Logo uploaded by: LTC Yinon Weiss
Army Reserve
Army Reserve
Posted on Jan 25, 2015
I'm up for reenlistment, but I'm torn between reenlisting and getting out. What should I do?
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I wanted to give everyone an update on what I have decided. I am going to reenlist because I don't feel I have done everything that I wanted to do in the military thus far. Also I am now transferring into a unit where I will already be MOSQd for the job of 12B.
Depression
Re-enlistment
Army Reserve
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 50
25
25
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SSG(P) (Join to see) here is some food for thought...
1. Do you have a bachelors degree?
2. Does your military job translate to a civilian job?
If you cannot answer yes to either you need to stay in start working on your degree and also attempt to change your MOS. If you answered yes to both, I would take a step back, think about your options and as PO2 William Allen Crowder stated it's your decision. If you answered yes to 1 but not 2 then you will have a 50/50 chance to find a good paying job. Depends on what is home to you or whether you are willing to go where the good paying job is. If you answered yes to 2 but not 1 I would stay in and get your degree.
This is why I have posted my comments the way I did. First, I really never cared about having friends. I had acquaints and that was enough for me. If the NCO that you consider good is new, who cares, ride his coat tail and learn from him. Second, if you need to try to get into a new unit. Third, I was a very senior E-5 in the Navy and was an Electronic Technician. When I left I thought the multi-million dollar training I had received was enough to land me a good job. Well it wasn't, thankfully I remarried and my wife who has three degrees and a great paying job was able to keep our heads out of water and I was able to go to school full-time without worrying about working. I will graduate in March and will find out Tuesday if I have landed a job very close in pay and benefits to what I had before I left. I know that I just gave you a lot to think about, but don't hesitate to ask me any other questions.
1. Do you have a bachelors degree?
2. Does your military job translate to a civilian job?
If you cannot answer yes to either you need to stay in start working on your degree and also attempt to change your MOS. If you answered yes to both, I would take a step back, think about your options and as PO2 William Allen Crowder stated it's your decision. If you answered yes to 1 but not 2 then you will have a 50/50 chance to find a good paying job. Depends on what is home to you or whether you are willing to go where the good paying job is. If you answered yes to 2 but not 1 I would stay in and get your degree.
This is why I have posted my comments the way I did. First, I really never cared about having friends. I had acquaints and that was enough for me. If the NCO that you consider good is new, who cares, ride his coat tail and learn from him. Second, if you need to try to get into a new unit. Third, I was a very senior E-5 in the Navy and was an Electronic Technician. When I left I thought the multi-million dollar training I had received was enough to land me a good job. Well it wasn't, thankfully I remarried and my wife who has three degrees and a great paying job was able to keep our heads out of water and I was able to go to school full-time without worrying about working. I will graduate in March and will find out Tuesday if I have landed a job very close in pay and benefits to what I had before I left. I know that I just gave you a lot to think about, but don't hesitate to ask me any other questions.
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COL Matt Finley
I could not disagree more. I have 3 degrees and had both a rewarding Army career and a great civilian career. That said, college is NOT for everyone. There are too many useless college degrees out there. Service members need to look at what THEY want to do. For many, get the training or certifications necessary to do what you want. I can show you a one year program that can get you IT certifications that WILL land an $80K job!
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PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott)
COL Matt Finley Sir I cannot agree with you more. However if you rely on Voc Rehab Chp 31 or the GI Bill Chp 33 to pay for certifications you typically have to pay for it first and then upon passing it they will reimburse you. Even with completing my bachelor's degree in March I would be interested in the program you are speaking of. The point that I was trying to make to SSG(P) (Join to see) is that most of us in the enlisted side cannot walk away from the military without having a piece of paper to show we are educated.
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COL Matt Finley
Contact me at [login to see] and I will get you more info. If you still have a year of Post 9/11 GI Bill, you can get there.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Technical certs are not that difficult to obtain. I am Comptia and Microsoft certified. My BS just pads my resume!
To the specialist: do you have any savings? place to live? I got out of the Navy for a year in 1999 and came back in a year later. why? because the Navy is easier than what I was doing, killing myself to pay my bills.
To the specialist: do you have any savings? place to live? I got out of the Navy for a year in 1999 and came back in a year later. why? because the Navy is easier than what I was doing, killing myself to pay my bills.
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SPC Voye, you've asked a time old question that has befuddled many young service-members. I agree with PO2 William Allen Crowder, SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas, and Sgt Gene Spanos ideas.
First and foremost, what are YOUR goals in life? What is it you want to do? If you enlisted with thoughts of making the military a career then what path are you wishing to go down in order to facilitate the goal?
Second, in line with the above, what are you doing to improve yourself whether MOS related, civilian education, military education, or personal education? Stay on top of this. I implore you to not make the same mistakes many of us did, especially me, when we were in. Keep yourself busy with college classes.
Third, again in line with the first, it looks like you are in the reserves. Have you considered going active? Like SMSgt Thomas mentioned, the civilian world is crazy hectic for jobs and stability. Going active would open up so many doors for you to include assignments in various locations as well as units. There are so many positives to going active that override any negatives someone may have. Something to consider.
Fourth, there may not be many who care in your unit but I would posit there are some. In addition, you're on a website with a lot of great people spanning every rank, every branch and nearly every MOS who DO care about the welfare of our brothers and sisters. I can list at least a hundred people in my contact list alone who would do what they can to help including myself. Don't hesitate to seek guidance from any of us whether young or old, veteran or retiree. I'm sending you a friend request so you know my door is open for you. I'm tagging several of my friends who have a lot of experience and wisdom with this.
SSG Daniel Deiler, Cpl Brett Wagner, MAJ Carl Ballinger, SGT Richard H., 1SG David Niles, CPL Charles Brown, LCpl Steve Wininger, SPC Danny Eldridge, SPC Chris Lanaman, MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca, SSG V. Michelle Woods, SSG Robert Burns, SFC Mark Merino, 1LT John Martin, MSG (Join to see), CW5 (Join to see), Cpl Dennis F., SFC James Baber, SFC John Gates, LTC (Join to see), MSG Brad Sand, LTC (Join to see), SFC Brian Lehnhardt, SFC (Join to see), 1LT Scott Doyle, SSG Gerhard S., 1LT Shawn McCarthy, Capt Jeff S., SFC (Join to see), SSG Jason Neumann, SPC Jeff Daley, PhD, MSgt (Join to see), CPT (Join to see), LTC Jason Strickland, SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, SFC (Join to see), CMDCM Gene Treants, CSM (Join to see), SGM Mikel Dawson, GySgt (Join to see), SSgt (Join to see), PO2 Ed C., LTC (Join to see), Col (Join to see), SGT (Join to see), SGM (Join to see), Cpl (Join to see), CPL Jesse Still, SFC (Join to see).
First and foremost, what are YOUR goals in life? What is it you want to do? If you enlisted with thoughts of making the military a career then what path are you wishing to go down in order to facilitate the goal?
Second, in line with the above, what are you doing to improve yourself whether MOS related, civilian education, military education, or personal education? Stay on top of this. I implore you to not make the same mistakes many of us did, especially me, when we were in. Keep yourself busy with college classes.
Third, again in line with the first, it looks like you are in the reserves. Have you considered going active? Like SMSgt Thomas mentioned, the civilian world is crazy hectic for jobs and stability. Going active would open up so many doors for you to include assignments in various locations as well as units. There are so many positives to going active that override any negatives someone may have. Something to consider.
Fourth, there may not be many who care in your unit but I would posit there are some. In addition, you're on a website with a lot of great people spanning every rank, every branch and nearly every MOS who DO care about the welfare of our brothers and sisters. I can list at least a hundred people in my contact list alone who would do what they can to help including myself. Don't hesitate to seek guidance from any of us whether young or old, veteran or retiree. I'm sending you a friend request so you know my door is open for you. I'm tagging several of my friends who have a lot of experience and wisdom with this.
SSG Daniel Deiler, Cpl Brett Wagner, MAJ Carl Ballinger, SGT Richard H., 1SG David Niles, CPL Charles Brown, LCpl Steve Wininger, SPC Danny Eldridge, SPC Chris Lanaman, MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca, SSG V. Michelle Woods, SSG Robert Burns, SFC Mark Merino, 1LT John Martin, MSG (Join to see), CW5 (Join to see), Cpl Dennis F., SFC James Baber, SFC John Gates, LTC (Join to see), MSG Brad Sand, LTC (Join to see), SFC Brian Lehnhardt, SFC (Join to see), 1LT Scott Doyle, SSG Gerhard S., 1LT Shawn McCarthy, Capt Jeff S., SFC (Join to see), SSG Jason Neumann, SPC Jeff Daley, PhD, MSgt (Join to see), CPT (Join to see), LTC Jason Strickland, SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, SFC (Join to see), CMDCM Gene Treants, CSM (Join to see), SGM Mikel Dawson, GySgt (Join to see), SSgt (Join to see), PO2 Ed C., LTC (Join to see), Col (Join to see), SGT (Join to see), SGM (Join to see), Cpl (Join to see), CPL Jesse Still, SFC (Join to see).
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SGT Richard H.
SSG(P) (Join to see) I'm with SSG (Join to see) on this. To expand on it just a little: If you were to come to me at this point in your life and just say "Chart me a path and I'll follow it", My advice would be based on three things: 1) you said that you absolutely love the Military. 2) You are still relatively young. and 3) your military experience thus far is the reserve component.
My advice would be to join/re-enlist for an active commitment. If you're thinking about a career, you really need that in order to decide if that's what you really want. I know that in your twenties, four years may seem like a long time to make a decision, but I can tell you as a guy who's about to turn 50, it's going to be no more than a snapshot when you look back. If, after 4 years, it's still for you, then the door is open for a career. If it's not, you'll still be young enough to pursue a life-long career elsewhere, including going to school (which that enlistment will go a long way toward paying for).
My advice would be to join/re-enlist for an active commitment. If you're thinking about a career, you really need that in order to decide if that's what you really want. I know that in your twenties, four years may seem like a long time to make a decision, but I can tell you as a guy who's about to turn 50, it's going to be no more than a snapshot when you look back. If, after 4 years, it's still for you, then the door is open for a career. If it's not, you'll still be young enough to pursue a life-long career elsewhere, including going to school (which that enlistment will go a long way toward paying for).
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
SSG (Join to see) - Thank you for the mention and the opportunity to assist, you know me well!
SSG(P) (Join to see) - On this question alone you have many an answer that you can use or try and relate to. In the end it is a very personal decision and if I can give ANY advice at all it would be this:
If you make a decision to ETS, make sure it is not an emotional decision based on current circumstances, make sure it is not becasue of one person, one situation or something that upset you. WHY? Because that will all pass, even IF you get out, you will, in years to come, say to yourself "wow that was not a well thought out decision".
I could write how I loved the military and such but it wont help, I am not trying to convince you of anything, just to make sure you make a decision that is long term and suited to the skills you have or will acquire.
Whatever the case, remember that the civilian world is not easy for most and the transition to the civilian world is even tougher. Ask yourself what the payoff will be, if you are thinking "freedom" think again, you will never know such a freedom like you have in the military.
Whatever the case; I have two contacts in Pittsburgh, I am from Philly but live in Hungary and Germany, I have contacts through out all of PA and of course the rest of the 50 states...SHOULD you decide you wish to ETS, please do me a favor before you sign the dotted line: Call me, I can offer you a free coaching session to make sure you are where you should be and are sure you are making the right decision.
Why am I sticking my neck out for you? Because someone did it for me a long time ago and I have been paying it forward ever since, much like SSG (Join to see) .
Steady on and the Best of Luck,
Steven
SSG(P) (Join to see) - On this question alone you have many an answer that you can use or try and relate to. In the end it is a very personal decision and if I can give ANY advice at all it would be this:
If you make a decision to ETS, make sure it is not an emotional decision based on current circumstances, make sure it is not becasue of one person, one situation or something that upset you. WHY? Because that will all pass, even IF you get out, you will, in years to come, say to yourself "wow that was not a well thought out decision".
I could write how I loved the military and such but it wont help, I am not trying to convince you of anything, just to make sure you make a decision that is long term and suited to the skills you have or will acquire.
Whatever the case, remember that the civilian world is not easy for most and the transition to the civilian world is even tougher. Ask yourself what the payoff will be, if you are thinking "freedom" think again, you will never know such a freedom like you have in the military.
Whatever the case; I have two contacts in Pittsburgh, I am from Philly but live in Hungary and Germany, I have contacts through out all of PA and of course the rest of the 50 states...SHOULD you decide you wish to ETS, please do me a favor before you sign the dotted line: Call me, I can offer you a free coaching session to make sure you are where you should be and are sure you are making the right decision.
Why am I sticking my neck out for you? Because someone did it for me a long time ago and I have been paying it forward ever since, much like SSG (Join to see) .
Steady on and the Best of Luck,
Steven
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Good of you to ask the question SSG(P) (Join to see). Get what you can while you can. Right now a junior service member in the military is the better place you could be career wise. If you haven't earned a college degree, get one and the Army will pay for part if not all of it depending on which part of the GI Bill you qualify under. Get in touch with a career councilor civilian and/or military and get some guidance.
Do your MOS and civilian job go hand-in-hand or do you have 2 totally different jobs? For me they went hand and I wanted it that way because the experience worked both ways. For others they prefer to do something different in their MOS as a change of pace. Ask yourself which scenario you'd benefit more from.
It appears you are an Engineer in an MP Bde. Is that combination working for you or would you rather be in an Engineer Bde? You were with the 411th and this good man LTC (Join to see) is a Company Commander in the 417th En Bn under that Bde. You may want to see what he has to say.
I was always the lone commo guy in a sea of MPs or Infantry so I know that feeling. Even as an O I had to fight for my seat at the table. I imagine it must be tougher as a junior E to do the same. You need an NCO watching your 6. Use your chain of command to build a bridge off that "island". Make sure that new team leader understands - through demonstration - your value and MOS if different than yours.
Would a change in MOS, unit or location be a "new" start? Are you locked into your location due to family or other factors? Would a year in the IRR to get your civilian side in better shape help?
These are all things that you should and I hope you do consider before leaving altogether. Best of luck. Remember that you can always seek me and the other esteemed members of our community out for help at any time!
Do your MOS and civilian job go hand-in-hand or do you have 2 totally different jobs? For me they went hand and I wanted it that way because the experience worked both ways. For others they prefer to do something different in their MOS as a change of pace. Ask yourself which scenario you'd benefit more from.
It appears you are an Engineer in an MP Bde. Is that combination working for you or would you rather be in an Engineer Bde? You were with the 411th and this good man LTC (Join to see) is a Company Commander in the 417th En Bn under that Bde. You may want to see what he has to say.
I was always the lone commo guy in a sea of MPs or Infantry so I know that feeling. Even as an O I had to fight for my seat at the table. I imagine it must be tougher as a junior E to do the same. You need an NCO watching your 6. Use your chain of command to build a bridge off that "island". Make sure that new team leader understands - through demonstration - your value and MOS if different than yours.
Would a change in MOS, unit or location be a "new" start? Are you locked into your location due to family or other factors? Would a year in the IRR to get your civilian side in better shape help?
These are all things that you should and I hope you do consider before leaving altogether. Best of luck. Remember that you can always seek me and the other esteemed members of our community out for help at any time!
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