Posted on Mar 8, 2014
With the Potential of Future Benefits Dwindling is the Military Still Worth a 20 Year (plus) Career?
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With what lately seems like an ambush (or dare I say an all out assault) on much of our pay, benefits, and entitlements; is anyone else finding it more and more difficult convincing our younger troops to consider staying in the military for the "long-haul" and making a career out of it?<div><br></div><div>Now I'm sure many of us didn't sign up for the money... but from my perspective and humble opinion, after 20+ years of service in the Armed Forces, I find that there's the potential to become less and less marketable for employment in the civilian sector. Just speaking in my case, as I plan to serve the entire 30 years, and with then by reaching the age of 50, I don't expect a whole lot of employers showering me with opportunities necessarily. </div><div><br></div><div>This is one of the main reasons I see in the benefit of retirement pay... too off-set and/or compensate for dedicating a large part of your life in service to our country and sacrificing other career opportunities for ourselves (and family even). </div><div><br></div><div>Again, I love what I do and wouldn't change a thing as my career in the Air Force has been good to both me and my family. Though just curious as to what other leaders are doing to convince the future generation of leaders (that we'll need to replace us) to stay and make a career out of the military?</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks in advance for your responses... </div>
Benefits
Military Career
Military Pay
Retirement
Retention
Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 25
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I think the more they cut the more difficult a task it is to keep heroes motivated to serve. Many will find other avenues to fulfill whatever desires they have in life. I for one do not think the military lifestyle is a fit for everyone, and I do not see an issue with attrition due to lack of desire to continue service.
Those that ar meant to stay here will, and those that arent will hopefully serve honorably and move on to bigger and better things. My biggest issue at this time is that with the impending cuts etc our young NCOs and SNCOs need to actually lead. We need to stop worrying about the next promotion and start placing our focus on our people!
Active, visible, genuine leadership will retain those we need and remove those we do not...just my $.02
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I didn't join the military for the pay either, but I do rely on it to put food on the table and a roof over my family's head. I am really concerned with the potential loss in benefits, and I can only hope that if anything does change, that everyone who is currently serving gets grandfathered into the retirement system that we were all working towards and planning for. I get the need to change things because it is getting too costly, but if I would have known that my limited benefits could just go away, I might not have stayed in after my first enlistment...
Don't get me wrong, I didn't join the Army to get rich. I did join to serve my country and for family tradition, but I ended up staying because it really wasn't a bad deal with the steady paycheck, my education paid for, and unique opportunities to travel (even if some were deployments). All I have to do is show up where I need to be, on time, in the right uniform, and stay out of trouble! What worries me is that if they do change the retirement to a 401k system and mandate that it applies to everyone, I won't have much to retire with since I am just about 14 years TIS. If I had known to start planning for that 14 years ago, then it might be a different story. It is even worse for those who are getting ready to retire in the next few years. I almost feel that if the change is that drastic and applies to everyone, I would rather get out now and start working on my post-military career...
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CMSgt, I think everyone's situation is different with this. I believe that an SM with a family to provide for has more of a reason for staying in for the stability and benefits to take care of their loved ones. I am a single Soldier who is going to ETS in two months. I want to continue towards my degree, stay marketable as not being too "old" for some career fields, and not prematurely age my body any more than I have too. For myself personally, I do not think the benefits of staying in until retirement are worth it for my own situation. Different strokes for different folks.
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CCMSgt (Join to see)
SGT, I appreciate you sharing your perspective and your personal take with regards to the topic! In addition I know your military service will make for a value added asset towards your future endeavors.
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To put things in perspective, the Reserve Component SMs work for the same career tenure and pro-rate thier retirement pay as one day equals one point with monthly drill pay being double pay and points. The total of all those points are pro-rated at retirement compared to an AC retiree at twenty years. So a typical reservist earns perhaps 2000 points which compares to 7200 points (20 yrs. times 360 days). Obviously, those of us with AD time and multiple deployments have earned more. The result calculates the retirement pay which is not received until the retiree turns 60. And if you think Reservists work only one weekend a month, you will believe anything a recruiter says. Yes, that's what we knew when we signed up, but compare that with what AC receives before you complain too much.
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It's still better than anything else you're going to find in the civilian world....
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A fascinating question that enters my calculus daily it seems.
Everyone joins for different reasons, and I will not presume to speak for anyone but myself. I joined because of my Grandfather and his service in WWII. I admired what he did and respected that, regardless of what he did with the rest of his life, he served when his country needed him. He lived to see me enlist but died the day before I commissioned.
The man I most admired served 8 years. I have served 10. I have reached the point where I look at the prospect of another decade of defined mustache length and other duck-bite level annoyances and compare them with the pure privilege of having mind and body that allows me to continue to serve. But I also weigh what I have done vs. what I will continue to do. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., I have shared the incommunicable experience of war. I was an Infantry Platoon Leader in combat. I was a God on the battlefield. I now face the prospect of a decade of powerpoint, MDMP and staff work the likes of which I can do in a private capacity without anyone questioning my moral turpitude for wanting to go unshaven on a Saturday.
All things being equal, there is no real reason I should remain in the military for personal gain other than my sheer love and respect for its history and my extraordinarily small part in it. I am presently serving as a Military Historian, which I honestly believe is the best possible job for me. I can see myself serving indefinitely in this capacity as every day I serve the history and honor of warriors who have gone before me. I would honestly do what I do for nothing right now if it didn't come with a legion of petty annoyances. I do not know what the future holds, or how I will balance the love of service with my perceptions. Regardless, I am, thanks to a rather spartan lifestyle, prepared to cut sling load if certain cuts are made, namely to tricare benefits. I am more pessimistic than optimistic in how current and future administrations will regard the military, and I will have no qualms in zealously pursuing the course of action that best directly benefits my family. I shall trust that the Army will be able to exist without me, and perhaps part of the 99% who presently do not serve will entertain possible service.
Everyone joins for different reasons, and I will not presume to speak for anyone but myself. I joined because of my Grandfather and his service in WWII. I admired what he did and respected that, regardless of what he did with the rest of his life, he served when his country needed him. He lived to see me enlist but died the day before I commissioned.
The man I most admired served 8 years. I have served 10. I have reached the point where I look at the prospect of another decade of defined mustache length and other duck-bite level annoyances and compare them with the pure privilege of having mind and body that allows me to continue to serve. But I also weigh what I have done vs. what I will continue to do. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., I have shared the incommunicable experience of war. I was an Infantry Platoon Leader in combat. I was a God on the battlefield. I now face the prospect of a decade of powerpoint, MDMP and staff work the likes of which I can do in a private capacity without anyone questioning my moral turpitude for wanting to go unshaven on a Saturday.
All things being equal, there is no real reason I should remain in the military for personal gain other than my sheer love and respect for its history and my extraordinarily small part in it. I am presently serving as a Military Historian, which I honestly believe is the best possible job for me. I can see myself serving indefinitely in this capacity as every day I serve the history and honor of warriors who have gone before me. I would honestly do what I do for nothing right now if it didn't come with a legion of petty annoyances. I do not know what the future holds, or how I will balance the love of service with my perceptions. Regardless, I am, thanks to a rather spartan lifestyle, prepared to cut sling load if certain cuts are made, namely to tricare benefits. I am more pessimistic than optimistic in how current and future administrations will regard the military, and I will have no qualms in zealously pursuing the course of action that best directly benefits my family. I shall trust that the Army will be able to exist without me, and perhaps part of the 99% who presently do not serve will entertain possible service.
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TSgt Andrew Neal
Unfortunately, those that do take the "early out" option at this point will be the first that are required to join back up in any future conflicts when the government comes to their senses about all the cuts to the military they are making. Those that take the "early out" option are forced to be ready as the IRR for like 10 years if I am not mistaken and will ultimately be the ones that are hurt in the long-run. Screwed going in...screwed going out... either way ... pack your own Vaseline!! I am so glad I retired; though I would still be serving without a doubt if I physically could! I loved 99% of my career and miss it and all my comrades and friends I have made during my time in!!
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Hi Chief!
I still think it's a "good deal" and would encourage you to stick to your plan to serve 30. I believe if you trust God, He will bless you with an opportunity when you retire from active duty. There are great jobs out there and many organizations are looking for solid leadership - something that is lacking in our culture in general and not easy to find. You could be an asset to any company. It may be true that you might not have a host of people beating your door down to come work for them, but if you make the appropriate time and due diligence, you will find opportunities.
I still think it's a "good deal" and would encourage you to stick to your plan to serve 30. I believe if you trust God, He will bless you with an opportunity when you retire from active duty. There are great jobs out there and many organizations are looking for solid leadership - something that is lacking in our culture in general and not easy to find. You could be an asset to any company. It may be true that you might not have a host of people beating your door down to come work for them, but if you make the appropriate time and due diligence, you will find opportunities.
Sites like this one (Rally Point) and others are great sources of information and more employers are looking at social media resources when recruiting new talent.
God bless you Chief for your 20 years of service and may he grant you more and more wisdom each day as you guide, direct and influence our great Air Force Airmen.
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Chief, my brother-in-law is a first sergeant there at Travis in one of the maintenance squadrons (MSgt William (Chris) Mitchell)!!
Drew
Drew
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If I would not have done my 22 and retired...we would be hurting so bad. I have tons of medical issues that prevent me from holding a full-time job and my wife is a RN. With my retirement and my 90% from VA (I get dual compensation checks; just over $1600 for retirement (taxable) and just over $1600 VA (non-taxable)). I am still making more than she does each month. What I make pays all the bills (including a house payment, 2 car payments, all utilities and about 75% of groceries) and her check is the primary savings we have. Of course, savings is not really a word we can use right now given we are putting two daughters through college at $1500 a semester each. But, without the retirement and VA checks we would be so far in the hole it would be unrecoverable!! I am forever grateful that my commanders fought for me like they did so I was able to stay through my 22 year mark when my medical boards started around my 17 or 18 year mark.
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