Since humans live longer, should the military allow folks to stay longer?

2017-10-12T16:36:58-04:00

I retired from the Corps in 1999 when I was 37 partially because I felt I need to in order to better prepare for long term retirement. I would have stayed if I knew I could stay long enough to reach full retirement.

Additionally, many vets struggle to get a job. Many are better suited to stay in.

Since humans live longer, should the military allow folks to stay longer?

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Oct 12 at 2017 5:07 PM

2017-10-12T17:07:24-04:00

I retired in 1996 at 20 years and was 39 years old. When I hit the 19 year mark I was told I had to attend a retirement briefing. The first briefing that I went to they told us that unless we were in the civilian job market prior to age 40 we would never be hired for a decent job. After I got out I discovered that people of my age were in far more demand by employers than kids getting out of collage. Had know that I would have been inclined to stick around a few more years and tried to get out of Fort Leonard Wood and back to a line unit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 5:17 PM

2017-10-12T17:17:39-04:00

Just because a vet is better suited to stay in doesn't mean the service is better with that person. There are maximum caps to allow turnover which allows for promotion. The National Guard allows people to stay in for decades and their promotions are terrible. Terrible like E4s and E5s retiring at 50 years old.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Oct 12 at 2017 9:10 PM

2017-10-12T21:10:41-04:00

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member I retired at 50, after 31 years in the Army Reserve. I reached mandatory years of service for an officer. 3 years enlisted, 28 years officer up to LTC. I will really miss serving my country but it was time for me to allow the room for younger personnel to advance into the space I was filling in the Reserve. My last ten years was three overseas deployments.
I have seen the military go from a leader oriented organization to a very risk adverse and leader constant over-watch. If you are in a leader position expect to be analyzed in every area of your command. It is something, you must just get used to and not overreact to in your career.

I enjoyed each part of it, and am thankful for the opportunity to serve. If allowed to I would serve longer. Medically, at this time I could not. Blessings to all that can and do it, if you love what you do!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 9:54 PM

2017-10-12T21:54:47-04:00

Well to a point. However we should be harder at looking at soldiers that are eligible for retirement and see if they are really preforming or if they are just counting time to mandatory retirement. We have to many Soldiers that are just counting time to mandatory retirement and that is not good for us.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Oct 13 at 2017 2:06 AM

2017-10-13T02:06:54-04:00

You know this is one of those questions that I think there are a lot of caveats too. For example, what specialty is the SM in? What is required of the SM at different ranks? How much can we lower the physical requirements so that an older SM can stay in that particular specialty? I don't believe that there are enough staff or administration positions available for all of the people who would want to stay in for a "full" retirement. I do think it would be worth a look though.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2017 8:12 AM

2017-10-13T08:12:41-04:00

So to the group, another reason I ask is because many veterans have a hard time adjusting to the civilian world. I am involved in my company's veterans programs, working to get veterans hired, and see how difficult it is for many to make a successful leap. The gap between the military and civilian cultures -- forget gay or transgender topics -- is getting wider. Or maybe that is what all prior generations/legions of veterans faced when returning. All I'll say is, folks, if you're still on active duty, start networking in the civilian world way before you get out and ask to visit corporations and walk around, see employees in their habitat. Make an informed decision. It takes quite a while to get a job, so don't wait until after you've left. I've seen way too many desperate people who left and did not have a revenue stream. Hiring managers do not hire desperation.

Response by Sgt David Hesser made Oct 15 at 2017 8:22 AM

2017-10-15T08:22:18-04:00

I just do not understand why the Military does not do counseling months before a young man or woman gets out, myself back in 77 had to walk into the 1st Sgt,s office and remind him my contract was up in two day,s after he got mad that I was not reenlisting he sent me to separation center where they shook my hand handed me my dd214 and said good luck, I was no where prepared for civilian life (I thought the grass was greener on the other side). Now my son just got out of the Air Force after 6 years and they did a much better job of getting him ready for civilian life. Now when I first went into the service we all took a battery of test to see where we could best serve them, why not do the same before a service member gets out and guide them in the right direction and have them start dropping applications before they discharge.

Response by SN James MacKay made Oct 15 at 2017 8:51 AM

2017-10-15T08:51:11-04:00

Retention Control Points do two things: They open up the path for promotion for deserving Junior Officers and NCO's, and clear the ranks of under performers, so the current rules should be retained.