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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 to Ft Meade and it was hands-down the worst assignment I've ever had. So much micromanagement from desk jockeys who'd never had a moment of tactical reality outside of Basic Training. They were by-the-book to the extreme. I got there in Feb of 2001, and I immediately began volunteering for every single TDY or deployment I could get, because I hated the place. It got to a point where I didn't step foot on Ft. Meade for more than a few days in over a year. There were so many little reasons, and not just one big reason. But a lot of little things can add up. Too many deployments took a toll on my marriage. The prospect of another Iraq or Afghanistan rotation was something my wife didn't want to face. She gave me an ultimatum -- her, or the military. I asked for a compromise and asked if she'd agree to me reclassing.
I was in a critical MOS and was told I could either re-up for Ft Meade or go to another strategic assignment in Hawaii, where I'd work shifts and sit at a desk or rack. None of that was in my best interest, so I decided to ETS. Fun fact: after I ETS'd, I ended up getting divorced anyway. I'd be retiring this year if I'd stayed in.
I was in a critical MOS and was told I could either re-up for Ft Meade or go to another strategic assignment in Hawaii, where I'd work shifts and sit at a desk or rack. None of that was in my best interest, so I decided to ETS. Fun fact: after I ETS'd, I ended up getting divorced anyway. I'd be retiring this year if I'd stayed in.
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I was forced out after having 2 chest pain attacks that led to a heart attack. I was never given any of my rights and when I complained I was told to keep my mouth shut
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I was HYT in the Air Force and involuntarily retired. I was alright with that. I did my 20 years, 22 days and was happy with what I accomplished. At this point in my life, I would've probably injured myself from doing so much PT. All-in-all, it was a great career.
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I joined in 1990 at the age of 32. I was a police officer at the time and always wanted to serve. My real father was a Nam Army Capt. Medical Corp. but was on leave in '65 and killed by a drunk driver here in the States. So I wanted to follow in his footsteps and thank all Vet.'s for their service and I too went into the Medical Corp. I was horribly treated by "some" black DS's while at basic do to the Rodney King thing and them knowing I was a police officer....I got the crap beat out of me by one of them....Yes, I did not fight back...I wanted a career and so he got his ass kicked in another way.....He did have me have a TBI and that didn't stop my 20 year career but I did get two more TBI's and I had to retire out earlier then I wanted....I would still be in right now if not for the last TBI.
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seems to me the main reason many got out is because of bad or toxic leadership. It is the only constant I see. If only there was a way to get rid of bad leadership but it is the "good ole boy or girl" network. If you do right and look good someone always wants to make you look bad so they look good. I seen it so many times in my 23 years. More so when I was in the army than in the Marine Corps. I was a Sgt (E5) in korea and I went thru an inspection and got a commendable and was put in for a ARCOM. My first line supervisor did not like that at all. I had come in early and worked late sometimes til 2 am to get ready. I never got the award but she got it. She said as a supervisor she rated it more than I did even is she did not do any of the work. Found out she was forced to retire or get out because of some shady stuff she got caugt at.
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I left because the war is pretty much over. I joined to kill Taliban, so if there's no Taliban to kill, then there's no Marine Corps for me.
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Well, let us see here. I got out in 09 on BMI standards. Ok, thats not the problem. At 5'-11" by top weight was 196. I had lost about 30-40 lbs doing my own PT instead of group, which was ok w/ my command as long as I lost weekly. Well, one week, i had lost nothing and got put back on group PT. I was 201 at that time w/ 17" neck and 39" waist. Well, long story short, my thought was at 201 (official weight per the instruction) i was called fat. Now you have all these chiefs and officers in the navy that have 50+ inch waist and 19-23 inch neck, they say they are with in standards. Ok, so if they are in standards and i am not, i didnt want any of it. In addition, another reason is that I didn't agree with policies anymore in the government. I love my country, but when (in my opinion) there was a conflict in the oath. Defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and Domestic and obey the orders of the president, who was and still is going against the Constitution. There is a problem there.
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My body was falling apart so I promised my wife I would retire after my last deployment, I was over 20 years.
I was a route clearance platoon sergeant in Ramadi, during an operation to clear out the last pocket of resistance in the Ramadi area an IED went off under my vehicle and injured my back. After a year of physical therapy and a medical board I was permanently retired.
So, I was going to retire as a reservist, but with a medical retirement its classified as an active duty retirement.
That's why I got out of the Army
I was a route clearance platoon sergeant in Ramadi, during an operation to clear out the last pocket of resistance in the Ramadi area an IED went off under my vehicle and injured my back. After a year of physical therapy and a medical board I was permanently retired.
So, I was going to retire as a reservist, but with a medical retirement its classified as an active duty retirement.
That's why I got out of the Army
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LTC John Mohor
Thanks for your service! Glad after all the sacrifices it worked out a little better than you planned!
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HT3 Veselka. I spent 6 years in. When I enlisted I was a push button. I advise anyone and everyone who enlists to never ever be a push button if it's offered. Screw that mess. My advancement papers were at the bottom of the Chief's locker six months past when I should have put it on. Find out later that my instructors in school were buddy buddy with that specific Chief. I messed up at work (not out in town) and birdie went bye bye for awhile. When the birdie came back, I hated it. I spent my entire first enlistment in the shipyards. On a precom political fubar where we had no equipment to work with or to practice on for quals. I filled out reenlistment paperwork only because I was lucky enough to be in a shop where my leadership actually gave a shit. Six years is that magic number. Thank you for the denial so that my involuntary sep pay could move us. I don't regret it for a second, and I would do it all over again with a few changes. Deploying would have been nice though.
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I am starting to feel the same way. I lost some good friends in these wars and I feel that we are letting our lost men and women down by trying to pretend the wars never happened
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