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

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.

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.

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).

"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.

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