Posted on Feb 1, 2016
How to Decide to Leave or Stay In the Military (Part 1 of 2)
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Stay or Go? There is probably no greater decision for a military member regardless of their military service, military occupation, or status in the Active military, Guard or Reserve. The decision to transition is an emotional decision and you need to do your best to separate, for a time, the emotion from the practical decision making components of deciding to remain in the service or depart. The following six factors will help you determine if you should stay in the service or depart.
1. Do I Like What The People 2-3 Levels Above Me Are Doing? This is probably the single best question to help you decide to stay or go. First, look up the ranks and assess what the people who are 3, 5, and 7 years your senior are doing. Do you like the demands of their jobs? Is it interesting? Do these people like what they are doing? Are their advanced educational opportunities that you are excited about? Can you see yourself fulfilling the requirements of those jobs? If you say no, then is it possible to move into another military occupation you would enjoy? For example, if I am a U.S. Army Infantry officer that loves technology, could I move into the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps to help make design and purchase decisions on new U.S. Army Infantry equipment? If you love the military but do not like what future positions hold, then that could be a strong indicator you are ready for something new?
2. What is the True Value of My Military Pay & Benefits? What is the true economic value of all aspects of my military compensation, benefits, healthcare, access to services, and future retirement compared to the geographic location that I want to move? In short, if I live outside Fort Benning, GA today what will I need to live in San Francisco, CA tomorrow? USAA has a great calculator called the Military Separation Assessment calculator that provides a comparison between the value of your military pay and benefits and what you will need to replicate it at your new living location. Comparing Fort Benning, GA to San Francisco, CA, a service member would have to more than double their income level to have equal, not better, benefits. This calculator is meant to inform you of the totality of the value of your benefits, not scare you to stay in the military. Military members receive a great deal of “hidden” value in access to base amenities, health care, Commissary, etc. that do not exist in the civilian world. The financial planning and creating an 8-12 month emergency fund to transition from the military is an essential step.
3. What’s The Life Stage of My Family? The decision to leave for a single service member or a married service member with three children really is different. A single, transitioning service member can literally go anywhere, do anything, and need few resources to do it. A family is a completely different consideration where housing, access to good schools, transportation, medical care, and tens of other choices dominate. A service member at any life stage can separate successfully, but if you are married with children just understand that the complexity and planning involved is about 10X a single service member due to your obligations. Also, the timing for a military family to leave the service is critical to make jobs, school, and medical care work.
Once you make a decision to stay or go, then sit on it for three months. If after three months, you still feel good about it, then you have made the correct decision. The decision to stay or leave the military is a very difficult decision. By understanding your family’s life stage, the true value of your military compensation, the precise education requirements for a new career, your opinion of your military career progression, looking at the potential of new occupations, and understanding what your friends and family think of your choice, then you can make an informed decision to stay or leave the service. If you decide to leave, the first step is to create a robust, comprehensive, resourced, and detailed military-to-civilian transition plan.
Look for Part 2 of this article coming soon.
Content Provided Courtesy of USAA - Article At USAA Member Community - Going Civilian Blog
1. Do I Like What The People 2-3 Levels Above Me Are Doing? This is probably the single best question to help you decide to stay or go. First, look up the ranks and assess what the people who are 3, 5, and 7 years your senior are doing. Do you like the demands of their jobs? Is it interesting? Do these people like what they are doing? Are their advanced educational opportunities that you are excited about? Can you see yourself fulfilling the requirements of those jobs? If you say no, then is it possible to move into another military occupation you would enjoy? For example, if I am a U.S. Army Infantry officer that loves technology, could I move into the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps to help make design and purchase decisions on new U.S. Army Infantry equipment? If you love the military but do not like what future positions hold, then that could be a strong indicator you are ready for something new?
2. What is the True Value of My Military Pay & Benefits? What is the true economic value of all aspects of my military compensation, benefits, healthcare, access to services, and future retirement compared to the geographic location that I want to move? In short, if I live outside Fort Benning, GA today what will I need to live in San Francisco, CA tomorrow? USAA has a great calculator called the Military Separation Assessment calculator that provides a comparison between the value of your military pay and benefits and what you will need to replicate it at your new living location. Comparing Fort Benning, GA to San Francisco, CA, a service member would have to more than double their income level to have equal, not better, benefits. This calculator is meant to inform you of the totality of the value of your benefits, not scare you to stay in the military. Military members receive a great deal of “hidden” value in access to base amenities, health care, Commissary, etc. that do not exist in the civilian world. The financial planning and creating an 8-12 month emergency fund to transition from the military is an essential step.
3. What’s The Life Stage of My Family? The decision to leave for a single service member or a married service member with three children really is different. A single, transitioning service member can literally go anywhere, do anything, and need few resources to do it. A family is a completely different consideration where housing, access to good schools, transportation, medical care, and tens of other choices dominate. A service member at any life stage can separate successfully, but if you are married with children just understand that the complexity and planning involved is about 10X a single service member due to your obligations. Also, the timing for a military family to leave the service is critical to make jobs, school, and medical care work.
Once you make a decision to stay or go, then sit on it for three months. If after three months, you still feel good about it, then you have made the correct decision. The decision to stay or leave the military is a very difficult decision. By understanding your family’s life stage, the true value of your military compensation, the precise education requirements for a new career, your opinion of your military career progression, looking at the potential of new occupations, and understanding what your friends and family think of your choice, then you can make an informed decision to stay or leave the service. If you decide to leave, the first step is to create a robust, comprehensive, resourced, and detailed military-to-civilian transition plan.
Look for Part 2 of this article coming soon.
Content Provided Courtesy of USAA - Article At USAA Member Community - Going Civilian Blog
Command Post
Transition
Military Career
Civilian Career
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 20
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Another tidbit of advice which has been put forward in the past is unless you are independently wealthy or can subsist on retirement or other resources entirely for greater than a year, be sure you have a decent job lined up before you get out. Ideally they have made you an offer and you have accepted, or there is some other type of guarantee on the table. All the philosophical pondering won't put beans & weenies on the table or buy the kids a new pair of shoes.
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SGT Alexander Hildenbrandt
I think most feel that way but to many forget it when it counts. Thank you sir!
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I once had a 1SG that said to me, "Every man knows when its time to walk away or stay the course. When you get there, you will know if its time to go, and its my time to go."
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SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury
I used to ponder it when I was younger - I had no idea what I would feel like when it was time to retire. There was a day in which it all came down on me like a ton of bricks - I knew from that point forward I was ready to retire.
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SGT Larry Prentice
Same thing happened to me. When my 1SG told me that right after he announced his retirement, I thought he was crazy. Until 3 years later, then it hit me that he was right....again.
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That was a tough decision for me. On the one hand I had a great job, steady check (all though not great:)) but in the other hand I was confined to decisions I could make for myself. My other half (not yet married) was stationed across the country and we were long distance for 3 years. I was scared to leave because I had invested so much into the military and its all I knew. I also was afraid people might think I was a quitter. My ultimate reason; I chose a life with my husband over a military career. It was an emotional decision because I was leaving security and didn't know how to be a civilian. No degree, no resume, no civilian experience. I didn't find the transition classes very helpful and was terrified. Ultimately, I found a wonderful job but it was the fear of the unknown.
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SrA Karla Kiser
LTC John Shaw - Thanks for the kind words. We are very happy with the decision. :). Blessings to you as well!
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GySgt Carl Rumbolo
SrA Karla Kiser - You made the choice that was right for you and your family - as the LTC said. Never let someone tell you that you 'quit' - no you made a life choice to do something else. I saw that when I retired 'oh you are walking away and quitting - actually got a pitch about 'leaving brother marines in the lurch" - DLTBGYD - enjoy your life - you only get one :)
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