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When I met my future wife in 2005 she asked "When are you going to retire?" My response was immediate as if it were a Battle Drill "When it's not fun anymore."
So in November 2014 after a 3.5 hour meeting with 115 PowerPoint slides, I sent her the following text ... "I'm not having fun."
"Come home then." She responded.
I typed up then submitted my memo and 4187 within the hour.
So in November 2014 after a 3.5 hour meeting with 115 PowerPoint slides, I sent her the following text ... "I'm not having fun."
"Come home then." She responded.
I typed up then submitted my memo and 4187 within the hour.
Retirement
ETS/EAS
Service
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 145
32
32
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ETSing at the end of next year (will have seven years in) for a few reasons.
1 - Fun deficit. Got promoted out of the job I loved doing and into purely administrative work.
2 - Not eligible for another promotion prior to EAOS. Told that I was doing all the right things to be eligible early, but that it wasn't going to happen because I don't have enough time in rank. I don't like being told to sit down and wait my turn.
3 - Could retire after spending the next 13 years enlisted, or I could get out and spend the next 11 years fulfilling a lifelong dream of going to med school. Might be 40 when I graduate, but (God willing) I'm going to turn 40 someday anyway.
1 - Fun deficit. Got promoted out of the job I loved doing and into purely administrative work.
2 - Not eligible for another promotion prior to EAOS. Told that I was doing all the right things to be eligible early, but that it wasn't going to happen because I don't have enough time in rank. I don't like being told to sit down and wait my turn.
3 - Could retire after spending the next 13 years enlisted, or I could get out and spend the next 11 years fulfilling a lifelong dream of going to med school. Might be 40 when I graduate, but (God willing) I'm going to turn 40 someday anyway.
(32)
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CPL Deanna Green (Parkinson)
You go on to college! I graduated at 47. I loved my military service, but after I retired it gave me the opportunity to get that degree!
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Capt Gregory Prickett
PO2 (Join to see) - go to Med School and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. I graduated from law school at 56. You're never too old, and at 40, you're still just a kid...
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SFC William Farrell
You go for it PO2 (Join to see). All the best. I have a cousin who is starting med school at 36
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I lost my wife and vowed that if I found someone else who would put up with me, I would hang up the uniform.
I tried to make it work, because she saw how much I loved it, but having two-four conference calls a month while my kids had dinner was a little much.
I put in my papers and left.
The Reserves wants full time senior leaders and doesn't want to pay them full time. Giving back that Blackberry gave me so much more time for the job that does pay me full time.
I tried to make it work, because she saw how much I loved it, but having two-four conference calls a month while my kids had dinner was a little much.
I put in my papers and left.
The Reserves wants full time senior leaders and doesn't want to pay them full time. Giving back that Blackberry gave me so much more time for the job that does pay me full time.
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CAPT Hiram Patterson
CSM David Heidke - I was an Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Officer. I was in a headquarters unit at my last Pensacola unit (with 7 detachments over 5 states with 300+ personnel) as the Director for Administration (executive level position). I flew monthly from Dallas to P'col and more frequently as required (all on my dime). I can't count the number hours I spent on my own time between drill weekends to get everything done that couldn't be done on the weekend and constant new tasking du jour. All of the executives were in the same boat with extracurricular work for the unit. Our Command Master Chief probably worked as hard as you do as CSM plus traveling to visit our detachments. We didn't have the luxury to complain about not being paid enough. Just the way it was and still is. The Mission always came first!
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CSM David Heidke
CAPT Hiram Patterson - Just because we did it, doesn't make it right. When we accept something that's wrong, it becomes the new standard. I'm retired, I will make it a point to stand on a soap box and speak up for those who can't because they are still in. That's me... NCOs do that.
An officer on the other hand will ask for a second bite of the crap sandwich.
An officer on the other hand will ask for a second bite of the crap sandwich.
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LTC Martin Metz
After 37 years in uniform, I know all too well those many hours of calls, writing, traveling, worrying, and coordinating that senior personnel routinely did whether compensated or not. The Nation will never know how lucky it is to have folks like CSM Heidke and CAPT Patterson doing the behind-the-scenes efforts to take care of folks and get the mission done. Thanks to both of you for your service.
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SFC William Farrell
CSM David Heidke - I was just going to explain that to CAPT Hiram Patterson but then saw your response a bit lower on the list of replies. I am sorry for the loss of yoru wife. I too lost my wife at 46 years old. She is the one who put up with my time away from home for drills, admin nights, overseas tours, etc and she never had an ID card as we were not near a base. My current wife whose never known me in the military has the eID card and uses it regularly at Naval Station Newport!
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23
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MSG (Join to see) I totally agree, the Army was a 'love'; then it became a chore. The love still abounds, but I only participate via RP.
(23)
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