For those that left the military already, how did you do it?

<FOOT STOMP> This is the best answer

Did 20 years. Years 14 to 17 were not fun at all. But I had just signed an indefinite contract (locked in til 20) and there was no turning back.

When I joined in March '77 I told myself if I ever went backward that would be my cue it's time to get out. I came in as a 13E (Fire Direction Specialist). Made Sgt. E5 in two years and was going to reenlist for Present Duty Assignment (PDA) but got hurt. I was told I had to leave the Army or take an Administration MOS. I went to Journalism School at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). The curse was 10 weeks but my injury acted up and I wound up staying in school four and a half months. My reward was being assigned to the newly reactivation of Fort Irwin and later The National Training Center. Get a copy of my Book Willie Means Well (But It Don't Work Out Sometimes)-The Meal, Featuring My Letter To The President and Other Editorials You can get it being Read to You also!! I was in Public Affairs and that put me on the Commanders' Special Staff which also gave me an Open Door to the Commander. I worked with Field Grade Officer went through a learning experience. Fort Irwin, Material Support Center-Korea (MSC-K), then to The 197th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) (Separate) (Heavy) on Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning in Georgia. I ran into some strange and hateful people and situations during my time with The 197th. I had the Battalion Commander tell me I had too much power as an E5. I shouldn't be talking to Lieutenant Colonels and General Officers. He ended his little speech by telling me he was going to have to take some of that power from me. My Major saw him talking to me and wanted to know what we were talking about. I told him and he went to the Brigade Commander with it. He returned and told me "tho Old Man is going to talk to him." My Major Rotated Out and I got a Captain in as Public Affairs Officer (PAO). First thing the Captain wanted to know was why were there female Soldiers in the Section and told me I needed to get those female I of the Section. I explained tho him how the Major got those females in the Section. He then told me to keep them away from him. Anyway, I had made Staff Sergeant (E6) and You could tell it did not sit well with some people. Short of It, there was an under the table movement to get certain Officers and Senior Noncommissined Officers (NCO), Warrant Officers and Others out the Army. I got reduced from Staff back to E5 and after some issues I got out. Sorry about this brief writing but it's all true. I had even met the former Chief-of-Staff of the Army, General Myers, and probably could had called in some favors but I was headed to Supreme Allied SHAPE HEADQUARTERS BELGIUM and they took that from me. I remembered my promise if I ever went backward I would get out so I did. They even tried to keep me in. GOD BLESS!!!!!!

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - I spent 11 years as an E4 before making SGT.

MSG (Join to see) - ..
I Wouldn't Have Had The Patience. When I Looked At My 2 Stripes & Thought
"What Will I Be At Retirement After 20 Years Of Service."? I Just Chucked It In And Took My DD-214 And Became A Civilian Again. ... I'd Already Seen An E-4 & E-5 Retire And, With So Little Income, I Wasn't Willing To Risk It..

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - I'd gotten pulled up to the Engineering Log Room, because the Engineer Found Out that I could Type better than the Ships Yeomen, and I could put out the Eight O'Clock Reports almost at the same time as the meetings. but my Division Officer said that I wasn't doing the Job I'd been Trained to do, so I barely got 2.5 evals

PO1 David Kingsley - ..
I Wasn't Given Any Evaluations ~ None.. The Majority, About 3 1/2 Years Out Of 4, I Was Employed Outside Of My MOS ~ AFSC ~ Nobody I Worked For COULD Evaluate Me,
And Either Way, I Could NOT Receive A Promotion ~~.
I Lied To Enlist....10 Grade Educating Was A Requirement...
I Was A Mid-9th Grade DROP OUT.... I Received A Great Education From USAFI During My 4 Years Enlistment.... I'd ESTIMATE, A Masters In Business Administration...Plus Some..
And "YES" I DO Think I'm A "Smart Son-Of-a-Betch"; I Did VERY Well While In The USAF; But ONLY By Grabbing All The Programs I Could Lay My Hands On... BUT As A USAF E-3 ~~ I SUCKED. Horribly.~~ Aka "Flunky".

EXCELLENTLY Stated....
Once You Have Your Dream Job, You'll Never Again Have To Go To Work.
When I Lived In Lansing, Michigan; And Was A Purchasing Agent, I'd Watch Factory Workers Head To Work At Oldsmobile, With Their Lunch Box In Hand, & Think To Myself
"If I Had To Do That Until I Was 65 And Wait For Retirement, I Think I'd Have To Shove A Pistol In My Mouth & Happily Squeeze Trigger"......And I Had Many Close Relatives Whom Retired From Oldsmobile & The Fisher Body Plants, Both In Lansing, And The Major Sources Of Employment.... I Have NO Idea How Anyone Could Make Their Living That Way And Even WANT To Remain Above Ground........

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - Thank you Rick. I took a large pay cut when I left a high paying chemical plant operator job, but it was worth it.

Sgt (Join to see) -
TED, I'm With You, All The Way. I'd Take A Pay Cut, FAR Before Going To Work Every Morning And Doing Projects I Did Not Enjoy Doing. I Can't Even IMAGINE Having To Do That. How In "L" Can Anyone Wake Up Every Day, And Go To A Job Like That, Just To Pick-Up A Check On Friday?.. Absolutely Boggles My Mind.
BTW: I Had A Friend Jim McClung, Whom Became The Plant Manager Of A Chemical Plant For F.M.C. In South Africa. .....I Believe They Produced Farming Chemicals For Crops.
Was F.M.C. Chemicals A Familiar Company To You?.

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - No. I am not familiar with F.M.C. I worked for the Diamond Shamrock Chemical Plant on the Houston Ship Channel.