What made you want to stay in or get out?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:32:33 -0500

So guy's I am coming up on 15 years in and my re-enlistment window opens in April but, I am honestly considering getting out . I just frankly tired of going to drill once a month and doing nothing. My unit doesn't even have the airframe I am qualified to work on. The money isn't there for training opportunities and a majority of the people really just don't care with a few exceptions. I think the only way I would stay in is I was able to reclass but my retention NCO is never around. Don't get me wrong I love serving but my unit has completely drained me of any morale or motivation. I'm just looking to see what made you guys want to either stay or get out?

Response by COL Randall Cudworth made Jan 16 at 2024 3:11 PM

COL Randall Cudworth — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:11:49 -0500

If you have 15 years, I would SERIOUSLY think hard about not going to 20 and becoming retirement eligible. Otherwise, your future self will find a time-machine, come back and probably slap you upside the head.

If your retention NCO is never around, have you discussed with your unit leadership? Explain your situation and reluctance to continue in the ARNG at the rate your going. If you don't get anywhere, contact your state's retention NCO* and have the conversation with them.

If there isn't any good course of action, or if you're tired of the ARNG overall, then contact a USAR recruiter*. Depending on where you're located, there may be a unit that you could go right into or something that you could reclassify into. Fill out the contact information and/or walk-in/call the nearest Army recruitment office.

But, I would first start with talking with your unit leadership about your concerns.
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* ARNG State Retention NCO POC - https://nationalguard.com/contacts/retention
* Contatct USAR Recuriter - https://www.goarmy.com/explore-the-army/army-structure/reserve.html

Army National Guard

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2024 3:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:44:42 -0500

Dude, you got 5 years left. After 15 years, 5 is a blink. If your unit is not able to facilitate your MOS skills, perhaps see if there is a unit that DOES have your airframe so you can train in your MOS.

If your unit level Retention NCO is never around, go up to your BN level. I'm certain there is one there.

Another option is to see if there are ADOS (or whatever the Guard would call it) opportunities. look at Tour of Duty/MOBCOP to see what is there.

You're almost to the Finish Line. Stay the course.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2024 3:47 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:47:17 -0500

Don’t throw 15 years away!!! I agree with the advice COL Randall Cudworth has passed to you.

Response by SGM Jeff Mccloud made Jan 16 at 2024 4:28 PM

SGM Jeff Mccloud — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:28:40 -0500

Based on your post:
Stay in for the 5 to at least get the retirement.
Also, contact any ARNG recruiter in your state and tell them you want to reclass for extension.
Whether that is for another MOS in your unit, or a different unit. Maybe even consider an MOS that has an easier to get ALC than 15 series (that's most other MOSes other than medical and commo).
Retention is enough of a priority that most states will allow the MDAY to reclass to anything, even if that reclass MOS or the unit you are going to is over strength.

Walk away from the Guard when it becomes a serious impediment to your family, civ career and/or civ education.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jan 16 at 2024 4:53 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:53:54 -0500

The good COL and MSG have already given the same bottom line advice - don't quit now when you are this close to 20. And I agree.

But my reasoning is a bit different.

Obviously getting to the retirement mark is important. But I also think that, in the words of Hen3ry (the 3 is silent, you see) "Life is like a sewer; what you get out of it depends on what you put into it." (Nod to Tom Lehrer.)

You have identified a problem. What are you doing to fix it? Take some ownership. You don't have the airframe you are trained on - have you cross trained for an airframe that your unit *does* have? Have you asked to transfer units to a unit that *does* have that airframe? Have you discussed your lack of skills maintenance training with your CoC? With your unit training NCO? If *none* of those are options for whatever reason - or you have pursued them and they were all denied - have you looked at what else you can do for the unit? Have you found a niche to fill? Have you asked for one? And if people don't care, what are YOU doing, SERGEANT, to motivate them?

Too often we look around and say "this sucks," and then move straight to "woe is me" because of how much things suck. Well, if they suck, FIX THEM.

I think if you approach these things with the proper mind set and attitude, they won't suck near as much, and you will be able to find fulfillment.

Finally, to answer your question, I took each enlistment one at a time. I had thoughts and feelings throughout the enlistments, but I did not honestly sit down and evaluate until I was in my window. While I was not in my window, I just took it one day at a time. Once I was in my window, I sat down and did an honest evaluation of where I was, where I wanted to be, and the path to get there. i looked at what my future looked like at the end of my next enlistment both if I stayed in and if I got out. Once I did all of that, I sat down with my wife (when I was married) and discussed that future with her and got her take on things. Finally, I went to a trusted person in the unit - usually my PSG, but not always - and discussed the same, and then asked for their advice.

It was never *one* thing. My first re-enlistment I was single. I knew Infantry was not for me, but there were interesting things available in MI, so I wanted to give the rest of the Army a try before writing the whole service off based on my Infantry experience. After that I was married with kids, and the health care was definitely an advantage.

But the training, the excitement, the sense of service, the esprit de corps, the feeling like I was making a difference, they all played a part. Favorable pending assignments may have nudged me along a time or two, as well.

Ultimately, every time I sat down, when I looked 4 - 10 years into the future, I *always* looked better off re-enlisting than I did ETSing. Until it came time to evaluate retirement, and then my future looked better on the outside - but only AFTER I secured that retirement check. If they had pulled some bull shit (similar to what they recently did with a whole mess of Officers) that said I had to stay until 22 years for retirement, or my time in training academies (OSUT / AIT / NCOA / etc.) didn't count and I still had 19 months to go, or something like that? Yeah, I would have stuck it out until then.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 16 at 2024 5:15 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 17:15:33 -0500

Getting out at 15? That seems like a bad idea considering 20 is just around the corner. I would work with your leadership and track down a retention NCO that can help you be somewhere that you can put in some good time. No reason to punch out this close to the finish line.

Response by PO3 Shayne Seibert made Jan 16 at 2024 6:03 PM

PO3 Shayne Seibert — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:03:34 -0500

Make some motivation. Get the unit involved. Don't get out at 15.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 16 at 2024 6:10 PM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:10:20 -0500

My son did not do well when I deployed.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2024 7:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 19:43:55 -0500

I don't know your personal situation but after 15 years another 5 should be a walk in the park.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2024 8:55 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:55:05 -0500

Along with what others have said, try and parse up the rest of this fiscal year with a break for yourself. RST for all the drills that aren't mandatory and give yourself some more space in between drills. Try and take a breather from the normal reservist pace so you can get after it again.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2024 2:45 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 14:45:02 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member You id'd that there are some who care. Link up with them and see how they can help you through the weeds. May not fix the unit problem, which might be a senior leadership/management issue, but it will be a shot at keeping a positive outlook. You have invested a lot of your life in service - stay for the earned rewards. Good luck.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2024 8:12 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:12:31 -0500

This one word should be enough for you to stay until retirement: Tricare.
If that one word is not enough to get you to stay then you do not understand the current state of medical insurance coverage and cost in the United States.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2024 9:47 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:47:29 -0500

Stay in. You're a part timer. You don't have to deal with stupid everyday.

Response by SrA Cecelia Eareckson made Feb 29 at 2024 8:56 PM

SrA Cecelia Eareckson — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:56:49 -0500

An O-6 in a very, very, very bad mood.