Retirement for Veterans

[CeeKay]

So what did I miss?

some guy named kato left.

[Purge]

So what did I miss?

And now you're back, from outer space, and you have that (one-eyed) look upon your face..

[CeeKay]

So what did I miss?

And now you're back, from outer space, and you have that (one-eyed) look upon your face..

I told you we should have changed the locks, we should have made him leave his key..

[Gratch]

So what did I miss?

You know about CK's little "operation", right?  None of us have quite gotten used to calling him "she" yet, but it might be easier for you, what with having been gone for a while.

[ATB]

So what did I miss?

And now you're back, from outer space, and you have that (one-eyed) look upon your face..

I told you we should have changed the locks, we should have made him leave his key..

Was I not supposed to pick the lock for him?

[leo8877]

Kato!!!!

[USMC Kato]

I got a lot of cool training pics I wanna post up here, and it is damn nice to back for a little while.

[mytocles]

I got a lot of cool training pics I wanna post up here, and it is damn nice to back for a little while.

When are we likely to see that changed to... "for good!" 

[CeeKay]

So what did I miss?

You know about CK's little "operation", right?  None of us have quite gotten used to calling him "she" yet, but it might be easier for you, what with having been gone for a while.

you seem to be in a good mood.  did you find a match? 

[USMC Kato]

Yesterday, I received orders to back to the great sandbox.  This deployment will last 12 months instead of the 6-7 month period.   

After a long talk with the wife, we have decided that one way or another, that this would be my last deployment.  I can change jobs (MOS), or maybe even get out of the armed forces for a civilian job. 

There have been many people in this community that have had to start over professionaly, and its something I really never had to think about.  I have no fear going back to Iraq but I have fear starting my life over. 

Anyways, just wanted to vent a little. 

I'll be deploying within 2 months, and I can't believe I wont be here when Modern Combat 2 is released.

[kratz]

Ouch.  That's a lot of time away from your family.

How much is left on your hitch?  Can you change MOS w/o re-enlisting?  Wanna be a cop?  Get into something w/ computers?

My brother in law did all this FAC training and now is out and working as an air traffic controller...

[Lee]

Aren't all Army and Marines MOS pretty much stuck over there? I am undeployable in my current AF job, but I am getting moved soon.

[USMC Kato]

Aren't all Army and Marines MOS pretty much stuck over there? I am undeployable in my current AF job, but I am getting moved soon.

in my experience, people like you, or people in the armed forces are victims of their own sucess.  The better the job you do, the harder it is to change your job.  I'm in my 15th year (enlisted right after high school), and I honestly don't know what else I can do.  The only offer I got was from the Army, instructor for Rangers, Airborne, and Pathfinders in Ft benning 

[CeeKay]

Yesterday, I received orders to back to the great sandbox.  This deployment will last 12 months instead of the 6-7 month period.   

that sucks. 

I'll be deploying within 2 months, and I can't believe I wont be here when Modern Combat 2 is released.

NNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Caine]

damn that sucks.  you'll be home in time for cod waw 2.  stay safe, keep your head down and your wits about you.  we'll keep all the half wits over here just to give you that extra boost. 

[Harkonis]

we're going to miss ya Kato, but look forward to you coming back in time for Treyarch's next CoD

take care, be safe, and I hope we get to play with you a bit before you go away for a year

[leo8877]

Good luck Kato, hope to see you online soon!

[CeeKay]

we're going to miss ya Kato, but look forward to you coming back in time for Treyarch's next CoD

we're going to miss ya Kato, but look forward to you coming back in time for Treyarch's next CoD

damn, that's cold. 

[Punisher]

GL over there, but with 15 years in you should have seniority...Just tell them to send someone else....

[pr0ner]

Good luck, Kato!

[DamageInc]

With 15 years in, would it be better to spend the last 5 to get your 20 in a rear side MOS?
You'll take home quite the pay check with your 20 and another job.

It's your life, but I thought I'd throw it out there (Although I'm sure you have discussed it with the wife)

Keep your head down over there, and I wish you and your team a safe return. Definitely sucks you won't be here for MW2

[ATB]

we're going to miss ya Kato, but look forward to you coming back in time for Treyarch's next CoD

Now that's just mean!

Safe Tour, Kato.

[drifter]

I got out of the Marines after 12 years in due to the same concerns.  I was married and with the drawdown that was going on (from 212,000 to 185,000) we were told to expect to be deployed 80% of the time.  I decided it was time to get out and April 1, 1997 was my last active duty day; I had 55 days terminal leave.  My XO came to talk to me one evening when I was the Staff Duty Officer and he confided in me that his proudest accomplishment to date was that he was still on his first marriage; this guy was qualified as a Marine One pilot (able to fly the President) so he respected my decision.

Best decision I ever made, I landed in a great job and have done well from there.  I know a lot of what I have done since getting out was due to what I learned in the Marine Corps.

By the way to everyone that thinks the retirement is great think again.  I went in in 1985 and had I stayed to 20 years I would have gotten 50% of my base pay which comes out to about $1000/month, 30 years would have been 75% base pay.  If you are near a base you can take advantage of the exchange and medical there but active duty have priority over you.  The people that went in only a few years after me didn't get 50% at 20 they lowered it to 35% so the retirement sucks and you are starting over at 38-40 years old; not a good combination.

[Lee]

By the way to everyone that thinks the retirement is great think again.  I went in in 1985 and had I stayed to 20 years I would have gotten 50% of my base pay which comes out to about $1000/month, 30 years would have been 75% base pay.  If you are near a base you can take advantage of the exchange and medical there but active duty have priority over you.  The people that went in only a few years after me didn't get 50% at 20 they lowered it to 35% so the retirement sucks and you are starting over at 38-40 years old; not a good combination.

Well that's me, I am a year and half away from 20. No the money isn't great although I believe your numbers are off a bit. My base pay as an E-7 at 20 years is $3995.40 before taxes. Using a High 3 calculator when I retire I will get just over two thousand dollars a month before taxes (the calculator takes inflation into account). I believe it's 45% of your pay if you retire at 20 (it doesn't come straight out and say that). Yeah it's going to be hard starting over, but the military experience (and my clearance) will help me get a job working for the military hopefully.

And the health care system is different now, you get Tricare and have to pay a bit, but the coverage is much better if you don't live near a base. I don't regret doing 20 at all, but then again I am kind of a loser.

[PeteRock]

Best of luck to you, Kato.  But do you know what this means?  ANOTHER PARTY AT PETEROCK'S WHEN YOU RETURN!  And because of the fish tank incident the entire first floor will be redesigned and renovated to better accomodate guests.  A new kitchen, new bar seating area, new wine bar/drink bar in the dining space, new bathroom, new flooring, etc.  What better way to truly christen the space than when you return from the sandbox? 

And we have more than a year to plan the next shindig.  It shall be even more fabulous than the last one. 

[ATB]

Best of luck to you, Kato.  But do you know what this means?  ANOTHER PARTY AT PETEROCK'S WHEN YOU RETURN! 

This time WITH PHOTOS!

[Harkonis]

Best of luck to you, Kato.  But do you know what this means?  ANOTHER PARTY AT PETEROCK'S WHEN YOU RETURN! 

This time WITH PHOTOS!

nah, it's only happening on condition of no photos.

[rickfc]

Does that mean you're back, you one-eyed pirate???

seriously, are you back yet,

[Harkonis]

he's been back, but now he's leaving again

[CeeKay]

can't we just dye Purges skin to match Kato's skin tone and send him instead?

[Harkonis]

can't we just dye Purges skin to match Kato's skin tone and send him instead?

+1

[USMC Kato]

Best of luck to you, Kato.  But do you know what this means?  ANOTHER PARTY AT PETEROCK'S WHEN YOU RETURN!  And because of the fish tank incident the entire first floor will be redesigned and renovated to better accomodate guests.  A new kitchen, new bar seating area, new wine bar/drink bar in the dining space, new bathroom, new flooring, etc.  What better way to truly christen the space than when you return from the sandbox? 

And we have more than a year to plan the next shindig.  It shall be even more fabulous than the last one. 

Woohoo! I think by then I will train my alcohol tolerance to 3 beers instead of 2 

I got out of the Marines after 12 years in due to the same concerns.  I was married and with the drawdown that was going on (from 212,000 to 185,000) we were told to expect to be deployed 80% of the time.  I decided it was time to get out and April 1, 1997 was my last active duty day; I had 55 days terminal leave.  My XO came to talk to me one evening when I was the Staff Duty Officer and he confided in me that his proudest accomplishment to date was that he was still on his first marriage; this guy was qualified as a Marine One pilot (able to fly the President) so he respected my decision.

Best decision I ever made, I landed in a great job and have done well from there.  I know a lot of what I have done since getting out was due to what I learned in the Marine Corps.

By the way to everyone that thinks the retirement is great think again.  I went in in 1985 and had I stayed to 20 years I would have gotten 50% of my base pay which comes out to about $1000/month, 30 years would have been 75% base pay.  If you are near a base you can take advantage of the exchange and medical there but active duty have priority over you.  The people that went in only a few years after me didn't get 50% at 20 they lowered it to 35% so the retirement sucks and you are starting over at 38-40 years old; not a good combination.

As a family, we have decided that instead of going to the civilian work force, I can try and find a job pushing papers instead of being in the field all of the time.  Maybe if I can find a job in the military that has a decent schedule I can start to go back to school.  My current skill set does not transfer very well into the civilian world...... one of my regrets for being a combat MOS all these years. 

Does that mean you're back, you one-eyed pirate???

seriously, are you back yet,

I've had eye surgery so now I'm pretty much 100%, I blame the eye when I lose to Harkonis.

can't we just dye Purges skin to match Kato's skin tone and send him instead?

That might be a tall order, my training in the mojave desert made me more brown than ever

[CeeKay]

can't we just dye Purges skin to match Kato's skin tone and send him instead?

That might be a tall order, my training in the mojave desert made me more brown than ever

Canadians are naturally pale so dying him should be easy 

[Purge]

can't we just dye Purges skin to match Kato's skin tone and send him instead?

That might be a tall order, my training in the mojave desert made me more brown than ever

Canadians are naturally pale so dying him should be easy 

I can feel the love.

There's no way I'd tan AZN ... I'd look more like a tomato with brown arms.

Besides, my eyesight is WORSE than Kato's and he hangs out with Hark ON PURPOSE.

[mytocles]

Ohh, Kato, sorry to hear that!  

There have been many people in this community that have had to start over professionaly, and its something I really never had to think about.  I have no fear going back to Iraq but I have fear starting my life over.

I understand this, having resigned one 15-year job and re-starting another, though in my case, it was just a radically different environment, not the job itself.  After 10 years of that, though, I then became disabled... another shock to my system.  It was plenty scary (not as scary as Iraq, mind you!) - but scary from that perspective of "this part of my life is over."

It sounds like you have good support, though - and that is essential, imo.  If someone important to you is in your corner, that makes up for a lot of scariness, really.  All you have to do is be open to the opportunities, and take one day, and one challenge, at a time.  Be prepared for feelings like helplessness, or lack of self-worth.  You were saving people, protecting people, putting your life on the line... it just won't feel as "worthy" to you when u dial it all down.  Don't obsess over it, but be prepared for it.

And of course, keep checking in with your best buds evah!  As silly as it may seem, this Forum family makes a good sounding board for life's dilemmas, both large and small. Don't leave us for too long - and be safe for our sakes, if nothing else!  

[DamageInc]

The new Post 911 GI Bill will pay for a full four year degree in your home state so that's something you could take advantage of.

Just do like the say in Office Space, if you had a Million dollars what would you want to do? 

[USMC Kato]

The new Post 911 GI Bill will pay for a full four year degree in your home state so that's something you could take advantage of.

Just do like the say in Office Space, if you had a Million dollars what would you want to do? 

Definately going to use that G.I. Bill during my job transition.  Most likely i'll be staying in the military until I hit 20 years or more.  The Marine Corps will not let me change jobs without losing rank so the plan is to transition into the ARMY. I make fun of the army all the time, but in all honesty they have better opportunities for myself and my family.  I can be an XRAY tech, do financial paperwork, or be even be a firefighter in the Army.  The important thing is that I would finally be home for good and actually be there for my family during the holidays. 

[Jarrodhk]

Hope it works out for you and the family Kato, I can't imagine not being able to get back for the holidays. Thanks to you and all the other members of the armed forces.

[USMC Kato]

And so my journey ends, was just served my separation orders today. Retirement is dated for February 14, 2013. I have over 60 days leave so Dec 27 is my last day I will ever be in formation.
I've been expecting retirement for a while, but now that its actually happening I feel horrible in the pit of my stomach. 
I have bitched and moaned about the service for almost twenty years, but in truth I will miss it more than anything.

[Isgrimnur]

Change is never easy.  I can't begin to imagine how hard it is to give up a career that you've had since being a teenager.  Once a Marine, always a Marine, as you say.  You will always have that bond and those experiences. But now you have the opportunity to forge your own path, which can be frightening in its own right. 

Regardless, you have your family and your friends to support you and help you when you need it.  Thank you for your service to this country and those with which you served.  We and they owe you a debt which can never be re-payed.