Need advice on whether I should stay in or get out?

Unless you already have something lined up, I would recommend staying in. Get your school done. Then consider getting out if you still want to do so.

SPC (Join to see) I think in your position, it would be the biggest mistake in your life to get out now. It's near 100% that you simply cannot match the salary, benefits and MEDICAL that you're getting now, and with six kids...it'd be insane to try.

If you are in, I would STRONGLY recommend staying in...until such time as you have very specific and definite plans that will allow you to maintain or improve your families well being (financial, insurance, etc). "Maybe" jobs do not pay bills, and until you get income in writing, it is still a maybe..... If you are going to separate to go to school, know what the implications to not only you, but your family will be in regards to housing, insurance, income, etc. I will not tell you NOT to, if you can justify the end point...but know what will be the impact on the near side.

I would look at the educational benefits that the Army offers you. Also, remember that the Army is a team organization. If you choose to stay in, don't do it just for the monetary reasons. You are valued at what you and your skills bring to the organization. There are many oppportunities that the Army has to offer. TA, GI Bill, warrant officer, OCS, green to gold. All things that make you more marketable for the Army as well as the civilian sector. Bottom line, what makes you and your family most happy.

Read first lines of SSG Miller. Nail on the head, do you have a bachelor's degree? Do you have the money to pay for insurance for your family? You know you're going to get paid on the 1st and 15th. Even with the always reported squabbles on the Hill.
Where are you trying to go? What is the economic situation there? Many points to ponder.

I can't imagine having a family without the virtually guaranteed income, retirement, and healthcare being a retiree provides. I watch too many of my high school peers struggling mightily in their 40s and 50s, and having no outlook that includes ever being able to slow down.

The civilian world is hard there is no doubt about it. However millions of Americans get by everyday. I will level with you, you are not going to walk into an entry level position at 70k-90k a year realistically 30K-40K assuming that you have a 4 year degree. Now if you are skilled labor like electrician, carpenter and so on you have a great chance of walking in the door at more pay. I was a Sergeant when I got out, had a lot of great experiences but no education. I couldn't find a job because I was overqualified for the crappy jobs and underqualified for anything good with nothing in between. I went to college, earned my Bachelor's degree and got a government job 2 months after graduation making 30K a year. 5 years later, I am 6 pay grades higher than I started making 62K a year. It's not a ton of money but I am comfortable on it. So it all comes down to what you and your spouse decide to do. I wont sugar coat the civilian world as being all rainbows and unicorns because it is not. However, I am much happier now than I was as a Soldier.

I got out at a Lcpl with a wife and 3 kids because I thought I was missing something. It was by far the stupidest decision I ever made. That whole I'm making so much money as a contractor when I get out on the Army is a huge life. After 30 days of being a civilian I was scrambling trying to come back. No one wanted to hire me to do anything other than menial factory work. When you wife and kids is looking at you hungry and confused it makes you feel less than a man. The struggle I went through for 5 years while I was a civilian was not worth it by any stretch. I know things seem jacked up because your a Specialist, but from someone who been there and came back DON'T DO IT.

I would do my twenty. But if you get out and you land a great job. One word seniority. You are working with people who started right out of high school. So you will be the first to go and last to get your vacation. They closed my center. I had a military pension and 17 years with the company. Union rules they had to find me another job. Eventually being on the bottom. I would have to take an opening they made up north. The top can't be forced to take those jobs.

My Bachelor's was Industrial Relations/Human Resource Management. When I got out and tried to find a job in my field, it didn't pan out. I had 3 children. I had some ups and downs. The bank foreclosed on my mortgage, and I lost my home. I rented in 5 different neighborhoods for the next few years. I was helped out by a couple of Marines - one let me stay in his house for free until he could sell it, and the other was in real estate and gave me a deal on a home he had built in the 70's. I worked delivering newspapers and substitute teaching until I "bit the bullet" and got a Masters Degree in Teaching, while working full-time as a janitor. This was all after being a commissioned officer in the Marines. The other posters are correct. Life after the military is not forgiving. I got out in '88, but was not back on my feet until '98, so think hard and make sure you and your wife talk it out. My wife was quite upset for years afterward.