When did you realize that you were a "Lifer"?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:49:18 -0500

I have had this discussion with many of my Army buddies and gotten a variety of interesting responses.  For a small number it was their chosen career from the first time they raised their right hand.  For others, like me, it was gradual; the Army kept offering something too good to pass up, so you kept signing on the dotted line until you were suddenly a career Soldier and couldn't imagine doing anything else.  I have met a few that made the leap after 9/11 and have been in ever since.  So what is your story?  When did you realize you were in it for the long haul?

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Feb 5 at 2014 11:56 AM

1SG Shane Hansen — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:56:48 -0500

I never fully realized I was a lifer until I reenlisted for the last time. Before that I would reenlist for 2 or 3 years at a time just trying to figure things out. Once I went "indef" it really hit me. I also had a reenlistment ceremony combined with a promotion ceremony to SFC. That might have had some effect on the level of realization I felt.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 12:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 12:04:31 -0500

My first couple years in the Army were filled with peers and leaders telling me that I was a "lifer". Every time I was asked how long I planned to stay in, my uncertainties with continuing service were met with, "Nah. You're a lifer". While the idea of staying was always an option for me, I'd have to say that it became concrete after reclassing, and coming to the realization that I have almost 9 years time in service. I love what I do, and I have so many opportunities available right now that getting out seems almost foolish.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 5 at 2014 5:25 PM

SFC James Baber — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:25:54 -0500

Sir, Once I passed the 10 year mark I knew I was staying for a full ride or more, my mentality was the same as what I told many of my Soldiers when I was a retention NCO, if you look at the fact you have 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 years in and you say you are getting out, you are saying I just wasted all those years because you don't get any compensation form the military for it, once you are over that halfway hump you would be foolish to depart, because in reality you wasted all those years and have nothing really to show for it but some experience in a certain field, and you can get that working at 7-11 to be blunt. And the other thing I used to hit them with, what job do you have lined up that will provide the same medical/dental/sick leave, etc. that you have with the military, if you don't look at those aspects as well especially in today's economy you are a fool. I originally came in for the college money and was going to get out after my three year tour, fell in love with my job, kept re-enlisting every 2-3 years until I was at 11 years took a 4 year enlistment, came up as indef for my next one and signed it with no hesitation and stayed for 27 years before retiring.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 7:42 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:42:15 -0500

Two years in.  I realized I was thinking, talking, and rationalizing in the little doctrine my shamshield heart had absorbed.  All my self-development was going toward what Uncle Sam said he wanted me to be.  I then realized that I will only get out via death, disability, or longevity.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 10:22 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 10:22:43 -0500

I enlisted with the full intention of spending at least the next two decades wearing this uniform, but when it really hit home for me was raising my hand for the third time at 11 years. Prior to that we had a "lottery" of sorts to see who was going to get one of the three carreerist slots for re-enlistment. I was nervous because I couldnt see myself doing anything but wear this uniform. When they finally announced that I indeed would be allowed to re-enlist, I was extremely excited and relieved that I would be allowed to stay in.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 12:21 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:21:03 -0500

When I renelisted at the 3 year mark. I knew then I wanted to stay in but I wasn't sure if I could handle it. At the 6 year mark I got civilian fever and was ready to ETS. A friend asked me if my civilian job was guaranteed and I said no. He said my Army job was as long as I did what I was supposed to. I re-enlisted and never looked back.

Getting to 10 seemed fast then it slowed down to about 17 now it seems to be speeding up again. LOL.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 6 at 2014 1:58 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:58:44 -0500

I actually got out for close to a year and I HATED it out there =) I realized I was a lifer when it dawned on me that I just plain didn't like life outside the military... I just didn't have that camaraderie, that sense of accomplishment that I needed. It's hard to find that out there..

Response by SFC Charles Kolker made Feb 6 at 2014 3:18 PM

SFC Charles Kolker — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:18:44 -0500

I would say that it was always in the back of my mind that I would be a lifer, that little voice telling me how much more enjoyable this was than Corporate America was before I enlisted. I think I finally realty admitted it around the 7 year mark when I re-enlisted and got married. That was 7 years ago. I did my final re-enlistment 4 years ago and had my father (Vietnam Vet) there for the ceremony, along with my wife and newborn son. The Army has been very good to me and I hope I can repay it over the next 6+ years.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Feb 6 at 2014 3:42 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:42:14 -0500

I enlisted with every intention of moving on after completing 4 years.

I reenlisted the first time after realizing that both my wife and I were set to ETS just a month apart and had no real job prospects lined up. It was supposed to be an interim measure to pay the bills while she got established in a civilian career.

About 5 years in, we were getting divorced. Leaving the military had been 'our' plan, but I never actually had a plan for just me. Since I enjoyed it enough, and the math worked in my favor, the decision at that point was easy.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 7:13 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:13:57 -0500

Well I decided that I was a soldier for life after my first duty station in fort wainwright Alaska. I was a young E-3 new to the army and about to deploy in the upcoming months and my NCO was very abusive verbally calling me all kinds of names to bring down my spirits and hope of make this a career but then I deployed didn't know my job and me as a person just the thought that being a commo guy and having fellow soldiers lives in my hands every time we left the wire killed me so I spent hours days months trying to prove my self to my company and battalion that I was a hard worker and valuable asset. but after my NCO left after I redeployed I decided in my head that I need to be a NCO of the newer generation to train and mentor them showing that they are our army future and that they can make a change by stepping up to the plate of Non Commissioned Officers and getting the army back to what the ones before us built it to be but after training my soldiers and seeing them adapt to any situation by thinking outside the box that was beneficial for others the feeling of my training that I past on to them was so great that having rank didn't even matter just the fact that I was changing peoples lifestyle and the army in such big way that all I care about till this day

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Feb 6 at 2014 7:18 PM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:18:48 -0500

I enlisted not knowing fully what to expect or where I planned on going after basic. I learned in Basic that I loved the Army and how it was changing me. Somewhere towards the end of basic or the beginning of AIT I realized that I would be a "lifer". I always just tell everyone I drank the Army Kool-Aid in reception and by the end of basic I was hooked on that Kool-Aid.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Feb 6 at 2014 10:37 PM

LTJG Robert M. — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 22:37:57 -0500

End of first enlistment tour, sat down & talked with my chief, I knew I was hooked, I loved being a part of the military

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Feb 7 at 2014 1:49 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 13:49:37 -0500

I would like to say that it was the moment that I signed on the dotted line, but that is far from the truth. It was two enlistments later, just prior to re-enlisting INDEF, when it became very evident that I was in it for the long haul. I was doing something that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was making a difference; not only in my life and the life of my family, but in the lives of my Soldiers and my Unit. I figured that as long as making a difference in those things rang true, this was going to be my profession. 23 years and still going...

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 10:37 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 10:37:25 -0500

For me it was right after I had PCS to Fort Lewis, made the SFC list and my wife had announced she was pregnant all in the span of a couple months. Once my sequence number hit, and my daughter was born in the same month (ironic), I went to my career counselor to reup indef. The C zone bonus I received was just icing on the cake

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 11:05 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 11:05:16 -0500

The day after I hit 10 years.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2014 1:49 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 01:49:51 -0500

I came in right out of high school for the college money, re-enlisted once and got out in 99. I came back in immediately after Sep 11th and knew when I raised my hand again I was in it for the long hall. I'm now at 17 years in service and know I'm staying in as long as I can. Not because of the money or benifit's (which don't hurt) but because this is my career. This is what I do for a living I am a professional Soldier and I love my job.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Feb 14 at 2014 12:43 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 12:43:41 -0500

When I recieved my 20 year letter..... 5 years ago...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 9:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 09:57:51 -0500

Even though I only have 2 years TIS and no one really knows what the future has in store I feel like I am a "Lifer". When I look back at my life my only real regret is not enlisting when I was 18 and joining the Reserves. Even during basic I fell in love with the structure and professionalism this great organization has taught me. I even have my battles telling me "Edmond why did you join the Reserves you should be on active duty" and me telling myself "Civilian life sucks". I listen to my battles every Battle Assembly talking about how they can't wait to ETS. In the back of my mind I'm like who in their right mind voluntarily leaves. Sure things can get real dumb at times, but overall its all worth it.

TL:DR So yea as naïve as it may sound to others despite only 2 years in I can say I realized I wanted to be a "Lifer" sometime during basic.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 10:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 10:44:56 -0500

I'd have to say sir that it was after my 2 and half/3 year mark when I got pinned on SGT in recruiting. My CSM came to me and told me that at the rate I am going, I could make E-8 within 10 years of that and be a E-8 at 32/33. I took that as a challenge and set my goals to do just that. The way ahead has slowed down, but I am still fighting for it.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Feb 25 at 2014 2:23 PM

CMC Robert Young — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:23:03 -0500

When I made E5. I realized then that I had crossed over to the lifetime career track and there was no going back. I hit the ten year mark about the same time so it all fell into place pretty nicely.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Mar 28 at 2014 10:01 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:01:36 -0400

Gradual and then the ten year mark hit and I knew I was a lifer

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 8:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 08:54:56 -0400

I realized in my 1st deployment that what I actually do isn't offered in the civilian world unless I work for an ABC company. Once I got back and found out that the army actually pays for me to go to these schools that only lets me advanced work. Plus the Army takes care of family. I think I got a pretty good thing going right now. All I have to do is be in the right place at the right time in the right uniform.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 2 at 2015 8:04 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 02 May 2015 08:04:49 -0400

When I first reenlisted. I signed up for 6 years and had every intention of doing 20 years. I retired 2 1/2 years ago with 20 years and 8 days of service.