If you have served at least 11yrs or more in the service, do you this it is a good idea to get out? Why? or Why not?

Oh man, that's a tough one. Given what you guys go through with constant deployments and such these days, it'd be hard to give advise. I retired 14 years ago and didn't experience the turmoil you are. I enlisted at the time retirees still get 50% of base pay at retirement. They changed it several times while I was on active duty but was grandfathered. I retired with 20 years and one day as a Sergeant First Class before they took more and more.

Since then, I went to college and earned 3 degrees including a masters. I have a great job with the SSA. I retired young enough to pursue the other goals I have, but old enough to draw a retirement.

Basically, it depends on how well you've prepared to get out at this time in your life. If no bills or a spouse with a great income while you're looking for work; good! Or, if you have it all together and know you have a good job that can provide; great!! The key is this, be realistic and understand very few people, companies, or organizations give a real flip about your service enough to give you a great job. It was an eye opener for me. I had a lot of leadership experience, management, etc., but without the degrees no one really cared.

I retired with over 20 to my credit, but I declined promotion to E8 to do so. I had wanted to stay in longer but family matters became too pressing to ignore. Further, I had fractured my back on my last jump, which meant I should not even try another jump to stay on status, according to the doctors. I certainly did not want to return to a leg outfit. My goal had been to make E8 and that part is satisfying, but I had rather been in the position to sew on the CSM stripes before finally retiring. Looking back, I made the correct decision at the time.

I do regret getting out but at a time in my life I thought I had to. Now I can't help but think about how my life would have been different if I did stay.