What was the deciding factor that made you decide to leave the military, stay for the full 20, or come back into the military?

Came from a military family. Grandpa was a WWII vet, Dad was a marine officer, brother was a marine cpl. i enlisted at the age of 17 and did 6 1/2 yrs and got out as Sgt. I initially wanted to do 20 but got out because of the politics. Took a 9 year break and with the new administration(trump), i decided to re-enlist. found out i was too old to go to OCS, so joined the national guard.

initially, I joined because I was a patriot, and would have done so for room and board, and free haircuts. As time passed, I realized the Navy was the place for me and since you have to work somewhere, I just stayed in. The pay was OK, benefits were tops, instant friends, and I was able to travel.

I am the son of a career service member. Once I started a family, though, I decided I didn't want the same struggles for my family. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitter about my childhood, and I know great career military families... it is just not what I wanted for my family.

I had ZERO INTENTION to leave the USAF. Unfortunately, my commanding officer slammed me because, in his words, my exemplary performance was “making the white guys look bad.”

Funny... I thought their radioing an active mission aircraft “…an enemy fighter has weapons locked onto you…” as a joke was what made them look bad.

Have to say it was a matter of being shrewd in planning out a retirement. Although I got put out (13% promotion opportunity), I stayed reserve because I didn't want to toss what I had built up. So I redirected the plan to add a full CS retirement in addition to CS TSP. Didn't plan on the VA disability bump. So as long as the work was interesting and I enjoyed chasing the goals, it was a win-win. Glad I was shrewd now. When I decide to take SS, I'll be a quadruple dipper. Nowadays, you have to have multiple income streams to stop working and make the same income.

I went IRR after serving with the MIARNG for 24 yrs. Health and my feet were part of the deciding factors.

I got off Active Duty at 17 years when the Army wanted me to PCS during a Divorce. I was also passed over for promotion so i already knew my career was a dead end. Getting out was the best career decision i ever made.

We in the Army Ait Traffic Control MOS’s believed that the FAA needed us. Someone forgot to tell the FAA they needed us.

Tri-Care and transferring of college benefits to my kids has been the top reasons for staying in the military for over 20 yrs.

Forced out in ‘87.Federal budget cuts.The Graham-Rudman Act sent thousands of us home,whether we wanted to separate or not.