Posted on Aug 30, 2015
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?
90.6K
409
271
27
27
0
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 know lots of people that miss it. I'm not worried about a job on the outside, it's just when I think about getting out I can't imagine life without the military. I still have a year left so there is plenty of time left. I have just been thinking about this decision for the past year, and I only have a small time frame left to continue to think about it. I would just like input on those who have gotten out.
Posted in these groups: 
ETS/EAS
Transition
ETS/EAS Transition
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 189
1
1
0
I left after 9 years 4 months (had to extend to take certain jobs) because I didn't like being an employee number in a massive organization where too many people had power over my life. I quit the Navy on Friday and went to work for myself on Monday. That was 25 years ago and I do not regret the decision.
If you take the leap and get out you will miss many things about the military. You will also discover a world that can be what you choose. Good luck in this decision.
If you take the leap and get out you will miss many things about the military. You will also discover a world that can be what you choose. Good luck in this decision.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
SGT Baker, though my advice comes from last century it may be applicable - I ETS'd twice and was allowed to return twice (though at lower rank)... it slowed things down but there are so many opportunities in the service of our nation that I was able to do well anyway - do what you want just consider the consequences...
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I almost got out in 2009. I thought I knew what I wanted to do and had a pretty solid plan. It just didn't feel right and i ended up up staying and recently retired. I now have a great job I enjoy and all the time for a second career and the security of a military retirement. If you are on the fence, stay. You'll never no way hen it's time to move on, but don't do it too early. We do awesome stuff in the military that you won't get in the private sector.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
No matter who you are you absolutely need a solid plan when getting out and use your military-like discipline to stick with it. Also have a solid back up plan cause when you're out you have options and so things change...a lot. For some this is scary, but others it's exciting. After a while you may begin to miss the good Ole military days and that's ok ,but today it's easy and fun to stay in touch with friends from the service. With a year left it's time to have your plan solidified, yes that early. A smooth transition will help give you the mental momentum needed when Uncle Sam isn't taking care of you and possibly your family. In all, getting out isn't that bad. You miss some things but it's easy to get used to life without that stuff. Just think about all the stuff you hated and that should make you feel better. Hope this helps.
Ben
Former Army SGT
Ben
Former Army SGT
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
SGT Robert Andrews
I was discharged on a medical if I had been allowed to reclass I would have stayed in on active duty
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
I've been out for many years, but it's difficult to adapt back to life as a civilian. In the current economy jobs are scarce, then you have to consider cost of health insurance and if you have a family the expenses will be even higher. Best of luck.
(1)
(0)
SPC Jerri Haaven
So true about the insurance.. My deductible as a Single person is $1500 before benefits kick in. For a family, it's $3000.. and we've been told those costs are going much higher. A very legitimate concern today., for anyone considering leaving the military.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Maybe I'm the wrong person to respond to this, since I was the Career Adviser in my unit. I was trained to talk people into staying in. But I never tried to talk anyone into staying in who truly wanted to leave.
There are practical reasons for staying in: How many years do you have invested? And it is an investment. In addition to all the other reasons one might serve it might eventually come down to how many years you've put into this career and what you might be throwing away if you get out now.
There is always your education benefits. Have you used them?
And retirement. I know that there are new ways of computing ones retirement pay, but from what I see, if you retire at 20 years, you will receive 50% of your base pay every month. So someone retiring right now with the rank of E-7 and 20 years of service would get $2207.40 monthly and it would start the month after you retire. That would make the house payment and a car payment. I was a reservist. I had 30 years combined active duty and reserve and I retired at E-7. I had to wait until I turned 60 to start getting my retirement of almost $1285 a month, but it does make the house payment and a little more.
After the money talk is over, there is the satisfaction you get from your service. Knowing that you've done the job and done it well, in spite of all the rules, regulations and BS you might have to wade through to do it. The friends you make and the camaraderie of some of the best people on the planet.
This life, whether its the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps is not for everyone, but when you find it is for you, then you feel like you've found a home.
There are practical reasons for staying in: How many years do you have invested? And it is an investment. In addition to all the other reasons one might serve it might eventually come down to how many years you've put into this career and what you might be throwing away if you get out now.
There is always your education benefits. Have you used them?
And retirement. I know that there are new ways of computing ones retirement pay, but from what I see, if you retire at 20 years, you will receive 50% of your base pay every month. So someone retiring right now with the rank of E-7 and 20 years of service would get $2207.40 monthly and it would start the month after you retire. That would make the house payment and a car payment. I was a reservist. I had 30 years combined active duty and reserve and I retired at E-7. I had to wait until I turned 60 to start getting my retirement of almost $1285 a month, but it does make the house payment and a little more.
After the money talk is over, there is the satisfaction you get from your service. Knowing that you've done the job and done it well, in spite of all the rules, regulations and BS you might have to wade through to do it. The friends you make and the camaraderie of some of the best people on the planet.
This life, whether its the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps is not for everyone, but when you find it is for you, then you feel like you've found a home.
(1)
(0)
MSgt (Join to see)
In addition to what I said above… one thing I would always tell the people I counseled: Go ahead and reenlist. If you decide at some point a year or two from now that you want to leave, you can, but if you don’t reenlist now and decide a year from now that you shouldn’t have, it’s much harder to get back in.
I was counseling Reservists. Reservists don’t get bonuses for reenlisting, we get things like coffee mugs and hats. LOL! I don’t know if you would get a bonus for reenlisting. If you do you would have to keep in mind the fact that you would probably have to give back some or all of that bonus if you decide to get out a year or two down the line.
If you do get out, then you also might consider joining a Reserve unit or the National Guard. It does make the transition easier; at least emotionally. Sometimes it also helps in finding a job in your career field (if you want to continue in that.) I was in a Communications Unit and the guys were always helping each other find jobs. One, who was a network engineer in his civilian job would find a newer, better paying job for himself then he’d turn around a few months later and tell his new employer that he knew some people who were great at what they did and then three or four others in the unit would wind up working for the same company.
I was counseling Reservists. Reservists don’t get bonuses for reenlisting, we get things like coffee mugs and hats. LOL! I don’t know if you would get a bonus for reenlisting. If you do you would have to keep in mind the fact that you would probably have to give back some or all of that bonus if you decide to get out a year or two down the line.
If you do get out, then you also might consider joining a Reserve unit or the National Guard. It does make the transition easier; at least emotionally. Sometimes it also helps in finding a job in your career field (if you want to continue in that.) I was in a Communications Unit and the guys were always helping each other find jobs. One, who was a network engineer in his civilian job would find a newer, better paying job for himself then he’d turn around a few months later and tell his new employer that he knew some people who were great at what they did and then three or four others in the unit would wind up working for the same company.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
It's different for sure. When I got out I immediately found a job doing my MOS at an Army base a civilian. After almost 9 years active army I don't think I could have adjusted easily if wasn't for me landing the GS job. I have since PCSed to an Air Force base and I am still translating everything into army terms. If you do it use your Gi Bill and for sure have every ache and pain recorded. I thought I was superman so to say and now 15 years later it's catching up with me. If you're not sure don't do it until you are sure is my advice. There are days I wished I had chosen differently and days I'm glad I chose to get out
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Military versus Civilian life, take a thirty day vacation and you will find most civilian jobs cannot compete with your military life style. When I first got out I went into Law Enforcement making $7,300.00 dollars per year, with two children, I were ashamed to do it but I could have qualified for Food Stamps.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Well , I am now past retirement age (49) and could be retired if I'd have stayed in . Kicking myself now. Up to you but I'd stay in.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google