I recently hit my 20-year mark. Has anyone done anything special for theirs, or have any plans for their upcoming 20 years?

MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:19:05 -0400

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Oct 23 at 2017 9:23 AM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:23:18 -0400

Congrats on your achievement!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 23 at 2017 9:23 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:23:31 -0400

MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member just wanted to tell you congrats and thank you for your service. 20 years is a big feat!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 9:28 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:28:40 -0400

Retire?

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Oct 23 at 2017 10:01 AM

MSgt John McGowan — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:01:41 -0400

Congrats MSgt. If you want to call it special I went to work to earn enough to live on. Turned into an 18 1/2 year career. You have to keep on trucking if nothing but staying busy. My first 20 years after I retired went very fast.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Oct 23 at 2017 10:32 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:32:06 -0400

Submitted their retirement paper work?

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Oct 23 at 2017 10:36 AM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:36:35 -0400

Depends on what I'm doing by the time I hit that mark. I may be fixing for retirement; I may not be anywhere near ready to leave yet.

Response by SGT Thomas Hockin made Oct 23 at 2017 11:20 AM

SGT Thomas Hockin — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:20:12 -0400

I’ll be sharing a 20yr old bottle of scotch with a few friends (in the field of course).

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 12:46 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 12:46:58 -0400

I don't remember doing anything special when I hit that mark. I simply continued on. I celebrated when I retired.

Response by 1stSgt Mack Housman made Oct 23 at 2017 1:12 PM

1stSgt Mack Housman — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:12:01 -0400

When I hit 20, the world was running with fear of mighty "Y2K" holcaust. What a laugh when I look back on it. Congrats on your milestone. Stay till you stop having fun my friend!

Response by SFC Wade W. made Oct 23 at 2017 8:01 PM

SFC Wade W. — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 20:01:19 -0400

I was an instructor for Reserve and NG soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan when I hit my 20 yr mark. Some of my soldiers, my family was not anywhere near me, took me out to dinner and it was similar to a birthday party. It was a nice recognition of my time. We all knew I wasn't going to be able to retire anytime soon so they did that for me. I know some families who have done something like that also. In the AC/RC unit I was in the reservists received their 20-year letter and there was usually a little party at their end of their weekend drill for all who got their letter. Just something to recognize they were eligible to apply for retirement. We stressed that part about apply because it wasn't going to be approved during the time I was with them.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 11:26 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 23:26:55 -0400

Yes, I took my wife and children out to each of their faviorte place to eat. Thankfully they chose only two places.

Why did I do this way? Because they made great sacrifices so that dad could be all he could be. They lived in three countries, and at a dozen different addresses. They changed schools three times during the school year. They also spent three Christmases on the road in motels.

They stood strong during dad's two tours in Vietnam and many TDYs. Without their, love, encouragement and support I would have never made the 20 mark.

That's this old soldier did it.

Response by SFC Rob Hawkins made Nov 17 at 2017 5:17 PM

SFC Rob Hawkins — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:17:10 -0500

Congratulations. It is truly an accomplishment these days to make it to 20. I retired in 2012 after 22 years in Army Guard. Best wishes in your next chapter.