Why did you separate from the service after your first term?

Cpl Vic Burk — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:28:40 -0500

I separated because I wanted to get my degree in electronics engineering and I knew I wouldn't be able to do that while I was on active duty.

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Nov 2 at 2025 10:48 AM

SSgt Richard Kensinger — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:48:50 -0500

I served four years and was offered a bonus to reup. At this point our daughter was born at the hospital where I served and did not want a nomad's life
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Response by SFC Jo Ann Klawitter made Nov 2 at 2025 1:03 PM

SFC Jo Ann Klawitter — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 13:03:03 -0500

I left the service in 1972 to go to school

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Nov 2 at 2025 1:44 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 13:44:27 -0500

Can't answer that since I stayed.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Nov 2 at 2025 1:56 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 13:56:05 -0500

I separated to attend college. That was the only reason I enlisted (for the college fund). After graduation, I rejoined as an officer and stayed in until retirement, and then began a second career.

Response by PO2 Bill Reardon made Nov 2 at 2025 2:12 PM

PO2 Bill Reardon — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:12:26 -0500

My enlistment was for 5 years and I had to extend because 6 months because I went to a C-school after leaving Antarctica and going CBU 423 in Staten Island.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Nov 2 at 2025 2:17 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:17:40 -0500

I left the Corps as I had zero reenlistment options (made Sgt. too fast) and I was designated for LeJeune. My then wife didnt want to go there, so I ETS'd.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Nov 2 at 2025 3:21 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:21:47 -0500

Depending on how long you have been teaching, I think this was a good thing for your students. There is a place for all of us and I think your place was education.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Nov 2 at 2025 3:24 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:24:15 -0500

My father, who served in Vietnam, always told me to become an officer, and I listened. He did sign for me to enlist at age 17 and I will always be glad I enlisted first as I had a lot of growing up to do.

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Nov 2 at 2025 3:37 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:37:13 -0500

1) I wanted to go to college via the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. Plus, I noticed that the only personnel whom anyone took seriously were those who already had their degrees.

2) I already saw the ugly side of toxic leadership back in my first duty station

3) Being stuck in 29 Palms without a car I knew I could get out of there sooner if I didn't stick around vs if I reenlisted.

4) The Corps overshot its overall population through recruiting efforts by 20,000 personnel or so. To me that meant the only way I was going to be able to stick around would be if I was a shit-hot Marine, and I knew I wasn't at the time.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2025 5:31 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:31:26 -0500

Cpl Vic Burk I was in Vietnam, when I heard that Apollo 11 had landed on the Moon. At the time, I thought that the Space Program would be a neat career. After Vietnam, I was stationed at MCB 29 Palms where we had a bad drug problem. I did not think that the Marine Corps was doing enough to fix the problem, so I separated after my enlistment was up. I moved to the Houston area, found a job at a chemical plant and started college. Once I had my degree, I started work on the Space Shuttle Program three years before the first flight. thirty-three years later, I retired one month after the last Space Shuttle Flight of Atlantis in July 2011.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Nov 2 at 2025 7:03 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 19:03:58 -0500

Well Cpl Vic Burk, I went in as a 2Lt Registered Nurse. As a 2LT I increased my salary by 1k per year. In 6 months I was a 1Lt a making 3K more than as a civilian. At 2 1/2 years I was a CPT making over double what I made in the civilian world. Plus I was selected to go to the nurse anesthesia course. I would have been foolish to get out at that point. Cheers

Response by PFC Lisa McDonald made Nov 2 at 2025 10:56 PM

PFC Lisa McDonald — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 22:56:16 -0500

I went in at 17 and my contract ended at 20. Wanted to enjoy some of that freedom I defended! Plus some things happened that soured me on the idea of re-enlisting.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Nov 3 at 2025 5:44 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:44:05 -0500

I enlisted out of high school. I am first generation American and I was taught at an early age that I owed the USA. I got out after one hitch. There were a few times I had a twinge of regret, and even tried to get in the Air Force. Thing was, Army RE-2 had a huge difference to the AF recruiter. Their RE-2 was some kind of bad conduct whereas for the Army, it just meant not expected to reenlist. (I got an early out to go to school.)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2025 1:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:00:05 -0500

I separated from Ft. Stewart GA, after 3-years due to a young lady. I Moved to San Diego and married that young lady, then reenlisted 13-months later. Almost 20-years later (2003) I retired, and I am still married to that fine lady.

Response by SPC Debra Hill made Nov 5 at 2025 2:51 PM

SPC Debra Hill — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:51:50 -0500

I was stationed in Panama Canal Zone. Found out I was pregnant with baby#2. Was so sick for 4 months finally went to Dr. d/t vomitting etc. Was sent to hospital for immediate admit. They let me sit for 6 hrs waiting to be seen . It was Panamanian day not American day in clinic
finally got admitted had an IV placed for fluids. They let an 8 hr. IV run dry in 20 minutes. needles to say, there were other problems with that hospital stay.So I had no choice but to get out and go back home in order to have a safe delivery. Oh and they told me I was having twins with NO test(I only had 1)

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Nov 7 at 2025 7:40 AM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 07:40:05 -0500

Only 1 Thing Kept Me From Making The USAF My Life's Career Of Choice: ~ Money~
In 1965 Stationed In Osan AFB, South Korea, With Base Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay And Isolated Hardship Pay, I Was Clearing In Military MPC A Full Whopping $173.00 Per month -- Stateside It Was " E-3 - $169.20 " -- Web Info ~ But I May Have Held The USAF'S Record For Time In Grade -- About 3 Years - ~(;-)> "Wait And Yee Shall Find" a DD214 !

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Nov 11 at 2025 6:54 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:54:37 -0500

Discharged 1970 thought it was save my marriage well let’s just say that thought didn’t work out for me. Lol

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Dec 8 at 2025 7:04 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:04:43 -0500

Just go with the flow get all that other crap out of your head take it as a life learning experience.