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Started By
Message
re: Retired from the Army today after 24 years. AMA.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:17 pm to andwesway
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:17 pm to andwesway
quote:
Is it true that there are a ton of undocumented illegals serving in our armed forces? I've had a couple of ex-Marines tell me that.
No. There are a ton of green card holders though. You ever want to appreciate America - go to the on post citizenship ceremonies. Nothing like seeing someone become an American and their whole platoon of misfits from all walks of life there to support them.
0
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:19 pm to Florida_Man1981
Thank you for your service. 
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:46 pm to double d
quote:
Thank you for your service.
I say this with all sincerity - the Army was great to me and didn't really feel like a sacrifice. I enjoyed the adventure and camraderie and I came in as an E2 and they paid for my bachelors, masters, tons of other schooling, I bought a house in Colorado with the VA loan and I transferred my GI bill to my daughter so her college is taken care of. We also got 4-day weekends all the time and 30 days paid leave a year - half the time of which they lost your leave form and didn't charge you.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:50 pm to Florida_Man1981
quote:
It's quite the transition and I've seen a lot of people who think it will be Andy Dufresne on the beach in Mexico but the reality is there's a whole lot of Brooks hanging from the rafters at the halfway house.
Super Lifers. Not only are they institutionalized their entire identity is dependent on the Army. Without the Army they dont exist.
Dont be that guy and dont hang out with that guy.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:52 pm to Florida_Man1981
quote:
I say this with all sincerity - the Army was great to me and didn't really feel like a sacrifice. I enjoyed the adventure and camraderie and I came in as an E2 and they paid for my bachelors, masters, tons of other schooling, I bought a house in Colorado with the VA loan and I transferred my GI bill to my daughter so her college is taken care of. We also got 4-day weekends all the time and 30 days paid leave a year - half the time of which they lost your leave form and didn't charge you.
Damn! I would say that it was well worth it. That is crazy.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:57 pm to Florida_Man1981
Enlisted or officer? Or a better question would be did you work for a living?
Congrats
Congrats
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:58 pm to Florida_Man1981
Joined the Navy at 18. Saw half the World. Except for Vietnam. Loved it
What rank did you retire at
God Bless you????
Posted on 4/9/25 at 1:59 pm to Florida_Man1981
Freaking congratulations man.
That is amazing.
That is amazing.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:05 pm to Florida_Man1981
My son is 14…. Not the college type. I’ve thought this was a viable option…
Question: 20 years is fiull retirement correct? What do the $$’s look like? I know variable on position, etc…but generally?
I’m assuming you’ve worked your way up…. Grunt, LT, Captain, Major…no clue if that’s the right order, etc… but you get the drift.
TIA!
Question: 20 years is fiull retirement correct? What do the $$’s look like? I know variable on position, etc…but generally?
I’m assuming you’ve worked your way up…. Grunt, LT, Captain, Major…no clue if that’s the right order, etc… but you get the drift.
TIA!
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:09 pm to Florida_Man1981
Congratulations man. I did 6 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard. Biggest regret in my life was not going active duty and making it a career.????
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:09 pm to Florida_Man1981
quote:
For any of you youngsters out there spinning your wheels there is no better gig than a stint in the military to figure life out.
Worse case you do four and bounce, best case you retire young.
Your philosophy used to be a wise, relatively safe call. But since 911? Ain't no "bouncing" from active duty, is there?
Three of my best buds joined the Navy in the late 70s with terms that they'd "stay together". The Navy reneged on the deal.
One loved the structure and "teamwork", the other two hated the individual and spirit-quashing aspect. No wars at the time so it was a great time to try a 4-year service gig.
OTOH, ages 18-22 are especially breakout freedom years where "figuring life out" is a blast. The entire 20s of life likewise.
In any case I'm glad things worked out for you and you have no regrets.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:13 pm to Florida_Man1981
quote:
The craziest one was at Fort Hood in 2008. One of our young patriots was having drug fueled swinger parties at his house and when a chick wigged out they locked her in a dog crate. She busted out and was running through the family housing area in her underwear.
Hell yeah!
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:15 pm to Lakeboy7
quote:
Super Lifers. Not only are they institutionalized their entire identity is dependent on the Army. Without the Army they dont exist.
Dont be that guy and dont hang out with that guy.
100%. Nothing worse than seeing retirees coming on base to do PT in the mornings and hang out at the food court wearing their rank on their lapel pins.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:16 pm to DownSouthCrawfish
quote:
Enlisted or officer? Or a better question would be did you work for a living?
Congrats
Started out enlisted then cross over after my first term was up.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:18 pm to Florida_Man1981
quote:
Good times. For any of you youngsters out there spinning your wheels there is no better gig than a stint in the military to figure life out. Worse case you do four and bounce, best case you retire young.
Not sure if you'd agree, but my brother (he's an E6, Master Gunner) tried to get one of our second cousins to join. He comes from terrible family (my cousin is his dad) and needed to get the heck out of South MS and being around that and see that there's more to the world that what he's known. He wouldn't do it and is basically following the same crappy trajectory as his parents.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:18 pm to xBirdx
quote:
My son is 14…. Not the college type. I’ve thought this was a viable option…
Question: 20 years is fiull retirement correct? What do the $$’s look like? I know variable on position, etc…but generally?
I’m assuming you’ve worked your way up…. Grunt, LT, Captain, Major…no clue if that’s the right order, etc… but you get the drift.
TIA!
In 2018 they went to the blended retirement system which is 40% of basic pay "high 3" and 5% matching contributions to TSP.
Also important to remember that the pension is only off base pay. BAH / BAS are tax-free allowances that don't translate to retirement.
Before that it was 50% of base pay "high 3". I think you'll see the retirement benefits continue to migrate away from defined benefit. Will depend what it does to retention. I enjoyed the Army but there were some tough years between about 11 - 15 year time that if it wasn't for that 20-year pension as an end goal I'd have been out.
This post was edited on 4/9/25 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:21 pm to DakIsNoLB
quote:
Not sure if you'd agree, but my brother (he's an E6, Master Gunner) tried to get one of our second cousins to join. He comes from terrible family (my cousin is his dad) and needed to get the heck out of South MS and being around that and see that there's more to the world that what he's known. He wouldn't do it and is basically following the same crappy trajectory as his parents.
Yep story as old as time. A ton of us joined at 18 - 20 because we didn't really have any goals or forward momentum in life. The military is a great jump start. It's also one of the few careers that basically publishes the answers to the test in the form of regs and requirements. Once you get your foot in the door and pay your dues in your first enlistment you can pretty much chart your own path if you're willing to put in the time and effort.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:22 pm to Florida_Man1981
quote:
Nothing worse than seeing retirees coming on base to do PT in the mornings and hang out at the food court wearing their rank on their lapel pins.
I work out at an air force gym same thing. The base was downsized a bit so there is retiree housing on base, they never have to leave the base.
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:22 pm to OweO
quote:
quote:
The craziest one was at Fort Hood in 2008. One of our young patriots was having drug fueled swinger parties at his house and when a chick wigged out they locked her in a dog crate. She busted out and was running through the family housing area in her underwear.
Hell yeah!
The commander called me at my house and was like "I just got a call from the MPs we got some real sordid shite going on."
Posted on 4/9/25 at 2:28 pm to Clames
quote:
I'll have 27 years in next month, just waiting for a few more things to resolve and I can drop an updated packet and retire almost immediately.
If you haven't already done it go get term life insurance. SBP is a ripoff and once you go through the VA process it's a lot harder to get insurance.
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