Extremely hard decision to make... help?

Get it take the gs12 an buy back your AF time to count towards that retirement invest heavily in the TSP. Gather all your med records an make sure everything is documented if you were ever injured goto VA file a claim an stay on that. It's a nice little surprise every month. Live worry free no deployments, PT, an BS associated with all branches of service watch your family grow in real time instead of pics an FaceTime. Buy a house pay it off no more renting or base housing with crappy neighbors. Get fat an old retire at 60 mod your Tacoma to all hell an leave tire marks in the woods.

 

First off..you can't really say that your wife does not "deal with any of this" that is wrong on so many levels. I have been in 8 years with 5 combat deployments and my wife has been through it all with me. She's a stronger person than me to maintain our life while I'm deployed. Yours needs some credit. Just had to get that out there

Been in 8 years and in about 10 days I will start my terminal leave. I have been an intelligence analyst in in 5th and 7th Special Forces Group in the Army who just passed up E7 in order to get out. You being a GEOINT guy I will say unless you are willing to deploy full time or deploy and work/live in DC, vegas, North Carolina, or Tampa then finding employment in the Intel field is pretty difficult.

Idc who "offers" you a job, literally nothing is guaranteed. I have had so many people say "you should get out I'll get you this job..etc" nothing is a guarantee. Especially a GS position. It's about a 4-6 month hiring process for any GS position. I will saying knowing someone will help your chances but it's not as easy as someone coming up to you and talking to you about it. I was hired for two different Intel jobs and one was great money but deployed. One was barely enough with no deployments.

If you are dead set on getting off active duty there's nothing wrong with that. Join the reserve and keep that retirement going. You're half way there anyways.

If you have any questions about the transition since we are in similar career fields please PLEASE feel free to PM me. I am currently going through it

 

My wife really doesn't deal with any of this, even when I'm gone, her family moves in because they are all incapable of being functioning adults. I still go online and pay all the bills, she goes back to life almost exactly how it was at 17, we don't have kids and because her family is there she doesnt hardly notice that I'm gone.

Luckily, I haven't been trapped in one aspect of my career field. I'm a qualified and experienced collection manager, FMV analyst, traditional Imagery Analyst and various other things. Lots of employers like that broad experience. I haven't made a final decision, and I know that no job is guaranteed. I've been offered enough jobs to figure that even if only 10% of offers are honored I would get something decent. I'll be talking to the assignments people today to see what's open for a follow on assignment after Korea.

 

I agree they want well rounded. I just wanted to emphasize that it's not easy nor guaranteed. I too have the same experience collection manager, TFMV, certified interrogator, and raven pilot. The jobs are out there but 90% of them will entail deploying definitely not saying that all of them do but if one of your major gripes is deploying it is likely not to change. I am trying to exit the Intel field entirely just because of the difficulty and limitations to where I can live if I want an Intel job.

 

I've spent 18 months "deployed" to Qatar, rather not deploy again but if the pay is there I would consider it.

 

Hey I agree lol I got close to 36 months just in Afghanistan and Qatar sucks btw. They have offered me quite a bit but it totally isn't worth it. Getting out right now cause I want a family and a life so I feel you there.

If you decide to get out though man hit me up. It's a big transition and no one gives you the reality check we need. I'd love to help in any way I could.

 

I remember asking myself this same question. Now I am at 15 with only 5 to go and I can see the light. 5 years is still a lot my time but the healthcare is worth it. Let's be honest you will have to work to make a living but healthcare is getting ridiculously expensive. Just something to think about. Besides what's another 10 years for your country. Hang in there stud. It's worth it. All these opportunities will be there in 10 years and they will offer you more money then. Just my opinion.

 

Good post... that happened to me. I didnt really have a plan but we were lucky since both me and my wife are retired AF so we knew we wouldnt be with out a place or food. It was tight for a few months but we made it and we adjusted our living. But everything happens for a reason and Im happy where I am at now.

10 is really a hump but its technically down hill from there...if you do one more tour 4yrs that puts you at 14 or 15 depending when you re-enlist then you only have 4 more years because your last year will fly by...with appointments, outprocessing and if you do it right you can have close to 90days terminal leave. The last year goes quick trust me. so basically you have 2 full re-ups and half of another. It is a pain to do PT tests but if you can blast out a good one you only have to do that once a year. Im glad I stayed my 20. I wouldnt go back though even if they asked me.

 

So... A lot has happened in the last week or so. I'll be leaving Tucson in April, spend a few weeks in San Angelo, TX and then head off to Osan AB in South Korea for a year. I'm still waiting on my follow on assignment after Korea, hopefully back to Hawaii.
I will be going as a single 29 year old... wife decided that being faithful was too difficult so she's gone. I'll be enjoying life without her. I hope she's happy with her little cholo wannabe and his 2 kids from 2 other women.
Because she is going to take at least half of everything, I have to start over, so I might as well stick around for a while longer.

 

military has changed alot in the last 10 years. I thought I was gonna stay in the for the long haul but when I saw the changes I got out. My job now I will retire only couple years after I would have anyway except with waaaay more money. 20 and out doesnt net a big enough check to not work anymore.

 

That was my thought exactly. Sticking out for 20 doing at least 3 more deployments in 12 years for MAYBE 2g a month wasn't worth the cost of a destroyed body and possibly my marriage or any other gigantic sacrifice.

OP I guess, sorry to hear the situation? But either way. Things will work out. They always. Hawaii would be a pretty badass assignment too

 

sorry to hear that...how long were you married? I'll pray for you.

 

We were married 7.5 years, together for 9. I'm in the middle of boxing up her stuff so we spend as little time in the same building as possible. I just packed all her souvenir shirts from our travels, concerts and adventures, it's rough.

 

Man I say stay, 10 years is the pivot point it gets easier from here, and at 15 you're pretty much on cruise control. At 20 you're good and set for life for the most part giving you the freedom to explore start your own business and if it gets screws up with your pension and benefits to fall back on you know you'll be okay.

Especially if you have a wife and kids. I grew up as a Marine brat, old man did 26years AD and 4yrs reserve. Had a good life and lived in many exciting countries.

 

16-18yrs was the slowest...the last two flew by...

 

The first 10 have flown by.

 

Looking back it all went pretty fast...Ive been retired going on 5 yrs now and it doesnt seem to be slowing down any..

 

I did 4 years in the Air Force and wish I had stayed in,got out and broke my back and couldn't go back in.long story but if it was me if stay and suck it up for 10 more

 

It looks like that's what's going to happen. I just extended for 10 more months to accept my Korea assignment and will probably push out to 15 years to accept my follow on after Korea... Hopefully back to Hawaii.

 

But retirement pay you can't collect until you're 65.