What is one or two things that has kept you in the military until retirement or currently keeping you in to reach retirement?

2021-09-11T22:08:59-04:00

Or as many things as possible

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 11:27 AM

2021-09-12T11:27:48-04:00

It's hard to quit when you're having fun.

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Sep 12 at 2021 2:21 PM

2021-09-12T14:21:56-04:00

Service in the military is a career choice, same as any other career path, i.e. doctor, lawyer, teacher. If you like it you keep doing it.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 6:48 PM

2021-09-12T18:48:38-04:00

I gave up a great deal in earnings staying in until retirement (high earning specialty in medicine), but stayed in because I felt that I owed it to my brothers and sisters to continue to provide the best care to patriots and their families, to continue to mentor junior enlisted (I’m a mustang), and because frankly, I loved the people I worked with and for. I retired at the beginning of COVID… no ceremony, just quit going to work one day. I love my civilian job equally as well. And while it isn’t “the big check” I love that retirement check every month and everything that comes with it (especially because I stayed in my military town). That being said, I just went into the hospital today and the techs tell me morale is lower than ever before and I can’t blame them for separating as their medical tech specialty is likewise high demand and good pay. At the end of the day, each of us chooses what motivates us and what is best for us and our families (if we have one, which I didn’t much of my career… married to a retired mil member, no kids together). Whatever you choose, be proud and confident in your choice. If you serve 2 or 20 years, those years matter and we will always be family.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Sep 12 at 2021 7:26 PM

2021-09-12T19:26:45-04:00

I wasn't career mainly because I couldn't get the education I wanted in the Marines (and I had no intention of enlisting in another branch). Having said that, the promise of that lifetime retirement check would have a huge impact of keeping me in for the minimum twenty years.

Response by MSG Randall Rankin made Sep 13 at 2021 7:04 AM

2021-09-13T07:04:29-04:00

Wanting (and subsequently buying) a house and having the guaranteed income to pay for it.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 13 at 2021 8:05 AM

2021-09-13T08:05:37-04:00

One thing was think what I was going to live on in My old age, this seemed like a good answer and is proving to be so, The Military Retirement, plus retirement for a Civilian Police Department plus social security do help. Another factor was the great people I worked with and the teamwork concept of people in both the Military and the Police Department. A third thing maybe, I also didn't have to figure out what clothing I was going to wear to work in either location. lol

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 9:02 AM

2021-09-13T09:02:37-04:00

For the love of the Military. I was a DOD Civilian and I cried when I had to retire after 36 years of working with our Military. I continue to help our Military by helping them Build a Case to File a VA Disability Benefits Claim. I also worked a State Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation to help Military Families File SSDI Benefits. If you qualify, you can get both, Social Security Disability SSDI and VA Disability Benefits. SHARE

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 13 at 2021 11:50 AM

2021-09-13T11:50:50-04:00

I served 22 years. Mostly during the Cold War era. Here’s why I stayed.
-I enjoyed flying aircraft
-My family needed the steady source of income and benefits
-I believed I was Serving my Country
-I was unsure of my future outside of the military
-I liked and was comfortable with being an officer

Response by SCPO Edward Westerdahl made Sep 13 at 2021 12:04 PM

2021-09-13T12:04:10-04:00

My best was three things:
1) 4 years in Rota, Spain as shore duty
2) Plankownner in USS Nimitz (CVAN68) later (CVN68)
3) UNITAS 24 Cruise to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, and around South America

Response by CSM William Everroad made Sep 13 at 2021 12:07 PM

2021-09-13T12:07:17-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, I enjoy the work. Additionally, I had a mentor way back in the day suggest that if something was broken or did not work in a efficient way, to effect change at my level. The only way to solve some of the Army's biggest problems is to keep moving up the ladder and being part of the solution.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 2:40 PM

2021-09-13T14:40:12-04:00

To be honest it was hard having to retire last spring, but I also knew it was time for me to do this for my fellow brothers and sisters so they could move up in the ranks. It also allowed me more time to spend with my family that I was not able to do as much as I wanted to do over the course of my 26 + years of service. Some of the things that I kept me serving were the duty, and love of the job. The friendships you make while in the service regardless if active, reserves is nothing compared to those that you will find on the outside. Some other perks to keep in mind are the things like TSP for retirement, this is a good value and way to save for your future. The overall admin fund costs by far are the cheapest you will ever see. Take advantage of it if you are not already as this is something that I did not take advantage of until my first deployment to Iraq. Granted I have a nice nest egg because of this, but if I would have started it much sooner I would have been set.... Other perks that some mention are the Tricare for Life. But as we all know Congress is always changing some of the perks on this. It was once a deal that was great, but now vets have to pay towards it. But it is still cheaper than marketplace and better coverage from what I am seeing. This is just some things to hopefully consider. Lastly remember that very few only make it to the 20 year mark so you would be among that small group.

Response by MSgt George Murray made Sep 13 at 2021 3:13 PM

2021-09-13T15:13:10-04:00

One was of course the retirement itself and also I had a good job. The first 18 was in Transportation/Logistics and the last 4 with the Pentagon so I ended with 22 years 11 months. Might as well say 23. It was a great ride.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Sep 13 at 2021 4:37 PM

2021-09-13T16:37:51-04:00

I had no idea until 1984 but The State sent me for aptitude testing and all of my aptitudery was in Law Enforcement or military. I have retired from both. I do not understand the outside world and would go nuts at a desk

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Sep 13 at 2021 5:25 PM

2021-09-13T17:25:54-04:00

My daughter - because TRICARE has covered 99.9% of all her medical expenses which have been a lot in 7 years. She's my motivation.

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 5:29 PM

2021-09-13T17:29:04-04:00

Trying to remove the first comment

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 5:30 PM

2021-09-13T17:30:32-04:00

Plz remove this first comment. Rewritten below

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 5:32 PM

2021-09-13T17:32:39-04:00

Plz remove

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 5:35 PM

2021-09-13T17:35:27-04:00

Plz remove

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 5:38 PM

2021-09-13T17:38:01-04:00

Remove plz

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 5:40 PM

2021-09-13T17:40:28-04:00

Remove

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 13 at 2021 6:23 PM

2021-09-13T18:23:35-04:00

Trying to remove this comment

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 13 at 2021 7:05 PM

2021-09-13T19:05:44-04:00

The knowledge that I can make a positive difference with leadership. However, when I was in staff positions I still tried to make a difference like writing a DTS Smart Book for the army and writing a DFAS wide SOP to support National Disaster Planning and Mitigation. For example what happens when banks go down due to the lack of electricity. How will government employees, military members, and contractors get paid?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 14 at 2021 5:30 PM

2021-09-14T17:30:40-04:00

My re-enlistment NCO lied.

I went into the BEAR program at 9 1/2 years, just under the 10 year cutoff for indefinite. I was promised by my re-up NCO, the BDE re-up NCO, and my Commander - and they even showed me in writing what APPEARED to be support for their statements, that I would re-enlist as of 9.5 years, and *not* have to go indefinite. Lo and behold a little over a year later after completing school, I was over 10 years and had to re-enlist indefinite.

I was relatively happy with my career right up until around the 12 year mark when I ran into a long series of sub-par leaders, some of whom were toxic, others which were just assholes or incompetent. I was ready to get out... but I couldn't.

All that being said, I definitely enjoy the benefits of making it through to retirement. You can't beat the cost of health care (despite how much we all complain about TriCare), and the paycheck for life is nice, too.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Sep 14 at 2021 7:20 PM

2021-09-14T19:20:16-04:00

The fun is so very intermittent with a very high percentage of suckage.

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 14 at 2021 7:37 PM

2021-09-14T19:37:59-04:00

Plz remove

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 14 at 2021 7:38 PM

2021-09-14T19:38:14-04:00

Plz remove

Response by Janeen Rosenberg made Sep 14 at 2021 7:42 PM

2021-09-14T19:42:04-04:00

Please remove

Response by PO1 John Crafton made Sep 19 at 2022 2:38 PM

2022-09-19T14:38:16-04:00

Nothing. I didn't stay in until retirement. I got out for one reason, and one reason only: My family. No, the Navy didn't issue me a wife and kids. No, I didn't expect to gain a family during my enlistment. Even so, as I neared my End-of-Service towards my 10-year-mark, I decided that I didn't want to go back out into the fleet, where I'd be either underway and absent from my children 300 days out of every year (like I was on USS First Ship) or I'd be a Geo-Bachelor in another country entirely.

Had I been single, I likely would have stayed in. Instead, I had a choice: Allow my children to grow up without their father while I chased that career, or forgo my career in favor of being there for my children.

For me, it was an easy choice.