Retirees: What were your reasons that made you hesitant to submit your retirement packet? Possible promotion? Not fully committed yet? Other?

2017-02-05T00:32:58-05:00

Over the years, many of us grow comfortable in the military lifestyle and benefits that provides for our families. After all, 20+ years deserves a big retirement for faithful service to the nation. Were any of you having second thoughts to submit your retirement packet when you could have stayed in longer?

Response by SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM made Feb 5 at 2017 12:37 AM

2017-02-05T00:37:05-05:00

I will let you know in two years how I feel CPT Jacob Swartout . But one thing that I can assure you, is that there will be zero hesitation on my end as these two years cannot come quick enough.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 5 at 2017 12:39 AM

2017-02-05T00:39:03-05:00

Hesitant? LOL! I HYTd at 20 Years and they kept me for another Year to Babysit an Ancient Computer so I got to do 21 and I would do it again in a Heartbeat!

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 5 at 2017 1:29 AM

2017-02-05T01:29:03-05:00

if I had waited for another 8 months I would Have been "stop Loss" for 2 years and retained for another 2-4 years making it at least 2005 if not 2006 before I would have been able to retire and I would have pushed the envelope for the max time and Pay-grade...

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Feb 5 at 2017 1:54 AM

2017-02-05T01:54:52-05:00

I retire next week and I will not miss this part of my life, I'm so ready to move on its unreal.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Feb 5 at 2017 6:34 AM

2017-02-05T06:34:59-05:00

+2.5% per year. That, and my AFS clock got reset when I was appointed. And then I got promoted to CW4 under "high 3". Plus 60 is a nice round number. And...

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 5 at 2017 11:36 AM

2017-02-05T11:36:27-05:00

I delayed my retirement to serve out DESERT SHIELD/STORM at the request of a General Officer. I'm glad I did. When the redeployment started, I put in my retirement papers again and never looked back. My primary reasons to retire were being passed over for O-6 and the real possibility of a remote-unaccompanied assignment (Korea) if I didn't retire. My decision was best for my family and for me.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 5 at 2017 1:04 PM

2017-02-05T13:04:42-05:00

No hesitation. Knew I wouldn't make flag and brought everyone in my Command home safe. Went out on top and never looked back.

Response by CW3 Christopher V. made Feb 5 at 2017 1:47 PM

2017-02-05T13:47:49-05:00

I didn't have any hesitation at all. It was time. I could've stayed longer, but it was time to give back to my family for all of their sacrifices over my 20+ years.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 5 at 2017 11:57 PM

2017-02-05T23:57:48-05:00

My only hesitation was potentially leaving O6 on the table. I did not make it in the zone, despite success in command. I asked around, had branch do an autopsy on my file, figured the 8% chance AZ was a moon shot so I pulled my Reserve. I sit at about 40% regret level, especially as peers have made the list AZ. More than I ever remember. The 60% part has a happier family, did not PCS needs of the Army with no leverage, and got a pretty good job. Have not froze my ass off at PT this winter. Can't go back now.

What it really boils down to is, are you done? Has your career run its course? Are you still up for the next Army thing? Is your family ready to support that ? Are you financially ready? Do you know what direction you want to go?

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Feb 6 at 2017 12:38 AM

2017-02-06T00:38:24-05:00

I didn't hesitate, I was burned out and in pain all of the time. A year after I retired I was refreshed and the issue that had been causing me pain for years had healed. I would have liked to have gone back on active duty, but I wouldn't have been able to go back into my career field. I had developed an allergy to nickel and that was causing my fingers to split open. No more communications work for me.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Feb 6 at 2017 12:08 PM

2017-02-06T12:08:26-05:00

The hesitation was very small, I liked my job and was hoping to get back into a line unit and out of the Engineer School but my family came first and at the time it was the best move for them.

Response by MSgt Dan Hurley made Feb 8 at 2017 7:27 AM

2017-02-08T07:27:32-05:00

I didn't have a choice I went out on medical, but my last day was still a sad day, the military was my life for so many years. If I could choose I would still be in.

Response by COL David Wayne made Feb 8 at 2017 8:19 AM

2017-02-08T08:19:29-05:00

A Marine Corps buddy told me that one day I would just wake up at 0300 and know that it was time to go - he was right. I was still having fun but just realized it was time and put in my papers.

Response by LTC Mark Beattie made Feb 8 at 2017 9:19 AM

2017-02-08T09:19:59-05:00

When most of your adult life (28 years) is spent in the military, returning to civilian life is not something that I personally took lightly. It was starting over with no guarantees. In hind sight, it was the right decision.

Response by MAJ Mark N. made Feb 8 at 2017 11:49 AM

2017-02-08T11:49:07-05:00

I was more or less "forced" to retire vs voluntary. I submitted my packet with hesitation, as I was enjoying what I was doing in the Army, and would have been content with the present or a future assignment. However, I did land a good Fed job while my packet was being processed, so that helped. Was asked by former commanders to consider coming back on AD after 9-11(Civil Affairs - Iraq), but by that time, my family was getting used to me being around -so I declined.

Response by SFC Richard Bennett made Feb 9 at 2017 12:53 AM

2017-02-09T00:53:32-05:00

I had no choice, I aged out. I get to work Funeral Details with Young Troops from all branches. I am impressed with them, they are good and they are dedicated !

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 9:26 AM

2017-02-14T09:26:13-05:00

Here's my retired story back in 1990.

I was never hesitant to submit my retirement package. I had seen other members be bitter towards the end of their career so I decided to leave when I was still having fun. I submitted my retirement application year year in advance. I had to have ten years commissioned time to retire as an officer. I tried to get the Colonel I worked for to approve my retirement and he said he wouldn't sign off on it because we were going to leave at the same time. (He was a great boss.) So I waited again until he was out of town and they had delegated administrative responsibilities to a young Captain and I convinced the Captain to approve my package.

Several months later I was back in Missouri with my wife on leave when I received a page (yes, we used pagers back then) from the new Colonel I worked for. He congratulated me for being picking up for Major Below-the-Zone which was unusual for a cop. When I returned home everyone was saying they knew I would withdraw my retirement after being selected for Major. I wasn't so sure about that because our Personnel HQ had said I was going overseas if I put on Major. Our new Colonel called and said if I would pull my retirement he would guarantee me three more years in Denver. So I delayed my retirement for three more years and retired in 1990.

Sorry for the long story. I enjoyed every single day of my 24 years in the Air Force and don't miss a day of it except for the camaraderie of the cops.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 2:38 AM

2017-02-17T02:38:03-05:00

Two or three years out, I could feel the end coming. I just knew I was going to get one of those 'thank you for your service' letters. Thankfully, none of them ever came, even though I'm sure I was one or two names away from the cutoff point. Not having a degree really made me nervous, especially having one of those grunt jobs that have no value outside of the military. So, I began pursuit of a degree, because I knew it was a matter of time. Shortly after, I tore my Achilles, barely a couple months outside of the 20-year mark. That was a career-changing point, because even after surgery and a period of healing, I could't pass the run on the APFT anymore (to add some perspective, I used to max the run in my younger days). This really hastened my get out process. To avoid being chaptered out, I opted to retire. I won't delve into the circumstances that took place as I was getting out, but it wasn't pretty. Long story short, I got out with a lot of angst, and regret. Truth be told, I wish I'd be more selfish and had set myself up for better on the way out.

Response by SFC Don Vance made Feb 17 at 2017 10:14 AM

2017-02-17T10:14:47-05:00

I had no reservations when it came time for me. When I was a young soldier my BN CSM was retiring with 35 years of service and I asked him how do you know when it's time to retire. His response was clear, succinct, and stayed with me throughout my career. He said "when it ain't fun no more!".

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2017 11:14 AM

2017-07-05T11:14:09-04:00

I personally have been looking forward to retirement. The problem I have is that I am planning on dropping my retirement in 2 months and I just came down on orders to Germany. Currently trying to see if I can get my PCS orders deleted so I can retire next spring.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 3 at 2020 10:38 AM

2020-03-03T10:38:49-05:00

The recent birth of my daughter. I'm already over 20, I'm just going to delay retiring a few years to give my family some stability and not cause a major life change while we have a newborn.... Plus... you know...2.5 a year...