Reenlist vs getting out?

If I could go back in time I would have stayed in. Circumstances at the time led me to believe getting out was a good idea. Wish I had thought on it a bit longer before going through with SEPS.

With the mentioning of possibly becoming an officer in another branch, you may wish consider talking with one of those services' recruiters to better understand the path / reality vs. your dream-sheet and then consider ROTC for that service (focusing on an institution with the professional area of interest). A recruiter should be able to provide you with an overview of the best ROTC programs for your area of interest. Having your educational benefits should be a big positive for that path.
I got out at 22 yrs old (in 1977) and a Sergeant at the time after 4 yrs of active duty and nearly 3 yrs, 4 months of that time overseas (one year deployment with 4th Marines plus Embassy Duty). I was just tired and wanted out. However, the realities of a civilian life aren't always as sweet as they may appear - no one speaks your language, works as hard or carries themselves with the same self-respect professionalism as a Marine. On the flip side, one of my friends from the final year on active duty stayed in and did college in about 5-years @ night while working an admin job at MCRD and is now a reserve Colonel retiring later this year. Having a nice paycheck to start off each month when you're 55-60 opens a lot of other options.
Time will pass quickly, but the options available to you at this stage in your life / career will not always be there. Be diligent and patient in your decision making and best wishes.
S/F Ken

Cpl, I did 5 years and felt like you do. I enjoyed the Navy, but wanted to find out what was out there. I got out, joined the reserves (to keep my options open), went to college and got a crappy job. I was out for 3 years and figured out that the civilian world was not for me. Was able to go back in the Navy and did an additional 20 years. I believe getting out for a short period of time was the right thing for me. Good luck.

Devil Dog,
I have said this on many occasions and any Senior NCO or Staff NCO will tell you the same thing. Never decide your career path from your first duty station or enlistment. There is a lot you have not seen or had the opportunity to learn from. the first 5 years are normally the tough ones. Stay the course and evaluate after you reach your rotation or transfer window. You may be able to re-enlist for a specific school or orders that interest you.

first off how long have you been in second is what do you have for MOS and what type of schooling , this can all play part " in what too do my first response is do not be afraid you have skills that most do not there work ethics that have been ingrained so that is on your side and you have a mission to accomplish you will do so , next is timing timing is everything when it comes to reenlisting and what are your long term goals next do not fear change change is going to happen , first your mos has to be a good one that would be a job when you get out , if not then you have to look at it's staying power as I call it will you get to a position of power if you do the work please do not pick power apart just a word can you get to that lofty goal of retirement or better yet a position of favor that would give you the skills to move from service in to a civilian position doing the same thing for the military or a contractor , and then there is where can you go in the world in that mos some are confined to parts of us and some not some stay in over sea's hell some go back and forth , and then there is the big question you a soldier or a sales men do you want to work or do you want to play specialty schools to advance , and above all do not be afraid to move on to the work force there are lots of options , so for instance boat operator in the army that's right navy in the army good MOS all the way to w4 teach jobs in the military generally go to w4 not all but most again with the timing if you are an E5 in the army and in your second year as an nco warrant school is hard as it comes but pay off double or there is the officer candidate school if you have collage and want to run a desk or better the military your in there are lots of ways to mustang it in the navy too

Devil Dog,
You need to really evaluate your current position before you decide. Getting out is easy. But these days getting back in can be difficult regardless of what recruiters tell you. If your married with kids the decision is even harder. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Can you change your MOS? You should atleast stay the course long enough to get an associates degree or Bachelors. That a huge plus getting out or going enlisted to Officer. If I had it to do again I would have started school as an E3 and had a masters before I retired. I got out with 10yrs and was in the civilian sector for 6 yrs and re-enlisted in the Military. I ended up doing 26.5 yrs. You have a check for life. Medical benefits and your family is covered too. Don't be in a hurry to get out. The civilian job market is not as great as it would seem unless you have tools learned in the Military that are applicable in the civilian world. You can call me anytime if you need someone to give a different perspective. Semper Fi..
CMC (SCW/FMF/EXW) Jim Clarke
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Boots on ground- Gulf war, Iraq, AFG

Sgt (Join to see) I was there at about 8-9 years. I was fed up with everything, but I had a few great mentors and friends that really broke it down for me. This was their advice to me:

1) Never let one individual overshadow your entire career. Those individuals will come and go but your career is yours.
2) Pick your battles. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose...regardless of whether we have policy on our side. Unless it puts the lives of our people or the mission in jeopardy, sometimes peace is better than being right.
3) You cannot always choose your situation but you can always choose your attitude.
4) This life is not for everyone and that is okay. We all have a certain amount of time in us to do this job; for some it may be longer and others it may be shorter. But when we are really honest with ourselves, that is when you will know.

I have come to believe that everyone has a certain number in them. This job is tough; now I understand that sometimes we just get to a point of no return and, though hard, we make that decision based on circumstances in our lives. I know a few people that got out who were on the fast track to Chief but after multiple deployments they just wanted to be home with their families. They traded the uniform for more time, because they knew that once it was gone...well it was gone. Many may still be in but "checked out" a while ago and are just going through the motions until retirement. We have all seen them.

Here is what I've heard over and over, time and time again..."I wish I had stayed in and now I'd be able to retire with a pension. It is becoming harder and harder to stay in, so if you qualify, don't be the one who regrets throwing that opportunity away later on in life. The military is a great career with benefits others only dream of. I went in a private and got out after becoming a Major. It can be done and you will always brag about being a Marine. I retired in 1988 and have been drawing a pension/retirement for 28 years now. That sort of makes up for the low pay for all those 'other' years. Take advantage of every tuition assistance college program the services offer and apply for their Degree Completion Program once you have enough credits under your belt. At least this was how I worked it out. Hope this helps.

It seems like you might want to re-up and start working on your degree while you're in. Do you have a career counselor at the command? Try talking to that person. Either way you go, good luck. When I got out I weighed the option of being away from my family for a year while staying in a place that made people drink and going immediately underway. That's the short version.

Back to the school issue. Don't be afraid to get out and go to school. The post 9-11 gi bill is great. Tuition and a living allowance.

In todays economy you need marketable skills. There is not much out there for a Rifleman. I’d stay in and see of you can reclassify into something you might be interested in. I was fortunate enough to find myself in Navy Aviation back in the day. It served me well despite just being in for one tour. I quickly learned HS didn't prepare me very well for a career. Navy A school forced me to study and I was a very good Aviation Electrician. When I got out I pursued a degree in mechanical engineering, but had a difficult time with studies, working, and staying focused. The defense industry really wanted someone with more experience and the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) wanted me to go to their schools and start as an apprentice…if I could find a sponsor, which I couldn’t. I managed to bone up on my math skills and was hired as a draftsman for an engineering company. I worked my way up from Engineering Aid to Senior Design Coordinator, but it took ten years. Drafting is a lost art and todays equivalent would be CADD, or Computer Aided Drafting and Design. I got into it when it was just getting started…lucky me. Capitalize on your skills. I’m good at mechanics and loved working with guns, so I'm also I’m an amateur Gunsmith. Looking back now I would have loved to be on an Army, Navy, Marine Corp, or Air Force shooting team as a gunsmith. I work with Wounded Warriors and see a lot of guys (gals too) classified 100% disabled through the VA due to PTSD. Each Vet has a story, but not being able to transition into a civilian job is a common issue. They’ve got skills and interests but not pursuing getting better educated. Disability pay isn’t going to put much bread on the table. It’s tough out there and every employer wants to know if you have a degree for the simplest jobs. Take advantage of every military opportunity to get technical training and get some experience under your belt. Capitalize on what your good at. Civilian employers are looking for responsible, bright, and motivated workers who want to prove to them they’ve got what it takes. Don’t be shy about telling them you’ve got a skill and tell them; give me a chance and I can prove it. Make a plan and work the plan. Also, don’t be discouraged when someone says NO.

SFC Mark Merino’s advice is good. You need a solid plan/back-up plan/alternate plan/supplementary plan/and money in your savings. He’s also right about praying for guidance. The Lord works in mysterious ways for those who trust Him.