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?

Its not that pretty on the outside, I have seen 1st hand how bad it is and lots of Homeless vets! I was Homeless for a year when I returned to the states. I would STRONGLY recommend utilizing any and all avenues you have available to you NOW to gain as many college points as you can to aid in obtaining a degree in what ever field you wish to pursue when and if you do decide to throw in the towel. Also keep in mind that while I was homeless, I ran a cross a university professor with several degrees that was homeless. It hits us all and takes no prisoners...

SGT Baker,
I couldn’t agree more with LTC Stender. And, even with a solid plan, the transition to a “life without the military” can be very daunting. You’re very fortunate that you have the option to stay in the military and that in itself is a tribute to a job well done by you for the Army and your country. As you further advance in the military, the rewards are exponentially higher. The civilian world hails your answer to the call of duty in the highest esteem and respect for the military has never been higher. I’ve seen too many people leave the service and later find that the “grass really wasn’t greener” on the outside. As hard as it may seem to believe, job satisfaction rates are not higher. All that said…there is life beyond the military! Had I stayed in the first time, I would not have realized the wonderful and fulfilling career that was open to me as a civilian. I was so ready to get out, but so missed it that I affiliated with the Navy Reserve and was able to take a second career to retirement with ALL the military benefits. You are the only one who can answer your question. I don’t sense that you dislike the military. If you enjoy what you are doing, stay with it. If you don’t, then get out with a purpose and a solid plan…but always consider a rewarding career in the Army Reserve of National Guard.

Good luck

If you have more than 10 years in, stay in. Long-term, a military retirement is something you want to have. Most states do not tax military retirement pensions (or offer tax exclusions), and that will be important come the time you want to retire. I had to leave at 12 years, and would go back in a heartbeat.

If you have something planned move on, but, if your coming out to civilian live without a plan just stay there man. Enjoy as much as you can cause you'll gonna miss it. I know I do.

To be honest wish I stayed in longer. Jobs hard to find and insurance is getting high

I have been out for awhile and I like it. I have thought about re-enlisting but my window of opportunity is very narrow and I think about my family and being gone on deployments. I am and was fortunate enough to have the skills from my service and from prior military that I was able to utilize. I still have a military mind set that I to to empress on my kids, but at the same time I am relaxed with them. Hope it helps.

I retired recently, but I do miss the military life. Job hunting has been a pain, but between my GI Bill and retirement pay, I don't need to panic.
The biggest advice I have (and others have mentioned) is to have several plans and start working on them ASAP. Get certifications or finish up degrees before you get out. If you're going to school, start applying for scholarships. Have a plan now and work on it, even if you're leaning towards staying in.
As for advice on staying in or not, that's up to you. Most people just know when it's time. I intended on staying 3 more years, but was heavily "encouraged" to retire. I could have resisted the efforts, but just felt it was time to leave anyway.
I was semi-prepared, but would have benefited from a few more months.

If you truly enjoy your work and work environment, stay. I run into too many veterans who say they wished they had stayed to retirement. I look back on my career as the best job I have ever had, and I b...ched about it regularly. Do what is right for you.

I just went through ETSing and went into the civilian world and I hated it I am now back in had to do MEPS all over again getting out was the dumbest thing I ever did