How long have you been in the Military Service

[blackhawkdown]

I just reenlisted another 4 years. Just wondering how long you guys and gals have been serving in the military? I have 5 years time in service and 7 months time in grade as a Staff Sergeant/E-6.

[Cliu91]

Zero.

But thank you for your service from a Canadian.

[Mikko]

Well not exactly the same thing but we have mandatory military service (6-12 months) for all men so I did my time in 2003. Good times, learned how to use different kind of weapons, some camping and surviving skills, lost some fat and gained muscle, got a few good friends etc. Came home as a corporal.

I even considered starting a military career back then... so respect you guys a lot.

[UltraFRS]

I did 8 years. Been out for right at 2 years now.

[gramicci101]

15.5 years. I'm on the home stretch.

[Calum]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

15.5 years. I'm on the home stretch.

Same here, well 15.33 so far.

I debate with self daily about getting out with a 40% pension, which wouldn't sustain me, or staying until I max out the pension, which I could live off of. It's weird, our parents grew up in a time where one career was enough. Lots of people had more than one, but the average life span was such that one was enough. But now the average life span is quickly approaching a point where most people will be fine to work 50 years of their lives, or more. But where am I in this Channing land scape? Am I old enough that I should only be looking toward the one career or will I be twiddling my thumbs trying to start another it career out of boredom at 55? Will be able to start another career at 55?

I know our parents lived and breathed for rrsp's. They gave financial freedom and independence. But now we need to think about how long we're going to be living and depending on those rrsp's and if they'll last that long. The guaranteed for the rest of my life pension with indexing is what keeps me in the military.

[gramicci101]

For me, we've got a huge force management deal going on right now (read: downsizing). The problem is that my career field is undermanned, so it's not available to me. My plan is to get out at 20 with my 50% retirement, move to a third world country somewhere, and actually retire. I'll be able to live VERY comfortably in the Philippines for what my retirement will be. I am so fucking done with dealing with minor officious bullshit, and that's all I see in the corporate world.

There are large expat communities in the Philippines, Puerto Vallarta Mexico, Thailand, etc... I would love to have a small house on the beach somewhere and spend my days in a hammock with a mojito in one hand and a cigar in the other.

[LadyFRZ]

I have not served, but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, to those that have.

I just took a class on military issues, and my instructor is a doctor for Camp Pen. here in Southern California, and she's been deployed. I couldn't imagine ever doing that.

If I could give all ya'll veterans and active duty personnel a hug,I would.

[gramicci101]

The doctors see some shit. I wouldn't want to be a deployed medic.

I like being deployed though. I'd have stayed in Afghanistan if I could have.

[blackhawkdown]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

There are large expat communities in the Philippines, Puerto Vallarta Mexico, Thailand, etc... I would love to have a small house on the beach somewhere and spend my days in a hammock with a mojito in one hand and a cigar in the other.

plan to retire in thailand like a king!

Originally Posted by Mikko

Well not exactly the same thing but we have mandatory military service (6-12 months) for all men so I did my time in 2003. Good times, learned how to use different kind of weapons, some camping and surviving skills, lost some fat and gained muscle, got a few good friends etc. Came home as a corporal.

I even considered starting a military career back then... so respect you guys a lot.

from one veteran to another, doesn't matter what country, a soldier is a soldier.

Originally Posted by gramicci101

The doctors see some shit. I wouldn't want to be a deployed medic.

I like being deployed though. I'd have stayed in Afghanistan if I could have.

I'm in aviation with the Med Birds and they got some nasty videos and pictures of some of this shit they got to deal with when it comes to trauma. I wish the war would end as I told my wife I would love to bring her to Afghanistan to see how beautiful the mountains are in the summer and winter.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

from one veteran to another, doesn't matter what country, a soldier is a soldier.

Amen.

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

I'm in aviation with the Med Birds and they got some nasty videos and pictures of some of this shit they got to deal with when it comes to trauma.

The aeromed evac guys see the worst of the worst. And since it's their job, they see it constantly. The rest of us only see it when it happens to us.

[thatfilipinoguy]

6yrs, and I am not looking to reenlist.

[glorydays]

2 years and cant wait to ets!

[batmobilefrs]

7.5 yrs Navy nuke power submariner another 3ish to go and yes at 10.5 yrs I am getting out.