To the retirees and those who have submitted or about too, what was the trigger puller for you?

SFC Ocie Conner — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:25:17 -0400

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 7 at 2016 7:37 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:37:02 -0400

This question comes up every few months..... I could merge them all together, but i suppose reason may change with the changing of the Army and its working..
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/retirees-when-did-you-know-it-was-time-to-hang-up-the-uniform

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-should-you-retire

Retirees - When did you know it was time to hang up the uniform? | RallyPoint

Whether the choice was yours, your spouse's/family's, medical condition or you ran into one of the military's service length requirements, when did you know it was time to hang the uniform up for the last time?Thousands of service members retire each year...your responses may impact their decisions.Note:  Keeping your responses short will allow for more views/responses.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2016 7:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:50:34 -0400

Three things I guess:

1. The Army was only ever going to be one of at least two separate careers. It was time to get started on number 2.

2. Once you are eligible for retirement, your only working for half your pay. You get the other half no matter what...

3. I had soldiers who weren't even born when I joined, I thought that was a sure sign it was time to move along.

Response by SGT Jamie Gregory made Sep 7 at 2016 7:51 PM

SGT Jamie Gregory — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:51:52 -0400

Well for me was the change of Military culture. Some changes are good to the culture but general Respect, Values, and simple soldiering left. Time to go for me! When you spend more classroom time learning how to create a safe place. In stead of learning how to survive combat and learn how to take care of each other.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2016 8:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:37:00 -0400

For me it was a couple of factors: 1. DoD/DA getting more and more Regulatory 2. Seemed like everywhere you turned you heard of another way that Big Army is downsizing and separating Soldiers (ok, now that the war is over...go home) 3. The de-valuation of your job. 4. You find yourself disagreeing with new policies and procedures. 5. Your job is no longer any FUN. 6. Your bad days start outnumbering the good ones.....Don't get me wrong...the majority my career was quite good...but your tolerance for bull@%$ goes to Zero when you have your Retirement Orders in hand...I was just very happy to be part of the 17% of all military members that actually retire from military service..because the odds are generally not in your favor...people don't look out after you like they used to...and it only takes a sneeze for you to get separated....enough of my banter....

Response by COL David Turk made Sep 7 at 2016 9:01 PM

COL David Turk — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:01:53 -0400

Hit MRD.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 7 at 2016 9:22 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:22:30 -0400

Pain and the Soldiers kept getting younger and I kept getting older.

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Sep 8 at 2016 12:09 AM

1stSgt Nelson Kerr — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:09:28 -0400

When the 2LT telling how to do something was not weened or walking when I learned how to do it, and not in High school when I was the tech exptert on the Manual on how to do it . It ws a simple choice curb-stomp the idiot of retire, I had used up all my torlence for saying "sir" to ignorant children.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2016 12:33 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:33:33 -0400

Multiple musculoskeletal injuries in less than a year which means it is time to get a desk job. If I'm going to ride a desk, I might as well use my education and experience to get a better paycheck as a civilian. The funny thing is, I already have a job that drops me right back into the community riding a desk right next to active duty guys.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 8 at 2016 6:49 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 06:49:20 -0400

The fun was gone from the training. Didn't really want to go from being in an Armor Bn. to being Mechanized Infantry.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 8 at 2016 8:42 AM

SGT David T. — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 08:42:47 -0400

You know when it's time to go. For some of us that time is earlier than others. My decision to leave the Army was based on a couple of factors. I had a P2 profile that limited me enough so I could not attend PLDC (I know I am dating myself now lol) but wasn't restrictive enough to reclass me or med board me. I was stuck in limbo as a Sergeant with no possibility of making my 6. The best outcome I could have got had I stayed in was to simply RCP. So I figured, why wait. The back to back deployments were another factor that led to my decision. I was tired. I wasn't motivated any longer so it was time to go. Honestly, it was the best decision I ever made slightly above the decision to join in the first place. I am proud of my service and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. All of that led me to where I am at right now. I am happy and enjoying my life. If it wasn't for my 9 years of service, I probably would take a lot more for granted.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 8 at 2016 9:52 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 09:52:45 -0400

This is going to sound corny, but it's true. When I was a young Sergeant, my Battalion CSM was my mentor. He announced one day, out of the blue, that he was retiring in 90 days. I felt he was being unfair by leaving on such short notice and I got up the nerve to hell him just that. He calmly crushed out his cigarette, took a swig of coffee and said "Let me tell you something young Sergeant. When it's your time, you'll know." Fast forward many years... I woke up one morning and heard those words in my head and realized that it was MY time. Just over 23 years and I pulled the trigger. So, in a nutshell, my advise is "When it's your time, you'll know!"

Response by LTC Tom Jones made Sep 8 at 2016 10:11 AM

LTC Tom Jones — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:11:08 -0400

Pending reassignment to the DC area with significant travel expected and two teenagers at home. Too much to ask of the Mrs.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 8 at 2016 11:03 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 11:03:04 -0400

The Air Force told me they really didn't need my services any more when I was passed over for Colonel. I took the hint and put in my retirement papers, then Iraq invaded Kuwait. I delayed my retirement a year to serve my country when I believed they needed me most. This worked out great because the company I wanted to go to work for won some more contracts and grew some openings during that year and I was hired immediately.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 12:41 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 00:41:14 -0400

That list is simply too long, and it's past my bedtime!!!