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?

If you don't want to put the work in, and believe me, success in the civilian world is VERY VERY DIFFICULT, though 100% achievable, then stay in - You can do a solid 85% on active duty during peace time and retire comfortably.

Having left as an E-5, having worked my tail off to get to where I wanted to go, and have so far reached every major mile stone that I wanted, and continuing to do so, I will say this -- Unless you know what you want to accomplish, and you have established in your mind that you just don't need sleep, and friends, and much support, I would say stay in...

Not to put a downpour on it - believe me, the rewards of your blood, sweat and tears are VERY worth it if and only if you are willing to put up with it. What it would take me in staying enlisted my whole career, calling it a life and getting a pension, I was able to get to a solid standing in about 5 years - the cost was virtually no time off, uncertainty, A LOT of sleepless nights, getting behind on bills - that choice between "food and gas" is a true reality. Especially if you are enlisted - the VAST MAJORITY of enlisted jobs do NOT translate all that well from the military, unless it is a trade, with a national certification of some sort, don't let anyone fool you and say that they do. And you have to be able to accept it, change yourself and carry on...

I think it is easier to stay in shape, have a good, consistent life full of friends and family available to you, a fulfilling career path, and everything that you want OUTSIDE OF ACTIVE DUTY. I still serve in the ARNG, and that is good enough for me. I get my fix, go home, have a beer, do some grilling, do the things I enjoy with the friends and family I enjoy being around, and when it is time to work, I am not human in the way to go about it.

At the same time, I can go to the gym consistently, don't have some idiot with a broken life/family trying to control every facet of my life, because somehow, his consistent, bone-headed life mistakes translates to "he knows what he is doing", and I can actually go to drill focusing on MAXING my APFT rather than "getting by" and passing it...

All in all, you must work harder than you EVER have in the military or outside of it, otherwise you're going to just get stuck in a job that you could have done if you stayed in the military, at half the pay and no retirement plans.... If you plan on getting out to drive a forklift, re-enlist to be a forklift guy, if you want to be a $30,000 office manager, re-enlist as a pac clerk and make $65,000 as an E-7.

I wanted to climb the ranks, but I also wanted to see if I could make it in the civilian world in a profit-seeking company. I wanted something that translated as close as possible to Infantry, which at the time was my MOS on active duty, and going for that business degree, and then going into retail was actually a VERY close parallel. Problem is, an enlisted infantryman who has no experience doing much else has to work his ass of to get anywhere in life - The best quote I've ever heard on the matter was from Platoon, "They're the bottom of the barrel, and they know it. Maybe that's why they call themselves grunts, 'cause a grunt can take it, can take anything. They're the best I've ever seen, Grandma. The heart and soul. "

For me, it worked out very well, and now I can live by those tenants that are grilled into your head as an infantryman, and apply what I learned in my education, and go to sleep each night arrogantly knowing that I am better than my peers. :-)

It all depends on you SGT. I myself wanted to stay but had to get out after 15 due to family and physical problems. I was just not keeping up anymore and did not enjoy it as much as I used to. If you love what you do and you are young and in good shape then I recommend staying in. As far as getting out is concerned there are some states that do better than others. I am in Texas and had no problem finding work. Some jobs are better than others and I finally settled on IT support for a school district and love it now. I find myself sometimes missing the Army Days and wishing I had remained in. You probably will here that from a lot of veterans.

When I was there a nationwide curfew midnight to 5AM for everyone but you could pack some serious partying in in the limited hours you had!

The only thing I can say is that I wish that I had stayed in for twenty! Your an NCO and you have job security, out in the "world" even the most secure job can jerked out from under you by the
economy. Pay your money and take your chances!

Wish I had never gotten out

jobs really depends on your MOS. Check out USAJOBS.com and jobsfor vets.
I would have stayed in forever if I had not gotten a medical. My advise would be stay in until you complete your Bach degree..need it out here to be competitive for jobs

I am a Veterans Employment Representative in Las Vegas. I used to facilitate the TAPS program until my back made it too hard for me to do. I saw and still see so many soldiers at my desk. They get out because of their spouse, friends saying there are good jobs and thousands of other reasons. I don't know where you are career wise but I agree with the other comments. If you are not sure...don't get out. Way too many veterans wish they would have stayed in and now they can't go back.

Go with your gut. If the hooah is what you enjoy, there are similar hooah jobs as defense contractors. I have a few friends that have gone that route, some are deployed more now than as a SM, others essentially left work one day and came back in civies doing the same job the next day. As for the camaraderie, as previously stated, vets find vets and tend to hang with vets, it just happens if that is what you want. Some go home and never talk about it again. Use the skills and training you have, leverage those resources to the best of your ability, and do the best thing for your family. If you do get out, keep those skills fresh and seek out a hooah reserve or guard unit that will keep you up to speed AND get points toward retirement. But find a hooah unit or you will be miserable and bail. Those hooah units get more opportunities for active time/training and more pts earned. I have a buddy that is in a civie contract job as active guard but still gets to play hooah, but for civie pay (in similar line of work, in same state as you) AND you may be able to get a commissioned gig, nicer retirement.

Request a transfer as you cannot be barred from promotion due to medical reasons.

Very few things beat a military retirement. Twenty years may seem long but it passes quickly. Benifits are hard to beat.