I have seen a lot of 'joining the service' posts.
I am a lawyer, I practice employment law (legal BS: I am not your lawyer, consult your own lawyer...I am likely not a lawyer in your state...check out what I say...)
Anyway. If you are joing the service and you have any sort of decent civvie job do not quit it. You don't max out until a voluntary enlistment of over 5 years.
DO NOT QUIT A DECENT CIVVIE JOB!!
Send your work a letter with your ship orders, telling them you are going in the service and will be back when you get out.
The job waits for you then.
Better, if your job has senority at all you get it when you get out.
EVEN BETTER, many states are adopting their own military job bills that are much better than the federal law.
In Michigan, not only does the employer have to hold the job, but if he promotes based on years there he has to promote the military guy while he is gone.
EVEN BETTER, in Michigan if they provide a benefit to anyone on any leave at all (jury, sick) they have to give it to you while you are gone.
Join the guard and gone for a year from the new job? Come back and you are vested in the 401k and pension plan. If they give people on jury duty health coverage, guess what? Your wife and kid is still covered.
Working in a factory and you need two years there to apply for skilled trades training? You just did a year of it in the service.
DO NOT QUIT YOUR CIVVIE JOB!