Should I stay in or go to college?

I completed my degree while on active duty. I entered the Air Force at age 17 right out of high school. You do not have to get out to complete your education.

Sure know how to P.O old NCO's don't you. Serving this Nation was never guaranteed to bring awards, riches, or thanks- if you think ser4ving it not rewarding, or that your future is more important- then leave. ( I'm not attacking- just my opinion). If you think you are not making a difference then try something else- tho academics are often underpaid, overworked and thankless as well.

I'll put my vote in for doing both. Stay in and retire. Even if you do it through the National Guard. I had a retired SM recently tell me that if for no other reason, do it for the insurance you can get when you retire from everything. We rarely think that far down the road but the day is coming for all of us. I say this because it doesn't sound like you hate being in the military. If that were the case, I might advise differently.

I find that many folks who stay in and knock out their degree are able to retire and get a decent job afterwards. You will be one step ahead of the other person who doesn’t have the degree. Further, you can use your GI Bill for other type of training. I always recommend that SNCOs get their PMP while they are still active as well.

I reached that impasse near the end of my first enlistment, even though I was already going to school part time. From that point I started going to school 3/4 time until I qualified for a commissioning program and they paid for my bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Once I commissioned, I kept finding ways for the Air Force to pay for more college until they paid for my master's degree in computer engineering. I have a friend of mine who one-upped me and had the Air Force pay for his PhD in mathematics. I stopped at my master's degree, because I hit 20 years. I think if I had to do it again, I would stay in and have the Air Force pay for my PhD in computer science, and then retire.

And do you want flight at all? Space ops? Cyber? Pure science? Also, which svcs? Would you want USAF again? One of the others? Do you have any clinical interests, in which case I'd suggest USPHS...if pure science, maybe flight, I'd suggest the NOAA Corps...would you consider USCG at all? Army WOCS for helicopters? uSAF or USN flight, either pilot/aviator or Nav/WSO? Just so e further thoughts, you know? Comp sci (CS)? Engineering? Physics? Math? Chen? Bio related? Try to be as specific as you possibly can be in your description, OK?

You'd need to elaborate...your goals, your ambitions, your objectives. Then, too, your family circumstances, could you afford to go, would you he able to to under benefits, how far did you want to go, undergrad? Masters? Doctors? What field? Do you want to go back in after? Senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? Describe hobbies, reading, interests, how much college you've done thus far, associates? Bachelor's? Specific course titles, grads, GPA, so far as you'd care to say? The more you send in, he more can be suggested for you...are you due to get out? If so, when? Soon? Months? Years? Would you go to a school near where you are? Further away? What major? A STEM field? Meteorology? Some other science? What would you want for an MOS or SFSC if you went back in? Would you want Guard? Reserve? Guard tech? Reserve tech? AGR? Active duty? Take the time to really do a detailed, thorough bio sketch, preferably on a word processor where you can think it out, then paste it in here, I'd love to suggest things, I'd just need to know more, you know?

Get the hell out, stay in the National Guard or Reserves. Get some education or go to a tech schoo. You can always go back in.

On one hand you say you love your job, on the other you say it is thankless. Many earn degrees while serving and use that degree after retirement. If you feel as if you are better off going full time then by all means do it. Speak to people you trust, Family and military, in the end do what you feel is best for you. Thank you for your service.