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

" 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.