To all my fellow veterans: Why did you choose to transition out of the service? Retirees, what were your goals after your military career?

CPT Christopher Coker — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 08:46:14 -0400

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 13 at 2017 8:51 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 08:51:35 -0400

" Why did you choose to transition out of the service? "
Its been written here in other response, but to sum it up..I serve at the pleasure of a disgruntled, home steading SGM at branch who along with the SMA of the time decided only they could be at a duty station as a senior NCOs more then 3 years.. So many of us were told PCS or get out... As I was serving in an authorized and open slot, with concurrence of a 2 star, 2 1 stars and a COL that were happy to have me there and yet I was told to move anyway.... I chose to get out.

"Retirees, what were your goals after your military career?"
Not die prematurity while mostly enjoying each day, not kill anyone that does not deserve it.

Response by LTC Tom Jones made Oct 13 at 2017 8:51 AM

LTC Tom Jones — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 08:51:35 -0400

Scheduled to leave ATSC (Fort Eustis) for OTEA (Falls Church, VA) which meant our family--including two teenage sons--would be living in the DC area from where I would likely be TDY/gone a lot. Too much to ask of my wife.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 13 at 2017 9:20 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:20:30 -0400

I had a plan. I stuck to the plan. I miss it, but it was time to move on.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 13 at 2017 9:30 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:30:06 -0400

My main reason for transitioning out was that my passions and curiosities were starting to take my mind elsewhere -- and it was an itch for a long time, and I wanted to scratch it. There are definitely days where I miss being around an Army base, though.

Response by SPC Brett Curry made Oct 13 at 2017 9:31 AM

SPC Brett Curry — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:31:27 -0400

I didn't choose. I wld have never gotten out. After the gulf war and how easy it was for us to walk through their defenses, and, and,and. They decided to downsize the military. They didn't think...and because I already had some injuries in my neck and stomach they gave me a early out full honorable discharge...they had guys trying to reenlist, almost crying to the reenlistment Sgt. And was nothing anyone cld do about it. It crushed a lot of men. I know of 3 that committed suicide over it. Just in my unit. I wldn't want to know the total count.

Response by SPC Brett Curry made Oct 13 at 2017 9:35 AM

SPC Brett Curry — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:35:12 -0400

But it did turn into two great careers. I ran a multi million dollar company during the day and got to throw around cops at the dojo after my day job. I was a police tactics instructor at night. U will run into closing doors your whole life. U just have to find a window. And if there isn't one, MAKE ONE..HOOORA

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Oct 13 at 2017 10:04 AM

SFC Andrew Miller — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:04:11 -0400

My main reason was that my kids were getting ready to start school. I know lots of military families do it, but I didn't want to have them moving around a bunch from school to school. This was 2nd marriage and my son with my first wife was already grown by then and I had missed out on a lot with him.
My secondary reason was due to injuries. I had developed a heart condition after my last deployment that made me non-deployable. I would have eventually been med boarded if I hadn't retired a little after the 20 year mark when I did.

My goal after the military was to find a new career that I was happy with that also provided for my family. I was fortunate. I have been with 4 different companies (2 at the same time for a brief period), and was able to move up the ladder in job satisfaction and time with the family with each transition. My goal now is be in my current position for the next 18 years and retire at age 64. My youngest should be done with college at that point, if that is the path he chooses and my wife will probably have another 3 or 4 years of working after that.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Oct 13 at 2017 10:17 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:17:44 -0400

I had all intentions of staying in but my parents were having health and financial problems and with my older brother being career AirForce and a sister with a family of her own my only choice was the family

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2017 10:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:18:19 -0400

Mine probably isn't appropriate to say, I had nothing nice to say about the corruption that took place during my end of service and the last two POTUSs. But interesting read from others. Thanks for sharing.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Oct 13 at 2017 10:51 AM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:51:01 -0400

So, I was ultimately 4K'd out (medical d/q), but I was 3D before that... I dropped orders by refusing to get retention for reassignment (4 year instructor duty, and I had a year left). Reason I dropped orders was part of the later 4K... I had an undiagnosed heart condition, which was killing my PFT score. I suffered through multiple LOCs and LORs for PFT failure (my run time sucked) and was having paperwork drawn up to exit me for failure to meet standards (and Malingering charges, to boot), and when orders came around, I said nah, I'll finish my year out and head back to civilian world, thanks. Then we find out that oh, wait, I have a heart problem, and was put on a walking profile for the remainder of my time in. Had that been known a year earlier, maybe I would have taken those orders and stayed in... or at least gone before the MEB and let them make a determination on me. As it was, I just finished out my contract, didn't extend, never met with the MEB, and exited with a 4K.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Oct 13 at 2017 11:10 AM

SGT Jim Arnold — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 11:10:11 -0400

I exited the service to save what I had worked hard for.

Response by CW4 Anthoney Lowry made Oct 13 at 2017 1:03 PM

CW4 Anthoney Lowry — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 13:03:01 -0400

The more rank you have, the fewer options there are when it is time to move. I was at the point of PCSing again and wanted to go somewhere not cold. I was offered Alaska or Alaska. I decided on retirement. I figured 25 years of being told where I and the family was going to live was enough. After retirement my goal was to get a job to support the family and my hobbies and that is what I got. I miss it sometimes but being treated like an adult and seeing my family everyday is much better.

Response by CA Delete D. made Oct 13 at 2017 7:04 PM

CA Delete D. — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:04:36 -0400

I separated primarily because I was turned down for a special billet that I sincerely wanted, and for which I was qualified - not to mention the two months I spent putting an application package together. The reason for denial was lame and no appeal process was available. The Navy approved my PTS twice, but would only offer follow-on assignment as a Somali linguist with intermittent deployments to the HOA for the duration of the tour. I had no interest, but the orders were already officiated subsequent to the career review board's thumbs-up - Needs-of-the-Navy. In addition, I really wanted a bachelors degree in business, as a backup plan. There seemed to be plenty of lucrative analyst work involving transferable analytical skills that I had developed in service, which would come in handy. But I was convinced that a brick-and-mortar college would be taken much more seriously than an online program. Given task-force deployments, warfare quals and 12 hour shifts, I felt that graduating by end of the follow-on tour - even if matriculating in an online program - would have been a bit of a pipe-dream. I chose to separate and finish college.

I graduated this past May, and actually have considered applying for a commission as an officer, but would only be interested in active duty; old-heads like me seem to be driven strictly to the reserves (because of training costs? Concerns about potential medical problems? I am not sure what the reason is).

Response by Cpl John Barker made Oct 14 at 2017 2:01 AM

Cpl John Barker — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 02:01:46 -0400

I realized by the time I was a Corporal that career wise, if I re-enlisted I would eventually become a Staff Sergeant and do the same job as a 2nd LT so I decided to use my GI bill to finish my degree and apply to OCS. Only problem was nobody told me if your VA% is over 30% even if you are Honorable 1-A as I am, cannot re-enlist

Response by SFC Don Vance made Nov 4 at 2017 11:01 PM

SFC Don Vance — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 23:01:49 -0400

I retired because it wasn’t fun anymore and my son was 12 going on 20. He wouldn’t listen to his mother and needed me at home instead of deploying again. My goal for after retirement was to never work for someone else again. With the exception of about three years I’ve accomplished that goal.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 6 at 2017 10:00 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 10:00:18 -0500

I didn't have clue until I was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center WTU when I was putting my resume together in my room and I was asked to do a security internship and that's when it all started to this day.

Response by SPC Michael Harris made Nov 8 at 2017 11:44 AM

SPC Michael Harris — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:44:30 -0500

"Why did you choose to transition out of the service?"

I got tired of the Bovine Scatology of the peace time scrubbing of soldiers. I gained 65 pounds in Basic Training. I went from 130 pounds to 195 pounds. I had a full reissue of all uniforms due to the growth in my upper body. Then, for the next 3.5 years I suffered extra PT and the wonderful "fat boy" menu of the mess hall in spite of passing all PT and tape tests I was subjected to. Nearing time to re-up I was told I did not have to worry about weigh-ins or tapes for the next 3 months. Half way through that a friend was told the same statements. He re-up'ed and was put out 2 weeks later under failing to maintain weight standards. I saw the writing on the wall. I refused to be discarded the same way he was. I decided to stick it out and take my Honorable Discharge. I left that FUBAR situation and decided to serve my community. Have since served in law enforcement and the medical fields.