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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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I got done in 1986 active duty than did 1 and 1/2 years in reserves and got out with a freeze. Most of the reason is that I lost my first born son and my second was sick and noone in the Navy could tell me why .When I got to the peds. doc. that I knew in Michigan he put him in the hospital and had emergency surgery and saved my sons life. So., I just decided that the nav. wasn't for me .
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I had small children and I got out after 5 years in the Marine Corps in August of 2004. Luckily my time was up because that was right before a lot of my friends started getting hammered by insurgents, etc...
Along with that, as great as the Marine Corps was, I have a hard time working my butt off and making the same income as the guy sleeping on the job. I was too entrepreneurial for the Marine Corps and it was time to get out...
Along with that, as great as the Marine Corps was, I have a hard time working my butt off and making the same income as the guy sleeping on the job. I was too entrepreneurial for the Marine Corps and it was time to get out...
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Force retired. I always said I was in until they kicked me out...and there ya go
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Downsizing just months prior to 9-11 they / I Retired after 27 years, really did not want to go but when its your time its your time.. I had a teriffic career and feel like I acomplished everything I wanted to That included serving in two branches (Army and Air Force). To me, having being able to serve in both allowed me to do things that you could never accomplish in on or the other. The truth be told I wouldnt trade my ten years in the Army for anything it taught me how to be a soldier and i carried those skills with me through my entire time. The upside was being selected out gave me a separation bonus. Go figure, I cant stay but they pay me to leave.
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You know, as a young Soldier, I was always told you will know when it is time to go. When you wake up in the morning, you do not feel like putting on the uniform and going to work, it is time to go. Well, I made that decision in Iraq back in 2007. I decided to retire when I got back to Fort Hood. Over the years I had seen a lot of changes and those changes I did not think were the best, but I was at that point where I could retire and let the younger take over. So when I came home from Iraq on R&R, I submitted my retirement and had my approval about 2 days after returning to Iraq. I returned from Iraq to Fort Hood right before Christmas of 2007 completed all required post deployment screenings and appointment's and retired. I loved it and I mess it, but I guess I was just getting old.
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The most fun I ever had was being a Nuke Electrician on a Fast Boat in Ronnie Ray-Gun's 600-ship Navy.
I LOVED being a nuke bubblehead... If I could be runnin' a nuke plant, punchin' holes in the water BUT going home every night, I'd still be there.
I HATED being treated like a child. I can't tell you how many times we dove the bilges with needle guns to strip 6-month old paint so we could paint it again in preparation for ComSubGroup's inspection.
Too many "Chief... why the heck are we..." followed by "Because the LT/Eng/XO/CO wants it done..."
Guess I was just worthless and weak...
I LOVED being a nuke bubblehead... If I could be runnin' a nuke plant, punchin' holes in the water BUT going home every night, I'd still be there.
I HATED being treated like a child. I can't tell you how many times we dove the bilges with needle guns to strip 6-month old paint so we could paint it again in preparation for ComSubGroup's inspection.
Too many "Chief... why the heck are we..." followed by "Because the LT/Eng/XO/CO wants it done..."
Guess I was just worthless and weak...
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I joined the Army in 1992, because I wanted to serve my country & found an MOS that sounded like a fit for me, as a 71M, Chaplain's Assistant. Looking back, I feel like my 4 year tour was anything but typical, from Boot Camp to my duty station at YPG. After the 3, staying in one place, and still in the part of the country I grew up, I guess you could say I put a couple roots down. I don't remember any push for reenlistment or trying to "keep me". So when my time was up, I got out, staying in Yuma, AZ. I ended up meeting my wife and raising my family here. I have my "what if's" about staying in and loved everything the Army gave me. It just didn't work out that way.
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I separated on 30 Jun 70 and at that point in my life, after watching Vietnamization in action, I saw the military going in the opposite direction from the Army I joined. Discipline was lacking and morale was down the tubes, so I saw no future at that point. Less than four years later, I wanted to give the Army another go, but chose the reserves this time. My first deployment for summer training was an eye opener. I was at Ft. Chaffee, Ark. as an MP, NCO, SSG. and the state of the troops training was deplorable. We had many different units on summer training and they kept us busy with fights, drug usage, and even a dozen rapes in two weeks. We also had to deal with shootings, stabbings and the last day for a unit from Texas resulted in a riot on the parade ground where dozens of soldiers were hurt in the brawl. We had an active duty NCOIC from Ft. Hood, Tx who said this was the norm on Ft. Hood every day. He had three years to go till retirement and was getting out as soon as he could. I spent three more years in the reserves before my employment created a conflict and I did not reenlist. To this day, I regret not getting my 20 in the Army, but that is hindsight.
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As with many, I had an outstanding yet demanding career leading me to retire to focus more in my family and that eventual "second" career. "Served and still serving" proved true over the following 20+ years including 8 years as a PTSD and CD counselor at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, state level veterans advocacy, and now as web master for PTSD Anonymous.org
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