Posted on Nov 8, 2017
Is it foolish for a mother to leave the military with 13y 5 m because I want to spend more time with my children as they grow up?
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Family
Retirement
Children
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 31
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I thought about this many times during my enlistment and its a tough one. If you have family or friends nearby to watch your children when you are deployed or on missions and they can take up the slack when you are gone the retirement benefits are worth it to stick around.
This is my humble opinion. You look young and have a whole life to look forwards to with an Army pension coming in you can find other employment and live quite well on both.
I would just make sure when you are with your children it is quality time and you do things with them that demonstrate your love for them and explain why its necessary to be away sometimes.
Have you had any face to face time with them to ask them what they would like to see you do? I don't think it can hurt if you do. I did 21 yrs and am glad I did as my VSO is asking me to submit my paperwork now for my retirement benefits and medical coverage.
Good Luck Sgt. Roberts
This is my humble opinion. You look young and have a whole life to look forwards to with an Army pension coming in you can find other employment and live quite well on both.
I would just make sure when you are with your children it is quality time and you do things with them that demonstrate your love for them and explain why its necessary to be away sometimes.
Have you had any face to face time with them to ask them what they would like to see you do? I don't think it can hurt if you do. I did 21 yrs and am glad I did as my VSO is asking me to submit my paperwork now for my retirement benefits and medical coverage.
Good Luck Sgt. Roberts
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SSG (Join to see)
I’ve had talks with my 6 year old and she is proud that I serve, but she has started demonstrating her frustration in the fact that I cannot being her to school, the face she has to wake up super early every morning and go to the school aged center. She has asked me when is mommy going to get out of the military. I told her when she is 10. Now she is literally looking forward to every birthday and looking forward to me getting out so she can spend more time during the week with mommy.
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Every situation is different. You need to do what’s best for your kids and you. If you want to continue to earn your retirement, consider transfer to Reserve Component. You’ll only need about 7 good years to earn 20 year retirement.
Having said that, every time I made a decision for my family it worked out very well.
Having said that, every time I made a decision for my family it worked out very well.
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LCDR Michael L.
I echo the point about making decisions for my family. I left active duty after 8 to join reserve component while going back to school. This was for long-term benefits to my family. I am going back to active duty in the medical field.
I am a happier dad than I was in my former Navy role, but again I am going back.
Best to you in which ever decision you make.
I am a happier dad than I was in my former Navy role, but again I am going back.
Best to you in which ever decision you make.
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Lt Col Jim Coe
LCDR Michael L. - My daughter made decisions similar to yours. She left the Air Guard with 12 years of service when she completed her BSN. Almost 10 years later, she decided she wanted the retirement benefits the military offers. She shopped around and the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps gave her the best deal. She's a LCDR now and has only a couple more years to go to reach the magic 20. She says she might stick around to take one shot at O-5 if things go well.
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LCDR Michael L.
Best to her! I was a LCDR but I felt the my family, the Navy, and I would be better served if I became a psychologist. I took a demotion, but I think it will pay off in the long run. I think it is great that your daughter was able to find a place in the Nurse Corps. Again, best to her and I hope she makes 0-5 before punching out for good.
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SFC Jim Ruether
SSG (Join to see) - The Colonel has a good point you could transfer to a Reserve Component and be home for the kids and still work towards your retirement points. They won't add up very fast but maybe you could find a full time position as a clerk or office manager and rack those points just as if you were active duty Army.....which in effect you would be.
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I spent 9.5 years in the Army, got out for 4 years, then finished up in the air guard with a total of 24 years 9 months. I was able to spend time with my family during crucial times, and went back in to finish up. I'll be able to start drawing my pension in about 4 years. Only you can make your decision. This was the option that I took.
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SSG (Join to see)
If I may ask, why did you choose the air guard over the Army Reserves or National guard? And I’m what way did your 9.5 years active duty help you out when it came to retirement? ie points and retirement age. Also did the 4 year gap make it more difficult to join back up? Spending time with my children is my upmost concern, but that’s just me.
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MSgt Bruce Cooper
I liked the Army, but when it came to the guard I liked the way the Air guard treated their soldier members. I also was able to keep my rank when I went into the Air guard, the Army guard was going to bust me back to spc 4. When you retire from the guard, you retire with points. The more points you get the more pay you get. One active duty day is worth a point. Drill days are worth 2 points. You get about 4 points a month in the guard with another 15 points for annual training. My 9.5 years in the army gave me 9 and 1/2 years of points. 3467 points for 9.5 years.
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MSgt Bruce Cooper
What ever you do, I hope things work out for you and your family. Thank you for what you are doing for your family, and our great big military family.
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