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

Even w/o knowing your personal situation etc a person can't help but suggest strongly you stay in for as long as you can and take every advantage of benefits there are for active duty SMs and their families. Don't know what yr financial situation is, but it would be a very rare case if you were able to transition into a position which would support your family. Best of wishes to you and congratulations on your admirable family for their support and encouragement no matter what is decided. And there is a wealth of info on RP about this serious issue...

This is a very hard question to answer. Honestly, it really depends on you. I can write out a few good and bad points to consider, but in the end you have to weigh the choices.

The Good: You have the freedom to change your career as many times as you want, and do whatever you want. There is no law saying that you must keep a particular job. If you don't like a company, leave. If you want to move to another state, go. Want higher pay? Get a job that pays more. You are not tied down like you are in the military. You are 100% responsible for every aspect of your life. Whether you succeed or fail, it's your fault. There are a ton of jobs that pay very well in the civilian world. With an honorable discharge, you will be entitled to full VA benefits that will pay for college and assist you with starting a career. If you decided to take terminal leave, that can greatly assist you with finding a new job while still getting paid by the Army.

The bad. You can expect to start at the bottom of the ladder with whatever career you choose, and have to climb your way up. There will be nobody there to assist with your transition from military to civilian. Try VA is you want, but your transition is not top priority to the VA. Insurance is crazy expensive, and you are required to buy it or you are fined at the end of the year. I pay right at $995 a month for a bronze plan, for 3. When you compare that to what you pay for Tricare, that can make a substantial difference. Forget BAH/BAS, and the ability to shop tax free at the PX. That is all gone. If you screw up in the civilian world, there is no such thing as Article 15, they just fire you, and send you packing with a box of belongings.

I really hope this helps. Nobody can make your life choices but you. I strongly recommend you talk to your wife, as well as your children, and make a choice together. this isn't a small decision to make on a whim. This choice can dramatically change your life.

I too was an E4 in the army. And trying to find a job is extremely difficult. You have a large family, my advice is stay in. I know there is a ton of BS that comes with the military but it's a easy job.

Stay in. Get IT certifications, C++, Security Plus, Java script, Sysad and Netad. The economy is not as good as you are being told.

I would say stay in. Those jobs you want will come easier if you have more experience. Higher your rank the more likely you are going to get that great job on the outside.

I walked out of the Army with a medical discharge at the time, later medically retired. I thought I was going to make $100. Instead I worked odd jobs making $10/hr. It took me 5 years of hustling and 4 years of college to get there, and it was terrible.

Stay in, take advantage of the training programs, get your college done while you are there, and volunteer for every school you can. Be an outstanding soldier, keep your self out of trouble, and impress the heck out of your chain of command. Trust me you will never regret it, and when the time is right you will have the opportunities that you earn.

I'm not going to say stay in or get out. That is your decision to make. There MAY BE 70k-90K jobs are out there. HOWEVER, you have to have EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE. Plus, some are contract jobs and that is IF they get the contract. AND they can be terminated at anytime. AND some are in places you really do NOT want to go back to like Iraq or Afghanistan. MOST of the contract jobs I came across were between $50K to 60K. BUT they were high security clearance type jobs needing both education and experience. There are things you have to take into consideration when thinking it is time to leave the service. Here are some to think about:

1. Are you financially stable to go 6 to 9 months? Finding a good job that meets your needs may take you 6 months or longer. Especially if you confine yourself to a specific geographical area.
2. Medical, Dental, and life insurance will cost you some serious cash.
3. Where do you want to live? What is the job market like?
4. Do you have a degree?
5. What do you want to do? What is your back up job?

I mentioned in another post, people to realize how well the military is paid today. When you add up your basic pay, and tax_free housing, rations and other allowance, you will find it adds up faster than most civilian pay. Perhaps if your a doctor, dentist or certain type of engineer you can make a good living; even there, starting can still be rough. Most civilian jobs have no pension; if they have medical benefit, usually costs more than TRICARE> (Civil service still does, but those salaries tend to be lower than military, and its very competitive getting into that system) If you do end up deciding to get out, at least go the Reserves or Guard, you get TRICARE Reserve Select and a retirement plan. You cant beat the camaraderie and pride of being a soldier in the civilian world!

Staying or going is a very personal decision.

My own my experience when I transitioned,-- getting out and getting a job is hard work! It can be intimidating to say the least. To be successful, treat it as a such, treat it as a job and an investment in the future of your family. You should consider several factors before making your decision. My comments are in no set order or priority.

You are making a significant life altering change and should treat it seriously by weighting the pros and cons of continued active service against what you discover about "life on the outside."

Consider how much longer you have on your current enlistment (if you are planning to get out you really are better off working on that plan at least 12 months before your ETS). Use the time you have to evaluate your position, determine what you want to do and plan to go after it. I recommend the serious search (if getting out) start at least 180 before you get out.

When considering your decision, be frank and honest with yourself and your family. Ask hard questions and do not flinch when you see the answers (some will be positive, some will be neutral and some will be negative).

Basic questions to get you started:
What do you want to do?
What are you qualified to do?
Where do you want to live and work?
Will you have to relocate?
Are you willing to move for a job even if the location is not ideal?
Are you willing to travel for work, if so what % of the time?
Do you know someone in a business?
Do you/can you obtain positive references?
Etc...

DO..document every little ache and pain when you go for your ETS physical (do not hold back).
DO...ensure everything (form above) is captured for the VA
DO..Talk to your State VA office, the VFW, etc...as they can help
DO..complete the transition program and do take advantage of all the time you have.

Look over you finances very carefully (remember part of your current income is tax exempt - that will change).
Make a budget, track your current spending, adjust the budget, identify what you can live without (luxuries, big ticket items for up to a year).
Pay down any credit debt you may have.
Look to your savings (how long can you cover expenses while you transition, if necessary). The objective is to avoid robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Look to the resources available from professional associations.
Check websites for jobs and salaries in your career field (remember you will need to go up in civilian salary a bit to cover the tax exempt part of your military pay as ell as the contributions to insurance, retirement, medical, dental, vision, etc..).

Start writing and re-writing your resume. Target potential employers and research those companies.

Look at all of your options, not just staying in or getting out, also consider transitioning to the USAR or ARNG.

What skill shave you acquired while on active duty and how will they translate to a civilian position?
Do you have certifications to support this?
Can you obtain any in the time you have left?

DO NOT pay for any service you can obtain for free to help you transition.

Here are some reference links that may help you get started.

My apologies, for not being able to provide more comprehensive advice.

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/deployment-and-transition/separating-from-the-military

http://www.military.com/military-transition

http://www.legion.org/careers

http://www.va.gov/jobs/

https://www.usajobs.gov/

http://www.taonline.com/

http://floridavets.org/ [Reference - as most states have a similar organization]

http://www.careerbuilder.com/?sc_cmp2=js_home_cblogo


Good luck!

I don't usually suggest staying in, but you need to do more research before you get out. It is possible to make that much, but not super likely for the majority of E-4's getting out.