Did you ever use the phrase “I can’t wait to get out!”? Are you happier then or now? Why?

SFC Christopher Taggart — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 23:24:13 -0400

Response by LTC John Mohor made Aug 23 at 2017 11:38 PM

LTC John Mohor — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 23:38:44 -0400

I really don't remember ever stating that. Oh I'm certainly happier now being retired. I still can't wait to start drawing my check in 8 years!

Response by SPC Anthony Schepis made Aug 24 at 2017 4:21 AM

SPC Anthony Schepis — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 04:21:49 -0400

Yes, the Army wasn't what I expected it to be so I went FTA. I'm still working my way up in the civilian world but I feel happier now.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 24 at 2017 6:28 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 06:28:18 -0400

I did... but I'm positive that it really is just a 'grass is always greener' kind of scenario. There were things that used to really piss me off about the job when I was iin that I really miss now. Now that I'm a civilian again there are things that piss me off in this life that make me wish I was still in uniform. I think it really is just a matter of making the best out of where you are in life and trying to rise above the bullshit to see the silver lining.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2017 8:59 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:59:02 -0400

Yeah I'm sure I did but I'll echo SGT Joseph Gunderson and say it's a "grass is always greener" thing. The fact of the matter is both sides of the coin have their pros and cons. I always complained about the lack of efficiency in the military until I got out. Good grief! The civilian world is chock full of inefficiency. And laziness. And elitism. I see it everyday and think "this wouldn't fly for a millisecond in the military". But in my civilian job I've yet to sleep on the ground...in freezing rain...with no dry gloves...no dry socks...etc...etc... So yeah, pluses and minuses for both.

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 24 at 2017 10:15 AM

SGT David T. — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 10:15:27 -0400

I used a more colorful version but it conveyed the same meaning. I am much happier now. It isn't that I regret joining. I am very glad that I did and those experiences helped shape who I am today. It was just time to move on and do something else. Had I stayed in, I would be retiring in January, but I don't regret getting out for a minute.

I think many people who say they can't wait to get out have a biased view of the civilian world. They think it will be easy and that simply being a veteran will open doors. I wish it was that simple. The rainbows and unicorns view is pretty sweet albeit unrealistic. The reality is that being a veteran can help, but it is not a golden ticket. The civilian world is harsh and unforgiving, but full of opportunities as well.

I have no regrets about getting out. I am much happier now.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Aug 24 at 2017 11:43 AM

SGT Tony Clifford — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:43:52 -0400

While I never said the phrase, I am happier now. I had plenty of good times and occasionally I miss it, but I have freedom to pursue whatever I want. I don't have to wake up at 0400 so I can walk through the barracks at 0530. I don't have duty on the weekends anymore. Deployments are now memories I occasionally reminisce with my old battlebuddies about. It took time for civilian life to be better. I started out behind where my civilian peers were at, but after years of hard work, my life is better than before and getting better everyday. I went from a combat engineer to geologist and every step and miss step has been worth it. I love the Army, but I love my life now too.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2017 1:01 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:01:58 -0400

I said that many times and I think I actually was happier when I got out, but I was given an awesome opportunity that was too good to pass up that led me back in.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 24 at 2017 6:07 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 18:07:46 -0400

No. I didn't want to get out, but I was told to lat move or get out, so I took my papers and walked. But since I work closely with Marines still, sometimes I am glad I got out. I feel that if I were still wearing rank, I probably would have lost it by now. No sense in jeopardizing my honorable discharge on some of the disrespectful turds I see still floating amongst the ranks.

Response by SPC Mark Mercer made Aug 24 at 2017 8:31 PM

SPC Mark Mercer — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 20:31:30 -0400

I took the early out back in 92 because I thought Id do better when I got out, and I did. But...I miss the guys, and having a pension would also be nice. But for me, it worked out better financially than staying in would have.

Response by CPT April Wertz made Aug 26 at 2017 11:18 PM

CPT April Wertz — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 23:18:53 -0400

Absolutely happier now. I've worked the nursing specialties I wanted and taken my career in the direction I always wanted it. I'm not wasting time anymore.

Response by SGT Charles Napierala made Aug 27 at 2017 6:15 PM

SGT Charles Napierala — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 18:15:07 -0400

I've absolutely abused the phrase, "I can't wait to get out!" just about every single day of the last 18 months of my service. I am much happier now than I could have ever been in the military.

Why, though?

- Settling down without having to pack everything up, wave goodbye to all the friends I've made, and uproot to try to re-establish myself in a completely new environment is beneficial.
- DFAS should have awarded me a secondary MOS with how often the calculations were screwed up post-TDY, post-PCS, during promotions, and even just randomly throughout my career. I found myself in finance almost every single step I took in my career, trying to prove to the cherry finance soldier that I'm not being paid what I'm supposed to be getting paid, or I'm getting paid what I'm not supposed to be getting paid. Outside the military, I haven't run into that issue in any of my post-service occupations.
- I don't have deductions out of my paycheck for services that I don't utilize.
- I can choose what I'd like to eat, where I'd like to eat it, and when I'd like to eat it. No longer do I have $300+ deductions from my paycheck because I'm no longer expected to eat at a DFAC with its constant pest and rodent infestations.
- I don't have to wake up at undesirable times of the morning to conduct mystery PT (PT that doesn't follow a set schedule, but will probably include running two miles plus whatever other randomness the PT instructor decides to come up with).
- I can conduct my own exercises and fitness routines correctly.
- I no longer have to worry about random invasions of privacy via CQ or leadership checking to see if my 6' x 6' room is clean Saturday night at 8:12 PM on a four day weekend (just emphasizing randomness).
- I have time to study what I want without having to worry about failed assignments and dropped grades because leadership decides to throw a fit and hold people until 22:00 unexpectedly for whatever reason.
- If I get stuck working overtime, I get compensated for my time.
- I can call in sick without being stigmatized.
- I don't need to shave daily (which, by the way, is extremely unhealthy for your skin).
- I don't have to ask permission to travel on my time off.
- If I don't like my job, I have unlimited opportunities to change it.
- If I don't like my field, I have unlimited opportunities to change it.
- My personal life is separated from my professional life.
- I don't get punished for the decisions that others make on their off time.
- I can have a pet.
- I can choose where I'd like to live.
- I have multiple bedrooms and can hang whatever the hell I want on each wall.
- I can mount my TV to the wall.
- If my medical practitioner isn't up to standard, I can choose someone else.
- I don't have to let anybody know when I'm going to the bathroom.
- I can wear my hair how I'd like to.
- Never again will I be put into a living condition that's completely unsanitary and left up to me to fix.
- If someone is telling me something that's wrong, I can contest it, tactfully, with documentation and proof to why it's wrong and have the error recognized and corrected rather than being told to do it anyway.
- Science, technology, and most efficient practices are praised and promoted.
- Annnnddd I'll stop here because the gripe list can go on forever.

I'm a person that strives for constant improvement and to surpass our potential limits through experimentation, science, data, and being proactive. The military, to me at least, seemed to be an organization that strives on an established reputation that we are the mightiest military in the world and without great sacrifice and hardship, we'd never be able to maintain our hardened, strong representation of America's Soldier and we need to be globally prepared to successfully react to any threat that may threaten global security and peace.

Unfortunately though, it felt more often than not, that the leadership **that I've personally come in contact with** had a "yes man" mentality. People were too afraid to offer genuine input and expand on ideas that were put down through the chain of command. Leaders seemed to be more likely to put hardship on their subordinates based on a subjective and unclear interpretation of a policy instead of raising their hand, writing an e-mail, or picking up a phone to clear an idea or make a suggestion. So many times would I hear the excuse of "that's what it says here, so that's exactly how we're doing it," effectively washing their hands of any personal responsibility of process of execution--regardless if someone were to propose an idea that would make a process more efficient, save more time, and make a genuine overall improvement. Not only were leaders completely paralyzed by their fright of creative and critical thinking to offer suggestions, they were resistant to ideas of change. Regardless of what kind of solutions one may suggest, there'd always be the game of impossible hypotheticals that would hash out in order to stamp out any ideas from peers or subordinates, effectively conditioning junior soldiers/future leaders to be the "yes men" that their leaders were.

I could expand on this more, but then I'd inevitably branch out into the failed retention efforts of some of the best and brightest, leadership failures, leadership successes, the "hurry up and wait" saying and why it's putting people into the wrong mindset, and so much more that would lead to this being a PhD-level thesis on military leadership.

Just a disclaimer, if you've made it this far: These are my own feelings and answers to the questions that were asked. Each individual situation will be different. Some may share some of the feelings I had, some may have the exact opposite experience. Each individual experience is different! Note that just about every bullet starts with "I".