What are good reasons to stay in the military?

Question

What are some good reasons to stay in the military or to get out of the military?

What is your experience with people who have stayed in versus those who have gotten out?

Answer 1

I'm Retired Military, and my siblings are still serving, so the PLUSES for staying in:

1. The Pay/Benefits. This was reason enough -- when I was on Active Duty -- I knew I would serve the full career -- and made sure that I did so (because I did end up a single parent)

2. The Medical/Dental/Health Care. While I served, I did get injured, and another of my sibling was also injured. The Medical/Health Care is excellent -- and I consider myself blessed to have this care available to me. Also, with two disabled children (now adults and living independently) -- I am glad I had this benefit, because finding health/medical insurance for disabled children is impossible.

3. The opportunities to Advance, the Continuing Education, the Educational Opportunities. I did go up the ranks, took advantage of continuing education, and achieved my Graduate Degrees while on Active Duty.

4. The fact that you get an opportunity to change location and get trained/cross-trained, and re-trained. I liked the challenge of new areas to explore, new skills to learn, new opportunities to prove my skills and abilities, and this is something that I enjoyed worldwide.

For me, the opportunities outweighed some minuses -- like I did have a supervisor that was arrogant and abusive (but that occurs in civilian life -- and I knew that I could outlast this because tours were not that long), and the Separations (which were hard after I had children -- and as a single parent -- but for me, this occurred late in my career because I married late in the career, and divorced after a short marriage).

All in all, I am glad I served -- and I protect my EARNED Military Retirement Benefits -- Proud of the service, happy to have experienced so much of the world (even the bad places), and glad I got the opportunity to spread my wings well beyond the city I was born in -- to know the world and many peoples and to be able to say -- YES -- I WAS THERE and saw it, took the photo, and came back home to tell the story.

Answer 2

Very tough question Torn. Let me start by telling you I've put in 8 years so far. Without knowing how long you've been in, or which branch you currently serve, I'll give you some points just to think about.

1. Pay - Ok, it's not much...but it's steady. It takes quite a bit to get fired. ;-)

2. Medical/Dental - Take a look in the "real world" one time, ask some friends out there. The costs are amazingly high. Granted, our medical may not be the greatest...but for free, well...

3. College - Tuition Assistance and GI Bill. If you haven't gone to college to get your degree, I'd recommend doing so before seriously considering separation. Decent jobs today are harder and harder to come by without that nifty little paper to tell people how smart you are. Experience in your field doesn't fly as far as it used to.

I do a lot of Career Counseling in my job, however, I never tell a person whether to stay or go. What I do advise though, is that you look at all your options, make sure you are truly set to leave the service, then make your decision. Too many people leave without planning, and fall on their faces. I've a few friends in the recruiting posts that all tell me their biggest numbers come from returnee's who had no idea what it was like in the so called "real world". Good luck, whatever you decide!

Answer 3

The good reason's are: three squares a day, free uniforms, hazard pay in the war zone, free medical, shipping over bonuses, free transportation to foreign lands, free garbage pick up, free utilities, and a paycheck on top of all that.

I've known many lifers, and for the most part they are happy they stayed in. Those first twenty years can go mighty fast, but when you're done with that you still have lots of time to build an after service career. By the time you're ready to retire, you will have your service pension, social security, and possibly a civilian pension plan. This combination would make for a real comfortable retirement.
If you are able to stay in for thirty years, the pot is even sweeter. Some folks do fully retire after thirty, while others go on to a civilian career and soon qualify for social security. This too, is a good way to plan for a comfortable retirement.

Answer 4

I told myself every enlistment that I was gonna get out, two combat tours 3 overseas tours and numerous stateside duties later, (21 years) I retired. And the reasons for staying far outway most choices unless you have education goals you would like to meet. Or a job lined up with a fortune 500 company with a six figure salary. I loved every minute of my service, wouldn't change a thing, It had its ups and downs but now that I retired, I'd do it all again if i woke up and found myself 19 again tomorrow.

Answer 5

i retired from the navy and i'll tell you straight. reasons for staying you do not get laid off in the mil;itary. you got good medical care, you got a regular payday and if you live on base you get good food. i know they mess it up sometimes buts it started out good.i always had good working conditions,guess it depends on which branch you're in. you got medical coverage when you retire and this is very important and you get a good retirment. you have an opurtinuty to save money and you can get a good education while in the military. they have lots of good things if you will take advantage of them. now the bad things about it.if you get a bad boss you stuck with him. you're in grave danger during time of war. and you are required to be seperated from your family for long periods of time. i'm happy i retired but i would not want to do it again now> if you plan to work after you retire do not do 30 years because you will be too old to get a job that will pay you anything. i went to school and became a tool and die maker because i retired after 22 years.

Answer 6

depends if you over 10 years i would stay in just stick it out for your retirement pay.
Under 10 years you can find a job that pays you more then the army pays(it depends of course on your MOS).

Answer 7

1. Love of your country.
2. Pay/Benefits.
3. Job security.

Most people we know who have gotten out have regretted the decison.

Answer 8

If that man divorces his wife, and then marries his mistress, do you know what the former mistress will have? She will have a husband who has proven conclusively that he is the type of person who will cheat on his wife.

Answer 9

The uniform is a Chick Magnet!!

Answer 10

if you wanna be a loser stay in us mil.........otherwise get out or join any other country military