Why Did You Stay

[Polar Bear]

There are lots of reasons to get out but those who didn’t get out, why did you stay? 

[Biff_T]

I had three different AFSCs in my career.  That made hitting 20 easier.  

I liked flying military missions.  Nothing like that in the civilian world (other than aerial fire fighting).  There were tons of good dudes that I flew with.  

[Chida]

I got out after 10 yrs commissioned in 2012, involuntary due to 2x FOS to O-4. I had absolutely no intention of joining the reserve at that time, although I had considered it as a backup.

Pretty much no one was hiring in 2012, my first job prospect didn’t pan out even though it was a “sure thing”. I found myself compelled to do reserve bc it was the only thing available and I needed money after 3 months of unemployment which was not sustainable.

I got an OK job as a DOD contractor a few months later, then low paying airline jobs a couple years later and so all along the way I actually needed the supplemental income from the reserve or guard.

By the time I got my final airline job and was being paid well I only had 4 more yrs to a reserve retirement. Not needing the supplemental income anymore, I transferred to an IRR job and retired from that as O-5 with 21 yrs total. 
So for me I stayed for the money, primarily, but also for resume enhancement and job security. Towards the end it was solely to earn retirement which will pay 37% base pay (top of the 2039 O-5 pay chart) starting at age 59-1/4. 
Only <14 yrs until I start getting paid. It was worth it. 

[Day Man]

 

[StrikeOut312]

8 hours ago, Polar Bear said:

There are lots of reasons to get out but those who didn’t get out, why did you stay? 

If you have to ask, get out.

If it’s good for you, good for your family, you’re having fun, and you like what you’re doing, stay in. Otherwise, punch when your ADSC is up.

Keep your doors open by finding a job in the ANG or AFRC.

[DirkDiggler]

Because service to my country still meant a lot to me, even after I passed 20 years.  I was still having fun, I loved the flying/mission, and I really enjoyed being around the people I served with. 

  Everyone has a limit and I hit mine at just past 21 years, but I had a phenomenal career and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Edit to add:  Even after my AD service was over I wasn't totally ready to walk away.  Currently a CI at the FTU.  I easily could've gone to airlines but enjoy instructing and I like that I'm still contributing to the community.

Edited 22 hours ago by DirkDiggler
afterthought

[HuggyU2]

33 years of combined service so far... and I'm not done yet. 

The people, the mission, the flying. 
 

10 years ago, I tried to move into a very different and new career. Didn't care for some of the people and their level of integrity; didn't enjoy "the mission"; there wasn't much flying. 
 

Edited 23 hours ago by HuggyU2

[ClearedHot]

Because I am a big dummy.

Honestly, WIC was a turning point for me...after that my ADSCs were overlapping after getting picked up for IDE/ASG/SDE and BPZ....almost felt like I had to stay or eat a crap sandwich for jumping off the fast train while I still had ADSC.  It created a stink when I dropped papers as an O-6 HPO.  I dropped papers at 4PM on a Friday and jumped in my car to drive home.  I barely made it out the front gate when I got a call from the Colonels Group...followed .69 seconds later by the HQ "how dare you leave now", which reinforced I'd made the right choice. 

I applied for Med School and got in the same time I applied for WIC...sometimes wish I'd gone that route, but I would have made a crappy proctologist, pun intended.

Looking back, I miss the squadron life and the flying...I do not miss anything else.

[herkbum]

I miss the people and none of the bs. I retired when the fun was gone. I no longer enjoyed going in every day. And now I have more time off than I ever did before, and make more money. That’s pretty hard for me to argue against.


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[yzl337]

my ADSC was up right when the world was exploding from covid, everything locked down, hiring paused...that plus a kid with significant medical bills and I loved my job at the time (T-6 IP), I decided to stick around. It was a mistake. 

[Polar Bear]

3 hours ago, yzl337 said:

my ADSC was up right when the world was exploding from covid, everything locked down, hiring paused...that plus a kid with significant medical bills and I loved my job at the time (T-6 IP), I decided to stick around. It was a mistake. 

Why was it a mistake?

[Polar Bear]

Thanks for the replies. I know this is a small sample size and most people on here seem to dislike AD especially. But everyone has a different thought process.

[Runr6730]

Retiring after just over 20 years this winter. I stayed in for many reasons, but primarily because:

1) I’d just finished an incredible overseas assignment followed by an interesting staff assignment that challenged me and reinvigorated my love of serving

2) I’d overcome some significant medical issues and wanted to provide my family financial security in the event I lost my medical clearance again and the check-of-the-month club provides that

3) I’d just had my second child and needed a secure career since airline hiring hadn’t picked up yet

[Vito]

 I left active duty after my initial commitment, but flew another 21 years in the Reserves. I loved the Air Force, but I had a charmed life, in that I flew all 28 years. I never got caught up in the desk jobs, climbing the promotion ladder. Also, as it turned out I showed up at McGuire in 1987, and retired with a lot of my original squadron buds from active duty. Like a big family and I loved putting on a bag to go flying. Airline life is good, but it doesn’t compare.