Reenlist vs getting out?

Whats your MOS or Job in the Military ? Been to Transition Assistance ? Take a scan across USA JOBS and see what kind of Jobs are out there, that you like. you get Veterans Hiring Preference with the Federal Govt.

Corporal , thanks for your service and sacrifice. I was once in your shoes , and contenplated on what to do. I took a chance and got out went to school, then got a good job. You'll be expiriencing the same feeling s when you retire as you are now. I work in CA department of corrections CDCR, the pay is great flexible days of , and you can earn a lot of money on overtime , and you don't need a degree. Look into it , theres many job options.
Do some research and have a plan before you get out. Good Luck


Semper Fi

I hope you'll really listen to what I have to say because I wish I was again a 22 year old corporal with the choice to stay in or get out. In 1984, my MOS was being phased out of the Marine Corps in favor of a computer that the Marine Corps believed could do the job better. The battalion retention SNCO offered me retraining in my choice of any MOS if I would reenlist. I didn't. I was in a non-combat MOS in a relatively peacetime Marine Corps -- Beirut and Grenada being the only conflicts during that time frame -- so it was not very enjoyable being a Marine and I was sure being a civilian would be so much more enjoyable. Over the years, I wish I had taken the Marine Corps up on their offer and received retraining in intelligence, as it was just a few years later that the conflicts started flaring up all over the world, and I think my life may have been more interesting had I done so. My father retired from the Air Force after 23 years enlisted in the missile wing. My oldest brother, who entered the Marines after I did as a 2LT, retired after 28 years as a full bird Colonel commanding the combat engineer school at Camp Lejeune; he oversaw the building of the largest staging base in Marine Corps history in Kuwait for our invasion of Iraq. My other older brother, who enlisted in the Air Force after I enlisted in the Marines, retired after 30 years as either a E8 or 9 in a intelligence MOS. Since I only served four years in the Marines and then another four years in the National Guard, I feel like a lot less of a veteran than my father and brothers when I'm around them. I really wish I had stayed in. Don't get me started on how I turned down officer training after a couple weeks in Marine Corps Boot Camp and twice more while on a AGR tour with the National Guard. I was just young and dumb.

Really an individual choice But Staying in might allow you to do a lot with your life! Like education etc. Suggestion why not try getting an Education while you are inside that might make you feel like you have accomplished something! Plus you will be helping your country in a way you will not really know for some time! Whichever way you go ALWAYS REMEMBER I AND MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND RESPECT YOU ON CHOOSING TO BE PART OF OUR ARMED SERVICES!

You can always re-enlist, during the last few years of the Vietnam war, I was able to end my active duty and finish my enlistment in the reserves. Then when the oil embargo hit at the end of 1973, I had a good paying job but was less than a year on the job making parts for fuel inefficient cars. I was first Army then Navy and in the Vietnam war in both branches. Back then they called us OSVETS, which stands for Other Service VETeran. I am still looking for a hat that says ARMVY VET. Have yet to find it. In the Army I was a combat engineer/bridge specialist. So my Navy job was an improvement.

Many of us that are on this side of 60 probably wished that we had stayed in for the retirement.

Just a thought...personally I would try to get into college immediately after leaving the service, only, but only if you know exactly what you want to study for, otherwise you'll be wasting your GI Bill. I left the service five years ago, fumbled around for a year, then finally started college and went straight on thru. I finished my Bachelors in 3 1/2 years and currently attending Graduate School; started Grad School the following semester. As a military man, you have the drive to complete your college degree without quitting midway, unlike other college students. You'll see it as "completing a mission," that's what will keep you going. Good luck!

First, if you can stay in and continue your career, Do it! The Corps is someething you either Love or hate, if you Love it STAY, otherwise, move on.
You can take CLEP tests for knowledge you already have for college credits, (https://clep.collegeboard.org/test-preparation?ef_id=VdkhlgAAAUepRejC%3A [login to see] 5309%3As&s_kwcid=AL%214330%213% [login to see] 924%21b%21%21s%21%21clep%20classes%3Fs_kwcid%3DAL%214330%213% [login to see] 924%21b%21%21s%21%21clep%20classes) is the web site that explains it.
Also there are plenty of colleges and universities that provide evening classes, and online course work to apply to a Major and Minor disipline. The transition from enlisted to officer is a good move for a few reasons,
1. The pay is higher if you keep moving up.
2. Carrying your experience of an enlisted soldier helps you better understand the needs of those below you, providing you don't forget where you came from!
3. Having the oportunity to lead in that capacity is an awesome experience, though I prefered the First Sgt. job.
4. you can glean guidance from those officers that lead you, work with and for you.
Remember, Once a Marine, always a Marine, SEMPER FI

Dont let these jerks on here mess with your head. I got out with very little planning after a rough deployment, with only weeks back in country. The world is as rough as the military wants you to think. I collected unemployment while getting my degree and collected gi bill. There's tons of grants to apply for. I made more than deployment pay while going to school. Seemed like a pay cut when I took a gs-6 job. But, I have survived and thrived. I have faith that anyone can do it if I can. If you need more support, get on the dysfunctional veterans page on facebook. There's more than enough support out there, just have to seek it out. And don't let the bad press about the VA scare you off either... They're not that bad, from my experience. I'll let you come to mine, if you like. They good people.

What does your gut say? Follow your instincts.

If the Marine Corps is not up to your challenge...do something radical. There are other services anda hell of alot of jobs not offered in the Corps. You could join one of them, add to your time requirement for retirement protecting your benefits, AND find out there is another way to travel the worldserving your country.

Not having a degree you know is needed, or a plan in place prior to separation is ok...if you were very smart financially and have save $50K tucked away in the bank to cover you while you work out a plan. If you don't have goodbacking financially, it might be time to sit down quietly somewhere and reevaluate your plan of attack. It's good to have one, but two is better. Remember, no pkan ever survives first contact. BAMCIS!