[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Prior Service? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 10/27/2005 4:23:17 PM EDT
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How many of you struggle with the decision to re-enlist after several years of separation? I'm 36 in good physical condition. I've been out since 1999. I now have a great wife and 2 kids. My job is good and the pay is even better.. But I still think about going back in. |
Eventually, many of us come to realize family comes first. Veterans deserve respect - regardless of whether they do three years or thirty..........they are a cut above the rest. I used to be all gung-ho over shit - after seven years of active duty - I've had a reality check - the military isnt EVERYTHING. |
Hold up there hoss. The world was a different place prior to 9/11/01. Serving in the peacetime Army such as it was during Bill Clinton's time in office wasn't exactly attractive to me either, having started under Bush Sr. So if that hardship tour you're doing in MEPS recruiting for the AF is taking a toll on your family life, just imagine what it's like for the troops in the field. And by "field" I don't mean "air base". |
I made a commitment. I did chose to get out. I provided a service for my country for 11yrs. I have everything that I've worked very hard for and it's protected by the many that still serve. 
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People that stay in the service are committed during the good times and bad times. I stayed in during the Clinton years too, and it sucked. I believe I am a better person for it, those years taught me alot about how one person can f@#k up alot of things, but if you served any amount of time in the service, you know it is only temporary. I commend all who have served, but when you're done, you're done. That is why it is so hard for PS to get back in, the military recognizes that when a person chooses to get out we (the service) needs to cut it's loses and get committed folks. added: "Don't get pissed, re-enlist" |
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My MEPS assignment is a cake walk, Kunsan, Al Jabar, Allied Force, Incirlik (OPC, ONW), etc. etc wasn't. Also, when I met my 3 month old daughter after living and working in Saudi wasn't easy either, but I didn't pull chocks. People that get out and blame it on some "event" shouldn't bitch.
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Actually, the Army recently made it easier to re-join and tacked on cash bonuses bigger than non-prior service recruits. Maybe different policy in the AF. (I know the beer selection was better at the one air base I stopped in at!!) Last post from me on this, go ahead and get in the last word if necessary. |
If we had a real WW3 on the scale of WWII I would bet they'd even take a 50 something YO. Just to free up a able bodied younger person for frontline duty. |
Last I heard the USAF wasn't accepting prior service - their retention is fine and they arent taking sailors, Marines, Soldiers, or even Coast Guard. After the Army - I almost went Security Forces - glad I didnt in hindsight. |
Thanks for your service. Your either a  or having a bad day. You don't know anything about the topic of this thread because as you stated you still serve. At no point did I blame or make some excuse for why I got out. When your done your done is not true. Prior Service have alot to offer if they decide to return to service. Their level of commitment is no less than the contract that you signed.I don't need to be pissed to re-enlist. Given my situation it should be a well thought out process. Congrats for the new daughter and the easy duty you currently have. Enjoy while you can. Again thanks for your service. |
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I didn't mean to PO anyone. PS is a touchy subject with AD personel that have stayed in for the long haul. Many of us wish we could be in the civilian world, enjoying things that you take for granted. You see, what I am getting at, is as much as you wish to be military again, we wish to be civies again (until of course we get out and wish we were in). Cheers to all especialy ALL prior service |
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Since you have family and a great paying job you should check out the Reserves. They're giving a $15K bonus just for prior service enlistments. That includes a $10K college bill and tuition assistance to boot. I just joined and will be getting 50% of that bonus after I'm MOSQed. Still, I'm thinking about dropping from the Reserves so I can go active duty. I'll miss out on the GI bill cause I took that option first time around, but the job I want offers a $14K bonus. That would be good for me cause I'm recently divorced and my time in grade will pay a little better than what I'm making now. Plus the Army gives better vacation accrual and benefits. Not to mention I'll save a lot of $$ during a 32 week AIT and living in the barracks for a while. |
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I enlisted in the National Guard in 90 and went active duty in 92. And by the way,every time I went to MEPS I wanted to stomp the folks that worked there into the ground. I suspect lowspeed82 would leave me with the same feeling....... Anyway, I served 4 yrs AD and got out(Turned down 24K 4A bonus to finish college) Big Mistake!!! I did however stay in the NG so no break in service. 96-01 served in the NG and now back AD for the duration. I wish I would have stayed in and finished college in night school, or just not finished college at all. I had a unique experience because I was lucky enough to have served most of that time with either 7th SF or 20th SF, but I feel all military life can be fullfiling with the right attitide. Even serving at MEPS I couldn't imagine not having a military ID of some sort. Either AD, NG, or retired. But that is just me. I am one of those guys that was made for the military. Just wish I had figured that out sooner.... But I understand about going back in after having a family. I recently volunteered for deployment in iraq (to the dis-pleasure of my expecting wife and 4yr old Son)It is not your descision alone to make anymore, your wife has to understand or it will never work. Mine understands, but dosen't like it. Maybe the excuse or reasoning I used will work for you. I told my wife that not being in the Military during war was like training for the Super Bowl for years, and then watching your buddies play on TV from the comfort of your living room. I just couldn't do it. Just know that you have served, and that is better than most can say. Good Luck with your descision. |
+1 on the part in red. Pissed me off doing peace keeping missions in Bosnia instead of doing what I was trained to do as a 19K (M1-A1 Armor crewman) But now I have the shot to fulfill my dream, as well as being able to contribute to National Security. Who knows I might even be able to help out with the illegal immigration problem if I'm lucky
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Lux, you've done your duty and you are now living the dream you've risked everything for by serving. I still get the urge as well. It's almost an addiction sometimes. It's the same with many that I know, but... You must now think of your family first. |
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not stuggling with to or not to re enlist , but with a waiver so I can. Sometimes it seems God simply doesn't want me to serve. I was a really good gung ho infantryman and at 39 I still have a lot of endurance and physical strength. There's a war and they need people bad, but I still can't seem to get there. |
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"Serving in the peacetime Army such as it was during Bill Clinton's time in office wasn't exactly attractive to me either," That's also a fact, there was a much different "go through the motions" attitude in the mid to late '80s during the "cold" war, that noone really thought we'd ever fight anyhow. Much different between then and the present. . |
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I think about it quite frequently and while I fancy myself able to meet the challenge again, mentally I would be more hurt than help. When I was 19 I had that fearlessness that every 19 year old has. I don't have that any more. I have a house, a business, a great wife, kids and a couple of dogs. Had I stayed in and risen through the ranks I would no doubt do every bit as well as before. But truthfully, I can contribute more on this end by supporting those who are over there in prayer and in words/action supporting the ENTIRE mission. I have been berated by liberals who claim that if I support the war then why don't I go fight it. You cannot reason with these cretins. These are the same people who don't believe anyone should carry a gun for protection yet they seek to coddle and shelter those who rape, murder, molest children, etc. Support the war and the military in everything you say and do. There's no such thing as winning the peace without killing a lot of the enemy and unfortunately losing some of ours. Those who refuse to accept that are hosed mentally anyway. |
I want to sign up for the AZNG as soon as I get my weight down!
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went in,got out and then i missed it. went back in son got deadly sick so i got back out under hardship. after my plt sgt called me a liar about some of my sons medical stuff,told him the magic words i want to talk to the chaplin going to ask for a hardship. don't send the chaplin to the pediatric intesive care unit,with my son closed to death.then call me a liar 2 weeks later. so it soured me about the army.but i do still miss it. |
army, i think after being out 5 years you go back thru basic.but they told me this back in 95.didn't have to go thru it again but i did loose 1 pay grade. |
If you go through MC basic, you are GTG for ALL branches. |
I think this is a decision to be made between you and your family. If you truely want to get back in and your family is 100% behind you, go for it! |
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After living as a miltary dependent then three years active duty and seventeen reserve, I have lived on both ends of military life. I got out and glad I did. I chose not to put my family through the hardships especially the children go through as a military family. Some people here talk of commitment and only want troops that are committed. "You chose not to provide a service to your country" is a load of crap, and a pretty low comment. Does that mean that veterans of WWII that served durring the war but got out after didn't provide a service to thier country because they didn't stay in too? You did service, but decided to get out. No one can or should give you grief over that. You did serve your country three years or thirty. Sua Sponte, Prib |
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Been there, done that. Wanta ride again?? SURE. I'm just too damn fat and sassy. I would love to go back in, but it has been YEARS (I am on the cusp of 34). No wife, no kids, no house - big obligation as far as career goes, but that is it. I think about it all the time. One problem is that Airborne Infantry wasn't made to be easy on aging joints and muscles. I think about it all the time because I realize that I was young, (relatively) free, and strong doing a job that I was respected for. Yeah, there was some BS, but I tell ya - I thought when I got out the politics and BS would be gone, but it just changed to a different color. 
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I've been out since June, 2001. I think about going back in all the time, most likely in the Reserves. I would't even mind getting called up for A tour in Iraq. However I have friends who have gotten called up multiple times, sometimes with only months at home. It has screwed them financially, and in their marriages. That's a heaven burden to bear. Semper Fi |
| I've been on terminal leave now for 6 weeks or so, my DOS is Nov. 18th so I've got till Nov 15th to change my mind. I'd be lying if I said the thought hasn't crossed my mind to re-up. My better half is trying to deter my from considering it as I would be right back in Iraq within months if I choose to do so. I was so ready to dump after 9yrs and now I'm reconsidering... decisions..decisions |
My first reenlistment was a tough decision, but after the first two enlistments I have never looked back, now its just a formality. One thing that has always stuck with me since before I came in is this: How many people that got out say they wish they hadn't? How many who stayed for a career have you heard say they wish they had gotten out? I've never know a single retiree that said their decision to stay was a mistake, and that thought weighed heavily in my first reenlistment. I came in just as Clinton took office, and the first three years I was in the military was in a nosedive, from 700K people in the AF to 400K. I had a horrible experience but a good boss talked me out of walking away. I've never regretted it, and the longer I am in the more I enjoy it. It's great finally getting enough rank and position to really help mentor the young guys and help them out with their problems. Thats enough reward for me. My only regret about staying active duty is I chose not to have a family while I am in, its a losing proposition most of the time, and I can wait until I get closer to retirement and have less frequent deployments to find my future ex-wife.  I never get up in the morning and look myself in the mirror and wonder if I will make a difference today. 
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I did my 8+ years, then got out. Had bounced the idea around about re-upping, but I'm married now, and have a well paying job that I actually enjoy. Plus Mrs. Tanker would kick my ass, then hand me the divorce papers if I did re-up! But, I work for a critical gov't entity, that filters down to the warfighter, so I'm still serving my country, just wearing a shirt & tie now instead of cammies. 
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My last trip to Iraq is what got me thinking about parting w/ the AF. My family stresses over the deployments and my better half is not a fan of the idea of me going back down range again. I would have no problem doing it for BW or Triple but the AF's do more w/ less approach has really wore thin with me. I don't know, in some respects I prefer deployed to being back home in regards to work only because the mission is real and the dumb asses seem fewer or atleast take more of a backseat. I've got a couple more weeks to decide. |
I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you. It's definitely not for everybody, and if you already have a wife she has to be part of the process too. One thing I always tell guys on the fence is retrain, retrain, retrain. I love my job, but most people aren't as lucky as me when it comes to matching up skills/job/preferences. If you do get out by all means take advantage of the Guard or Reserve so you get some retriement out of the years you have already invested, and keep an ID card for all the other reasons as well. The "more with less" thing really does suck, but it has some upsides too, the force shaping BS the last two years made it easy to seperate some less than stellar troops. You can also PCS or PCA to another unit that doesn't deploy as much, or take a special duty assignment, they always need TIs, MTLs, PME instructors, and Recruiters. Taking a break for three years may smooth things over with the SO. Sorry for the sales pitch, but I am a "company man" now, and I don't let any of my guys out without some lengthy browbeating/counseling first. For some people it really is the right move, for others its a long term solution to a bad short term situation. Good luck with whatever choice you make! |