My time in the military is almost up. Should i stay or should i go?

Question

ok so i have been in the navy for 8 years and i have a year and a half left. i am a main frame computer tech. i had 22 months of technical school and i have an assiciates degree, so my options are pretty open for jobs in the civilian world. but i won't have job security like i do with the military. my military pay is actually pretty good. if i re-enlist i will get a $45,000 bonus and will obviously stay in for 20 years and retire. 38 years old and retired sounds great. but being able to grow my hair out and a beard is actually very important to me. can't do that in the military. the biggest thing is the fact that i am married and have 2 children in which all of their medical is free. i gotta keep my familiy's well being in mind. i am also back in my home town and love it. plus my whole adult life has been in the navy. freedom!! i am completly torn and would like some prospective from ex military that got out early and that retired, preferably navy but any branch would do. please help!!

also its not like i am a dirt bag, i am an E-6 and i have had nothing but great evaluations. i just am really curious about how well i can do in the civilian world.

I'm a FC, fire controlman

Answer 1

I was also in the Navy (nuclear field). After I got married, I got out (6 year enlistment). You will be able to spend more time with your kids on the outside. I think sometimes with the military life you get so used to the pampering, and the stability, and the free medical, that it seems easier to just stay with it. And you are right, if you retire at 38, you can still go and get a civilian job, work 15 more years, and have a double retirement.

BUT...people are saying it will be hard to find a job, the free medical is worth it, blah blah blah.

Dude, if you have a wide array of experience in the tech field, you can pretty much write your own ticket, especially if you are willing to move to one of the hot spots. Even the computer techs (two of them) at my wife's work place for a small sized company were starting at $75k.

For me, being single and in the military was great. Lots of good times with friends and beer. But with family, in my opinion, it is more important to spend time with them. If you are on a 6-12 month deployment, that is a lot of away time.

Answer 2

I got out of the Navy (Submarines) after 10 years. I made E6 in 7. Just look at all of your options and you and your family decide what is best for you and your family.

I got my dream job and am now a police officer, so I can't talk much about tech jobs. But I do know that almost everyone I talked to tried to tell me I should stay in. They said things like, "you are a lock for chief," and "it's only 10 more years."

I stuck to my guns and now I am much happier.

I am not telling you that staying in or getting out is the right decision. I'm saying you should make your own decision. I found that many people in the Navy were almost brainwashed into believing that there was no way they could get a good job if they got out. Some don't and some do. You have some education and good experience.

A lot of it may depend on how willing you are to relocate. You may even take a pay cut - I did, but I am so much happier that I don't even care. Do the job that you love and the money will come. I actually look forward to going to work, and I never felt that way in the Navy.

I'm not bashing my time in the navy either. I grew up a lot during my time in. I finished my Bachelor's degree. I bought a house at my 5 year point and then sold it 6 months before I got out. I profited enough to leave the service debt-free, including 3 paid-off vehicles, and with a rather large bank account.

The bottom line is this: make your own decision and don't let others make it for you. I decided to get out and it worked out well for me. I've seen others get out and have a really hard time. It really is up to each individual and what they do with the opportunities they have,

Answer 3

As a retired Army personnel, I can tell you that the job field out here is very competitive, to whereas you are set, there is no competing, in fact the military as a whole, is looking for more like you.

To get $45,000, to re-enlist, you wont get a signing bonus 1/5 that size. Also, out here you are on a probationary period, which could last up to a year, and if they don't like you, at anytime during that time period, your out on your bottom buddy.

Its nasty, its hard, its ugly out here. the worry of weather or not your going to be apeart of a cut in the next 3 to 6 years from a job you've held down for perhaps 2 years or more and the thought of weather or not you made the right choice.

Insurance is throught the roof, however, you can still put in for Tri-Care, which is cheap, but not many doctors accept it and what ever insurance you have on your job, it will be primary to your Tri-Care.

There are plenty of options available to you, I however did my 20 and went home.

Oh, check it out. Your young, if you do 20 years in the navy, you will not get 50% of your pay when you retire. I guess you knew about that, Uncle Sam made that change some years back. Your pay would be about 35%, and when you reach retirement age (62), then you would get your 50%. (I think thats the way its done now).

But out here, with the cuts, down sizing, lay offs and company's moving out and overseas, you would be competing against those younger guys who are coming out of college and those people who are already in the fields looking to move up or over into the position you are looking into.

Right now, your are a 24 hour soldier and the work does get somewhat difficult (its the challenge), but out here, the big dogs are always hungry and you gotta feed'em with a long handled spoon, with a long stick tied to it.

Keep in mind, that the big dogs don't bark, they just bit and when you run with the big dogs, the game is not checkers, it chess, (lots of strtegy).

Another way of looking at it is, you got everything at your finger tips and security is all around you 24/7.

Answer 4

As an Air force wife my husband was struggling with this decision at his 8 yr mark as well with another year left to go. After we sat and discussed it we decided it was better for us for him to finish at 20 yrs and retire. It may not be the same for your family but think about how you will have to adjust to civilian life again. Can you secure a job paying you what you're getting now or more. Also are their good health benefits for you and your family. There are many things to consider. It sounds like to me you would rather stay in then get out early. Plus if you retire at 38 you wil get a pension along with the pay you'll get with your civilian job and you'll always have your health benefits. Discuss this with your family and get their input before you make any decisions. This way you'll make a more informed choice and take their feelings into account as well.

Answer 5

My hubby just retired Jan 1 after 20 years in the Navy, most of it on subs. The medical rocks, and to tell the truth it is not as easy as you would think to get a great job out here in the real world. Not when you figure in all the pluses active duty gets on top of pay. The medical alone is worth a lot, and retirees get to keep pretty good medical, but you lose that if you just get out. Retirees also get to keep comm privileges, and you know how much that saves on groceries. You lose that if you get out too. And as far as the hair thing goes, hubby grew his out at first, but after the short cuts for ssssssssssooooooooooo long, he hated it long. He lasted a couple months and is back to a military cut. We are both glad he did 20 (retired a chief). Good luck in whatever you chose.

Answer 6

Talk to your wife and (if they're old enough) children. I married my wife when I had 7 years in the Army and my decision to stay in beyond 8 was made after her and I discussed it. If they're all for it and it is something you want to do, then I'd stay. Get your degree and shoot for officer (or limited duty officer). To be honest, very few civilian jobs offer the retirement system that the military does. Since I retired and started working at my civilian job, I've seen our pension done away with completely and now all we get is our 401K.

If you do get out and have a security clearance, then look for a job as a government contractor. It is one of the few lines of work where you cannot be replaced by a cheap foreign scab imported under that fraudulent H1-B visa program. I recently transferred to the federal portion of my company because I've become ill working with a bunch of incompetent foreign scabs who possess only one special skill and that is that they are cheap, exploitable labor.

Answer 7

Sup, Im stationed all the way in Germany and my companion is returned living house and that i've got not CHEATED. I admit, it is confusing as hell being so far faraway from him. I do bypass out 2 the golf equipment and characteristic a reliable time, yet @ the comparable time, i'm no longer bringing some Random German guy bacck 2 my place. you're impressive...alot of armed forces relationships bypass down the drain, yet there are additionally alot that stand reliable..

Answer 8

Ask God to help you out on this one He knows what He has planned for you.i may not know that much cuz i'm just starting out in the navy but that question is going to hit me to soon or later but i know that family is important and when it comes to them things seems to be harder because you want the best for them youre E-6 you make good money but money is not everything if you don't have the people you love to enjoy it with you i believe you should but give it a little more time and pray about it you'll get the answer you need. trust me i prayed and get my answer when i got a 59 you'll get soon

Answer 9

I got out after six years, I was a 'snipe'...I don't regret getting out.
Save some leave and go to some job fairs and make every effort to make the choice a matter of either staying in or accepting a particular job offer.

I'm not familiar with your rate, it doesn't sound like your an ET, but it does sound like you may be a candidate for other government services.

Answer 10

i'm not and wasn't in the military but, married to a retired servicemember. you have all the but one good reason to stay in service. forget about wanting to grow your beard and hair. it will eventually happen when you retire. for right now, you have a family to take care of and being in the military is the best and safest way to provide health insurance for them. another thing, save as much as you can while in the service. that way when you get out or retire, you will not have to work so hard.