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This is for any enlisted SM who re-up'ed after your first contract ended or any officer that stayed after their initial ADSO was over.
It is specific to that second term of reenlistment or that 1-2 years after you could have left - you chose to stay. Why?
What made you stay - especially if you thought you were only in for one term? Was it a mentor? An awesome job?
And the opposite for those of you that got out - why didn't you want to stay? What could have changed your mind?
Invite others to respond by typing @name
It is specific to that second term of reenlistment or that 1-2 years after you could have left - you chose to stay. Why?
What made you stay - especially if you thought you were only in for one term? Was it a mentor? An awesome job?
And the opposite for those of you that got out - why didn't you want to stay? What could have changed your mind?
Invite others to respond by typing @name
Posted in these groups: 
Service
Service
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 16
If not me then who?
It felt like an important job
It was fun
When those three things ended at 28 years I pulled the plug.
It felt like an important job
It was fun
When those three things ended at 28 years I pulled the plug.
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CPT (Join to see)
Thanks, SGM. We hear so much about talented jr NCOs and LTs/jr CPTs getting out.. wondering if there's something we could do to change that. Or if these leaders just want something that can't be offerred (frequent deployments, faster promotions, etc).
I thought I was going to get out when I my obligation was up at four years. I'm about to hit eight. Nowhere near your 28 years, but I love it. I think me sticking around has been tied to doing relevant work in combat units and having two great bosses I admired and wanted to work for. Think it's the same for most?
I thought I was going to get out when I my obligation was up at four years. I'm about to hit eight. Nowhere near your 28 years, but I love it. I think me sticking around has been tied to doing relevant work in combat units and having two great bosses I admired and wanted to work for. Think it's the same for most?
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CPT (Join to see)
My Drill Sergeant dropped me into a pool of awesomeness and badassery, I couldn't just leave :)
My Drill Sergeant dropped me into a pool of awesomeness and badassery, I couldn't just leave :)
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LTC (Join to see)
SGM I think we all had a drill sergeant like that. I had a squamate at basic who grew up on Okinawa (father was a marine) and I studied Japanese in high school. The two of us bitched and moaned about everyone and everything, confident that nobody understood a word we were talking about.
We were wrong. After graduation, one of our drill sergeants about whom many such bitching sessions was directed grabbed both of us in a headlock and dragged us behind him as he told us, in rather excellent Japanese that they only reason he didn't rip our arms from their sockets was because seven years earlier he and a squamate made it through basic training doing the exact same thing.
He then took us to the NCO club and bought us more than a few beers.
We were wrong. After graduation, one of our drill sergeants about whom many such bitching sessions was directed grabbed both of us in a headlock and dragged us behind him as he told us, in rather excellent Japanese that they only reason he didn't rip our arms from their sockets was because seven years earlier he and a squamate made it through basic training doing the exact same thing.
He then took us to the NCO club and bought us more than a few beers.
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I re-enlisted because I had duty station of choice which I chose Germany. Well that led to the Clinton Balkan Vacation Package which I did not see much of Germany though I saw some of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, and Italy. Plus a few touchdowns taking the DC-9 medevac back to Germany. I re-enlisted again to come back to the states and again had duty station of choice.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
That was a great vacation package, I did it as well. It was fun doing tip toe through the mine fields - literal ones and political ones!
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Difficult question. I originally enlisted because I wanted to learn another Asian language after learning Japanese in high school and the army with DLI was the best way to do that at the time (mid 1980s).
I reenlisted for the college money (Reserve Montgomery GI Bill and Tuition Reimbursement).
By late 2001 after the events of 9/11 and an extreme increase in rhetoric and posture from North Korea I felt that my country needed me again, specifically my Korean language skills and knowledge of the culture and history of Korea.
Since my direct commission in 2003 nothing has changed. North Korea remains an aggressive and unpredictable threat and our alliance still depends on bilingual and bicultural soldiers, NCOs and officers in both militaries
Last year I was considering retirement, but a new reserve unit stood up focused entirely on Korea and serving as staff augmentees for US Forces Korea. At this point, I'll likely stay until they kick me out on my 60th birthday, and after that perhaps try to stay on in a civilian capacity.
I reenlisted for the college money (Reserve Montgomery GI Bill and Tuition Reimbursement).
By late 2001 after the events of 9/11 and an extreme increase in rhetoric and posture from North Korea I felt that my country needed me again, specifically my Korean language skills and knowledge of the culture and history of Korea.
Since my direct commission in 2003 nothing has changed. North Korea remains an aggressive and unpredictable threat and our alliance still depends on bilingual and bicultural soldiers, NCOs and officers in both militaries
Last year I was considering retirement, but a new reserve unit stood up focused entirely on Korea and serving as staff augmentees for US Forces Korea. At this point, I'll likely stay until they kick me out on my 60th birthday, and after that perhaps try to stay on in a civilian capacity.
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I stayed because I fell in love with the Army.
I had an outstanding squad leader (SGT Joel L. Chambers), I couldn't believe there was an organization that cared so much for the individual Soldier. The fact that my mother was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and they afforded me the opportunity to be close to her (compassionate reassignment) for her last six month of life made a huge impact on my life. I was hooked and have been trying to look out for Soldiers interest the same way since.
I had an outstanding squad leader (SGT Joel L. Chambers), I couldn't believe there was an organization that cared so much for the individual Soldier. The fact that my mother was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and they afforded me the opportunity to be close to her (compassionate reassignment) for her last six month of life made a huge impact on my life. I was hooked and have been trying to look out for Soldiers interest the same way since.
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I really like being in the Navy. I'm the kind of person who likes things to change up now and then. I'm on my 3rd contact now and I have done various jobs, been too many different places, and the experience is always new. I really enjoy going out to sea, and overall I really like what I'm a part of. We're the deadliest force on the seas and we can project that force ashore. I love our Marines and the Navy Seals. They're the Navy's fighters and the spearhead in battle. Our pilots are so good that they can do a controlled crash landing on a moving aircraft carrier in rough seas and we can dominate any role in the air, fighting, attack, tanker, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and logistics. There is much to love about being apart of the Navy. :-)
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PO2 (Join to see)
Tip of the Spear! Warheads on foreheads! My two favorite things to hear in boot camp. Felt it slightly relevant here haha.
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I wasn't ready to hang up my uniform yet. I felt like there was still work to be done in training junior Marines. I had too much knowledge over 6 years and a deployment to teach to Marines who probably won't deploy in the near future. Most of the other Marines were getting out so the knowledge base was shrinking.
I LOVE BEING A MARINE! lol
I LOVE BEING A MARINE! lol
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see), a lot of those getting out say that not deploying is what drives their leaving - they joined to fight, right? How do you develop the desire to stick around and do what you do for someone who has deployed, loved it, and knows they likely won't be doing it again in the near future?
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) We will all deploy again...It's just a matter of time. In the mean time I stick around to ensure my junior Marines that haven't deployed get the best training they can for when they do deploy. And when we do deploy it is very nice having someone who has already deployed going with you.
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LTC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - Thank you, those young marines will hopefully do the same when their time comes.
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I have not yet finished my first term yet (one more year) but I hope to continue to stay in as I enjoy the camaraderie with the military that can be found with just about any other veteran you meet. It is a family like no other.
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I was branch detailed and wanted to see what another branch was like...regret it now! I think?
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For me I always wanted to see the world and I did, so I actually didn't reenlist until almost 5.5 years as I had extended my 4 year enlistment and from then on just kept reenlisting as the Air Force was providing what I wanted and that was to live in countries and experience a culture outside of America
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