Twenty years on active duty is a long road, especially when you jump from place to place on a regular basis. But when you feel ground down, there are a few ways to break the monotony without interrupting your career. Here are just a few, but heed the warnings ahead - there's no such thing as a free lunch!
Wait, yes there is.That was my favorite thing about the military.Okay, so that was a poor choice of words, but you know what I mean.
Many reservists need the guidance of an old salt who's been there and done that.Inspector-Instructor (I-I) duty near your hometown offers a chance to live like the other side lives, but as with any duty, bring your enthusiasm to bear on the job: In this case you'll need the patience to teach and adjust to the reserve culture.
You can also expect a tour of duty about as long as any other -- and like any other, it can get cut short if you're needed elsewhere. That warning goes double for anyone seeking I-I duty in an area that rates high Basic Housing Allowance. When I served in New York City, every new check-in arrived, saw their paycheck, and took out a car loan they'd be paying off years after leaving the city (and all that extra cash) behind.
Ditch the constant supervision and strut around in your finest uniform for the awestruck masses. Hey, you don't even need to drive 30 minutes across a base (over the river, through the artillery range) to get to McDonald's - there's one across the street from the recruiting station.
In all seriousness, recruiting can be a very rewarding job, but it's no picnic. Every day is a race to "make mission" and send enough kids to boot camp to keep your branch of service staffed for the next several years. If you find pushing yourself to the limits refreshing (looking at you, extreme sports enthusiasts) then have at it, but don't expect to be knocking them back or spending long weekends with the kids -- not your own kids, anyway.
AR/FTS programs bridge the gap between active and reserve cultures by providing experienced full-time reserve personnel to reserve units nationwide. This may be the antidote if it's time to permanently slow life down for the sake of the family, but many of the same warnings about I-I duty apply, and you're still subject to a change of duty station every few years (just from one reserve unit to the next.)
Aspiring Sergeants Major also beware: AR/FTS programs are small and usually nab converts from the non-commissioned or petty officer ranks, so promotion slots are limited and the going can be slow.If you're okay with that, you may be able to get off the main drag of regular active duty without sacrificing its retirement benefits.
If you're so dissatisfied with your career that you'd like to give civilian life a shot, you may be under the illusion that the military is so starved for volunteers with your qualifications that returning to it later is a guaranteed safety net. In reality, if you change your mind and want back in the club, you'll need to see the same recruiter that's prowling the mall for high school students, and they can't guarantee you an opening as easily as for a recent high school graduate. Even if you hear at any given time that the military is failing to meet recruiting goals, there's a separate line for you (a "prior service" applicant).
Prior service enlistments are subject to more restrictions than new joins, to prevent you stealing promotions and reenlistments away from those who stayed in the military after you decided to take a break. And depending how long you've been a civilian, you'll lose some retirement credit, some seniority -- even some rank. If you're that hungry for a taste of civilian life, consider the reserves or National Guard. It's no guaranteed path back to active duty (and might actually make it harder), but it provides a refreshing change, a flexible "second career," and opportunities for adventure and excitement. Just remember, if you're contemplating leaving the service, to be prepared: Talk to your career planner, go to transition seminars, and give yourself plenty of time to draw up a plan that won't leave you jobless, penniless, and heartbroken.
Wait, yes there is.That was my favorite thing about the military.Okay, so that was a poor choice of words, but you know what I mean.
•Inspector-Instructor Duty
Many reservists need the guidance of an old salt who's been there and done that.Inspector-Instructor (I-I) duty near your hometown offers a chance to live like the other side lives, but as with any duty, bring your enthusiasm to bear on the job: In this case you'll need the patience to teach and adjust to the reserve culture.
You can also expect a tour of duty about as long as any other -- and like any other, it can get cut short if you're needed elsewhere. That warning goes double for anyone seeking I-I duty in an area that rates high Basic Housing Allowance. When I served in New York City, every new check-in arrived, saw their paycheck, and took out a car loan they'd be paying off years after leaving the city (and all that extra cash) behind.
•Recruiting
Ditch the constant supervision and strut around in your finest uniform for the awestruck masses. Hey, you don't even need to drive 30 minutes across a base (over the river, through the artillery range) to get to McDonald's - there's one across the street from the recruiting station.
In all seriousness, recruiting can be a very rewarding job, but it's no picnic. Every day is a race to "make mission" and send enough kids to boot camp to keep your branch of service staffed for the next several years. If you find pushing yourself to the limits refreshing (looking at you, extreme sports enthusiasts) then have at it, but don't expect to be knocking them back or spending long weekends with the kids -- not your own kids, anyway.
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•Active Reserve (AR) / Full-Time Service (FTS)
AR/FTS programs bridge the gap between active and reserve cultures by providing experienced full-time reserve personnel to reserve units nationwide. This may be the antidote if it's time to permanently slow life down for the sake of the family, but many of the same warnings about I-I duty apply, and you're still subject to a change of duty station every few years (just from one reserve unit to the next.)
Aspiring Sergeants Major also beware: AR/FTS programs are small and usually nab converts from the non-commissioned or petty officer ranks, so promotion slots are limited and the going can be slow.If you're okay with that, you may be able to get off the main drag of regular active duty without sacrificing its retirement benefits.
•DON'T Seek a Discharge Without a Plan
If you're so dissatisfied with your career that you'd like to give civilian life a shot, you may be under the illusion that the military is so starved for volunteers with your qualifications that returning to it later is a guaranteed safety net. In reality, if you change your mind and want back in the club, you'll need to see the same recruiter that's prowling the mall for high school students, and they can't guarantee you an opening as easily as for a recent high school graduate. Even if you hear at any given time that the military is failing to meet recruiting goals, there's a separate line for you (a "prior service" applicant).
Prior service enlistments are subject to more restrictions than new joins, to prevent you stealing promotions and reenlistments away from those who stayed in the military after you decided to take a break. And depending how long you've been a civilian, you'll lose some retirement credit, some seniority -- even some rank. If you're that hungry for a taste of civilian life, consider the reserves or National Guard. It's no guaranteed path back to active duty (and might actually make it harder), but it provides a refreshing change, a flexible "second career," and opportunities for adventure and excitement. Just remember, if you're contemplating leaving the service, to be prepared: Talk to your career planner, go to transition seminars, and give yourself plenty of time to draw up a plan that won't leave you jobless, penniless, and heartbroken.