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Well the time is quickly approaching and I seem to be going through what I have heard many do. The Mid Career Crisis. Stay in? Or brave the outside world and join the civilian work force? I'm not even half way there, but reenlisting will put me over half. I have 8 years now and am due to get out in a year. I made E6 in 7 and I just dont know if I want to go any further. I would never get out without plan A through Z, but I feel like I have A through Z set. I'm married with a 2 month old and set to go back to sea duty in 2 years if I do reenlist. Im looking for those who went through this internal conflict. Did you stay? Get out? Do you regret your decision? I can weigh my pros and cons, but I'd like to hear everyone elses.
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 2
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<P>Bottom line - Have a plan. Look at all options available if you stay in from geographic assignment, promotion opportunities and even jumping to the dark side and going OCS.</P>
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<P>If you decide to ETS, then have a job or college (or both) lined-up as well as housing, and some savings. And if you do get out think about the reserves or National Guard, as you probably will end up missing the commaraderie and can still put your skills to use and work towards a retirement - plus it is money in case your plans fall through.</P>
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<P>I speak from experience, in 1992 I ETS'ed as a Sergeant/E5 and had a job lined up with the Detroit Police Department (Solid plan) but in the 2 weeks that I got out and moved back to Detroit they instituted a hiring freeze...so for the next year I was working days selling termite contracts and nights stocking shelves at Home Depot. Thankfully I did not have a family to support.</P>
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<P>If you decide to ETS, then have a job or college (or both) lined-up as well as housing, and some savings. And if you do get out think about the reserves or National Guard, as you probably will end up missing the commaraderie and can still put your skills to use and work towards a retirement - plus it is money in case your plans fall through.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>I speak from experience, in 1992 I ETS'ed as a Sergeant/E5 and had a job lined up with the Detroit Police Department (Solid plan) but in the 2 weeks that I got out and moved back to Detroit they instituted a hiring freeze...so for the next year I was working days selling termite contracts and nights stocking shelves at Home Depot. Thankfully I did not have a family to support.</P>
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SSG Oliver Mathews
Why can you only up vote once?
Sir,
You nailed the bottle with the bullet... good shot.
Sir,
You nailed the bottle with the bullet... good shot.
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PO1 (Join to see)
I think if I knew my next geographic assignment I would be more prone to stay in. My last three tours have been "Needs Of" nothing more demoralizing than making 5 choices on the board of possible assignments and getting none, but handed pretty crap duty 3 assignments in a row. I feel kind of wasted. I've been to so many instructor schools and want nothing more than to use that ability to teach the future of the military, but I just cant seem to get the timing to match for orders like that. I have thought about the "dark side" but believe my PC levels are not high enough. I'd mesh better in a Chiefs Mess. Bottom line for me for once I want to be just a little selfish and get the orders im looking for.
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With a solid plan and adequate transition, a successful servicemember can easily transition from the military...and I'd recommend it to anyone today.
If a servicemember is hesitant about the transition, try a year or so in the reserve component...that'll ease the anxiety and you'll see you can survive without the military.
If a servicemember is hesitant about the transition, try a year or so in the reserve component...that'll ease the anxiety and you'll see you can survive without the military.
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