Reenlist vs getting out?

The military is a good place to work and get a degree. What does it take? Hard work and dedication. Also patience. I saw too many get out to finish college and never do so.

For now I would say build yourself a plan to accomplish your degree and when that is done look at the situation again.

So, the good news is that you have goals. Look at where you are in life and what you need to do to get to those goals. Is starting at the bottom of a new job/career the best way to get there? Realize that whichever path you choose, there will be ass hats performing their asshattery - embrace that suck - because you have a goal worth attaining. WRT being treated as an adult, you've already had some success in the USMC and as you transition to the NCO Corps, you will become the "adult". Remember the leadership lessons you've learned (good and bad) and do your best to not repeat the negatives. I think most of everyone has arrived at the crossroads you have arrived to. I was a four and out guy, but being recalled from IRR and STOP LOSS helped me along...lol The fact that you are asking these questions means you've got a good head on your shoulders - set that goal and make the plan to get that goal. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

It's up to you to decide what it is you want to do with your life. If you don't like being in the military, hate coming to work in the morning, resent missed birthdays and time with your family, this might be a sign you need to move on and do something else. However, you also need to take steps to decide what you want to do and prepare for some amount of unemployment. Start building savings now if you decide you want to get out. Have enough money to survive for 3 months at the very least with no income and take advantage of EVERYTHING the military offers you during transition. They will move you where you want to go one last time and there's nothing wrong with putting your name out there for employment months before you get out.

I left after nine years because I'd done what I wanted to do and I didn't really see any point in staying in any longer. I also wanted to come home to my wife every night, not be gone for 9 months of the year.

Veterans can get hired, it just depends what you want to do, where you want to work, what skills you have and how you market yourself.

Just remember, unlike a civilian job, you only have a few windows to get out on your own terms and if you're going to get out, you need to decide one way or another, commit to that decision and do what you need to make it work.

But it's your life and nobody else can make that decision for you.

Don't stay because you are afraid to get out. There are plenty of options in the real world, but the military sucks unless YOU decide it is what you want to do. I've retired from my first career. I am working on another and planning a third after that, but I'm not sure any of them are what I want to do. I would not trade any of my work experience in the military or civilian sectors for anything in the world.

1. Dont get iut. Dont leave untill they are tearing out the carpet of service from under you while your holding on and kicking and screaming....you will NEVER have it as good as you really do now. Trust men no matter how much suck you deal with...that job you have, that way of life, your buddies, your friends, your 'other' family, your entire way of life..will be gone. Stay till they force you out.
2. DO NOT leave until you have your degree, any degree, and some skills that are in demand AND a sure fire plan. This plan MUST include what you are going to do with only 1000 -1500 per month. There is NO BAH, BAS, jump pay, language propay or any of that untaxible suppliment AND then you are federally mandated to have health insurance too else pay fine with your taxes. Stay till 20 and then tricare..standard or if your lucky ... prime will always be availabe and meets the requirement.
3. When you put together your resume, you MUST put them together per job. NO BLANKET reaumes anymore...ever. all your military crap on a resume will hurt you. Civs DONT care. All of these jobs for military that lowes, home depot, petsmart ect advertise .. are retail (sucks ass work) and doesnt pay but 10 per hour at most on average as starting pay. 10x40hours=400grossweekx4wweks=1600month gross-20%taxes and social security=320 taken from month gross = 1280 per month net. Now pay for rent, utilities, car, gas, food, clothing, and you have negative funds remaining and still need to provide health insurance. Now you need 1.5 jobs plus spouse will need to work full time and you have a kid? That sucks, now add on babysitter or daycare. If not, you probably wont anytime soon. Planning on school after service? Great, post 911 will net you about 1000 per month while attending. Now you have classes, comuting, and homework but yet still need health insurance and more $$$ so spouse still needs to work. Have kids? Chances are against you ever doing more than 1 semester. MOST vets with children can never start school, too much stress for homework when your worried about how to pay bills and still need time for family. Im sorry, that is the most common thing that happens.
As for resume, only put what is needed to show why you are best person for the job. All the military stuff, decorations, comedations, piddly classes dont get you much, some classes are considered a liability. Never mention combat life saver...ever!
Limit military references to no more than 3 or 4 lines. I worked for... my mil experience and class on..... makes me the best because i have 9 years experience doing exactly what you require for this position of 'waiting around and drinking coffee'...
Being a vet is not all that great and there are 100 vets for each posted 'awesome' job and 99 vets for each, 'great' job and 92 for each, 'good' job and 900 for anyjob that gives preference to vets. Many vet friendly employers appreciate the attention to detail vets have, expect it from vets much more so than twiddly bob, who, didnt serve and is getting paid the same.
3. There are some vets that get great jobs, government jobs, at any level...county and up, are the best bet for all of us. It is the closest to what we know and hard to get fired as long as you dont offend anyone, say anything stupid, racist, sexist, political or percieved by anyone as being so. Gov jobs are far fewer and you must go through the process unles your getting va dissability. .. this takes time for a comp claim to be approved. No less than 6 months for planning purposes. Then, if, you get 30% or better, you might qualify for direct appointment as long as said disability isnt percieved as getting in the way. Legally they cant .. not, hire you for the disability BUT, they will find a 'better' qualified candidate, one who isnt broken. Vet preference helps but disabled vet preference doesnt help for most 90% or better applicant veterans. Sad but true. Those awesome jobs out there are very rare and ynless you have a conditional offer for employment signed and in your hands, you have no awesome job waiting for you.
4. Realize. . You love what you do, you love the corps, semper fi and all that other junk...... picture yourself never serving again and i bet you will have a very hard time doing so. You really do love what your doing.
5. Lastly, people like me, veteran service officers, are needed to help vets with the VA. It is a beast to get what your owed. Nothing happens quickly except recieving medical bills. We will help you but VA doenst care about your family members and will never look after their best interests.

I might come across as negative and it isnt all doom and gloom. Many vets love post military life. You MUST be ready, if anything..mentally, before you seperate. If there is any doubt, stay in for another term and then reevaluate as to IF you are ready. Please please please dont get out if your in doubt or just tired of stupidity or "always in the field training". I would hate to be helping another depressed vet get counselling because you ..thiught.. the grass is greener off post......
You have my utmost respect. If you have any VA related questions, this old dog army guy will help you. But dont make a dumb decision. Make a prepared and ready decision.
Other Veterans....please dont blast me if your post-military experience has been awesome. There are more of us wishing to still be in, because civilian life sucks when compared to the best time in our lives and i am not afraid to express the dark realities....just read 80÷ of the ..in need of help, or WTF postings on RP.

I joined the Marine in 1969. In 1971, after a tour in Vietnam I was a Sergeant. The Vietnam war was drawing down and the Marine Corps was transitioning to a peace time Corps. End result I was passed over for promotion to Staff Sergeant. I was fortunate that I fell into a career field that was rewarding and satisfying, but that doesn't happen to every.
Even now I question whether or not I should have gotten out. I don't think I would have a weight problem for 30 years of I would have stayed in. Who knows I might have even received a commission if I would have stayed in. I was offered a transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard with a commission, but I could not phantom not being a Marine!

It'a all in what you want ot do. If you enjoy what you are doing stay in. If you have a job lined up or going to school get out.

I had to get out Honorable Discharge for Hardship reasons. Both my parents were disabled, not getting enough money to survive. I gathered proof from their Doctor of their conditions. My younger brother was to young to work. I had been sending 1/2 of my checks home, but I was only an Airman, then A1C, this being in 1982 so I was of little help. After gathering all the pertinent information I informed my Supervisor to double-checked as much of the information as possible, then wrote me a Good Recommendation, had me go to the First Sgt who had a lot of questions to ask, then all this information when to the Commander of Supply who approved, I then had to go to HQ's Personnel with all the information and recommendations. My Father-in-law provided proof that I 100% had a civilian job waiting on me where he worked and I would be making three times what I was in the military, they out-processed me in a day. Per Diem to get from HAFB Homestead to South Carolina was barely enough to the penny to get myself and the wife home. I wish EVERYDAY that I could have finished my time in the service, but with a MOS change. It haunts me to this day, but family is extremely important. Hope this helps some.

Things aren't always better on the officer side. Still many of the same rules, restrictions, and unpredictability. If you can put up with that because you love what you do, that's great. If you want to look for something else, there are more opportunities now than ever.

Many people seem stuck on thinking that you need an expensive, formal education to be successful in the civilian economy. This is not always the case. If you want an institutionalized job with hierarchy and bureaucracy not all that different from the military, then go into law, medicine, or some rigidly structured corporations. That's what people mean when they say "you put up with the same stuff anywhere you go"--but I think they're just looking in the wrong places.

Here are some resources that can put you on track to finding your interests and learning valuable skills without having to dish out the same money as you would attending a brick-and-mortar college:


https://www.khanacademy.org/

https://www.coursera.org/

http://dailytekk.com/2012/01/29/6-easy-ways-to-learn-coding-and-computer-science-for-free/?reading=continue

http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/You-Only-Have-to-Be-Right-Once-Audiobook/B00OI0695S#publisher-summary

Coursera and Khan Academy will help you learn whatever you're interested in. Particularly, there's an incredible demand for tech skills such as coding and app development. The field is changing so rapidly that colleges and formal institutions have a hard time keeping up, so online resources or getting some practical experience is probably the most valuable way to learn.

Stay! Make a career out of it if you can. 20 years will go by in a flash and if you lined yourself up right, networked along the way, and invested in yourself you can do very very well after the military. Listen, I retired as an E6 and that's nothing to brag about but I did network EXTREMELY well and invested in myself. Right after retiring I started my second career as a GS12 government employee in San Diego to go along with a retirement check, 70% disability rating, a great stock portfolio, and a spouse with a six figure salary; not to mention the dirt cheap insurance and free college tuition for my kids. I can't tell you how many senior enlisted service members and officers nearing retirement that are terrified of the making the transition to civilian life because they were consumed by the military, and that paycheck, and didn't look a little further down the road. Stay in and invest in you!