why did you get out of the military?

[FoBoT]

why did you get out of the military?
i did ten years in the Navy 1986-1996, re-enlisted once in 1989

for me the main reason was family seperation, i was at the end of a shore duty assignment and if i had stayed in, i would have gone to hawaii on a fast attack submarine, where they are out of port for up to six months at a time

i had a kid by that time (born after my first sea tour and while i was on shore duty) and didn't want to miss her growing up

pay wasn't really part of it
i wasn't a navy "hater" like some
retirement pay wasn't a big enough "carrot" to make me want to do another ten years

 

[Amused]

The military was a stepping stone for school for me, not to mention a great place to learn self disipline. None of your answers quite fit for me.

 

[tdog44632]

Tore my ACL 4 1/2 years into 6 in the Marines. I would have stayed the 6 and probably signed for more if I could have changed my M>O>S>

Tony

 

[Linflas]

At first I hated it and was just doing my time and counting the days until my 4 years was up. By my discharge date I realized that they had instilled in me some discipline and purpose that I had lacked upon graduation from high school. One other thing that factored in was that I was under the old GI bill which meant I was entitled to 45 months of benefits while attending college full time.

 

[Eli]

Well, this thread doesen't apply to me, since I will never be in the armed forces..

But my girlfriend wants to join the Navy.. or at least did until she met me. It's still in there, floating around in her head. I'm not sure she knows what she wants to do anymore..

I mean, I don't know. I know it would probably be a good thing, but the idea of her being gone just makes my stomach turn. Her family(well, moms side) doesen't really want her going in either, I mean.. it's a scary thought. Of course we all want what she wants, but damn. I'm kinda hoping she can latch onto some other long term goals instead of the Navy.

When she's out of highschool, we're going to start college together.. so maybe that will give her something else to focus on..

 

[Cerebus451]

I was never actually in the military, but I worked for them (Navy). I jumped ship because of the pay (hit the pay ceiling in less than 6 years). Unless I wanted to go into management it was work out the rest of my life for essentially the same pay or go private sector. I really miss the work, but not the paycheck.

 

[FoBoT]

what are the rules for bumping in off-topic?

 

[Aceman]

<< still in and loving it >>




<< still in and will get out ASAP for one of the above reasons >>



I'm somewhere between the two! I still love many parts of the service and detest many others. When I hit my 20 years of AFS is when I'll truly enjoy the service as I can drop my retirement paperwork on the first thing that pisses me off.

I actually love the "workload" ups and downs..... Many days there's not much to really do to fill an 8 hour day and then there's days that there's too much to get done even if I worked 24 hours a day.

 

[StageLeft]

I'm not in it but primary contributing reasons to never wanting to join would have been family separation. If I lost my job now I'd briefly consider going in as an officer until it hit me how I'd never be home and then I'd dump that idea.

 

[Cyberian]

<< what are the rules for bumping in off-topic? >>

You're not allowed to bump in OT.

<other>
<pay>
<hated the military/branch of service in general >

Drafted in 1965 and after a safe 2 years, really didn't want to push my luck by staying in and going to Nam.

I didn't really hate the Army, it just wasn't much to my liking even though I got trained as an X-Ray Tech and had fairly easy duty.
The pay was also a bit low, but not that bad considering I was single and made E-5 in 19 months.

The friends I made and the times we had in two short years I will never forget!

 

[HappyPuppy]

Driving a deuce and a half from Da Nang to Dong Ha I had two tires shot out in the las 15 miles after the rest of the convoy had peeled off for their bases. We were fully loaded and towing a loaded trailer. We blew two more tires because of the excess weight before we reached our destination. We drove into our camp on four rims. We had navigated the last 15 miles, just the two of us in one truck, alone.

Six of us were sent to a firebase 100 meters south of the DMZ as forward observers. The unit occupying the base pulled out during the night leaving the six of us alone. Before we could be extracted or other troops could be inserted the monsoons hit and we were left to our own devices. They tried twice to bring us out but our tanks and armor were immobilized by landmines and mud and the ceiling was too low for choppers. We were surrounded but, for the grace of God, we got out two weeks later.

Again, six of of were sent to a Marine firebase at the mouth of the Cua Viet River. We were surrounded by 1500 regular NVA troops whose purpose was to take over the supply route to I corps. 200 Marines and six Army personell drove them back from our wire time after time until they gave up and withdrew into the jungle.

Why did I get out of the military? Because I felt that I had used up my share of luck. If I had reenlisted I would have been sent back again and, the next time, I might not be so lucky.

 

[StageLeft]

HappyPuppy What movie?

 

[HappyPuppy]

No movie, Skoorb. Just reality. Do you doubt me? Those are only a few of the reasons I didn't re-up.

 

[Ryan abandoned account]

Discharged from The usmc because I'm an alcoholic. I waited a long time to tell them, though. . .

 

[Semper Fi]

I voted other.

In the corps from 86-91, thought about re-upping then thought NO!.
No reason really, my enlistment was up and I just decided to go on to other things that don't require cammies, boots and an M16.

 

[308nato]

In Nov82 the 22nd Bombardment Wing lost its last B52 and became the 22 Air Refueling Wing. My hitch was up shortly after and it just wasn't the same without the BUFF's around anymore. So I came home and dicked off for a while then went to college.

I never thought my service amounted to much, even while I was in. Probably because moral was not to high under Jimmy Carter, the Desert One fiasco took place and we wanted to bomb the f$ck out of the Iranians but were told to shut up basically.

When the Berlin Wall came down, being a little older and wiser, it finally made sense to me. If I would have understood then, maybe I would have stayed in.

Here's to the BUFF. That big bastard flew pasted together with chewing gum back then. It's sure nice to see him still put the eggs in the basket.

50 years young this month

 

[Fritzo]

One word: SODOMY :Q

 

[PlasticJesus]

I got out of the USMC as soon as I had enough time to retire. Twenty years, two weeks, one day, and a few hours. The only reason I did the two weeks, one day, and a few hours is because in the USA, USMC, and USN you retire on the last day of a given month, no matter what day you came in. I went in on an open contract but during recruit training was given the opportunity to be a Signals Intelligence guy. I went for it and at least for as long as I was in, it was a really good deal. I was always really lucky and had some really unique experiences that money can't buy.

It was a lot easier for me than for most folks in that I was in for 15 years and a couple months and was a GySgt before I got married. By then I already had four Med floats and any other deployments out of the way. It's probably because of this fact that I always felt like we were paid well and still don't understand those who say we aren't (weren't). I reckon I'm easily satisfied. When I retired I was making $3200 a month. I'll probably never see that kind of money again. I reckon we all have our own spin. I'm positive that if I were to stand ten Marines in front of me on Camp Lejeune and say " I made $3200 a month my last six months in the Corps" at least 8 out of 10 of them would say "Oh, well you're counting BAH (BAQ and VHA replacement for you guys out of the loop these days) and ComRats." My spin is that that money counts just like the rest of it. In the short time I've been retired, I haven't found anyone who will pay me more than the next guy just because I live in a house.

For the at least two of you who came in in '86 and got out: I think '86 was the first year of that new retirement plan that seemingly no one knew about; the one where you do twenty and collect 40% of the average of your three highest paid years (base pay). I wouldn't have stayed in with that in my future. My first four years I may have been the guy that said "It ain't about money", but there certainly comes a point where it is.

If I had to do it all over again starting right now, I'd go in with guaranteed skill training in my future and after 4-6 years I'd make a run for it. I'd probably be a Navy ET. But then again, I've always said "Everyone wants the other guy's job".

S/F

 

[propellerhead]

Right time, right place.

I was in the USAF and assigned to an office that evaluated a weapon system that Boeing was upgrading. There were some contractual issues that the USAF was not happy about, so we piled on about 10 years worth of work on Boeing. My time was coming up and Boeing was hiring. I wanted to write the software, not just QA it. So I got out, hired on with Boeing, and still worked with all the same people, but from the other side of the fence.

I don't regret being in the USAF, and I don't regret getting out.