My husband needs to decide soon if he is going to re-enlist or not. He joined when he was 27 and has 3 1/2 years in now. He is on a small ship and everyone keeps telling him that the navy is so much better outside of this duty station. We also had children before he joined and now our oldest is having a extremely hard time. He said that he is always a dad before a Sailor. It's so hard because he loves his family and his job. How do you decide what is right. My opinion is I just want him to be happy, and I support him all the way whatever he decides. We both like the military life, but the cons out way the pro's in both our minds. Can anyone offer some advise? Also, my husband and I "both" make the final call, it's not a one sided descision.
2007-12-31 12:44:34 · 12 answers · asked by navywife 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
ok, kenneth, he's been to war. overseas in the mid-east 3 times already. he is proud to do his job for our country, as i am proud of him too! - thanks, but the war has nothing to do with our descision.
2007-12-31 12:51:04 · update #1
yes, he has a degree. he has several great options to fall back on.
2007-12-31 12:52:56 · update #2
You're smart enough to make this a joint decision. Thank god!!
The last thing he needs is, to spend the rest of his life saying "I wish i would have stayed in, but my wife hated it, " and the last thing you need would be to live with this, and be saying "he could not wait until he could get out."
This is almost like when you got married, the pros outweighted the cons,so you did it and lived with your decision.
Now, since you feel the cons outweigh the pros about staying in, then , make your decision and live with it.
I hope that 3 years from now, 10 years, 20 years, you an look back and both feel you made the right call. Good luck to both of you. Happy New Year!
2007-12-31 13:03:19 · answer #1 · answered by Barry auh2o 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is a class at the FFSC he should take. it will run through exactly how much he would need to make on the outside to equal the pay and benefits he gets while AD.. keeping in mind that Insurance is EXPENSIVE on the outside, and nobody else will pay your housing costs.
2008-01-01 01:41:46 · answer #2 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For me I had a goal, I have been in 11 years and stil have not gotten to it yet, but will start the last leg of it this spring. Thats what keeps me in.
2007-12-31 13:37:20 · answer #3 · answered by Think for yourself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was easy for me. I had 3 kids and a strong desire to maintain the great benefits (medical, BAQ, BAS) for my family. Now I am retired and collecting a nice monthly pension along with lifetime medical and prescription drug benefits for my wife and myself.
Chief Petty Officer
U.S. Navy, Retired
1968-1990
2007-12-31 13:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by Bill 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in the Army for 8 years. From my experience (also what I tell my teenage boys) the ONLY reason to enlist (or re-enlist) is because you want to serve your country and/or you like the job. There are absolutely NO financial reasons to serve in the military. Run the numbers--the civilian path to whatever you are seeking is ALWAYS more lucrative. Tuition bills?--a civilian pay check will pay those off and leave more in your pocket. Re-enlistment bonus?--divide it over the number of years you re-up for and apply that to the yearly salary--that is the actual yearly salary and a civilian job will probably pay more. Can't transition to a civilian job? I enlisted for a second four years because I was worried about my young family. All I wound up doing was spending time away from them and serving in the first Gulf War. My civilian career (much more lucrative than my army career) is now four years behind schedule (eight if you include the first enlistment) compared to peers in my line of work. If you love to serve--re-enlist. If it is about money--there are better and easier ways to make money--trust yourself.
2007-12-31 12:56:01 · answer #5 · answered by salatjm 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A hard decision that really only you can make, good luck
2007-12-31 12:49:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cannot think of many civilian jobs where one can "retire" with full benefits after only 20 years of service.
Believe me, 20 years will pass very quickly. My dad retired from the Navy, then the USPost office. I regret that I did not re-enlist well over 20 years ago.
2007-12-31 12:49:09 · answer #7 · answered by ©2009 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a very tough question. One thing to consider is: what kind of job is he qualified for, outside of the military?
But, since you both feel that the cons outway the pros, it sound like you have made your decision already.
2007-12-31 12:48:39 · answer #8 · answered by DadOnline 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After you are stationed on a ship the usually follow my being on land.
2007-12-31 12:48:36 · answer #9 · answered by Dennis Fargo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get out now, do you really want him to go to war for new Bush wars.
2007-12-31 12:47:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋