What is your experience getting out of the military? Any regrets or are you happy getting out?

Just understand that, though you might feel like you're missing out...the military probably suits your current lifestyle better than civilian life. One thing I really enjoyed about the military was that there was a huge support structure in place. You literally had to dedicate yourself to failing at life in order to fail in the military. On the civilian side, that's not the case at all. Between taxes, benefits, utilities, rent/mortgage, benefits, car payments and benefits...the rest of the world is absolutely interested in promoting your downfall, and rubbing their hands greedily at it. Even if you get a decent job (I absolutely did), socializing with your peers will be different, because many civilians simply can't relate to where we've been or what we've overcome. The loneliness and isolation of readjusting to the civilian world can be truly shocking, but also rewarding if you can power through it.

My number one issue with civilians, especially civilians in the workforce is that, in general, there is very nearly a complete lack of accountability. It seems that America has found it acceptable for employees to half-ass their daily work...

That depends on your goals and your expectations - not someone else's. Everyone's experience is going to be different whether they got out at 4, 10 or 24 years.

I was only going to do four years and get out - 14 years later hear I am. Honestly, if my daughter didn't have the medical issues she has I'd have not reenlisted 2 years ago. But, as you said, healthcare is good. I have not had to pay for one hospital bill in the last four years and she's had 14 admissions, ER visits, home health, medications abound, etc (although I have had a few co pays on meds).

It sounds to me like you want to stay in honestly.

I got RIF'd (booted) even though I volunteered to return to Vietnam (tells you how much they wanted to get rid of me). My oldest son retired from the Marines after 23 years (he was a better soldier than I). Either way, we all have to leave some day and usually when we have enough years left that we need to do something else. For someone who joined upon graduating from high school, it's unlikely that you know what choices there are. Well, there are many. Really, a whole lot of them. Take you time to look around. This reminds me of the days when I was teaching computer desktop applications at a training center and one young lady just out of high school took virtually every class we offered. I had a chance and asked what she was up to. She explained that she was accepted to several colleges (she was smart and beautiful - unfair, I know - and her daddy could pay for even the best of them - more unfairness), but she didn't really know what she wanted to study or do with her life inasmuch as she didn't know all the choices. So, her game plan was to work for a temporary agency so she could work at many types of companies and discover what was going on at each (wise as well as smart and beautiful and had a wealthy daddy - unfairness heaped upon unfairness). I don't know if this story helps but it helps me remember how unwise, unsmart, unbeautiful I am (and I never had a wealthy daddy)