For those who got out before retirement why did you?

2016-01-24T12:26:56-05:00

What made you not stay in til retirement? Was it in fact your choice?

Response by CH (COL) Geoff Bailey made Jan 24 at 2016 12:31 PM

2016-01-24T12:31:19-05:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member I got out before retirement but joined right back up because I love serving my country. I transitioned back to active duty as a chaplain because I felt God's call to come back in and serve. I'll keep serving until I sense God releases me from the call or sends me elsewhere.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2016 12:39 PM

2016-01-24T12:39:08-05:00

Sir, I only stayed in for four years, 1968-1972, for two reasons. I left because I wanted to work on the Space Program, and I thought the Marine Corps was not doing enough to clean up the drug problem.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 24 at 2016 12:39 PM

2016-01-24T12:39:54-05:00

Active Duty Spouse. Got Recruiting orders, which does NOT tell you where you are going. The inability to coordinate Family and Career left me with a choice of choosing one over the other. It took less than a second.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Jan 24 at 2016 12:40 PM

2016-01-24T12:40:11-05:00

Although it was my choice, it was circumstances beyond my control at the time. I chose to get out to assist my Mother with medical issues she was having at the time. I was up for re-enlistment, my third, at the time.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2016 1:20 PM

2016-01-24T13:20:12-05:00

That Twenty-Year Letter is worth its weight in gold!!!

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 24 at 2016 5:44 PM

2016-01-24T17:44:20-05:00

For me it was the fact that the jobs that I could expect in front of me were not as personally desirable as the jobs that were behind me.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2016 8:34 PM

2016-01-24T20:34:35-05:00

I had one goal in mind: do 3 years, cash in my GI Bill and because a research scientist. I should have listened to my CO. He really pushed green to gold.

I might have been a 0-6 by now.

Still, I have enjoyed my reservist career so far. I still have time to retire as 1SG, or perhaps SMG

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Jan 24 at 2016 8:49 PM

2016-01-24T20:49:19-05:00

I will leave at the 11 year mark and I have about 20 separate reasons as to why.
The biggest reason though is my heart is not in it and I would rather do something else over the next 10 years.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 24 at 2016 10:52 PM

2016-01-24T22:52:33-05:00

RIF

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jan 25 at 2016 3:23 AM

2016-01-25T03:23:28-05:00

Not out yet but I intend to and it is 100% my choice. My reasoning is that for starters I am in a job I can't stand with little to no chance to cross train into any job I would want. The other reason is my social life is next to nothing. I can't make friends because of constantly changing shifts and even when I do as long as I am in the Air Force will just keep moving me around every few years forcing me to lose the friends I do make. I just can't handle that for 20+. So, I'm going to take my G.I. Bill at the end of this enlistment and split while I still can.

Response by PO1 Cameron Rhyne made Jan 25 at 2016 7:46 AM

2016-01-25T07:46:29-05:00

I had many reasons, but to keep it positive I'll just say that I realized after a couple of years that the Navy wasn't what I wanted to do in life and I was ready to move onto something else.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2016 10:29 AM

2016-01-25T10:29:02-05:00

IRAD the first time from true AD...but I found a way back in. Second time around, there were simply no more billets and my SELRES clock was running down. Apparently, it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.

Response by SSgt Dale W. made Jan 25 at 2016 11:47 AM

2016-01-25T11:47:26-05:00

I took an early out in an attempt to save my marriage. Didn't work, but I did help my boys grow up into fine upstanding men and met my current wife. I was more than half way to twenty and at times regret getting out, I cannot complain about what I have received in return.