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Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Friday, March 25, 2011 - 11:06 pm: | 
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submitted the app to go back in. should be a six month interview, and back ground check... looks like somebody needs an old talent.
I do love it when the phone rings. |
Nillaice
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 12:31 am: |
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sounds to me like you hate your job. ...
can you get a new job or rate that you like? ... are they still doing 'blue to green'? STA-21 and get comissioned?
is there a civilian sector in your feild? in another feild that you'd be interested in?
what about 'back home'?
anything or anyone 'calling to you'?
it's pretty hard for some one to call the shots on someone elses life. maybe if all the right questions are asked, you'll make up your own mind.
what is your leave balance?
what ever it is; don't piss it away by taking any thing less than 2 weeks at a time. get some perspective |
86129squids
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 02:38 am: |
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I appreciate this thread.
My dad was USAF, did a tour in Korea.
He never said a word about it.
I developed type I diabetes at age 20. Until then, I'd always kept the idea of service open.
A good job is a good job, strong retirement is a rare prize. |
Satori
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 03:24 am: |
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Not being a veteran myself, I would look at it this way.
One is the retirement. is there a way for you to make this work? ie transfer to something you like? even if you have to put in time doing what you dont like , I would say thats a good move. and thats common in life.
If it really isnt going to work for you, well then, stay untill you can make a smooth move out. Get the training you need to get the civvy job. Just remember that right now there is 5 people looking at every job opening.be smart about it. plan it. network at every opportunity.
Just a persol thing, thanks for your service, no matter how long you have been in. |
Loki
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 11:17 am: |
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10yrs n 12 days and another 6 in the reserves.
Do I miss it? As time goes by less and less. Lots of fond memories though and lifelong friends.
Always get asked one question. "Why?"
Simple answer is my health and sanity. |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 04:16 pm: |
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+1 @ Treefrog
22 years of not so blissful AD here and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Same wife, the whole time. Too many deployments to count and for the most part loved it. No job, or profession, is perfect so you will be embracing the suck at a certain percentage regardless of which decision you make.
I was a college graduate after 6 years in boots and never had any desire to be anything but a CSM (never made it). So I kept on keeping on until I was a MSG and my wife told me "you're done now...let's go home." So we did exactly that.
The only thing that you cannot replace, IMHO, in the civilian world is the camaraderie.
Not a single day has went by that I didn't miss it and I even went back as a contractor and that was outfreakingstanding as I was making more money than I was worth in the environment that I truly wanted to be in.
Tough decision to make no doubt, but don't discount that retirement check...I view it as my freedom check. Freedom to not be miserable if I find myself in a position where I'm forced to embrace the suck more than I'm comfortable with.
Good luck! |
Pkforbes87
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 07:25 pm: |
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I'm looking at officer programs for the first time ever. Right now, I feel like this transition.. whatever it turns into.. is the perfect time to get a college degree. I told myself I'd get it while serving AD but never have. Whether it's by using the GI Bill or with a "blue to gold" program, there's no better time than now.
If I take the officer route, I'd like to become a Marine. Same training pipeline for the most part as it would be if I stay on the Navy side of things. I guess I'm just a naturally curious person. Still single, so why not experience as much variety as possible!?
Thanks for all of the advice. The specific stories from you retirees and others who got out after 1 or 2 tours really helps. Whoever said that the "other choice" will always be second guessed.. you couldn't be more right. There aren't many days that go by that I don't wonder where I'd be in life if I had never signed on that dotted line. I'm sure the decisions I make in the following months will be the same way. |
Liquorwhere
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 09:10 pm: |
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PK,
If you are unmarried you can apply to the Naval Academy or if you want an upgrade, West Point. When I learned about this while in the Army I was of course, already married. As far as career advice you gotta follow your instinct on that one. I miss the camaraderie more than anything else. Stand to, freezing my bollocks off in the field, getting chewed out by a person that doesn't know the difference between "idea" and "ideal" because they use the words in which ever manner they wish. Nope didn't miss that. Jumping out of planes, traveling, new places every few years I did miss that a bunch. You will find that even if you want to travel, once you are a civilian, it is harder than you think to get it all to come together. I miss those $20.00 overseas flights from one airbase to the other, sure it was in uniform but that was so cheap to go to spain or germany from DC. If I had not be reassigned from the Pentagon to Ft Hood, I would've stayed in longer I think. Good luck in whatever you choose. |
Nillaice
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 09:35 pm: |
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since your single (assuming that means you dont have a lucky lady in mind or any kids or much baggage), i'd also be swayed to the side of staying in.
but still change your rate/paygrade to something you like. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, March 28, 2011 - 02:39 am: |
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IF You going to Quantico, start getting in shape NOW DAMHIK
I got invited to get my commission after service with them in some very tense ethnic situations..... they kicked my old azz.
Graduated with PLDC; didnt get the butter bar.
If they are still running the crucible; that thing is a killer for an old man (I was 28 at the time) |
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