[gakz]

Well... I got back from my military training, Air Assault... for those of you that remember i was gone for a couple weeks for that. I graduated with honors at the school, good stuff and it was pretty fun! I finished 12th or 13th out of 120 on our 12 mile march. As far as the graduating with honors, it was because my GPA for the academic part was also the 2nd highest.

That is just to update you all on how that went.. But the real problem is this:

While I was gone I found out my job I had with the army working full time is ending. It is not my primary job in the Army, it was just a way to get a full-time pay check working for the National Guard. The job ends the 31st of March, so today. LOL. It was a beautiful paycheck I was making there too. I have no college degree right now, and am probably going to Illinois State this fall semester. I have a couple other military schools between here and there but not nearly enough to survive on. This morning im going to the Unemployment office to try and milk out some Unemployment...


Anyone have thoughts about what I should do with myself?

 

[jms320]

Congrats on being an honor grad at AA school(Ft Campbell?). It's been a long time since I was in the Army, but enjoyed most of the shcools the Army sent me to except Ranger School.

Just trying to get a better understanding of you current situation, but are you in the reserves? If so, are you planning on going active? Btw, how old are you?

 

[APPLEPI]

Let's talk reality--

You have a good start for a well paying career with great retirement benefits.

The civililan economy sucks and will continue for several years--at least 4 probably 8!

Should you go the distance--your call.

I had the same issues at the end of the Viet Nam Conflict(WAR). Put on my boone dockers, grabed my sea bag and with a cherry Aye-Aye went about getting the job done. Served before the mast for 24 years, 6 months and 15 days.

Started as E-1---retired O4. I have never looked back with out a sense of pride and accomplishmet.

Never a lifer-just a professional!

 

[gakz]

Well im 19, 20 this summer. I started as E-1 also, and am E-4 now... I'm actually going to be hitting E-5 by October. The AA school was actually at Benning, its a fairly new course (around 2004-2005 i think).

I am National Guard, and am HOPING to start working on my degree this up coming fall semester. I've got about 2.5 years left of school, maybe 3. I am trying to avoid going full-time Army because of a couple reasons.. I want to finish my degree first, and they will likely stop my advancement to E-5 is my second reason. I've worked very hard to get E-5 within 3years of enlistment, and within 2 years of my Basic Training and Advanced training. The Active Army will take that hard work away and wipe someone's ass with it, and won't give me the promotion.

My goal is to become a management consultant for a firm/company.

 

[APPLEPI]

The degree will open lots of doors--

Get a tour at Fort Belvoiur, Va. Get involved in systems procurment and program management. There is an 12 or 18 program for procurment specalist/managers for the DOD and it is right there at Belvoiur.

The experience and the rolodex you can build are worth 6 figures starting off--

Get Bruce involved in this conservation--he is there now and I believe would be a great mentor for you should you decided to go to the DC area.

I spent 8 years in Crystal City: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and the Bureau of Naval Personnel. I loved it, but the family had enough of the deployments and so I now live in a small agricultral community. The family is #1.

 

[gakz]

LOL... i've got no family MWUAHAHAHHAA!

yea the job I have in the military is actually quite excellent. I can start off with 86k a year with a bachelors. A masters degree can get me starting off at 102k

 

[gakz]

Further more of an update to everyone that knows whats been going on..

I just got awarded my first army achievement medal this weekend at drill, pretty excited about that! They shocked me with it too, bastards kept it secret until they gave it to me too!

 

[Steve Johnson]

Let's talk reality--

You have a good start for a well paying career with great retirement benefits.

The civililan economy sucks and will continue for several years--at least 4 probably 8!

Should you go the distance--your call.

I had the same issues at the end of the Viet Nam Conflict(WAR). Put on my boone dockers, grabed my sea bag and with a cherry Aye-Aye went about getting the job done. Served before the mast for 24 years, 6 months and 15 days.

Started as E-1---retired O4. I have never looked back with out a sense of pride and accomplishmet.

Never a lifer-just a professional!

Had boon dockers and ended up in the wardroom. God dammed Mustang!!!!!! CPO mess all the way shipmate. 24 years before the mast. Somebody had to teach the Ensigns how to don thier OBA's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God bless you all who served. What is amazing is how many of us who served and to the Vietnam vets a special Semper Fi! I missed out by less than 3 years! Watched the fall of Siagon on TV by David Brinkley and Chet Huntley with my dad. Shameful stuff. God bless you guys and for those who now serve in harms way. Not a days goes by that I do not think of the brave youngsters out there now.


Gatzty boy, whatever you do get your degree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kirill]

LOL... i've got no family MWUAHAHAHHAA!

yea the job I have in the military is actually quite excellent. I can start off with 86k a year with a bachelors. A masters degree can get me starting off at 102k

Not bad. Why did I bother with 2 Master Degrees.....

 

[gakz]

after deciphering what you said steve... i think i got... that you think i should go for the degree?

Kirill... you bothered with 2 masters... because you are truly a talented person yourself for doing that. i don't know if I could go straight up and get 2 masters... atleast not right now in life

 

[32krazy!]

my .02 from the other side of the fence. if you love what you do stay in the military. but from someone who did 3 yrs and got out started driving a truck in the union and 22 yrs later im making less money than when i started! my opinion is go to college and get your degree. 100k is much easier to live on than 50k!

 

[Steve Johnson]

In the end if a person is not happy all the money in the world will not matter. After I retired I worked as the primary care provider for the founder of Century 21 Real Estate company until April of 2006 when I had to have another back op and cannot work anymore. This guy started the company in 1972 with a 6K loan from his mother in law and sold it to the Trans World Corp. in 1978 for 80M. He is now worth around 200m but has lost his mind and when I knew him was just a miserable old ass.

I used to drive home thinking how lucky I was to come home to such a loving family and it really put things into perspective for me. Things have turned out pretty good for me and my family since I retired but I will never forget that lesson. Get the degree and if given the chance take a job that allows you to travel around the globe while you are young and single. Now that is a good job and a good life for a young single man! Have lap top will travel.

32Krazy, thank you for your service!

 

[32krazy!]

and i thank you and all the other vets on here for their service and slk knowledge!!