What is your experience getting out of the military? Any regrets or are you happy getting out?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:12:46 -0400

Is it worth it to get out of the military? A question almost everyone asks themselves when their initial contract is coming to an end. (or even 10 years in) It is definitely difficult to not get influenced by the many junior enlisted (or above) soldiers who are constantly complaining and being negative about the Army. The Army is definitely not as I expected to be but besides the occasional inconviences (bs), the job is not really that difficult. I am single with no kids so I do not mind moving every couple of years and I'm excited to see new places. The healthcare plan and retirement benefits are unlike any other in the outside world.

Being somone that joined the military right out of high school, I do not really know what it is like surviving in the outside world. I am currently a medical lab technician in the army and can use my certification to apply for jobs in the civilian side. But is the civilian life any better than where I am now? I definitely feel lost and don't want to regret not getting out and seeing what I can do outside the Army but at the same time I don't want to throw away the benefits and career I have now. I am so conflicted.

How do you feel after getting out of the millitary?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 12:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:19:27 -0400

That depends on your goals and your expectations - not someone else's. Everyone's experience is going to be different whether they got out at 4, 10 or 24 years.

I was only going to do four years and get out - 14 years later hear I am. Honestly, if my daughter didn't have the medical issues she has I'd have not reenlisted 2 years ago. But, as you said, healthcare is good. I have not had to pay for one hospital bill in the last four years and she's had 14 admissions, ER visits, home health, medications abound, etc (although I have had a few co pays on meds).

It sounds to me like you want to stay in honestly.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 30 at 2018 12:25 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:25:38 -0400

I got RIF'd (booted) even though I volunteered to return to Vietnam (tells you how much they wanted to get rid of me). My oldest son retired from the Marines after 23 years (he was a better soldier than I). Either way, we all have to leave some day and usually when we have enough years left that we need to do something else. For someone who joined upon graduating from high school, it's unlikely that you know what choices there are. Well, there are many. Really, a whole lot of them. Take you time to look around. This reminds me of the days when I was teaching computer desktop applications at a training center and one young lady just out of high school took virtually every class we offered. I had a chance and asked what she was up to. She explained that she was accepted to several colleges (she was smart and beautiful - unfair, I know - and her daddy could pay for even the best of them - more unfairness), but she didn't really know what she wanted to study or do with her life inasmuch as she didn't know all the choices. So, her game plan was to work for a temporary agency so she could work at many types of companies and discover what was going on at each (wise as well as smart and beautiful and had a wealthy daddy - unfairness heaped upon unfairness). I don't know if this story helps but it helps me remember how unwise, unsmart, unbeautiful I am (and I never had a wealthy daddy)

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 12:34 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:34:09 -0400

In my experience I got out and attended college. I felt as if I was missing out on alot by not being in college like my friends. When I got out I realized how much different I was than my peers that attended college after high school. I grew up and wasn't worried about petty things like they were. I attended college for a few months and realized I missed the camaraderie that the military had and thee best people I had ever met were in the military. I chose to finish my degree and I graduated in a little less than two years with my BS, and now I am applying to OCS. I worked and did internships while I was in college and I missed the structure and the organization the military had. My personal suggestion would be to get out, get a degree, and reevaluate. Getting out was great for me and I learned alot about my self and what I wanted in my life.

Response by MAJ Grant Gutkowski made Jul 30 at 2018 12:48 PM

MAJ Grant Gutkowski — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:48:15 -0400

Just understand that, though you might feel like you're missing out...the military probably suits your current lifestyle better than civilian life. One thing I really enjoyed about the military was that there was a huge support structure in place. You literally had to dedicate yourself to failing at life in order to fail in the military. On the civilian side, that's not the case at all. Between taxes, benefits, utilities, rent/mortgage, benefits, car payments and benefits...the rest of the world is absolutely interested in promoting your downfall, and rubbing their hands greedily at it. Even if you get a decent job (I absolutely did), socializing with your peers will be different, because many civilians simply can't relate to where we've been or what we've overcome. The loneliness and isolation of readjusting to the civilian world can be truly shocking, but also rewarding if you can power through it.

My number one issue with civilians, especially civilians in the workforce is that, in general, there is very nearly a complete lack of accountability. It seems that America has found it acceptable for employees to half-ass their daily work...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 30 at 2018 12:58 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:58:41 -0400

Brainstorm and write down all the attributes and negatives of staying in or getting out. Compare them with your priorities. That should help you with a mental picture.

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jul 30 at 2018 1:19 PM

SSgt Holden M. — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:19:54 -0400

It really depends on you. My initial plans was to do my 4 years and get out but I enjoyed it immensely so I re-enlisted. In the second enlistment I ended up getting married and having a family, and from talking to people and being away from my new family for a few days at a time and seeing how tough it was on them I just didn't have the heart to put them through a deployment. The military is much easier if you don't have a spouse and children, and I commend those military families but it just wasn't in the cards for my family. I do miss certain aspects of the military and the military life but I also don't miss other aspects of the military and the military life.

I also joined the military right out of high school, and my advice to you is to enjoy all the aspects of it, and to take it enlistment by enlistment. If you are enjoying what you are doing and you aren't hating life in the military then re-enlist, and work on making rank. I did a total of 9 and 1/2 years because I had to extend my enlistment to get a certain assignment but anyway I don't regret my time in and I don't regret that I'm out now.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 30 at 2018 1:35 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:35:27 -0400

After 20 years, I could not get out fast enough.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jul 30 at 2018 1:47 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:47:55 -0400

It really depends on you. I was and wasn't ready to get out when I did and how I did. I wanted to stay in but after having experienced some bs with my Medboard I was more than willing to take my blue card and run. Now, in the subsequent years I have bounced back and forth between wishing I could have stayed in to finish my career and being glad that I'm no longer in. What do you ultimately want out of like and is the military facilitating that? Do you enjoy your job? Is there something that you might enjoy that you can reclass to? Or has the military served its purpose as giving you a foundation and you feel that you need to move on to something more? It all depends on you. I will tell you right now that, depending on how long you have been in, there will be a rough patch for a little while as you transition out. In addition, there isn't a single person that I know that doesn't miss some facet of the military.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Jul 30 at 2018 1:49 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:49:33 -0400

Everything depends on the individual situation. Back when I was a Capt, early in my anesthesia career. I was offered a significantly larger salary to take a civilian position, I declined. At 17.5 years I was given an early retirement, not what i necessarily wanted but made other decisions clear. Yeah, I retired and went into positions making much better salaries, but to be honest, if i could have gone back into the service i would have.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 4:30 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 16:30:14 -0400

Everyone's experiences are shaped by their expectations and the choices they make. If you enjoy what you're currently doing, are "fulfilled", and have no burning desire to "change"...there's an old saying, "Better a Bird in the Hand, than Three in the Tree".

On the other hand, if you're seeing an "end" to what the Military can offer you (and are sure that's a accurate self-assessment)...the civilian world is a new challenge with many facets to explore. While no one can give you a "road map" of what to do...here are some "signposts" you might consider:

1. The Army provides you with things...you clearly understand this. While many civilian jobs do as well...many offer you one basic thing; a paycheck. I'd make a list of all the things, small/large/maybe unknown that you currently obtain directly from the Military...then research what civilian jobs offer the same.

2. You don't sound like someone who's ready for "mediocrity"...I could be wrong, but that's my impression from one post. Civilian life can be VERY mundane. Over time, even that can become "comfortable"...but at some point, you might regret it.

3. It's dang hard to come back...most of the time. If there's any doubts...I say wait it out. You're in now, and that puts you one step closer to things in the Military than anyone who isn't currently serving. Trust me...once you're "out"...you're "out".

4. You're around a surprisingly homogeneous society right now...whether you believe that or not. Even with many, many differences between them, service members have some "commonality" baked in that leads to better interpersonal relations. Wait till (if) you get out "here" and meet the other side.

All in all, I say form your own opinions...don't borrow mine; but overall...yes, I regret not being in.

Unless it's midnight...and I don't have to be on watch...ever...forever...then, not so much :)

Response by PFC Deborah Shepherd made Jul 30 at 2018 6:23 PM

PFC Deborah Shepherd — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 18:23:47 -0400

I wish I had stayed in awhile longer but otherwise I am happy.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 6:44 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 18:44:14 -0400

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member The decision is yours to make based on your goals. I also joined out of high school, and had originally planned to make the Marine Corps a career. I decided to get out after four years because I did not think the Marine Corps was doing enough to fix the drug problems, and I had a desire to be part of the Space Program. I had misgivings about leaving the Marine Corps, and the drug problem was later taken care of. When I was discharged, I moved to the Houston area while I went to college and worked full time as a chemical plant operator. Once I had my degree, I started a 33 year career on the Space Shuttle Program. For me, my decision proved to be the right one.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2018 3:33 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 03:33:51 -0400

I’m out An I regret the shit

Response by CPL Any Jim made Jul 31 at 2018 12:18 PM

CPL Any Jim — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 12:18:23 -0400

If you can before you get out go flight school if graduated you will become a commisioned officer ... Yah but life out army caculator ! If you make 18000 a year in service you need to make 35000 a year to live same comfortable life as in service at 180000

Response by SGT Bruce Loomis made Jul 31 at 2018 12:27 PM

SGT Bruce Loomis — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 12:27:32 -0400

I wanted to retire from the Army but wa put out for asthma after 10 years of service. There is a big difference from the military, I was able to do a lot with my MOS chinook repairman and crew chief. The big change is there is not the structure of your daily life as you have now.

Response by Ken Kraetzer made Jul 31 at 2018 2:22 PM

Ken Kraetzer — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 14:22:33 -0400

You mention no reason for wanting to leave Army, if you like what you are doing, continuing to grow as a professional, generally like Army life, why leave?

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Aug 1 at 2018 10:10 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 22:10:44 -0400

Camaraderie and benefits (health insurance, etc) were second to none in the military - but it wasn't something I was cut out to make a career out of.

I felt rather lost after I got out, and it took me a while to adjust to civilian life (and in some ways I still am). It was what I needed to do, though, and my military experience provided a solid foundation that I've continued to build on ever since.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jan 8 at 2021 1:37 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:37:51 -0500

I have issues of anxiety and depression, and it was hard for me to maintain 600-9 standards. PT no problem because that is my stress outlet. But weight control an issue. I retired earlier than I planned because I realized although I was effective, it was time for someone more capable to take my place. Mission first.