm making HQs on every eval, DG every class, and Airmen of the Quarter (or Crew of the Quarter), and yet, the guy who goes home and studies PFE/PME puts on rank because of performance reviews and testing? Problem is, it's the same on the outside. It can actually be worse.

No other job will give you a retirement in your 40s. This may not be important now, but one day it might be. Do you need stability (not PCSing anymore) or is it ok to see the world? If you get out, you might likely not get to travel as much. Outside employment will not send you to training like the military will. Some do, but you can't rely on it as the norm. Then, finally, in today's workplace, they drop people as if they're a commodity. Yes, you can find another easily if you're marketable, and yes, the military also goes through force shaping. However, when I was active duty, I always felt that if I do my job, then I will have a job. You can't rely on that at all on the outside.

Since you don't really post up what you'll do when you get out, it implies you don't already have a firm idea. With that in mind, I'd suggest you stay in until you really have a good reason to get out. Once you're out, you're not very likely to get back in.

I would start off with forgetting the pros and cons for getting out or staying in for the moment and start asking yourself a few questions. 1. What is important to you? What is really important, like money, time with family, friends, kids, travel, and when you have that list down, put them in order from most important to least important. 2. Where do you want to be in 5 years? 3. What will it take for you to get there? School, more experience, and/or other options. There are more questions, but you get the idea. When you see the answers of these questions laid out, you then ask yourself what path gets you there while still maintaining a close relationship to those things that are important to you. If you still have questions, then make sure you take advantage of tools out there like aptitude test and so forth. It is one thing to think you know what you are good at and interested in, it is another to have something analytically confirm or send you in a better direction. Whatever decision you make, make sure it is consistent with your value system and what is important to you. In the end, that is all each of us have. You are in a great time of life, options and resources at your disposal, it is up to you to use them in the best way possible. Ultimately, it is each of individually who have to live with the decisions we make. We all make bad ones, but you can minimize those with careful thought and planning.

SGT Baker, I would advise you to attempt to keep 60 days of leave to sell back to allow yourself a bit of cushion for when you get home. The transition is never an easy one, but the never quit attitude will help with that. Make sure you stop into the VA to set up a claim. My best advice is to use you GI Bill. Make sure it is the post 9/11 version... The BAH will help matters a lot. I have finished up my A.A.S, and may ving on to my bachelors. Better still I have landed a job in my field. If you are having any issues after you ETS, you can always visit the VA, VFW, or the American Legion in the area for assistance. Make sure you have a home to return to by checking early and often in the area you are returning to.

With hind site being 20/20, I should have stayed in and had I been as smart as you are being, asking for advice, I would hope some one told me that 20 years is just a drop in the bucket of time. I have been a Civilian / Veteran since 1992. And would not change my life for anything, but had I known now what I did not know then, everything would be different, I would have retired from the service and been working on my third retirement by now. So stay in, play the game, enjoy the friends you make and always believe that God has a purpose for you.

I came off of Active Duty twice before finally reenlisting and retiring from the Army Guard. You will miss the Army, or at least your friends and some aspects of the soldier life, I have no doubt. At this point I would say you should consider what you would really might like to do with the rest of your working life. Do you want to work with children, or work in the medical/healing profession or maybe business? Everybody is different and you change over time, but I strongly suggest using EVERY DIME of your Post-911 GI bill. Get a B.A./B.S. and if you enjoy time in College, consider an MBA or some other grad level courses. If you are missing it after a year or so, look at the Guard or Reserve. It's different from Active Duty, but I don't regret it now....actually made good friends and have a good feeling about the mission we accomplished in OEF '09. At some point also, Active Duty may come back open for prior service so going back into Active Duty may be an option a few years down the road. If you get your Bachelors, I strongly suggest considering a commissioning program whether Active or Reserve/Guard. But that's just hindsight for me but just think about it a little. Anywho, best wishes to you regardless of your decision, and thanks for serving our Country.

I run hot and cold on the choice to come off active duty in 1999. I've served in the Guard (with a break in service) since then, which at times is sufficient to keep me from missing it too much. There are things I still miss about active duty - the training and duties were significantly more high speed than the Guard can manage. I think my sometimes wish that I had stayed active duty is governed by missing my last duty station in Alaska. If I had stayed up there as I desired, in the service or no, I might not regret coming off active duty so much.

The civilian world is nothing like the Army; I miss the Army every day since I ETS'd. Plus the job market has too many workers and not enough jobs. Get your rocker and retire that way you have some money coming in. I wish you the best.

If you don't want to be a police officer in the civilian world, consider going into the guard - not sure what state you are in but in Ohio we have 100% state tutition paid for your undergrad degree. By going into the guard, you can still see how the civilian world is but still keep your place in the military and earn toward a retirement.

When I ETS'd active duty 2 years ago, within 2 months I was back at the recruiters office trying to find a way back in. Civilian life just wasn't for me. Like any soldier I would complain and groan about life on active duty, but when I got out i got a whole new perspective, and a brutal reality check. What they tell you in ACAP is bull for the most part. Unless your MOS was commo, or you have a degree already, time as an enlisted soldier is essentially considered the same thing as working at McDonalds. My first job after ETS was Loomis Armored Car service doing armed security and filling ATMS. It payed 10.50 an hour and I worked 70-80 hours a week. It's not a bed of roses on the outside. I didn't meet with any real success or plan for life until i got completely away from my home town, and started school with a clean slate. Use that GI bill, go to school, and figure out this civilian thing from there.