SSG Private RallyPoint Member 205665 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do you get tired of doing the same thing everyday or feel like you are missing something on the outside? I ask because I have been in the Army just a little under 3 years and I plan on making a career out of it but I feel like it's so tiring. 2014-08-15T22:58:23-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 205665

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do you get tired of doing the same thing everyday or feel like you are missing something on the outside? I ask because I have been in the Army just a little under 3 years and I plan on making a career out of it but I feel like it's so tiring.

2014-08-15T22:58:23-04:00 2014-08-15T22:58:23-04:00 PO2 Private RallyPoint Member 205668

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If it was easy then everyone could do it" my neighbor said this as a 20+ year veteran and retired real admiral. 

2014-08-15T22:59:55-04:00 2014-08-15T22:59:55-04:00 1SG Steven Stankovich 205855

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not believe that I have "missed something on the outside" during my career. I chose this profession and during my early years, I chose to continue my service for various reasons. I am still serving and would not change that for the world. Every day I wake up and I am proud to put on the uniform and serve our country. Some days are harder than others, but that would also be the case in any civilian job out there. What we do in the service provides us, at least me, much more in the way of accomplishments and pride that really cannot be quantified like you anywhere else. For example, being a Noncommissioned Officer, living my the Creed and Army Values, provides daily opportunities to help others and to discover new things about yourself. It teaches you valuable life lessons that I feel one may not get on the "outside." <br /><br />My advice would be to continue to serve until you reach that point where you wake up and "know" that your time has come to take off the uniform. Many of my friends who have retired have stated that. They were tired, but being tired was a side effect of working hard to make things better for their Soldiers, families, our Army, and our Nation.

2014-08-16T03:40:26-04:00 2014-08-16T03:40:26-04:00 MSG Wade Huffman 205893

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Did I feel exhausted? Yes, on many occasions; but that's not the indication that it's time to go. It's when you no longer have the desire to recover from that exhaustion and do it again! <br />I thoroughly enjoyed my career and and am proud of my service and never thought I was missing anything by being in. If anything I felt like those who haven't served were the ones missing out! They will, for the most part, never understand the 'good stuff' about being in.<br />Bottom line, as an old CSM told me years ago, 'When it's your time to go, you'll know". I didn't believe him at the time, but I heard his words loud and clear many years later when it was MY time to go.

2014-08-16T05:45:43-04:00 2014-08-16T05:45:43-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 206045

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you are already tired at the SPC level then it might be time to find another profession.<br />You haven't seen nothing nothing yet. Try running a platoon, dealing with training meetings, dealing with Soldier and NCO issues, dealing with your own family, and other small things I'm forgetting about.<br />No lie, its a tough job you just have to learn how to balance it. Also you have to continue to look for new challenges to keep yourself motivated. I have 2 rules about making in the Army.<br />1. I never take work home. Meaning I don't even discuss work at home. I leave it at the office/motorpool unless it has a direct effect on my family.<br />2. TAKE LEAVE...Even if you just sit in the barracks in your under ware and play video games all night always use those days. It helps you recharge and also its relaxing.

2014-08-16T10:59:32-04:00 2014-08-16T10:59:32-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 206112

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It used to be when I was in, that 'tired' question didn't pop up about the 10th year of service. After 10 years, you were considered a professional, and it was decision time, do you stay or go? <br /><br />It's about what you invest into your experience and how hard you work to get something out of it. It's not about what kind of military member or worker you are, it's about what kind of person you are. You have a unique opportunity that most people don't get and don't experience, make the most of it.

2014-08-16T12:22:23-04:00 2014-08-16T12:22:23-04:00 SGM Matthew Quick 206437

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Although I try to stick to a battle rhythm, no two days are the same...if they were, I'd be MUCH more proficient at my job.<br /><br />I miss many things on the outside, but I never dwell on them and look toward continually improving my foxhole.

2014-08-16T20:07:39-04:00 2014-08-16T20:07:39-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 206837

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sometimes like many I wish I could go back and start again knowing what I know now. I love putting this uniform on each day but there are things I wish I had known about as a younger soldier. The only time I'm tired is after PT and my wife has to remind me I'm not 18 anymore as I work through the aches and pains. <br />I got out for 5 years after the first Gulf War and hated it. There is little camaraderie and family in the civilian workforce. In the Army you will kill or die for your brothers and sisters, in the civilian world you have to constantly watch your back for the other guy trying to get your job.

2014-08-17T08:00:30-04:00 2014-08-17T08:00:30-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 207567

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Like any job, you have your good days and bad days. You've got great bosses and awful ones. Same for your coworkers...<br />But you are a part of a small percentage of the population that has the ability to be in the special occupation you are in!<br />Imagine traveling the country and being able to instantly connect with someone you meet because of what you do. We have out own "secret" language, even. (Acronyms!) Here on RallyPoint, we are sitting on computers or phones, miles and miles away from each other and branches apart, but we understand each other and most of us chose the military because of that society we have created amongst ourselves.<br />We get to do cool stuff. We get to meet and serve with others that would lay down their lives for us as we would for them. I can think of very few occupations in which people connect so well. <br />Many, many civilians I've met in my career say the same thing: "I just wished I would have joined." <br />Not everyone can serve, but many wish they had. Many more had, at one time or another, been discharged, only to realize that the current downsizing practically guarantees that they will never be able to reenlist.<br />Think of the opportunity you have now and what you can do with it. I blew many chances in my career...lost opportunities that were practically handed to me. I could have been a 1LT by now, but I dropped the ball. And I regret it so deeply. <br />I know what burn- out feels like, but hang in there and DO something great with your career. Just posting what you did tells me that you care about what you do, but needed reassurance that yes, we have all felt that way at one time or another. <br />Keep your head up. You'll learn to recognize those soldiers who are tired and exhausted...counting down to ETS. Maybe, as a future leader, you can remind them of some of the things I'm telling you right now.<br />Be patient, practical, proactive, and make your career your legacy.We only have this one life. Do good things.

2014-08-18T00:00:57-04:00 2014-08-18T00:00:57-04:00 SFC Mark Merino 207644

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Hey! We're all in our prime young buck. Go sell tired somewhere else. :) Put in for 7 days leave and take the family on a hop to one of those spiffy MWR spots. Hawaii, Germany, Alaska, Korea....take your pic. Recharge those batteries and turn that frown upside down. Report back in a week for your debrief. Have fun. You active guys all deserve it!

2014-08-18T04:42:55-04:00 2014-08-18T04:42:55-04:00 SGT Richard H. 207892

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Let me offer you some advice from a non-careerist. I also planned on staying in for a career, and at my reenlistment point at the 9 year mark, had been to SFAS, been selected, and at the same time was dating the woman who eventually became my wife (she still is). She was honest with me, and said that she didn't have the fortitude to be a Special Forces wife. I had a choice to make between a career and having a family, and I chose a family. <br />I don't regret the choice, as I have a 20 year marriage and a great 17 year old daughter, but what I would like you to think long and hard about is this: I have worked every bit as hard as I did in the military for every day of the 22 years that I've been out, and not a single moment of it has meant a thing to anyone, except the people I have been making money for. This is just as exhausting....and really lacks that feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself. Just my $.02

2014-08-18T11:56:26-04:00 2014-08-18T11:56:26-04:00 CW2 Kenneth-Maxwell Nance 230395

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The short answer is no – not after a certain point. If you have time, you can read the short summary below:<br /><br />Only physically exhausted after being on a range all-day. When I first entered the service, the plan was to serve only the initial enlistment. My feelings about the Army ebbed and flowed. I had a few job opportunities and a chance to enter civil service near my ETS. However, I asked myself: where else can I serve my country, learn a skill, go to college, save money, and travel? A couple of civilians I worked with, urged me to stay. The bonus to stay didn't hurt. I re-enlisted, and decided to try to be the best that I could be. That goal kept me busy and took some time – still trying. From that point it was an exciting challenge. In it all, I found myself. Many of my superiors cited me for outstanding leadership. I maxed every evaluation, without the politics; but by caring for others and doing more than my job. My weighted average was above 82% of my peers. Then there was honor graduate (97.6% average) and the outstanding leadership award at the academy, 2 awards each assignment, max every APFT (every test came with an award). Placing over half a million dollars in your commands account, when you don't work in finance helps a little. After engineering a quality radio shot that refracts of the mountains to accomplish the mission, you know God is on your side. It got better getting quantifiable numbers for the team. Performing great as a team on contingency and joint operations. I was even more energized when a LTG I highly respected, allowed me to come to his corporate office. We discussed my career; particularly about going to OCS or WOCS. I selected WOCS. He served for 41 years. The LTG walked by me with a large brief case early in the morning; looking excited coming to work. I think one of his sayings was "thank God it's Monday". This was close to the 41st year, when I first met him. From LTG, to COO, to Assistant Secretary of Defense for C3i , then back to corporate America. I've been in corporate board rooms and suites for the past 14 years, and still knowing that my purpose in this world is unfulfilled. There's a secret to my story, and you haven't heard anything yet. <br /><br />Unless you know there is something outside, stay with what you know.<br /><br />Best wishes, <br /><br />In pursuit of purpose

2014-09-06T14:11:18-04:00 2014-09-06T14:11:18-04:00 SFC Nestor Nievesmoran 230427

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>At times things will not be as we want them to be, it will be ok to take a knee, face out, drink water, and regroup. It will never be ok to look at the weakness as a justification. As a Retired Veteran I will tell you that once you retired your boots you will never find a good bootman that can highspeed shine your jump boots as a professional Soldier. The military have values that Soldier live up to while on the civilian world everyone is for them self. The military has a great system that had work for ever and it will continue to work as long as we have dedicated great Americans giving their potential. Keep it up the good work and slip away from other jumpers in the ski.

2014-09-06T14:31:19-04:00 2014-09-06T14:31:19-04:00 GySgt Charles O'Connell 3319270

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I spent 21 years on active duty, never got tired of it, or exhausted by it. I did two tours on Embassy Duty, a tour as a canvassing recruiter, I made deployments, operational and training. I served on both coasts of the USA, in Europe, S. America, the Far East, Africa, and the Mid East. I don&#39;t say all this as a, &quot;Oh look what I&#39;ve done&quot;, but to say, &quot;Get out there and do it&quot;. Volunteer, go places, seek challenging assignments....

2018-02-03T08:37:09-05:00 2018-02-03T08:37:09-05:00 2014-08-15T22:58:23-04:00