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When I joined the Army in August of 1990, I did so for a few reasons:
1. I've always been VERY politically aware about what was happening in the world. I've always striven to learn the facts and not be a knee jerk reactionary.
2. It SERIOUSLY pissed me off to see that Saddam Hussein thought he could just cross a border and take whatever the f*ck he wanted.
3. If I'm honest with you, I was 22 years old and in need of direction in my life. Discipline I had, direction I was lacking.
For those three primary reasons, (of course, there are many more), I spent exactly 7 days in the DEP and shipped out to basic almost as fast as I had signed up.
I was a willing warrior! I was eager to fight for and defend our American way of life. It took me just under 3 years to figure out that my own Government didn't hold the same viewpoint.
The final straw came about 3 years into my enlistment, when the guys and I, (including my E-7 - a helluva guy!) were playing poker in the barracks one night and we started talking about the only thing everyone on post was talking about...the impending visit of Pat Schroeder (D - Colorado) who was a member of the House Armed Services Committee. She was on a tour of all the 3rd ID and was going to make recommendations to President (cough) Clinton about base closures in Germany.
To make a long story short, months later, we, the soldiers of Ferris Barracks, Germany, couldn't even fiscally afford to go on live fire exercise at Grafenwoehr because we couldn't afford the ammunition for our rifles, much less the rounds for the BFV's and the M1A1's. Previously, we had completed this training, without fail, twice a year for about 6 weeks at a time.
To me, that was the writing on the wall. If my own government wasn't going to give us the ammunition needed to train effectively, then I saw no reason to dedicate the next 25 years of my life to that way of thinking...and I got the hell out.
If you didn't serve until retirement, for what reason did you decide to ETS?
PS. Up until the time I actually applied for early release, my E-7 (poker buddy) was CONVINCED that I was going to re-up, because I was a good soldier. For the record, I was a DAMN good soldier; I entered service as an E-1 and in under 3 years made E-4. But my E-7 failed to understand the depth of my conviction on this matter - either give me the tools and training to fight, or f*ck off. I'm no ones political football.
1. I've always been VERY politically aware about what was happening in the world. I've always striven to learn the facts and not be a knee jerk reactionary.
2. It SERIOUSLY pissed me off to see that Saddam Hussein thought he could just cross a border and take whatever the f*ck he wanted.
3. If I'm honest with you, I was 22 years old and in need of direction in my life. Discipline I had, direction I was lacking.
For those three primary reasons, (of course, there are many more), I spent exactly 7 days in the DEP and shipped out to basic almost as fast as I had signed up.
I was a willing warrior! I was eager to fight for and defend our American way of life. It took me just under 3 years to figure out that my own Government didn't hold the same viewpoint.
The final straw came about 3 years into my enlistment, when the guys and I, (including my E-7 - a helluva guy!) were playing poker in the barracks one night and we started talking about the only thing everyone on post was talking about...the impending visit of Pat Schroeder (D - Colorado) who was a member of the House Armed Services Committee. She was on a tour of all the 3rd ID and was going to make recommendations to President (cough) Clinton about base closures in Germany.
To make a long story short, months later, we, the soldiers of Ferris Barracks, Germany, couldn't even fiscally afford to go on live fire exercise at Grafenwoehr because we couldn't afford the ammunition for our rifles, much less the rounds for the BFV's and the M1A1's. Previously, we had completed this training, without fail, twice a year for about 6 weeks at a time.
To me, that was the writing on the wall. If my own government wasn't going to give us the ammunition needed to train effectively, then I saw no reason to dedicate the next 25 years of my life to that way of thinking...and I got the hell out.
If you didn't serve until retirement, for what reason did you decide to ETS?
PS. Up until the time I actually applied for early release, my E-7 (poker buddy) was CONVINCED that I was going to re-up, because I was a good soldier. For the record, I was a DAMN good soldier; I entered service as an E-1 and in under 3 years made E-4. But my E-7 failed to understand the depth of my conviction on this matter - either give me the tools and training to fight, or f*ck off. I'm no ones political football.
Re-enlistment
Transition
ETS/EAS
Training
Politics
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 173
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The first time I got out of the military I was a SSG and was due to being DA select for recruiting duty, something I did not have an interest in doing at the time and frankly was getting frustrated with moving around. Was made to sign a DCCS and barred from re-enlistment and got out honorable discharge a little early. Had a 13 year break in active service (that included almost a decade in the reserves) before I decided to come back in the military as commissioned officer for some graduate level anesthesia education.
That break in service put me way behind my peers as far as age group goes and retirement age but I don't regret my service, my time as an NCO, my time in the reserves and the educational opportunities it provided, and the close friends I made along the way and I learned a powerful lesson - that the grass is NOT always greener in the civilian world. Yes I still get frustrated by the many illogical daily things that go on in the Army but I have a calling - I love taking care of service members, family members, and retirees. I missed the active Army more than I thought I did. I plan on staying in until retirement eligible and hopefully stay on taking care of the service members through a GS job or the VA.
That break in service put me way behind my peers as far as age group goes and retirement age but I don't regret my service, my time as an NCO, my time in the reserves and the educational opportunities it provided, and the close friends I made along the way and I learned a powerful lesson - that the grass is NOT always greener in the civilian world. Yes I still get frustrated by the many illogical daily things that go on in the Army but I have a calling - I love taking care of service members, family members, and retirees. I missed the active Army more than I thought I did. I plan on staying in until retirement eligible and hopefully stay on taking care of the service members through a GS job or the VA.
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In joined the military in 1988 right out of high school.
1. I wanted to defend our country. My father served in the Vietnam my grandfathers served in WWII, and their fathers served so I felt it was my duty to my family and country. I am proud of my service and I would do it again if I had the opportunity.
2. I always wanted to go to college and we didn't have the money to go and I didn't have the grades to get a scholarship so the GI Bill factored into my decision as well.
I went in with the intention of staying for a full twenty years, but about four years into my enlistment they were starting to reduce the size of the military by offering a mandatory VSSI & SSB. Effectively they were giving people a $15,000 to $20,000 check for fifteen years of service in lieu of a full retirement. I didn't think that was a risk that I was willing to take so I decided to separate in 1994 after I finished my six years of service. I don't regret a day that I served and like I said before I would do it again if I had the opportunity.
1. I wanted to defend our country. My father served in the Vietnam my grandfathers served in WWII, and their fathers served so I felt it was my duty to my family and country. I am proud of my service and I would do it again if I had the opportunity.
2. I always wanted to go to college and we didn't have the money to go and I didn't have the grades to get a scholarship so the GI Bill factored into my decision as well.
I went in with the intention of staying for a full twenty years, but about four years into my enlistment they were starting to reduce the size of the military by offering a mandatory VSSI & SSB. Effectively they were giving people a $15,000 to $20,000 check for fifteen years of service in lieu of a full retirement. I didn't think that was a risk that I was willing to take so I decided to separate in 1994 after I finished my six years of service. I don't regret a day that I served and like I said before I would do it again if I had the opportunity.
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I'm getting out in a just a few months and I'm getting out because I'm transgendered and people who are trans are still not allowed to serve openly. They want us to uphold the core values but then if you're trans, you're supposed to lie about who you are. No more for me... I cannot in good conscious swear an oath while lying to myself any longer. I have a good job lined up and I'm moving forward with a company that will allow me to be myself. I will miss the comrade most of all and I only hope that some day, the military joins the rest of civilization in the 21st century.
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I left the Army the first time by requesting an early Chapter discharge because the leadership was juvenile and stupid and I hated it.
After four years, I reenlisted, leaving because I had fulfilled my contract and the Army wouldn't give me my two choices for reenlisting. I discovered that I had hated the Army the first time because _I_ was juvenile and stupid... after this tour, I was glad to have been part of the Army family.
Two years later, on January 18th 1991, the morning after the air war started for Operation Desert Storm. A year later, I accepted an early out because of the drawdown in 1992.
I enlisted in the Coast Guard because I actually wanted a life skill other than jumping out of trees and eating bugs. I got out at 26 years of total service for retirement because it wasn't "fun" any more.
After four years, I reenlisted, leaving because I had fulfilled my contract and the Army wouldn't give me my two choices for reenlisting. I discovered that I had hated the Army the first time because _I_ was juvenile and stupid... after this tour, I was glad to have been part of the Army family.
Two years later, on January 18th 1991, the morning after the air war started for Operation Desert Storm. A year later, I accepted an early out because of the drawdown in 1992.
I enlisted in the Coast Guard because I actually wanted a life skill other than jumping out of trees and eating bugs. I got out at 26 years of total service for retirement because it wasn't "fun" any more.
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I Wanted to stay in for ATLEAST 20 years, but,.....I developed Gulf War Illness. I was in the reserves, and they kicked me out cause I was taking meds for my P.T.S.D., and depression, and other medical issues relating to G.W.I. . Now I'm disabled. Apart of me died when I could not be in medicine any more. I was in civ. medicine for maybe ten years but my G.W.I. was, and is getting worse. Now I can't work at all.
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I left because I am an idiot who has destroyed his life. I wanted a more technical job, the one I had was mostly operational, but couldn't retrain due to career filed being critically manned. In 1992 congress told the DoD to downsize and I took the bait. I have never been able to find a "fit" in the civilian market and desperately wish I could turn back time.
I spent the last 21+ years focused on raising a family and didn't fully comprehend just how bad I screwed up until it was to late. Tried to join the Air NG about a year ago and of course now I am to old.
I spent the last 21+ years focused on raising a family and didn't fully comprehend just how bad I screwed up until it was to late. Tried to join the Air NG about a year ago and of course now I am to old.
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I haven't left yet, but when I do, it'll be because I don't want to keep hitting retention control points every time I'm up for promotion. Also, my body is physically having a hard time maintaining "shape". If I can make E-5 though, I may consider enlisting reserve component again, just to continue my career, and try to regain momentum in progression. I want to try to go Ordnance (mechanical maintenance- either Automotive or preferably Engineer equipment) warrant.
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Tired of being treated as a 3rd class citizen and had no hope of advancing in a top-heavy rate - would've been stuck at E-5 for many, many years.
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I ETS'ed after my 4 years were up for several reasons. The main one was because I was pregnant with my first daughter. My husband is a 'lifer' and we wanted our kids to have at least one parent home with them. (I am not knocking dual military parents, just saying it wouldn't have worked out for us).
Which leads into my next reason- even though I had been promoted to E-5 in just under 3 years in, I was not a very good soldier. I was too sassy for the Army. I knew my job inside and out, I took care of my Joes, but the lip on me was just too much.
Which leads into my next reason- even though I had been promoted to E-5 in just under 3 years in, I was not a very good soldier. I was too sassy for the Army. I knew my job inside and out, I took care of my Joes, but the lip on me was just too much.
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