6 more months to happiness

[larry7crys]

I will finally be taking my terminal leave and joining the civilian life once again. I am so happy! I don't know what I will be doing next but I am super excited. Does anyone here have any success stories of leaving the Armed Services?

[P00057870]

Larry,

I don't have what you asked for but I, for one, just want to say thank you and our other servicemen and servicewomen for what you have done for our country.

Many, many heartfelt thanks to you!

[campbell0021]

I have heard few good and a few bad stories. Most the good ones are those who decide to go school with your and work towards a degree. There is nothing wrong with getting out if thats what you want. Just make sure you have a plan and make sure your prepared. Dont be "that guy" who cant wait to get out and has really no clue what he wants to do outside the Military. If I were getting out I'd go school and use ALL my GI Bill (FYI not to many people know You can use all your original GI Bill and THEN switch over to the Post 9/11 Bill and get 12 months of that Bill!) Good Luck to you

[dc67]

Larry,

I got out of the Marine Corps in July of 91 , right after I got back from Desert Storm. I was a f-18 engine mechanic and got my airframe and powerplant license before I got out. I got a job within a month of getting out with Delta, as an aircraft mechanic. It has been a roller coaster. When times are good in the airlines, they are real good. When they are bad, they are real bad. I have been layed off twice but this time I landed at GE and have moved into a salary job in the last year. I just finished my degree at 41 years old. There are definitly successs stores after the military, it is just a tough economy right now with so many experienced people being out of work.

Good luck,

Doug

[Gary]

Larry, Can't you get shore duty orders anytime soon to wait out this economy? The number of highly qualified people in the unemployment lines is staggering. Your military service can give you a bump out here but jobs are definitely hard to come by. In my career, I saw quite a few people who returned to the military because it was tougher out here than they expected. I talked to a girl the other day in Cali who just got a job in Human Resources for the federal gov't. She left the Army not long ago, finished her Bachelors degree and she is heading back in to the Army for the $$$. My buddy got a job w/Sikorsky in Connecticut but they are on furlough days and his future is uncertain. If he didn't have a son born last year, he was giving strong thought to returning to the military. I'll be the guy who gives you the negative side, I'll let the others give you the positive. These are unbelievably tough times, seriously, you couldn't be getting out at a worse time. If you do get out, take EVERYTHING you are offered. Job searching, counseling, whatever. Don't be too proud to let the VA review your medical records. Be prepared for High Winds and Heavy Seas as your ship comes about.

[dc67]

It's not often I agree with Gary but think about it hard. I know the long deployments SUCK. That is the biggest reason I got out. I was an E-5 so I wasn't doing all the sh*& work anymore but I wanted a family. It is a tough economy right now so just think about it.

Good luck,

Doug

I sent you a PM

[Gary]

I find your agreeing w/me more and more. Your getting wiser as you ager :}

[B Smith]

I've never regretted joining the "real world." While I've had a couple bumps in the road the last decade has been highly successful.

Get your degree. Plan your exit carefully. Move where the jobs are (it's easier to get a job in Texas than in Michigan).

As for getting a job, check out my article 11 Steps to the Job of Your Dreams. It is the best way to get a great job hands down.

[larry7crys]

Thanks everybody. Yeah, I was willing to stay in longer, heck maybe even go officer. I understand the economy is in a rut, but I am willing to take the risk. I guess it is different for me. I'm married and no children (but 2 dogs!), so it wouldn't be too hard for us. I wouldn't mind moving to any other part of the country or even overseas. I have had my chain of command try to convince me to stay in for a while now. In March, our bonuses skyrocketed to 90K and the multiple was 12 i.e. I would have made the 90K, easily. I didn't do it because I have a bit of foresight. Another deployment (my 3rd) is right around the corner. I refuse to leave my wife at home for another six months for "national security". Seeing further than that, I wouldn't even be close to getting orders. Why? The detailers have run out of money. Sure, the budget crisis might be over in October, bt no gurantee for orders. The earliest I can negotiate is in August 2010, after deployment. To where? Recruiting duty (which I hear can be horrible), Prototype (helping baby nukes), or another ship (which I can go to the USS Jimmy Carter). Wow, I don't see anything out there on shore duty to even be worth it. I don't want to hand out basketballs for shore duty but at least something rewarding, maybe an instructor. It's not that I don't qualify for it, its that they don't have any billets open. As a matter of fact, I am the most qualified 2nd class on my boat as a nuclear trained operator. Engineering Watch Supervisor, Engineroom Supervisor, Periscope Operator (for the eye surgery), Passive Broafband operator (Sonar), Leading Engineering Laboratory Technician, Quality Assurance Inspector, etc to name just a few. I've even been the LPO for my division until we got a replacement. The guy is an idiot and I am required by my chain of command to "run the puppet show". Wow. An E-5 doing an E-6 job. I have been for quite some time. What's the reward? Maybe a medal? A NAM? I have one of those among others. Needless to say, I have applied for supervisory pro-pay (an extra $225/month) but was declined "due to needs of the Navy". Thanks Navy. I work very hard and take up more and more collateral duties as well. I am the School's Coordinator and the Protestant Lay Leader amongst other things. At times, my plate is beyond full. I do it all to help the little guy, especially on the boat. I always go above and beyond the call of duty, though I don't feel like the Navy is doing the same for me. Maybe other places might appreciate my work and if not, maybe I could go to work for myself.

[Ruddigore]

How did the English CLEP go?