I've been in the USAF 10 years...to get out...or to stay another 10 and retire...?

Question

Any ex-military out there who got out early and regreted it...and vice versa...

I can get out now and get a job making about 20K a year more than what I make in the USAF...but if I stay in 10 more years I can still get the job that pays more but I'll also have a retirement check...the question is...do I put up with the military way of life for 10 more years...or get out while the getting is good?

Answer 1

I served 4 years U.S. Navy (2 on Submarines) and 16 more in the U.S. Coast Guard. My Draft Number was 8 during the Vietnam conflict, soooooo I enlisted rather than be drafted.

I've been retired for over 14 years and the pension check is deposited like clock-work. It pay the Rent and Utilities with a little left for other things. My other job pays for all the fun things I want to do!

You've already invested 10 years and risen in rank. Odds are you will gain more rank and thus avoid most of the B*** S***.

;-)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

45 Reasons to Re-Enlist

1. Yesterday sucked, today sucked, tomorrow is going to suck, and this seems to be a pretty solid forecast for the rest of my enlistment.

2. Spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year training for something that there is a 99.9% chance that we will never do.

3. WWWDWOA? (what would we do without acronyms?)

4. Taking simple daily tasks and breaking them down into nuclear physics before doing them.

5. Having to attend a brief prior to carrying out any task more complicated than picking my nose.

6. Being a personal servant (that's basically all I am) to any one of the 300 thousand people in the military who out-rank me.

7. Being an adult and having somebody inspect me everyday to make sure I put my clothes on properly, and put my shoes on the right feet.

8. Having to wear a "cover," or hat, every time I want to go outside.

9. I love cleaning the same places over and over and over until either the paint comes off or my hands are bleeding.

10. Without the military’s influence and good teaching, I would never have realized that you can sweep water with a broom for hours every time it rains.

11. There just aren’t that many jobs out there where you can rest assured that everyone you work for is just waiting to screw you over any way they possibly can.

12. If I got out, I would surely miss the idea of waking up every morning for a "meeting".

13. Getting to wear civilian clothes whenever I am on leave.

13. Getting to eat meat that comes in boxes labeled " not fit for human consumption" and "for institutional use only."

14. Getting "random" drug tests every couple of weeks. I was "randomly" picked for every test for almost two years straight. Not many people can testify to taking about 50 drug tests in the past two years without having ever been caught doing drugs in my life.

15. Waking up every morning and going to "staff meeting" where a piece of paper is read to me even though it is posted on the wall and on the offices internet, both of which I have access to. I guess I can't read.

16. Going to medical complaining of severe heart and chest pain and being told to come back during "sick-call" the next day.

17. I love the fact that my opinion has about as much influence as my sister's pet iguana's.

18. Because no matter how much I hate my job, I have to respectfully request to get a different one. Event then it is only if my "chain of command" permits.

19. You do not have to respect the person, you have to respect what they wear on their collar or sleeve.

20. I love the fact that the military wonders why we have so many people around the world that hate our country. I am sure that us being bullies and telling the world what they can and cannot do, then ignoring those rules ourselves has nothing to do with it.

22. I hate good food.

23. I love the " you are U.S. ambassadors" speech.

24. I hate spending time with my family.

25. Not only getting to do my own job, but getting stuck with as many additional duties as my chain of command wants to give me.

26. Having to change your computer password every two weeks to keep terrorists from hacking into our email or even playing a innocent game of solitaire.

27. When you get out you will only be 38-40. You still have your entire life ahead of you. Yeah, okay, I want my life to start at 38.

28. What? You are going on leave?

29. Oh, look...There's the boss. We better all stand at attention until he tells us we can move. Do they do that in the civilian world too?

30. Is that local time or Zulu?

30. I want to work somewhere that has total control of my paycheck so that they can take half if I mess up.

31. If I get in trouble out in town I would like to get woken up the next day at 6 am and have to stand in front of my boss, manager, assistant manager, and anyone else who has nothing better to do so that they can all chew my ***.

32. Can we be tested to make sure we are physically-fit every year only please make exceptions to this for enormously fat 30+ year old NCOs and Officers.
34. Where else can you pay taxes to pay your own paycheck?

35. You take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and after that the Constitution doesn't even apply to you.

36. Because only during magic shows and military working hours are the rules of logic suspended.

37. Because no-matter how stupid you are, you will eventually get promoted by accumulating points for not getting promoted.

38. Because where else can you get your teeth drilled and jacked up whether they need it or not?

39. Where else can you get given shots by people who claim to practice medicine that didn't even graduate from high school, and can't even pronounce the name of the drug that they are injecting you with?

40. Because if you've had enough military #### for one lifetime and you want to quit, you can rest assured that the military will do everything it can to screw you over for the rest of your life.
41. Because it's fun to go to medical to get your eye checked out and have the tech point a light in your eye for ten minutes until you are blind and then to hear them say, "that was cool, let's try the other one."

42. Why did our parents even bother giving us first names?

43. IN what other job can you do things NOT the RIGHT WAY, but the "MILITARY WAY"?

44. Sitting around twiddling my thumbs all day long until about 4:00pm, even though I finished all of my work by ten in the morning is really fun to do every DAGGOM DAY...it builds character.

45. Who really wants to have any control over their life anyway?

Answer 2

I tangled with the same quandry 3 years ago. I also could be making a whole lot more money on the outside. I am an aircraft maintainer, and by civilian standards, we don't get paid squat in the military. But I figured, hey I've done 10, what's ten more? So now I sit at almost 14, and don't regret staying in. I love my job, job security, heck WE don't have to worry about CJR's anymore. Pay aint terrible E-6 and all, but could be better when I look at a Boeing, or Lockheed job. But 6 more years, and a house payment check from the Air Force, plus Medical and Dental and all the other goodies retirees benefit from to look forward to. So you gotta weigh all the factors. Do you enjoy what you do? If so, stick with it! Good luck on any choice buddy!

Answer 3

Your at that half way point.....thats a tuffy! Well lets see!

Depending on your rank, you will be making more than 20k a year if you stay in because your bound to make more rank. Your job might flop on the outside, your guarenteed a job through USAF. Think of medical and dental and a retirement check the rest of your life, but there is that bullshit you have to put up with. I don't know if you have family or not. It could be worse, you could be in the Army right now...lol


If I was you I woud stay in another 10yrs, and save my *** off for those 10 yrs. Get a nice house and vehicle somewhere you like!


good luck

Answer 4

I have been retired for over 10 years, and I have a very good full time job. I am an engineer. I am so glad that I have the montly check for my serviced to our country. If you are in a good job and you enjoy what you are doing, stay and do the 20 or what ever it takes these days to get a pension. I am able to take very nice vacations, and go and do many things with that extra pay check. I am even investing part of of for my 2nd retirement.

Answer 5

Without knowing your career field, it's not easy to make a recommendation. There are certain perks that accrue to a retiree that don't to someone who puts in 6 to 10 years and then quits, which might be one consideration. As you mention you may have valuable experience when you leave the service that would lead to a more lucrative position in private industry, so you might have to consider what your value to a corporation might be if you worked for them for the next ten years rather than remaining in the USAF. You may wish to talk with a career counselor. And is there an option for you to make warrant officer, or receive a commission for the remainder of your service? Either of those options might make a considerable difference in your final retirement benefits. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Veritas ... Excellent, excellent question. And it'll be hard for you to answer, too.

Things to consider:
• Generally speaking, rank is slower in the AF.
• The AF wins easily regarding quality of life issues compared to the other services, so you've got the edge in this category.
• If your AFSC is in a field with good demand in the civilian sector, maybe staying in to get more experience would be best.
• Do not overlook the value of your security clearance, if you have one. Especially if you have access to SCI, that may have big potential for you with a Defense contractor. This depends on your field, though, and you didn't mention what it is.
• Regarding retirement – You'll get 50%, but just of your BASE pay (last time I checked (I got out 20 years ago)). And I believe your retirement pay is taxable, too.
• To take advantage of your BX and commissary privileges, you may have to live near a base and the cost of housing in those areas is often higher than in other areas you may want to live in.

That's all that comes to mind. NO ONE can decide this for you, but hopefully you'll get some good answers that will give you the info you need to make an intelligent decision.

Thanks for serving, Veritas, and all the best to you.

Answer 7

I know it's sometimes difficult to put up with military life and that is why I got out. With 10 years in I'm sure it's a tough decision.
I regretted getting out but am not sure what my remaining years would have been like. If you can somehow project what your next 10 years will be like, what kind of advancement you will achieve and maybe request some quality duty in say England or somewhere you would like to spend some time it may make your decision easier. Good Luck

Answer 8

Well, It's your choice. My brother got out after 8 years and now brings in 200,000 per year. ( Note: He made that 7 years after he got out.) He's now 55 and has over a million dollars in the bank. His friend who stayed in is now retired and gets 12,000 per year retirement. That's nothing to brag about after 20 years. But no matter how or what you do you will come out a winner. Some people have nothing at retirement.

Answer 9

How old are you dude, if you joined young that you already have 10 years under your belt stick it out for the added paycheck. If your already like 35 than probably another 10 years may not be worth it if you have a god job right now.

Answer 10

10 years of security as opposed to the chance that the new job will last and be everything You hoped it would be? I would wait for My retirement.

Answer 11

My husband stayed in for the full 20. The last 4 years were hard. He hated it and it showed. However, I think the benefits were worth it; however, we weren't facing a war.

Good luck