Posted on Jun 13, 2014

I feel I have so much more to offer the NCO Corps, how do I decide when to retire?

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I am currently at almost 18 years in and I am not sure if I am ready to retire or not. I love what I do in the Army but at the same time I have missed so much with my family. I feel I have so much more to offer the NCO Corp and the Army. I am just honestly at a cross roads in my career and I guess I am needing a little guidance.

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Retirement

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 14

SFC Stephen Carden

Posted >1 y ago

I just dropped retirement papers and will retire on 30 April, 2014. For me, family wasn't the issue. My wife is a military brat and has been very supportive of my career through deployments, overseas tours and everything. For me, it was simply the fact that I am tired and my body just will not hold up much longer. It was still a difficult decision for me, and I tried to justify staying in. I tried to imagine what I could do to overcome my physical limitations, but I couldn't. So, I am heading out into the world as a civilian for the first time in 26 years. It is super scary, but as I learn more about the job market and talk more to retired guys, it is slowly moving from scary to exciting. The bottom line is, each individual has to really look inside him or herself and figure out their own priorities. What is most important to you? If you take care of that, then everything else falls into place. Best of luck to you, whatever you decide.

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SFC Stephen Carden

>1 y

Thanks, man. You keep doing like you do. I was very impressed with your grasp of the theory behind the job and I think you have a long and successful career ahead of you in this MOS.

SFC Stephen Carden

>1 y

No way I am missing it!

PFC Kevin Adrian

>1 y

Sergeant Carden, I will telll you since I retired twice (once from the Army after i broke my back, then ATT), that retirement is never easy, but in the end it is a decision that we have to make. I have the philosophy that when i wake up and I am not excited anymore to go to the job then it may be the time to consider my options. With the Military it was not my choice to retire, it was kind of given to me as this s the only option because of your back. With ATT I "aged out" meaning they felt they could hire three people for my salary. It was really a dumb decision on their part because a lot of my corporate clients left, which included the KC Chiefs, Royals, The Houston Rockets and others. Six months later they wanted me back, but by then I decided to return to college and get my Bachelors in Computer Science. I have to say I am much happier now because I was putting in well over 80 hours a week. I wish you well in whatever career path you take, I am sure you will do great and any employer would be lucky to get you. A buddy of mine who was Navy and retired from the navy is the Head of one of the Departments for Draeger Medical, if you have any interest he is a great guy.