Air Crew Officers
Perform and direct in-flight duties to ensure the successful completion of combat, reconnaissance, transport, and search and rescue missions. Duties include operating aircraft communications and radar equipment, such as establishing satellite linkages and jamming enemy communications capabilities; operating aircraft weapons and defensive systems; conducting preflight, in-flight, and postflight inspections of onboard equipment; and directing cargo and personnel drops.
š”Inside This Career
The air crew officer leads airborne operationsācommanding flight crews and managing the missions that military aviation accomplishes. A typical duty period combines flight and leadership. Perhaps 50% of time involves flight operations: leading missions, making tactical decisions, coordinating with crew, managing aircraft systems. Another 30% addresses leadershipātraining personnel, planning operations, briefing and debriefing. The remaining time covers administrative requirements and readiness activities.
People who thrive as air crew officers combine aviation expertise with command presence and the decision-making that airborne leadership requires. Successful officers develop proficiency with aircraft systems while building the tactical judgment that mission success demands. They must lead crews through complex and sometimes dangerous missions. Those who struggle often cannot handle the responsibility for crew safety or find the military lifestyle constraints difficult. Others fail because they cannot develop the rapid decision-making that airborne operations require.
Air crew leadership represents military aviation command, with officers directing the missions that air power projection depends on. The field serves all military branches operating aircraft. Air crew officers appear in discussions of military careers, aviation leadership, and the officers who command airborne operations.
Practitioners cite the flying and the mission as primary rewards. Military flying involves capabilities and missions unavailable elsewhere. Leading airborne operations is deeply meaningful. The camaraderie among air crews is strong. Technical mastery is valued. The responsibility is genuine. Career progression opportunities exist. Common frustrations include the demands and the constraints. Many find that the operational tempo is exhausting. Time away from family is extensive. Military bureaucracy affects daily life. Physical qualification requirements limit career length. The stakes in combat operations are ultimate.
This career requires military commissioning and flight training. Strong aviation aptitude, leadership ability, and judgment are essential. The role suits those called to military service with aviation passion. It is poorly suited to those wanting civilian lifestyle, uncomfortable with military hierarchy, or unable to meet physical standards. Compensation includes military pay, housing, and substantial benefits.
šCareer Progression
šEducation & Training
Requirements
- ā¢Entry Education: Bachelor's degree
- ā¢Experience: One to two years
- ā¢On-the-job Training: One to two years
- !License or certification required
Time & Cost
š¤AI Resilience Assessment
AI Resilience Assessment
Moderate human advantage but elevated automation risk suggests ongoing transformation
How much of this job involves tasks AI can currently perform
Likelihood that AI replaces workers vs. assists them
(BLS 2024-2034)
How much this role relies on distinctly human capabilities
š·ļøAlso Known As
šRelated Careers
Other careers in military
š¬What Workers Say
191 testimonials from Reddit
To all the people I took to mast, re-rated, or separated for mishandling classified information: Iām sorry.
Iām so sorry. I didnāt know that it was okay to share sensitive information over commercial unclassified applications. I should have had more faith in the end-to-end encryption software that thereās *no* way an outside party could view itā¦unless you accidentally add them. To the OS I busted down and stripped of a security clearance for sending an email to his buddies on Gmail saying āmake sure youāre watching CNN at 3:30ā, which just so happened to be the ToT of our Tomahawk strike, please forgive me. I wasnāt aware that this type of information doesnāt count as classified. To the Sailors who brought their iPhones into our SCIF and took pictures of Secret binders to āstudy for a testā, and whom I stripped of clearances and re-rated, my apologies. Your phones are obviously impenetrable fortresses that are perfectly safe for storing and transmitting classified data. Fort Knox with retina scanners, or something. To the Lieutenant whose career I destroyed for trying (and failing) to cover up a major crypto breach that occurred due to your almost criminal incompetence, my bad. This probably didnāt compromise several of our sensitive systems. To the three people I administratively separated for taking classified information home, what an overreaction! I mean itās *home*! Home is where youāre safe! To the person who will remain nameless currently sitting in the brig for divulging Top Secret information that jeopardized the life of a key intelligence source, boy am I sorry I helped put you away! These sources know what theyāre getting themselves into. They should, at a minimum , expect that senior officials will repeatedly share their names and locations over unclassified networks. Sorry, not sorry. I canāt believe I spent over 30 years needlessly harassing and henpecking innocent people just trying to do their jobs for these and other security āviolationsā. Man, do I have egg on my face! Iām grateful that honorable men such as Secretary Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Gabbard have shown me the way information like this should have been handled. How many man-years have I wasted classifying, storing and safeguarding information like this when I could have been so much more efficient by just blasting this out over Twitter or AOL Instant Messenger?! Thanks also to the senior administration officials, including the Vice President who reaffirmed that this is no big deal by actively supportingtt the use of Signal for this type of discussion and not raising any concerns whatsoever. Truly a model for all of us to follow. What a fool Iāve been. Edit: if youāre looking for a Biden/Clinton lover, look elsewhere. Iām on record here as saying they should be held accountable. But also remember: if [Tu Quoque](https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/tu-quoque) is your only defense, youāre losing your argument.
Stop Lying to Your Family.
Greetings all. Had to spend some time in airports this week, and I ended up overhearing (eavesdropping) on random conversations between strangers talking about their families in the military. One woman was describing that her brother enlisted a year and a half ago, but claimed he wasnāt allowed to tell them what he actually did, but that he worked in āintelligenceā and thatās all he could say. Another was talking about her son who had āgotten top test scores at basic trainingā but āaccidentally memorized the coordinatesā for his OCS landnav test, and got recycled, but because āthey want him for special forcesā theyāre only going to recycle him. If you absolutely positively have to make it sound like youāre cooler than you are, save it for the 6.5/10 townie at Sky Bar. Donāt lie to your family, theyāre already proud of you for serving, they probably deserve to know what your actual life is like. Iāll take six complementary beers at the Amex lounge, and whatever is left on the breakfast buffet.
In Memory of President Jimmy Carter!
Today, we honor the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter, a man who dedicated himself to serving his country both in uniform and in public office. Before becoming the 39th President of the United States, Carter served with distinction as a U.S. Navy officer, working on cutting-edge submarine technology and exemplifying the values of duty, honor, and service. His military background shaped his lifelong commitment to leadership and service, which he carried into his presidency and humanitarian work. We salute his contributions as a veteran and a leader and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Rest in peace, President Carter. Your service to our nation will never be forgotten. šŗšø #JimmyCarter #Veteran #HonorAndService #presidentcarter
Today I remember CPT Jennifer Moreno
Jennifer Moreno was in my high school JROTC battalion, and was a credit to the community and the school. She went on to serve as an Army Nurse at JBLM, and was KIA on a voluntary deployment attached to the Rangers. A group of rangers were hit by an IED and she rushed in to save the wounded, against orders. While dragging back a wounded ranger to work on, a secondary IED was triggered and took her life. I think I met her a couple of times, but I know I remember seeing her picture on the wall as the prior BC or XO. When I found out she was KIA years ago, I decided to make her my memorial day hero because she was from my school, my JROTC battalion, she went on to serve and I followed after her. I thank her for her service and sacrifice, she was a credit to San Diego, to the Army, her family and the United States. KIA October 5, 2013 Posthumous Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart
Megathread: US confirms strikes on Iran, 6/21
After days of speculation, including public tracking of military air assets, the US has attacked Iranian nuclear sites, according to POTUS. [NBC Live Coverage](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/israel-iran-conflict-rcna214241) [CNN Live Coverage](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/israel-iran-conflict-rcna214241) ['Trump says US attacked three Iran nuclear sites'](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/21/trump-israel-iran-conflict.html) [POTUS to address nation at 10pm tonight](https://i.imgur.com/xyRVZSE.png) [POTUS indicates that Fordow has been destroyed, says 'NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE'](https://i.imgur.com/wR70zut.png) [Here's some online Persian Language Guides](https://persianlanguageonline.com/learn/all-courses/) **Highlights from 10pm Statement** * Well it's 10:01, so I guess we're not starting on time * Massive precision strikes on 3 major Iran nuclear sites * Objective was to destroy their uranium enrichment; POTUS says strikes were a spectacular military success * These sites were "completely obliterated" * If they don't surrender, future attacks will be 'far greater' and 'easier' * Mentions the strike that killed Soleimani * Thanks Netanyahu, thanks the IDF * Thanks to the great American patriots who flew the mission * Congratulations to CJCS, a spectacular general * There will be peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran * No military could have done what we did tonight * CJCS and Hegseth to brief at the Pentagon 08 tomorrow. * We love you God, God Bless the Middle East, God Bless Israel, God Bless the US **Highlights from SECDEF CJCS** * Midnight Hammer was op name * Highly classified, very few people in Washington knew * B2 movement into pacific was a decoy * Other B2 went east, refueling, to make it to target * regional sub launched tomahawaks as well * No shots were fired at the US group * 14 MOPs dropped against 2 sites; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-57A/B_MOP * no shots fired on way out; no Iranian airforce launch and no indication Iran anti air saw them * Largest B2 operational strike in history * Went from planning to reality in a few weeks * highlighted the opsec that went into this * ended on a question about new intelligence or where any new intelligence came from; secdef was basically like nothing new potus just looked at the info and decided this was needed, then they left. [USA Today discussion of 'what's next'](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/22/iran-retaliation-us-strikes-trump-bombs/84304863007/) [UN Security Council Emergency Meeting, 6/22, via PBS on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCcW1Sb5bsM)
Recruit at Ft Jackson snuck a Nintendo Switch into his bag.
By some miracle, he was never caught all cycle. Not caught in shark attacks, bag and locker searches, fire guard, etc. This dumbass decides that hes gotten away with it for long enough. Graduation night in Ft Jackson. Sitting in the field, he brings out his switch, powers it on and plays Mario Mart or some shit. DS walks up to him, "how did you get that, trainee?" "Ive had it all this time, drill sergeant." Drill Sergeant smoked him for maximum allowed time. Then he was sent back 3 weeks in BCT and didnt graduate with his platoon. He had to just wait a few more hours.
Op-ed: Hold Fast: A recently retired senior Officerās take on the recent turmoil in our armed forces.
I take my retired privilege again to speak out on issues that are important to me. The views expressed here are my own and increasingly do not reflect the policies of the Navy or the Department of Defense. On Friday, two of our nationās finest military leadersāGeneral Charles Q. Brown and Admiral Lisa Franchettiāwere summarily dismissed. These were not pencil-pushing brass; they were proven warfighters, leaders with unshakable dedication to service at the highest levels. They were not fired because of job performance. Both had distinguished careers. Under Admiral Franchettiās leadership, the Navyās performance in the Red Sea proved that our surface anti-air warfare capabilities are not only effective against scores of asymmetric threats but also that our investment in surface ballistic missile defense was worth every dollar. Some may point to mishaps under Franchettiās tenure, but those critics ignore a glaring inconsistency: Why was the Army Chief of Staff not also dismissed, despite overseeing more mishaps with greater loss of life over the same time period? Again, the answer is simple: this was never about job performance. We have now entered a new phase of this administrationāone that prioritizes ideological purity over competence. It is a purge, a systematic effort to rid the military of those who do not fit the administrationās narrow and dangerous vision of military strength: one that is hyper-masculine, racially homogenous, and blindly obedient. To be even more directāGeneral Brown was dismissed because he is Black and had the audacity to discuss how his blackness led to struggles in his life. Admiral Franchetti was dismissed because she is a woman and had the audacity to speak in support of womenās roles in the modern armed forces. The administrationās defenders will argue these leaders were too focused on āDEI, not lethality.ā Yet, they conveniently ignore that the Army and Air Force had the exact same diversity programs as the Navy. They ignore that the Army had a higher percentage of transgender service members than the Navy. They ignore that as recently as last fall, the Army Chief of Staff publicly stated, āWithout diversity, a homogeneous team of soldiers would lack the resilience, perspective, and growth offered by teammates from different backgrounds.ā And yet, he remains while Franchetti is dismissed. āBut they serve at the pleasure of the President, he can decide who he wants!ā, is something Iāve heard throughout. That is not what is being questioned here. Nobody denies the President has this right. The real question is, āWhy does the presidentās pleasure align with racism and misogyny?ā Of the 8 serving joint chiefs, why were only the female and black members dismissed? Why was the female 3-star general who acts as Chief of Staff for SECDEF fired, but none of the male 3-stars? It doesnāt take a rocket scientist to see the pattern. Further, the firing of the top JAG officers is equally disconcerting. As the SECDEF said this morning, he fired them because he didnāt want lawyers who would āattempt to be roadblocksā. This is an abrogation of the rule of law. It is a chilling sign that controversial and possibly illegal activities are forthcoming and the administration does not want lawyers who will stand in the way of their plans These firings mark a turning point. Loyalty is no longer measured by allegiance to the Constitution but to the administrationās ideology. Stray from it, and you risk your careerāor worse. That the Administration has nominated for CJCS Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine, an under qualified officer in need of a waiver, undercuts the meritocracy argument. That this officer said to President Trump, in Trumpās own words, āI love you, Sirā¦I would kill for youā¦ā confirms that ideological purity is our new threshold. This is not just outrageous; it is immoral. It is un-American. Many have chosen to resign rather than serve under these conditions. That, of course, is exactly what this administration wantsāa strategic purge designed to drive out those who believe in the rule of law and replace them with those who will obey without question. But I urge my fellow service members: Do not give them what they want. Which brings me to the question Iāve been asked over and over: What do we do? I have two words for you: Hold. Fast. Remember your oath. Remember what it means to serve this nation, not a political faction. But be smart. Protect yourselves. How to Stay Safe While Standing Your Ground 1. Stay Under the Radar ā¢ Avoid public criticism, especially in official channels or on social media. Assume anything you say online can and will be traced back to you. This includes Reddit. Could people diss out who you are based on what youāve shared here? ā¢ In public, maintain a neutralāor if necessary, mildly supportiveādemeanor. ā¢ Remove bumper stickers, yard signs, or anything that identifies your political leanings. Your spouse and family should also be cautious about social media. 2. Choose Your Allies Carefully ā¢ There are like-minded people in the ranks, but trust must be earned. The walls have ears. ā¢ Be discreet in conversations. Small, non-committal statements can help gauge where others stand before you reveal your own views. 3. Document and Observe ā¢ The purge of JAG officers and Inspectors General is no coincidence; it is a deliberate attempt to remove oversight and silence whistleblowers. ā¢ If you witness illegal actions or corruption, document everything carefully. ā¢ If necessary, leak information to trusted external channelsāinvestigative journalists, oversight committees, or trusted Congresspersons. 4. Stay Informed and Resilient ā¢ Propaganda thrives in the absence of truth. Read critically and verify information. ā¢ Maintain morale by finding purpose in small victories and supporting fellow shipmates. ā¢ Stay physically and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. The Line That Must Never Be Crossed I remain hopeful that we will never reach the point where service members are ordered to carry out unlawful or immoral directives. I pray that our leadership will intervene before that line is crossed. But history has shown that hope alone is not enough. If that day ever comes, we will need men and women in uniform who stand for the rule of law, not the rule of fear. To them, I say again: Hold fast.
What's the deal with Pete Hegseth? Am I the only veteran that recognizes this guy's personality?
Can we have a candid discussion on the type of guy SECDEF Hegseth appears to be? Specifically, Iād like to lead off the conversation around his high bar being mediocrity. Ā Letās start with his military career. He was an infantry platoon leader for a time. Then it appears he was tasked at the S-9 (Civil Affairs). Then it appears he volunteered to teach COIN in Kabul. Then IRR. Then ARNG in DC. Ā Letās unpack this. Heās an infantry officer. But he didnāt complete Ranger School, Airborne School, or Air Assault School ā and he was assigned to the 101^(st). Why not? I spent the vast majority of my time in the Army in the heavy side of things (1AD/1CD/18ABN), and as a medical service officer, I completed both Airborne and Air Assault. I struggled to think of a single infantry officer who Iāve met that hasnāt completed at least one of the three ā and I could only think of one. Any junior officer thatās ever served in a BCT can tell you the #1 captain, if not in command, is the AS3. The lower performing folks are put in charge of made up shops ā Civil Affairs being an āimaginaryā shop in most battalions. Our battalionās S-9 was staffed by a never-going-to-get-promoted fat Captain and a SFC with DUI and EO problems. Speaking to former peers, thatās the general consensus ā the folks in the āmade upā shops are the lowest performers. Why was LT/CPT Hegseth put in that position? Then it appears that CPT Hegseth volunteered to be an instructor of some sort at the COIN academy in Kabul where he taught one class. Again, these classes are typically taught by post-command Captains/early Majors and Master Sergeants. Why would someone with no real experience in COIN be teaching COIN at a theater level? Why would a Captain be working at theater-level if not to keep him out of trouble or because no one would pick him for their team? Those are the things we know about. Letās talk about some things that are missing. His highest level of leadership experience appears to be Platoon Leader. His most impactful job appears to be a battalion-level Civil Affairs OIC/AOIC position. In the civilian world, even FoxNews relegated him to the weekend morning show ā the doldrums of TV ratings. He apparently parted ways with the charity(s) with which he was affiliated over some alcohol related incidents ā and the charities werenāt terribly impactful either. After reading the signal conversation, it reads like a battalion/brigade battle captain briefing his boss. The granularity of the detail and tick-tock of it make it seem like heās trying to brief an operational leader ā not a group of strategic folks. Itās no wonder there arenāt many people chiming into the conversation ā they were likely ignoring it because it just wasnāt being briefed to their level. Itās almost like he was trying to get attention ā fishing for compliments on DoDās actions. I donāt know why, but it just sounds soā¦ juniorā¦ so inexperienced. This is a guy that reads, on paper, like he aspires to mediocrity. Heās the guy that gets 300 on the PT test, does just enough to get out of writing an OPORD, has his subordinates writing their own NCOERs/OERs, manages to always have rumors of him sleeping around but never gets caught. Itās almost like heās the guy that likes the idea of being in the military without actually *being* in the military. Heās the guy that volunteers to be rear-D commander, but the decision authority makes him the rear-D XO because he canāt be trusted with responsibility. He's the guy that volunteers to be an infantry officer but doesn't want to do any of the "hard" schools. I feel like I know the personality type, because weāve all worked with them. I think we all know a Pete Hegseth and none of us would call them "leadership material." So whatās the deal? Does no one in DoD at the strategy-level see that this guy isā¦ dangerously meh? Edit: formatting. Edit 2: My inbox asked: what would you expect his career to look like? For a 20-year infantry officer in his generation, at bare minimum, I would expect airborne or air assault, and ranger school partnered with a company command. To keep him in line with his peers... I would expect battalion and/or brigade S-3/XO/DCO time, a significant assignment on a G/J/C-staff, and battalion command. I would expect some time spent in Vicenza or Bragg and the Pentagon or a MACOM. I would expect CCC and ILE. To put him ahead of his peers... I would expect to see some SOC time, multiple successful deployments in UOA in leadership positions, maybe a nominative assignment, White House/Congressional fellowship, or a very deep resume of regiment time.
Donāt fuck this up, 2/7
You have a job to do - I get it. This isnāt a referendum on the morality of current events, legality, or anything of the sort. You got the warno, and you might have to go do the job. This is what you signed up for. That being said, if thereās a mother fucker in your fire team, squad, or platoon who has a hard-on about the idea of killing other Americans, donāt let them rile up anyone else, or make a decision that canāt be unmade. Police your own, and remember your oath; especially that bit that specifies lawful orders. If you go, the whole world is going to see it if someone fucks this up, and all of us - Marines past, present, and future - will carry the weight of your actions. Youāll either show America why we trust Marines to do the right thing, or youāll ruin our reputation forever with what might happen next. Iām a GWOT vet. A lot of us carry things even today that stain our souls, that we wish we could have done differently. I canāt even imagine facing some of the choices we made, back here at home. You might have to face some of those choices. Do the right thing, conduct yourselves as consummate professionalsā¦ and donāt fuck this up.
If no resignations, firings, or severe punitive action comes from this Signal leak, I don't know where we go from here
This is not political. I hate to even hover around anything that can perceived as political in this sub as I consider it a place of refuge to BS, advise, vent, etc. But as a former intel Soldier, this leak is fucked up beyond measure. Like my head still can't wrap around it. I worked at the NSA for 8 years, NSA Texas and retired out of NSA Washington up in Meade. If nothing comes from this idk how you can look any service member or civilian in the intelligence community and preach about OPSEC. The highest levels of authority in the intel community committed one of, if not, the most egregious offense you can possibly commit. Who tf is going to take OPSEC, cyber awareness, CUI, insider threat, etc serious? And for my intel folks, USSID18/SPOO18, FISA/FAA, Oversight etc?? Based on this, these mofos should actually be put in the annual training examples of what not to do like, just like we have with other folks who violated any level of OPSEC. We were already beginning to lose credibility with the five eyes, now this solidifies it. No one is going to share intel with us for then foreseeable future. As someone who has worked closely with our allies and shared crucial info back n forth, this is so fucking embarrassing and frankly, pretty fucking scary. Edit: I'll take an Ultra Sunrise Monster, 2 tornados, and a 20mg propranolol
9 years in, and Iāve never felt so disheartened wearing the uniform
Hey all, I just hit 9 years in the Air Force. This career has been good to me, and Iām proud of my time in uniform. But this past weekend, for the first time, I felt truly disheartened to wear it. I went to a local event meant to provide services and resources for veterans and active duty. Things like VA benefits, housing info, free meals, free haircuts, etc. When I was checking in, the volunteer (an AF vet herself) asked me the usual demographic questions. One of them was where I was born. I answered: San Francisco, CA. Without missing a beat, she replied: āIām surprised Trump hasnāt had all of you deported yet.ā I froze. Wide-eyed, because I couldnāt believe she had the audacity to say that to my face. She quickly backtracked with, āsorry, I shouldnāt have said that joke.ā My only response was: āWhy would you think thatās funny? Never mind, just get me checked in.ā I walked away, later telling a SMSgt volunteer so it could be raised with the event coordinator. I tried to enjoy the event with my family, and we did, but that exchange left me frustrated, sad, and honestly hopeless. I wear this uniform, which means Iām held to a higher standard. I canāt just unload my thoughts on social media without risking reprisal. I canāt vent in the workplace, because it would disturb good order and discipline. I know I canāt disparage officials. But holy hell does it suck when a fellow veteran rips the mask off and shows you they donāt think you belong here. Well, I do. Fuck you, lady. I belong in this country. Both my parents served. My family has a legacy of service. Iāve served for almost a decade myself, and Iāve earned every damn right to stand here in uniform and call myself American. I just needed to get this off my chest.
Hey you fat fucking pricks thanks a lot for being such fat fucking pricks
We had a good thing going. BN said PT on your own as long as our scores stayed up. My guys all kept it above 500. Mostly above 540. But I guess the next company over is a bunch of fat fucking undisciplined lazy unwashed inbred useless dickless degenerate slobs who canāt be bothered to scrape their wretched hides out of their disgusting slime riddled sacks for long enough to do a push-up. So now we have mandatory PT five days a week again. Overnight my schedule went from: 0700 - wake up and have breakfast with family 0900 - go to work 1200 - lift during lunch 1630 - go home 1700 - take kids on a run in the stroller To: 0515 - silently sneak out of bed without waking wife or dog 0600 - PT 0730 - shower and then exist on post 0900 - work 1630 - leave Thatās an extra 90 minutes a day at work! And no breakfast with my kids! And no benefit to my PT score! And no extra pay! And no fucking anything except that a bunch of fat fucking morons who wonāt PT will now show up and bitch about PT and do exactly 10% of the required effort and still fail because theyāre FUCKING SUBHUMAN NOTHINGS. My 40 hour workweek just turned into 55 hours because of you limpdicks. So thank you. Thank you so much for being so unfathomably worthless. I truly hope you eat yourselves into an early grave. Hopefully in the next quarter so our averages go back up
Today marks the anniversary of MSG Benavidez six hours in hell
MOH citation as follows M/Sgt. (then S/Sgt.) Roy P. Benavidez, United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam, to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small-arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sgt. Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sgt. Benevidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing while he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small-arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of the extraction aircraft and the loading of the wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader's body, Sgt. Benevidez was severely wounded by small-arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sgt. Benevidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic-weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sgt. Benevidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permitted another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small-arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door-gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sgt. Benevidez' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
Meet an American NASA astronaut, physician, U.S. Navy officer, dual designated naval aviator and flight surgeon, and former Navy SEAL
[YT short for TLDR by @kagan.dunlap](https://youtube.com/shorts/nfkGzMrtEh4?si=-S6lkAcrsRCwvB8r) NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim displays traditional matryoshka doll after safe Soyuz MS-27 landing in Kazakhstan. He spend 8 months in space aboard the International Space Station. Returned to earth on December 9, 2025 LCDR Kim enlisted in the Navy as a Seaman recruit after graduating high school in 2002. After completing Hospital Corpsman āAā school training, he reported for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA. After completing his training at Naval Special Warfare, Kim reported to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Liberty, NC, for the Special Operations Combat Medic Course. He was assigned as a Special Warfare Operator to SEAL Team THREE in San Diego and obtained various qualifications, including: Military Freefall Parachutist Advanced SCUBA Combatant Diver (closed circuit rebreather) Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Scout and Sniper and Advanced Special Operations Techniques Kim served as a special operator on more than 100 combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2012, Petty Officer First Class Kim was commissioned as a naval officer through the Navyās enlisted-to-officer commissioning program, Seaman to Admiral-21, following graduation from the University of San Diego with a Bachelorās degree in Mathematics, summa cum laude. He obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his internship with the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Womenās Hospital in Boston, MA. Kim is an Aeromedical Dual Designated (AMDD) Naval Aviator and Flight Surgeon. He completed his primary flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, TX, helicopter advanced flight training at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL, and the Naval Flight Surgeon course at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute at NAS Pensacola, FL. Spaceflight Experience: On April 8, 2025, Kim launched to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. He spent eight months aboard the station as an Expedition 72/73 flight engineer, conducting science experiments and maintaining the space station. He returned to Earth on December 9, 2025. During the science expedition, Kim logged 245 days in space, orbiting the Earth 3,920 times and traveling nearly 104 million miles. He saw the arrival of nine visiting spacecraft and the departure of six during his time in orbit. Awards & Honors: Silver Star Medal Bronze Star Medal with Combat āVā Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat āVā Combat Action Ribbon and various campaign and service awards Commodoreās List with Distinction, Naval Advanced Flight Training Naval Special Warfare Medic of the Year Special Operations Medical Association Commandantās List, Special Operations Combat Medic Course, Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC) SEAL Junior Sailor of the Quarter, SEAL Team THREE Distinguished Honor Graduate Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) āAā School Tillman Scholar, Pat Tillman Foundation Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Gamma Pi, and Mortar Board Honor Societies
Fort Gordon soldier money stolen
So I am a person at Fort Gordon, Georgia. We were informed by our unit that the Georgia Power electric company would be doing some work in the barracks and going into soldiersā rooms. The real kicker is that they had ZERO uniformed escort with them when they were going into rooms. Not the barracks manager, not the staff duty, and not the CQ either. Well, one soldier had a camera in his room and caught one of the contractors from Georgia Power electric company steal money from him, put it in his pocket, sees the camera, pretends to put the money back, and then tries to kill the feed. Turns out that does not work when you are dealing with slightly mire tech savvy soldiers. In other news, while this work was happening, not only did they NOT have a uniformed escort, they actually prevented soldiers from going into their own barracks rooms while they were there saying said soldiers were not allowed in there. Thatās bullshit, but nonetheless, there is no telling if theyāve stolen from other people, both on post and off post too. Stealing from soldiers is particularly disgraceful in image, but this behavior is shameful for the Georgia Power company, the brigade, and anyone who did not see an obvious problem with civilians being in a soldiersā room unescorted. Fix this shit, CCOE. There should never be a civilian, ESPECIALLY one who is not even DA or DOD, in a soldierās barracks room without a uniformed escort under ANY circumstance.
Many of our Navy brothers and sisters are serving in harmās way tonight. Letās all hope and pray for their safety.
No politics. The US just used its military might to attack a major regional power. This opens us up to direct counterattacks, asymmetric warfare and Iranās terrorist network. These are dangerous times and underscore the critical need for training and readiness. Letās pray for them and also keep a weather eye ourselves for threats at home and around the world. āFate is setting up the chessboard, while death rolls out the dice.ā
We need to have a discussion about "lawful orders"
The US military is now the only part of the federal government that has an obligation to the rule of law as defined by US code, the US constitution, and international law. Officers, especially those that attend the academies, are well versed in the idea of a lawful vs. unlawful order. However, the enlisted are told what constitutes a lawful order, but are given very little information on what constitutes an unlawful order. So let's have a bit of a refresher. There are various criteria to a lawful order, but all orders need to follow 3 basic criteria: * Legal under US law * Legal under the US constitution * Legal under international law These are the 3 masters under which you will be judged if you transmit or perform an unlawful order. Normally, US law and US constitution would be in the same bullet point, as the constitution is the supreme law of the land. However, as I said before, these are unprecedented times. International law is important here as well. The US is a signatory to \*most\* of the Geneva Conventions. However, even if a nation is not a signatory to a certain part, you can still be tried under international law for following or transmitting an unlawful order. So, for example, there's a group of protesters gathering outside a federal building late at night. The executive would like the crowd to disperse. Here's 4 potential orders that are within the current realm of possibility: * "Under the Insurrection Act, I authorize the use of federal troops to assist law enforcement in restoring order, ensuring protection of federal property, and enforcing curfews in accordance with federal and state laws." While not exactly well liked, this is certainly legal in the US. It was used in Minneapolis, when the National Guard was used to help police enforce curfews after Floyd was murdered. In this case, anyone caught by the Guard was arrested by the police - they were there to assist, not enforce. * "I Order federal troopsĀ to conduct arrests of protesters for violating local curfew laws." This is an unlawful order under federal law (18 U.S.C. Ā§ 1385), but not under constitutional or international law. The US military cannot be used as a police force to enforce local, state, or federal laws. It would require an act of congress, not an order from the executive, to make this order legal. You have the **right** and the **duty** to **refuse** this order, and to refuse to **transmit** this order. * "Use live ammunition and lethal force to disperse the protesters, regardless of whether they pose a threat." Disregarding federal law, this is a violation of the US constitution, as an unreasonable seizure under the 4th amendment and a deprivation of due process under the 5th amendment. Again, You have the **right** and the **duty** to **refuse** this order, and to refuse to **transmit** this order. * "I designate the protesters as terrorists and enemy combatants, and they should be treated as such" This is illegal in many ways, but especially under international law; specifically the fourth Geneva Convention. You have the **right** and the **duty** to **refuse** this order, and to refuse to **transmit** this order. While these scenarios may seem silly, there is a large part of the US population that is genuinely afraid of these outcomes. The US military is the strongest, smartest, and best war fighting force the world has ever seen, and it is our responsibility to hold ourselves to a higher standard than those in charge may hold themselves to. **\*\*this post was written to be apolitical. Let's keep it that way and keep the mods happy.**
I don't know who you were but you were the problem with the air force
I separated in 2020 6 months early thanks to the SBP. Last night I was talking about how shitty some of the people I met while I was in and this one moment popped into my head that I hadn't thought about in forever. I was new to Cannon AFB. Didn't know anyone was a first time airman and it was snowing hard as fuck. I didn't even have my initial issue cold weather gear yet and didn't have a car so I had to walk to work. I get to a cross walk and press the button and while standing still while it's snowing pretty hard so I slip my hands into my pockets because it's 6 degrees outside. A sedan pulled up in front of me. Master Sergeant asshole rolled down his window told me to come closer I reached for the door. He locked it. Asked me what unit I'm from I gave it to him. He them proceeds to tell me he's reporting me to my section for breaking afi 36-2903 for having my hands in my pockets and that I'm the biggest piece of shit he's seen that day. Me outside in my ABUs freezing my ass off yet you choose to yell at me instead of helping. If the military had less people like you maybe the retention rate wouldn't be as bad you asshole.
Just PCSed to my new base. Literal culture shock.
I HATED going to work at my old shop because leadership was terrible, vindictive, and never did anything to help anyone. I just got to my new base a couple weeks ago, and i'ts like I'm not even in the same Air Force anymore. \-Well-staffed to where we get every other Friday off \-For those working on Friday, the Major brings in boxes of pizza. \-Major's wife also routinely brings in baked goods for everyone in the break room \-Our Senior and Flight Chief get mad when they see Airmen not taking breaks. \-We get 1h30m of self PT for 2 days a week. Either come in later or leave work early. Can choose what two days. \-I'm the only troop for my supervisor and he doesn't have a million other Airmen to be in charge of and is able to help me. \-Work gets done quickly, efficiently, and people look out for each other. It's wild how a PCS can change your viewpoint on what day to day life is like for people around the force. Good lord.
Honor Guard has taught me not to take the AF seriously
At every base I get assigned to, I've always attempted to join the base Honor Guard. With around 300 details(200+ funerals), Every eulogy always has the same tone... "Growing up, my dad would often be gone a lot." Now these aren't children giving these speeches. These are 50+ year old daughters and sons giving eulogies to their dead parents. You might not think it's it much now, but they remember. They remember you missing birthdays, holidays, Halloween, Christmas, recitals, sporting games, and times when they needed you the most. They don't care what you did for the AF whether it's AMN/NCO of the quarter or some random award, they care about when my dad took me to the beach and we played in the sand all afternoon. We often forget that "being there" is the most important thing you can give to your family because they remember. For those that have been in the service for 15+ years and are fortunate enough to have a good relationship with their parents, you'll notice how everytime you come home to visit, mom & dad seems to look different each time. They might move a little slower, a few wrinkles has started to show, and their hair starts to fade white. Long story short, take advantage of the times that you have now. Being in the AF is tough as shit regardless of what AFSC you have. Being away from things and people that you love takes a toll mentally that any other civilian will experience. But here's the truth: No matter how important you think your in the AF or what rank you are, you're not that important. The mission will always get done no matter what... With or without you. If you were to take 20 days of leave, the mission will still continue. Take care of your family because that's what's important. Your children are forever yours, the AF is not. The hard part is: most of you that read this will say "it'll never happen to me." Until one day, your family is not there anymore.
Sec of Defense shouldn't be Political
Hegseth was confirmed 51-50. Every Democrat and 3 Republicans in the Senate voted against Hegseth. VP Vance was required to cast a tie breaking vote. This is extremely unusual. Sec of Defense has traditionally be a bipartisan appointment. Lloyd Astin, who was appointed by Joe Biden received a vote of 93-2, Mark Esper, who was appointed by Trump received 90-8, Gen. Mattis, also by Trump 98-1, and Ash Carter appointed by Obama 93-5. What's just happened with Hegseth is troubling. In the Trump era it is easy to diminish controversy as just more of the same. This isn't that. Trump 2 previous Sec of Defense picks received overwhelming support in the Senate. Hegseth was forced through on a tight partisan vote where even members of Trump's own party voted "Nay". From Academy to Stars it takes senior leadership decades to climb through the rank. Many civilians in DOD already served full careers in uniform and are now decades into their civil service work. DOD has millions of people who have been with it through numerous Presidents. Afghanistan for example persisted through Bush, Obama, and Trump. Internationally we have serious challenges. Russia in Ukraine, China lurking on Taiwan, Hezbollah & Hamas in battle with Israel, the Fall of Assad in Syria, Iran actively seeking to assassinate Americans, etc. In '26 the U.S. will host the world cup and in '28 the U.S. will host the Olympics. Major world events that will attract terrorists from around the globe. Hegseth is the wrong person for the job. Beyond his personal failings (there are many) his credentials are underwhelming. Hegseth is unqualified based on the absence of any relevant experience. Does anyone here feel more charitable towards Hegseth? Is their something I am missing?
MY PROPOSAL TO LOWER SUICIDE RATES IN THE MILITARY
Iām not sure if this has been brought up on any sort of leadership level yet but it just popped into my head. Every single time I run into a K9 while at work, my morale instantly improves no matter how shitty of a day I was having. And I donāt think Iām alone on this. I propose that each unit is given a service dog that just chills around the shop during the duty day (obviously exceptions to some shops with safety concerns). An Airman or NCO can take care of the dog on off-time as an additional duty. It should also go without saying that these dogs would likely be different breeds and receive different training than your typical military working dog on account of their relatively relaxed day-to-day routine. This seems like a great way to increase morale, make people excited to come to work, and provide extra volunteer/training opportunities to members. I understand that obviously not all units would be capable of having a dog at their shop/office, but it seems like something that could do a lot of good for increasing morale/motivation among troops with relatively little cost and risk. Let me hear your thoughts
SWO6 Op-ed. To the many people that asked me: Yes, shooting at unarmed people in the water violates the Geneva Conventions and the Law of Armed Conflict. If you are ever ordered to do this, you must refuse, because it is illegal.
There is a lot of debate about what legal, whatās illegal, what should you do, and what you should refuse, but for this scenario, that is my answer. I donāt know if the allegation is true. The Pentagon denies it, and I truly hope that is the case. But what is true, and what every one of you should understand, is what the law actually says. Weāve already been round and round about the legality of shooting at drug-running boats. Under virtually every interpretation of international maritime law, it is probably illegal. I myself would put it at 99 percent. The administration may believe it has a legal argument, but every credible voice I know of disagrees, including all of our allies and partners. That should tell you something. But this second issue of ādouble tappingā or taking no prisoners is not a gray area. Not legally, not morally, not ethically. Shooting at unarmed people in the water, after their vessel has been disabled or sunk, is unlawful. Full stop. There is no āinterpretationā of the Geneva Conventions or the Law of Armed Conflict that makes this permissible. There is no loophole, no operational necessity clause, no presidential or SECWAR prerogative. It is an act expressly prohibited and it has been for more than a century. At the Naval War College, we discussed this exact scenario when studying World War I and World War II submarine warfare. Back then, there were several instances where a submarine would torpedo a ship and then circle back to fire on survivors in the water. Those incidents were part of the reason why we have the Geneva Conventions in the first place Theyāre also why the Conventions explicitly classify shipwreck survivors as āde facto hors de combat.ā That means āout of the fightā because they are wounded, detained, incapacitated, or in the water with no ability to wage war. They must be treated as noncombatants. Always. Here is the relevant language, straight from Article III, which every service member should know: ā (1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed 'hors de combat' by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons: (a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; (b) taking of hostages; (c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment; (d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples. (2) The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.ā Note the phrase āat any time and in any place.ā No exceptions. The law is intentionally absolute to prevent exactly the kind of atrocity we are discussing. Also note the āwounded and sick shall be collected and cared forā clause. Nothing about shooting them in the water for expediency. A classmate once asked, āWell, what if the President pardons you?ā Our instructor responded immediately: āThat pardon would carry no weight before an international war-crimes tribunal.ā That is the reality. You cannot be pardoned for violating the laws of war. āJust following ordersā is not a defense. It wasnāt at Nuremberg. It isnāt now. So, in sum: Iām relieved the Pentagon denies this happened, because if it had, it would be prima facie illegal under every relevant body of law. And let me be crystal clear for anyone on active duty: If ordered to shoot unarmed survivors in the water, you must refuse. Not as an act of protest, but as a legal obligation. Not as a matter of politics, but as a matter of civilized behavior and humanity. And this law is there for a reason. You wouldnāt want it to happen to you if the shoe was on the other foot, and you shouldnāt want it to happen to others. Thatās not who we are as mariners.
Iām tired grandpa
Iām a transgender soldier. Iāve been in for the last 7 years. Made positive impacts across my whole career so far. Helped set up Drumās reception company to what it is today. Was a supply NCO. After the drop of EXORD 175-25 Iām just tired. Tired of my service being called into question every few years. I just want to support my wife and kids the best I can. The Army helped me with that a lot. Yes, Iām going to be fine in the greater scheme of things. My wife and kids are going to be great in the greater scheme of things. Being on administrative leave after dropping the voluntary separation option feels like a slap in the face to my service. Seeing my unit scramble in group chats over small things I was going to do today pisses me off. Theyāll figure it out though Iām sure. Handing over my sub-hand receipt yesterday and leaving is just now hitting me. Iām finishing things up for certifications. Iām going to get a good job when Iām out. Iāve got good things going for me and my family. But right now Iām just pissed Iāll have 5 shots of tequila and close my tab please
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU POST ON THIS WEBSITE (SHUT THE FUCK UP FRIDAY)
I just got interrogated by OSI for some of the content that I post on this website. Some of you know that I like to make memes and post on this sub regularly. Well, some of the content that I have posted seems to have ruffled some feathers and caused a formal investigation. Let me tell you that it was the most surreal experience going to an interrogation room, and having memes that you've made being presented to you while Special Agents grill you about silly memes you've concocted. What memes were so crazy or over-the-line that AFOSI had to get involved? Good question. They brought up a handful, but ones like [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/1bjc286/its_the_worst_part_about_the_af_pt_test/), [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/196ie9e/out_of_control/), and [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/1kvt92i/happy_memorial_day/) were what the interrogation centered on most. They even went after some [shitposts](https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/19ai4dk/flight_med/) I've made in the past. Leave it to autistic OSI to go deep into your post history I could not wrap my head around what was going on, I kept thinking "I cannot believe this is happening. Is this real life? what the fuck is going on?" That's when a bigass loch ness monster slapped the tree fiddy right out of my hand and told me to get a grip. They kept asking me questions about when I make memes, how I come up with them, who the audience is for, do I use AI to make memes (insulting) and shitposts. I answered truthfully to all their questions, which seemed to make things go smoother. They brough up charges citing the UCMJ. Articles 88, 89, 91, and 133 were all "airtight" they said. Nothing has been brought against me \*yet\* but I definitely fucked up. I was just trying to do the right thing by being cooperative but I ABSOLUTELY SHOULD'VE JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP AND ASK FOR A LAWYER. Anyway, I'll post again for followup whenever something formal happens. Just let this be a lesson to everyone: even if you think you're innocent and did nothing wrong, STFU and get a lawyer. I'm sure they'll try to guilt trip you, but your career and livelihood are at stake, so get the protection you deserve and are entitled to. BLOB: AFOSI brought OP in for interrogation for posting on Reddit.
PUT THAT PACKET IN! (your body will thank you)
I went from AIT instructor to OCS. If you are thinking of making this a career apply to be a warrant or commissioned officer. The scope is wider, but the work is significantly easier on the body. (Just look at the difference in the PCs). However, what I will say is that junior soldiers and NCOs do make a difference in day-to-day operations. Thank you for your commitment and service. Be all you can be. Even if that is you getting out of the army. Go live life to your fullest potential! ty.
Guy who almost joined military now enjoying career as ICE agent
Lol "Ralston never did enlist. Instead, he got certified through an online law enforcement course that came with a free T-shirt and started applying to federal jobs that ārequired courage but not cardio.ā" "Those close to Ralston say he talks about the military more than most people who actually served. His Facebook page is filled with American flags, Bible verses, and photos of himself holding large fish. His Instagram profile picture shows him standing in front of a black-and-white flag with a blue stripe through it, captioned, āSome of us still stand for something.ā"
A plea to our vets, from a VA clinician
I don't really know how to reddit, and don't really ever make any posts, but recent events have me feeling so disappointed I feel the need to say something. From speaking with my veteran patients, I am hopeful there are some that may feel the same way, as well. As most of you may be aware of, recent attacks on the federal workforce are having an effect on the VA system. It's almost like bleeding out from the inside. The 1000 employees that recently were laid off is just the tip of the iceberg. A week or two ago supervisors had to report who was within their probationary 2 year period still-- likely aiming to fire/unhire them. Although the frontline clinical staff were spared to some extent for now, they seem to be crippling us by getting rid of our administrative staff and not allowing us to hire any. They serve an essential role in keeping the clinics and hospitals running. Without their work for patient scheduling, supplies/inventory management, upkeep/maintenance, timekeeping, etc., we will eventually crumble. I spend my days working with my medical team and we barely have any room to eat or have a bathroom break, but seeing you all come in sick and discharging from the hospital feeling better is worth it all. The VA was my dream job since graduating residency and I am blessed and happy to work here. I hope you can empathize with me when I think that an email from OPM asking me to describe what I did last week to be an absolute waste of time. Time that I could be using to care for the vets instead. **For those of you who are vets who believe in the VA and the care it gives, I implore you to go to your town halls, to call your senators and house representatives, get your voice out there and let people know if you want to see the VA as an essential part of your healthcare. If this post gets even a few of you guys more active to get your voice out and be heard, I'll consider it a success. I just don't want to see this place go down without a fight.** Edit: Thank you all for the awards and kind words. Since this post was made, it became official that they've let go 1400 "probationary" (i.e. hired within 2 years). These people were \*indiscriminately\* fired and was not merit based. They claimed these people were not providing veteran care but there was a joint congressional hearing yesterday (link below) that details doctors and prosthetics staff getting let go at another VA. On top of this, it was estimated that hundreds of vets themselves were let go. Mike Bost (senator and chairman) seems to be more focused on gaslighting these concerns rather than providing actual answers to why VA staff and namely veterans are being let go. Watch for yourself, its rather infuriating. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVj7w3Mzvhk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVj7w3Mzvhk)
Refusing an Unlawful Military Order: Your Legal Duty, Your Constitutional Right, and the Courage That Defines True Service
Many U.S. service members are never told this clearly enough, or at all: > You are not only allowed to refuse an unlawful order ā you are obligated to. This is not insubordination. Itās not desertion. Itās not weakness. It is a legally protected act of courage that upholds the very oath you swore to the Constitution of the United States. This post lays out everything: - What counts as an unlawful order - The exact UCMJ articles and their full legal language - Real-world military court precedents - Interpretations from military law - Resources and steps to protect yourself and others If you're serving and something doesnāt feel right, or if youāve ever wondered, *āWould I be punished for refusing an illegal command?ā*, read this. The law is on your side. --- ### What Makes an Order Unlawful? An unlawful order is any order that: - Violates U.S. federal law or the Constitution - Violates international law (such as the Geneva Conventions) - Requires or leads to war crimes, torture, violence against civilians, or discriminatory actions - Has no legitimate military objective or is abusive > Department of Defense Law of War Manual, Section 18.6.1: > "Members of the armed forces are bound to obey only lawful orders. An order that violates the law of war is unlawful and must not be obeyed." --- ### UCMJ: What the Law Says **Article 90 ā Willfully Disobeying a Superior Commissioned Officer** 10 U.S. Code Ā§ 890 > "Any person subject to this chapter who willfully disobeys a *lawful command* of that person's superior commissioned officer shall be punished..." **Key:** This only applies to *lawful* commands. --- **Article 91 ā Insubordination Toward Warrant, NCO, or Petty Officer** 10 U.S. Code Ā§ 891 > "...willfully disobeys the *lawful order* of a warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer..." **Key:** Again, the term *lawful* is crucial. Unlawful orders are not protected by this article. --- **Article 92 ā Failure to Obey Order or Regulation** 10 U.S. Code Ā§ 892 > "Any person... who violates or fails to obey any *lawful* general order or regulation... shall be punished..." **Key:** Lawful orders only. Refusal of an unlawful order is *not* a violation. --- ### Real Cases That Set the Standard **United States v. Calley (1971) ā My Lai Massacre** Lt. William Calley was convicted for murdering unarmed Vietnamese civilians under orders. > *Verdict:* Following manifestly unlawful orders is not a defense. --- **United States v. Keenan (1969)** Pfc. Keenan killed a civilian under a direct order from a sergeant. > *Court ruling:* > "A soldier is not a robot. He is a reasoning agent. The law does not permit a soldier to obey an order that he knows, or should know, is illegal." --- ### Nuremberg Principle IV (International Law) > "The fact that a person acted pursuant to the order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him." **Takeaway:** If you can recognize that an order is wrong, you're not only allowed to refuse ā you're expected to. --- ### What to Do If You Receive an Unlawful Order 1. **Ask for clarification** Politely ask the superior to explain how the order aligns with UCMJ or ROE. 2. **Document everything** Keep records: time, date, location, order content, witnesses, and your response. 3. **Report it** Use your chain of command or report directly to the Inspector General (IG). 4. **Get legal help immediately** Request a JAG attorney. Do not provide statements until youāve been advised. --- ### Legal Protection for Refusal and Reporting You are legally protected from retaliation for reporting unlawful actions. **10 U.S. Code Ā§ 1034 ā Military Whistleblower Protection Act** Protects service members who report: - Illegal orders - Violations of UCMJ or federal law - Fraud, abuse, or misconduct --- ### Support Organizations You Can Contact **GI Rights Hotline** - Website: `https://girightshotline.org` - Phone: `1-877-447-4487` Free, confidential legal and discharge help. **Military Law Task Force (MLTF)** - Website: `https://nlgmltf.org` Assistance with refusing orders, whistleblowing, and CO status. **Center on Conscience & War** - Website: `https://centeronconscience.org` CO support and DoD Form 5305 guidance. **National Whistleblower Center** - Website: `https://www.whistleblowers.org` Whistleblower protection and legal advocacy. --- ### Mental and Emotional Support Youāre not weak for being stressed ā this is serious. These resources exist to support your well-being: - **Military OneSource** ā `1-800-342-9647` (free, 24/7 counseling) - **VA Vet Centers** ā Mental health, trauma, and moral injury help - **Chaplains** ā 100% confidential spiritual support --- ### Legal and Moral Foundations at a Glance - UCMJ Articles 90, 91, 92: Only lawful orders are enforceable - DoD Law of War Manual Ā§ 18.6.1: Duty to disobey unlawful orders - Nuremberg Principle IV: Youāre personally accountable under international law - 10 U.S. Code Ā§ 1034: You are protected if you speak out --- ### Final Message to All Service Members You did not swear an oath to a commander. You swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. Following a clearly unlawful order doesnāt protect you ā it makes you legally and morally responsible. Refusing such an order is not insubordination. It is: - Leadership - Honor - Courage - Constitutionally backed military service If you or someone you know is in this situation: speak up, write it down, seek support, and do not stay silent. You are not alone. You are protected. And you are doing the right thing. #Please share, repost, and spread this to heip educate support, and save our brothers and sisters in arms from becoming victims of ignorance
Smoking the Two Mile Run
Donāt let a two mile run smoke your careerā this is an easy fix. Imagine jogging as slow as possible that is barely a step above walking. Losers that run marathons call that Zone 2. If you spend an hour a day hanging out in Zone 2 three times per week (for like 90 days minimum), you will crush the two miler. I donāt know the correct bullshit pseudoscience terminology, but it works. Trust me. Now bust out 30 pushups every hour at work when the homies are jerking each other off at the vape pit with a few occasional sets of sit ups and youāll easily crush the PT test. As the Navy says - āthe only hard day is tomorrowā. Good luck.
To all people doing 20 years and beyond... Especially E7 and above..
This is coming from a Chief. Stop being such fucking assholes. Yall take this shit way too seriously and for what? To make yourself look good? I hope one day you realize that YOU are the problem. YOU are the reason why Sailors don't reenlist. Stop bringing home problems to work. Leave that shit at home. No one cares that your wife/husband is a bitch or that your family hates you. Ask for help or figure that shit out on your own time. If you can't figure out the difference between "Ya! That's my Chief!" and "Ya, that's my Chief" then you need to re-evaluate yourself. You're supposed to be a mentor and a guide for junior Sailors. Be the person that your Sailors brag about. Junior Sailors aren't your fucking kids, so stop treating them like they are (good or bad). Make sure the mission gets accomplished then move on with your life. It's just a fucking job at the end of the day and the people you're trying to impress will forget about you after you're gone. The Navy does not give two fucks about you after you leave, they barely do while you're in!
I didn't kill myself today.
I was up until 4:30 this morning. I was crying all night. I was considering doing 100mph into Lake Caroline today. I was on a delivery route because I lost my job last month and I'm not gonna make rent for October so I'm outta there most likely. The only safe place I've ever had in my life. I have an appointment with a bankruptcy attorney on Monday. As I came around a bend looking for an address a little girl and her mother waved and smiled. I waved back and continued on with my route. I went home and didn't kill myself today.
Why I believe the veterans clubs are slowly dying.
I know that this topic has been said many times on here. Last evening I was kicked out of the American Legion club in a town because I wrote a email to the board about a manager who I thought could do a better job. I was then pulled back into a back room and strong armed and bullied by a board member and the manager. And eventually kicked out. I doubt anyone will see this but this is the reason. The old boys club never respecting the Global War on terror vets. You alienate us get drunk and bully us. The legion in general does great work. But a few bad actors are killing it.
You really canāt seek help in the military
Throwaway because people watch my account. Iāll keep it short, Iām commissioning in a few months after being enlisted for 6 years. I was pretty excited and I dropped an afsc that made me go for the PRP screening stuff. Well, I got dropped and reclassed into a different job because I failed the screening. Upside? The job I got reclassed into is also pretty great so really Iām happy with both outcomes. The downside? Well I found out why I got dropped and reclassed. See before I started my commissioning process I was coming off my second deployment. My then ex-wife was an unfaithful spouse and cheating on me. I had no idea what to do, she was leaving me for another man, my world was falling apart and the family we had worked on building together for 8 years was coming apart and nothing I could do would save it. My closest family was thousands of miles away so I was all by myself. So I sought counseling to help me navigate the marital issues, the divorce and the emotional grief afterwards. For clarification, I was never diagnosed with anything. I was never prescribed any medicine. I was never assigned an official doctor/psychiatrist/therapist. I purely went for counseling sessions. And it was enough to get me canned before I even started the training pipeline. Just makes me angry beyond belief. I remember a tech sgt in my org who finally got her dream orders to Hawaii and her orders were dropped because of her depression. I have a friend in my commissioning program whoās facing getting dropped because he sought mental help once as an airman. Same boat as me, no diagnosis, no docs, no meds. Like I donāt know what the Air Force wants from me. Am I supposed to just smile and wave while the love of my life rails another man? Iām so fucking sorry I needed help overcoming one of the biggest hurdles that life can throw at you. And I sure as hell wasnāt gonna waltz into my shirts office and go āHey bro you want to hear about how I was alone on Christmas while my wife was banging Jodie?ā Iām frustrated beyond belief. Again, silver lining. I love both jobs. Iām just mad that itās affected my career trajectory.
Just learned that the "reporter" behind the HBO show Generation Kill, who was embedded with Marines in Iraq in '03, took his own life in July.
I remember being a motard poolee back in 2014. I was stoked to graduate high school so I could ship to MCRD PI and become a Marine Grunt. I would do individual PT in my neighborhood while listening to running cadences on my iPod, memorized the general orders and the riflemans creed, and consumed all literature/ media that related to the Marine Corps. Then, I found the HBO series Generation Kill. It was the most accurate depiction of the 21st century Marine Corps. I remember staying up until like 4am on a school night watching it. The humor and the comradery was so appealing, and it made me even more eager to finally start my career in the Marines. Thank you, Evan Wright, for showing me the true Marine Corps that the recruiting commercials doesn't show.
The Country Is Unaware What Went Down Last Night. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!
This perfectly explains it from VoteVets Trump and Hegseth started purging senior Military officers that they deem insufficiently loyal. Weāve been talking about this for months, and last night it finally began. They started with the Chair of the Joint Chiefs, General CQ Brown. They followed with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General James Slife. But they didnāt stop there. Trump and Hegseth also purged the Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. JAG officers interpret and determine lawful and constitutional orders. Replacing career JAG officers with loyalists is essential to Trumpās overall goal of a Military dedicated not to the Constitution, but to him alone. To put it bluntly, our adversaries are popping champagne right now. There is no better outcome for them than the promotion of Trump loyalists over the best and brightest. They know that this move makes our Military weaker. The real concern is what comes next. Trump has made his intentions clear. He has openly signaled his intent to ignore the Constitution, he has attacked democratic processes and elections for the better part of a decade, and the actions he and Elon Musk have taken over the last four weeks openly defy longstanding Constitutional order. This is a dangerous moment, and we have to be ready for whatever happens.
Gen Allvin's video on tabs doesn't explain a goddamn thing
He says it's about the 'why' but his reasoning is that it diminishes your being part of a winning, lethal force. Well, don't we have the words US Air Force also on the uniform? Pretty sure that takes care of that part. Also, he says taking away the tab makes sure we aren't feeling too much like individuals. Okay, how about we get rid of nametapes, too? He says there's a principle of "easy to understand, easy to comply with, easy to enforce, and this fails that test." How? Assign an acronym to the career field, put it on tabs, issue them, don't let people wear unauthorized versions, boom you've met the criteria of your own test. Pretty sure that was already in place. He didn't actually address a reason pro or con the actual tab, which in my experience has been that it's legitimately useful to know what people do at a glance. Pointless.
I see a lot of veterans questioning if they can really go back to school and succeed after so much time awayā¦
Iām 49 and have ADD as well as the standard mental health package gifted to us by our time in the service. I just graduated magna cum laude and am headed on to my Masters and PhD program. You can do it, too, and it feels REALLY good.
Joined an elite club today.
Doc said I was operating on 1.8% restful sleep. High BP and a good friend finally got me to stop messing around and go get checked out. I lift, run, and eat right. I got lots of stress at work, but nothing I can do about that except KOKO for the next 1,043 days. Docs said that my not sleeping was making my BP high which was making my sleep worse which was making my BP worse and so on. Really looking forward to seeing what the world looks like on more than 1.8% battery.
Op-ed: Hold Fast: A recently retired senior naval Officerās take on the recent turmoil in our armed forces.
I take my retired privilege again to speak out on issues that are important to me. The views expressed here are my own and increasingly do not reflect the policies of the Navy or the Department of Defense. On Friday, two of our nationās finest military leadersāGeneral Charles Q. Brown and Admiral Lisa Franchettiāwere summarily dismissed. These were not pencil-pushing brass; they were proven warfighters, leaders with unshakable dedication to service at the highest levels. They were not fired because of job performance. Both had distinguished careers. Under Admiral Franchettiās leadership, the Navyās performance in the Red Sea proved that our surface anti-air warfare capabilities are not only effective against scores of asymmetric threats but also that our investment in surface ballistic missile defense was worth every dollar. Some may point to mishaps under Franchettiās tenure, but those critics ignore a glaring inconsistency: Why was the Army Chief of Staff not also dismissed, despite overseeing more mishaps with greater loss of life over the same time period? Again, the answer is simple: this was never about job performance. We have now entered a new phase of this administrationāone that prioritizes ideological purity over competence. It is a purge, a systematic effort to rid the military of those who do not fit the administrationās narrow and dangerous vision of military strength: one that is hyper-masculine, racially homogenous, and blindly obedient. To be even more directāGeneral Brown was dismissed because he is Black and had the audacity to discuss how his blackness led to struggles in his life. Admiral Franchetti was dismissed because she is a woman and had the audacity to speak in support of womenās roles in the modern armed forces. The administrationās defenders will argue these leaders were too focused on āDEI, not lethality.ā Yet, they conveniently ignore that the Army and Air Force had the exact same diversity programs as the Navy. They ignore that the Army had a higher percentage of transgender service members than the Navy. They ignore that as recently as last fall, the Army Chief of Staff publicly stated, āWithout diversity, a homogeneous team of soldiers would lack the resilience, perspective, and growth offered by teammates from different backgrounds.ā And yet, he remains while Franchetti is dismissed. āBut they serve at the pleasure of the President, he can decide who he wants!ā, is something Iāve heard throughout. That is not what is being questioned here. Nobody denies the President has this right. The real question is, āWhy does the presidentās pleasure align with racism and misogyny?ā Of the 8 serving joint chiefs, why were only the female and black members dismissed? Why was the female 3-star general who acts as Chief of Staff for SECDEF fired, but none of the male 3-stars? It doesnāt take a rocket scientist to see the pattern. Further, the firing of the top JAG officers is equally disconcerting. As the SECDEF said this morning, he fired them because he didnāt want lawyers who would āattempt to be roadblocksā. This is an abrogation of the rule of law. It is a chilling sign that controversial and possibly illegal activities are forthcoming and the administration does not want lawyers who will stand in the way of their plans These firings mark a turning point. Loyalty is no longer measured by allegiance to the Constitution but to the administrationās ideology. Stray from it, and you risk your careerāor worse. That the Administration has nominated for CJCS Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine, an under qualified officer in need of a waiver, undercuts the meritocracy argument. That this officer said to President Trump, in Trumpās own words, āI love you, Sirā¦I would kill for youā¦ā confirms that ideological purity is our new threshold. This is not just outrageous; it is immoral. It is un-American. Many have chosen to resign rather than serve under these conditions. That, of course, is exactly what this administration wantsāa strategic purge designed to drive out those who believe in the rule of law and replace them with those who will obey without question. But I urge my fellow service members: Do not give them what they want. Which brings me to the question Iāve been asked over and over: What do we do? I have two words for you: Hold. Fast. Remember your oath. Remember what it means to serve this nation, not a political faction. But be smart. Protect yourselves. How to Stay Safe While Standing Your Ground 1. Stay Under the Radar ā¢ Avoid public criticism, especially in official channels or on social media. Assume anything you say online can and will be traced back to you. This includes Reddit. Could people diss out who you are based on what youāve shared here? ā¢ In public, maintain a neutralāor if necessary, mildly supportiveādemeanor. ā¢ Remove bumper stickers, yard signs, or anything that identifies your political leanings. Your spouse and family should also be cautious about social media. 2. Choose Your Allies Carefully ā¢ There are like-minded people in the ranks, but trust must be earned. The walls have ears. ā¢ Be discreet in conversations. Small, non-committal statements can help gauge where others stand before you reveal your own views. 3. Document and Observe ā¢ The purge of JAG officers and Inspectors General is no coincidence; it is a deliberate attempt to remove oversight and silence whistleblowers. ā¢ If you witness illegal actions or corruption, document everything carefully. ā¢ If necessary, leak information to trusted external channelsāinvestigative journalists, oversight committees, or trusted Congresspersons. 4. Stay Informed and Resilient ā¢ Propaganda thrives in the absence of truth. Read critically and verify information. ā¢ Maintain morale by finding purpose in small victories and supporting fellow shipmates. ā¢ Stay physically and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. The Line That Must Never Be Crossed I remain hopeful that we will never reach the point where service members are ordered to carry out unlawful or immoral directives. I pray that our leadership will intervene before that line is crossed. But history has shown that hope alone is not enough. If that day ever comes, we will need men and women in uniform who stand for the rule of law, not the rule of fear. To them, I say again: Hold fast.
Military honors for non-career Marines?
This weekend, I attended the funeral of an Army LtCol. The ceremony included military honors: a bugler, body bearers, 3-gun volley, and a senior coordinator. It was moving, especially the moment when the flag was presented to the family with the words, *āon behalf of a grateful nation...ā* It made me reflect on my own decision. Iāve always felt that, because I didnāt retire and Iām not one to peacock that I was in the Marines, I'd just forego all the hoopla. Sure, it was part of my story, but it doesn't *define* who I am, or was, if I died tomorrow. But seeing the impact it had on *this family* made me think again. So, especially those who *didnāt retire*: Are you planning to request military honors when the time comes? Defend your position.
I got out and got my VA rating of 90%. This post is a PSA to let you know that you can too.
BLUF: Be proactive about your health, always go to medical even for small stuff, stay on top of your claim when it comes time to get out. So after getting out and biting my nails waiting for the slow ass VA to get around to me, I finally received my rating of 90% last night. Iām pretty stoked, and was expecting 50-60%. But Iāve heard and seen plenty of others get a way worse rating that didnāt reflect their actual physical condition after leaving the service. So whether youāre 18 years away from getting out or 2 years away, let me offer some advice and get you thinking about this during your career. 1. GO TO MEDICAL I canāt stress this enough. When I was an airman, my NCOs were always telling me that if I was hurt or wanted to be seen, then to make an appointment and go. When I became an NCO, I did the same for my troops. The reasons for this are if youāre hurting, you should go to a doctor, simple enough. And also to document your problems. I have a 0% rating for a few issues that arenāt causing me problems now, but might in the future, and I have years of appointments for. What helps get a high rating for a reoccurring issue is a **history of attempts to fix**, and **no resolution**. For example: Youāre practicing running for the new PT test. Over the next few months, you notice your knee getting stiffer and stiffer, and feeling worse and worse after every run. So you make an appointment. Of course the doc gives you the usual. Take it easy, hereās an NSAID prescription, ice it, do some stretches. A few months later, still hurting. So you make another appointment. Then they send you to phys therapy, give you a profile to rest it, maybe a referral off base, give you a brace, etc. A couple years of this and still no major improvement, all the while you have regular appointments every few months. Eventually youāre back on both feet. You can run and stuff but it still hurts, so you make an appointment to document it, and just have to deal with it forever now, but still regular make appointments when itās hurting. So thereās an obvious progression. Onset of issue, attempts to fix it, time passing, worsening of symptoms, more drastic measures, and still no resolution. This is what contributes to high ratings. 2. Do a BDD (benefits deliverable at discharge) What is your date of retirement/separation? Now subtract 7 months. That is the day you should request your medical records, create an account in va.gov, and set up your ID.me. Then at 180 days prior to separating, you upload your records and make your claim. You can look through your medical records and see your problem areas and make a list to help, and youāll probably already have a few in mind by then. IF YOU WAIT TOO LONG, you will be placed on the back burner, and might not get your claim approved or start receiving benefits until a year after you retire/separate. 3. CLAIM EVERYTHING You can claim anything. It doesnāt have to be previously documented. When filing you can remember the time you were playing flight touch football and got hit and knocked out for a second. Claim it. Worst they can say is no, and now you have documentation of a head injury. Get headaches sometimes? Claim it. Something hurting after lifting? Claim it. Youāre not lying or over exaggerating, you are documenting times you were hurting during your service, exactly what the VA is for. 4. Meet with your VA advisor. They will be on base or nearby. They will come to your TAP class. Get their card, set up a meeting, and pepper them with questions. They are going to be a lifeline helping you navigate this headache of a process. They will have the answers to timelines and forms and more. I set up a bi-weekly appointment with mine, and was still finding out new things every time I met with him that helped. 5. When you go to your evaluation appointments, use the Master Condition List https://www.veteransbenefitskb.com/master This is a list of every issue you can claim. It also has diagrams explaining how rating percentages are decided. When you go for your evaluation appointments, you will have already looked up your issues and where you fall on the diagrams/descriptors so you can describe your problems effectively to the evaluator. REMEMBER: Your evaluations arenāt about how you feel right now. They are about how bad your issue is on your **worst day**. Describe them in full to get an accurate diagnosis. 6. Remember that the evaluators are on your side As much shit as the VA gets, something like 80% of the VA are veterans. Their policies are to decide things in favor of the veteran, not to pinch pennies. I got 10% for a couple things that I didnāt even think I would, I just wanted them in my record. . . . In summation, be proactive. No one is going to fight for you better than you. If something hurts, go get seen. If it still hurts, go get seen again. Even if every time you go they give you ibuprofen and tell you to stretch it, you will have a thick file on it, bolstering your claim. When you get to the end of your career you should file a claim. Even if you were only in for 4 years, thatās 4 years of accumulated aches and pains. Even if you get a 0% rating for it, in 20 years you can go back and get it reevaluated. Youāre going to have a lot to do as you get ready to take off the uniform. Moving, TMO, work turnover, MPF outprocessing, SkillBridge, kids, pets, whatever. But your VA claim should be at the top of your priority list. You can knock it out 6 months prior to your ETS, and that 6 months out date should be an important one for you. If anyone has any other advice I missed or wants to point out a mistake I made, please do. If you have any questions, drop āem below.
PSA to Veterans: Please Stop Bragging About Your Disability.
Edit: Since there seems to be a misunderstanding. I like to state that this happened on Twitter. Edit 2:Bragging typically involves boasting in a way that tries to elevate oneself, often to make others feel lesser. On the other hand, a discussion is just sharing facts or experiences without that sense of superiority. Hey everyone, I wanted to share something thatās been on my mind after a frustrating (but also kind of hilarious) interaction with a fellow veteran online. I think itās important we all take a second to think about how we talk about our VA disability compensation, especially in public spaces where civilians are watching. Hereās what happened: This veteran was bragging about getting $3,000 a month for their 90% disability rating (which is already exaggerated because, letās be real, that number doesnāt add up unless youāve got a bunch of dependents or extra compensation and they admitted to be single and childless). They were flaunting it like a badge of honor, even saying they didnāt need the money and just save it. Meanwhile, the thread they were commenting on was full of civilians venting about their financial struggles. When I pointed out, as a fellow disabled veteran, that not everyone is as fortunate to receive compensation and that bragging like this only creates resentment, they doubled down. They went on about how they āearnedā it and how other veterans who donāt get benefits just need to ātry harder.ā Hereās the kickerāthey also tried to act like their disability was purely physical, saying, āHow do you know itās mental and not physical?ā But their behavior made it painfully obvious. Letās be honest: if youāre bragging like this and saying you donāt need the money, thereās a good chance your mental health rating is doing the heavy lifting. No one missing a leg or dealing with chronic physical pain is out here saying, āI donāt even need the money.ā Look, I get itāwe all handle our disabilities differently, and weāve earned the benefits we receive. But bragging about it in public spaces is not only tone-deafāitās dangerous. Civilians already donāt fully understand the VA system, and seeing this kind of behavior only makes them resent veterans more. It makes us all look bad. Worse, it gives ammo to people pushing for budget cuts to VA programs by reinforcing the idea that āveterans donāt really need it.ā So hereās my PSA: Donāt brag about your disability rating or how much money you get. Donāt say you donāt need it. Even if youāre fortunate enough to save the money, remember that others rely on it to survive. Be mindful of the context. If youāre in a public thread full of civilians struggling, thatās not the time to flex your benefits. We owe it to ourselves and to each other to handle these conversations with tact and humility. If youāve got something to say about your rating, keep it in spaces where itās relevant and understoodālike veteran forumsānot in public threads where it just creates hostility. Letās not ruin the system for those who genuinely need it.
An Open Letter to SECAF
Sir, I respectfully write in response to your memorandum dated April 7, 2025, which rescinds the blanket designation of military family days. I fully understand and support the Departmentās commitment to lethality and readiness. However, I urge us to consider the very foundation of that readinessāour people. In this age of constant connectivity, the average Airman doesnāt stop working at the end of the duty day. Collaboration tools, mobile access, laptops, and BYOD policies have made every moment a potential recall. For many, thereās no true off-switch. By removing designated family days, we risk sending a message that continuous productivity outweighs the wellbeing of our most vital resourceāour Airmen and their families. What was once a tangible sign of appreciation and balance now feels like another expectation to do more, with less. We are already leading the Department of Defense in suicide rates. The cancellation of family days, while seemingly administrative, chips away at morale, recovery, and retention. These days were not arbitraryāthey were an acknowledgment that service comes with sacrifice, and that time to reconnect with family is not a luxury, but a necessity. I appreciate your encouragement for commanders to evaluate pass structures. However, without standardized family days, the consistency and fairness across the force will likely vanish, replaced by unit-level discretion that may or may not be exercised equitably. Sir, I ask you to reconsider this decisionānot just as a policy reversal, but as a commitment to the humanity of our force. We can be mission ready and still prioritize our people. We must.
SMA Grinston's team randomly invited me to join him for his Tour during his visit at Bliss!
I had the pleasure, and huge surprise of being reached out to by SMA(R) Tony Grinstons team about two weeks ago. He's deep into his big tour around the country for AER and the Army's 250th birthday. They asked me to join him for his visit to Bliss. For those who don't know, Tony Grinston has been strangely intertwined with my career ever since I was a PFC. [I hunted him down and gave him the coveted PFC challenge coin on a dare in 2021.](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/s/YuBvbMy1Ib) SMA_PAO was a huge motivator for me early on in my start for this campaign. When I made my first big move by invading AUSA 2023 I continued what has now become a tradition, and gave a freshly retired Tony Grinson the SPC Coin. I was also given SMA_PAOs rank during his promotion ceremony at that same event. I had a long talk with him at AUSA 2024 when he had just really started getting his stride at AER. And now this: I'm really never going to escape this man, and he's certainly never going to escape me. It's weird, our every interaction has been competing for "the most awkward in my life." And I have absolutely no clue why. He is so friendly but since our first meeting was such a taboo extreme commitment to the meme, I feel like I'm stuck in that "I'm not allowed to be here" vibe. I'm like half ready to sprint off into the desert before my BDE CSM from 2021 appears around the corner to smoke me. It's like when you go home for Thanksgiving and see your family for the first time in forever and despite all your growth you revert back to that kid who ate paste and was too shy to answer "how are you doing?". But for this one, we both had a mission. Despite him being subjected to this same kid for the fourth year in a row, he was nothing but friendly and excited about his work and how far I had come. I was yet again eating paste. We teamed up and did a bone marrow registry drive at 2-3FA in support of SGT Bishop. I brought my soldiers to help while explaining absolutely nothing so they could get the bragging rights of meeting THE 16th Sergeant Major of the Army. He blew me away, despite having a very tight schedule he called all my joes over and talked with them for almost an hour. Gave them tons of advice and shared his experiences when he was first starting out. Then gave them all their first challenge coins. At the exact same time of that drive at Fort Bragg SSG Bex was doing one of the most successful registry drives I've ever seen. Registering over 1,200 people in one morning. Making me feel more than a bit lame with my contribution that day. We did some videos and his team was an absolute pleasure to work with. Don't worry. Of course I continued my tradition and gave him the SGT challenge coin. All this to say. AER kind of hit the lottery with getting this man to be their CEO. He is just genuinely ridiculously excited about the job. During our long talk at AUSA 2024, the whole time he was just gushing about how meaningful the job was. He said he loved helping soldiers at the SMA, now it is literally all he does. I don't get any sense of a guy who's punching the clock and playing a character. He's also making big waves immediately. AER now pays for 100% of travel expenses for emergency trips. It used to be 50% Right now his goal is to get 25% of funding for loans and grants be from small donations from service members. He wants $2.50 from y'all. His entire tour is based on his own dad-joke line of logic that he was very "own dad-joke" proud of. Army 250th birthday $2.50 donations from soldiers 25.0% of funding from SMs. [I think it's cute, here's the link](https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/)
Malingerers. Getting that bag? Or wasting everyoneās time and money.
Marines in my unit, while everyone else is deploying, going on exercises, classes, courses, etc. thereās a handful their entire career is just going to appointments.
That one time I gave myself a Medal of Honor at the MPF
So I was working the Awards/Decorations section of the MPF one time in my military career. I received a note to add a ribbon to someone's career record and profile. To do this, we go into the system and sift through a list of codes for each ribbon. I spotted that Medal of Honor was there and wondered if there needed to be special permission to add this to someone's profile or if it would give me some sort of error message. How is this so accessible? So once I finished adding the requested ribbon for an airman's profile, I pulled my profile up on vMPF. I looked at my ribbon rack. Then I went into the backend system and got into my profile, sifted through the ribbon codes and added the Medal of Honor one. I clicked "Save". Holy shit, it went through. I refreshed the website front end and within ten minutes, the MoH ribbon was there on my rack on vMPF. Heh. I chuckled at it. Then I removed the ribbon off my profile.
On Pete Hegsethās incompetenceā¦
Some folks have dropped in my inbox today suggesting that I repost this. Itās seems relevant to more than a few people. Essentially, the SECDEF is in over his head. https://www.reddit.com/r/Military/s/AEbQvsIiCy What's the deal with Pete Hegseth? Am I the only veteran that recognizes this guy's personality? Can we have a candid discussion on the type of guy SECDEF Hegseth appears to be? Specifically, Iād like to lead off the conversation around his high bar being mediocrity. Ā Letās start with his military career. He was an infantry platoon leader for a time. Then it appears he was tasked at the S-9 (Civil Affairs). Then it appears he volunteered to teach COIN in Kabul. Then IRR. Then ARNG in DC. Ā Letās unpack this. Heās an infantry officer. But he didnāt complete Ranger School, Airborne School, or Air Assault School ā and he was assigned to the 101^(st). Why not? I spent the vast majority of my time in the Army in the heavy side of things (1AD/1CD/18ABN), and as a medical service officer, I completed both Airborne and Air Assault. I struggled to think of a single infantry officer who Iāve met that hasnāt completed at least one of the three ā and I could only think of one. Any junior officer thatās ever served in a BCT can tell you the #1 captain, if not in command, is the AS3. The lower performing folks are put in charge of made up shops ā Civil Affairs being an āimaginaryā shop in most battalions. Our battalionās S-9 was staffed by a never-going-to-get-promoted fat Captain and a SFC with DUI and EO problems. Speaking to former peers, thatās the general consensus ā the folks in the āmade upā shops are the lowest performers. Why was LT/CPT Hegseth put in that position? Then it appears that CPT Hegseth volunteered to be an instructor of some sort at the COIN academy in Kabul where he taught one class. Again, these classes are typically taught by post-command Captains/early Majors and Master Sergeants. Why would someone with no real experience in COIN be teaching COIN at a theater level? Why would a Captain be working at theater-level if not to keep him out of trouble or because no one would pick him for their team? Those are the things we know about. Letās talk about some things that are missing. His highest level of leadership experience appears to be Platoon Leader. His most impactful job appears to be a battalion-level Civil Affairs OIC/AOIC position. In the civilian world, even FoxNews relegated him to the weekend morning show ā the doldrums of TV ratings. He apparently parted ways with the charity(s) with which he was affiliated over some alcohol related incidents ā and the charities werenāt terribly impactful either. After reading the signal conversation, it reads like a battalion/brigade battle captain briefing his boss. The granularity of the detail and tick-tock of it make it seem like heās trying to brief an operational leader ā not a group of strategic folks. Itās no wonder there arenāt many people chiming into the conversation ā they were likely ignoring it because it just wasnāt being briefed to their level. Itās almost like he was trying to get attention ā fishing for compliments on DoDās actions. I donāt know why, but it just sounds soā¦ juniorā¦ so inexperienced. This is a guy that reads, on paper, like he aspires to mediocrity. Heās the guy that gets 300 on the PT test, does just enough to get out of writing an OPORD, has his subordinates writing their own NCOERs/OERs, manages to always have rumors of him sleeping around but never gets caught. Itās almost like heās the guy that likes the idea of being in the military without actually *being* in the military. Heās the guy that volunteers to be rear-D commander, but the decision authority makes him the rear-D XO because he canāt be trusted with responsibility. He's the guy that volunteers to be an infantry officer but doesn't want to do any of the "hard" schools. I feel like I know the personality type, because weāve all worked with them. I think we all know a Pete Hegseth and none of us would call them "leadership material." So whatās the deal? Does no one in DoD at the strategy-level see that this guy isā¦ dangerously meh? Edit: formatting. Edit 2: My inbox asked: what would you expect his career to look like? For a 20-year infantry officer in his generation, at bare minimum, I would expect airborne or air assault, and ranger school partnered with a company command. To keep him in line with his peers... I would expect battalion and/or brigade S-3/XO/DCO time, a significant assignment on a G/J/C-staff, and battalion command. I would expect some time spent in Vicenza or Bragg and the Pentagon or a MACOM. I would expect CCC and ILE. To put him ahead of his peers... I would expect to see some SOC time, multiple successful deployments in UOA in leadership positions, maybe a nominative assignment, White House/Congressional fellowship, or a very deep resume of regiment time.
Dating as a rated veteran sucks
Went out on a date last night after 2.5 years of not dating and it reminded me why. I met him at the gym, spoke a few times he asked me out to go dancing last night, which was fun but afterwards we got coffee and went to walk to see the lights and I made a comment about having been overseas nearly 6 months last year with my son and spent Christmas in Iceland, which led to him asking me what I did for a living and I panicked and just said I worked from home which he paused walking and looked at me and said āyou do onlyfans?ā And I was like āwhere would you get that from!?ā Heās like ālook at you, what else does it mean? Insurance? HA.ā I got all red and embarrassed and said āno I donāt work I live off my Va disability and my late spouses and take care of our son.ā And he started to lecture me on not being honest and how does one just not work etc etc and how lucky it must be to just exist and travel without financial stressā¦I think the worst part of the date was when he asked how my husband died and I made a joke about how I guess not doing the dishes right away can make a guy snap I guess. He didnāt find it remotely funny but I think itās because heās a banker and lacks that dark humor bone. Someone here said something about making an app for us DVs to date lol where is it? Can I download it? Sigh. Any other shitty first dates you guys wanna share?
The USAF is really good at changing shit that doesnāt matterā¦
In the last 20 years Iāve never seen a regulation receive more updates than 36-2903. Three total-force uniform changes in the last 15 years. Countless changes to when where and how we wear the dress uniform. EPR, OPR, decoration and PME standards change with the weather. Now we are back to the drawing board with our fifth major PT change in my career. Here is what hasnāt changed; - We still train our next generation fighter pilots in a jet that was first flown 10 years prior to the moon landing. - Our Air Dominance fighter uses a computer form the 80s. - EOD has used the same robot for the last 26+ years - We constantly rely on aging airframes; B52 (1962), KC135 (1956) ā¦.. -My cell phone has more compute than my desktop workstation. - Insert your example here. Why do we focus so much on the things that donāt matter? Senior leaders snatch low-hanging fruit to give the force a veneer of readiness when itās clear that larger systemic changes need to happen. Is an extra .5 miles on my PT test going to win the war with China? Will another quarterly uniform inspection make me more ready to invade Iran? If you happen to be in a position that could possibly do something about this, please allow me speak in terms you might understand; *To prevail in Great Power Conflict and execute the Pivot to the Pacific, we must prioritize weapons modernization over low-impact initiatives. Mission Type Orders demand agile, lethal forcesānot optimized uniforms. Strategic overmatch hinges on investing in warfighting capabilities, not cosmetic reforms misaligned with pacing threat imperatives.* -Thank you
3 Things I wish I knew as an Airman and 3 Things I learned as a MSgt
25 years in this year between active and Reserves. Here goes: Airman: 1. If you have a dogshit supervisor/toxic work space, its not forever. Keep your head low, learn your job to an expert level, and start mapping out future goals. I've read some stuff in here that breaks my heart. I know a lot of you just want to go to work and be left alone, not yelled at by miserable people that poison the workforce. Its not forever, I promise. 2. The world is far more expansive than you think. Some real multiverse shit. I left active and had an interview with the TSA, that they cancelled on after I got my Uhaul to San Diego. I taught high school, then college, was a technical writer, earned 6 degrees, and ended up founding a successful PR firm after reading three books and founding a magazine. The point is, you have WAY more options than you think. Franchises, business ownership, entrepreneurship, grad school, commissioning, special assignments, Reserves, etc. You don't just have to get a corporate dream killing job upon leaving service. Personally, I was way too creative for a cubicle. So I took a very different route. 3. Don't let your worst friends get you caught up. I have seen a LOT of people I served with either go to jail, get kicked out, or get popped for extremely avoidable shit. Don't date people's exes, don't party downtown alone, don't hang out with people you KNOW are on a bad path. You WILL eventually get caught up in their bullshit. MSgt: 1. Younger Airman are better at tech than ever. Tasking them with learning specific programs and workspace apps will yield huge results because of constant change and evolution as the battlespace evolves. 2. Think of the best 5 leaders you ever worked with and write down WHAT made them amazing. Then emulate that person. Learning the difference between a leader and a manager is huge. 3. Set the standard. Your troops wont think much of you if you look like a stuffed sausage in your blues. Be 15 minutes early to work, and always counsel in private, praise loudly and publicly. Help develop your junior troops' success plans for post service and make sure you look for signs of depression/life crisis/pain in the people around you. No matter where you all are in your career, I read a lot of your posts and want to remind you: BE THE CHANGE you want to see in the Air Force. At the end of the day, your life is based on your decisions and mindset so constantly be working on yourself.
My Uncle was a Badass
I posted some pictures of my dads time in the Corps, a few days ago. People seemed to like the pics , so here's a few of my uncles career. He got commisoned through NROTC. He served in Vietnam and retired a Bird Colonel in the reserves. If anyone can identify his awards and ribbons, I'd appreciate it. He had his Demons but he was a great guy and he loved the Corps and his family.
Lets disabuse ourselves of the notion that PT standards decrease disability or medical costs for service members.
With the Air Force (potentially) making changes to PT again, people are already repeating the argument that tougher fitness standards reduce injury and long-term disability, which saves the military money. From my lived experience as a maintainer, and in my new role as a VA disability attorney, I respectfully dissent. I spent 20 years in aircraft maintenance and now work as a VA disability attorney. In that role, I read entire service treatment records, literally tens of thousands of pages. Iāve seen firsthand the health effects of military service that have nothing to do with a lack of fitness. Being in shape doesnāt prevent toxic exposure, prolonged shift work, sleep deprivation, or the cumulative toll of manual labor. Around 2011 I wore a Fitbit because I was curious just how much I was walking every night. I found I averaged 20,000 to 25,000 steps a night. This was on concrete, while wearing steel-toe boots that had thinned soles that the unit had no money to replace. I was working 15-hour shifts, walking 9 to 10 miles a night. And Iām not an outlier. Iāve seen countless veterans with back injuries, chronic joint problems, tinnitus, respiratory issues, and skin damage from years of exposure to chemicals, jet exhaust, and extreme weather. These are the kinds of things that drive VA disabilityānot poor PT standards. One of the biggest problems is that the military has offloaded the burden of fitness onto the personal time of its members, especially in overworked career fields. Most of the people I served with werenāt skipping PT because they were lazyāthey were working 12 to 15 hour shifts with no room in the day for structured exercise. They donāt have infinite time. So instead of consistent fitness routines, they either cram a few weeks before their test or hope for the best. Thatās where injuries happen. If the military wants to roll out new PT standards without codifying dedicated duty time for members to train safely and consistently, then what weāre really talking about is coercive time theft. Worse, it increases injury riskāand framing it as a way to reduce injuries or lower medical costs just adds insult to injury. We can have a conversation about what fitness testing should look like, but we need to stop pretending these tests are about long-term health outcomes or cost savings. Thatās not whatās showing up in the records of the people who actually serve.
Sharing the Numbers Behind the Air Force Suicide Crisis (Data from 2010ā2023)
Hey everyone, I really appreciate all the feedback and the support here regarding the article from the Intercept. The dataset behind the story covers every active-duty Air Force death from 2010 to 2023 ā a total of 2,278 cases. Hereās the breakdown I can share right now: Maintainers: 306 suicides or preventable deaths and 251 from all other causes combined. A maintainer was more likely to die by their own hand than from every other cause combined. Security Forces: 106 suicides or preventable deaths and 86 from all other causes combined. About 54.9 percent of all Security Forces deaths were suicides or preventable. All other career fields combined: 514 suicides or preventable deaths in jobs not typically seen as high risk. Other violent or unnatural deaths: 29 total that could not be attributed to suicide or preventable causes. In total, there were 926 suicides or preventable deaths across the Air Force during that period. That means 40.64 percent of all deaths were from suicide or drug overdose. Maintainers alone made up a third of those cases. The screenshot I shared earlier is taken directly from the Air Forceās own dataset ā not recreated or reformatted. Every line corresponds to a verified active-duty death, with cause-of-death fields transcribed exactly as they appear in the official records. Personally identifying information has been redacted. The Intercept will host the full spreadsheet once it clears a final security review from their tech team. Iāll post the link here as soon as it goes live. If you have firsthand stories, experiences, or documentation that can help deepen future reporting on this issue, I encourage you to reach out directly or send news tips. These conversations matter, and they can drive real accountability.
VA Vet Centers - DOGE victim
For those who may not be familiar, VA Vet Centers provide confidential, community-based counseling and support to Veterans, service members, and their familiesāat no cost. We help with transitioning to civilian life, managing PTSD, and finding a safe space to heal. There are no service-connected disability requirements and no red tapeājust support when and where itās needed. Many Vet Center staff, like myself, are Veterans. But hereās something that isnāt being widely talked about: The VA/DOGE just eliminated all probationary Program Support Assistant (PSA) positions at Vet Centers nationwide. PSAs are the backbone of Vet Center operations. They are often the first voice a Veteran heard when they called and the first face they saw when they walked through the door. They handled scheduling, administrative support, and kept things running smoothly so that counselors could focus on serving Veterans. Their work made a real difference in the experience Veterans had when seeking help. Now, with their positions eliminated, Vet Centers are left scrambling to cover these responsibilities. Counselors and other staffāalready stretched thināmust now juggle administrative tasks on top of their clinical work. This directly impacts the quality and accessibility of services for Veterans. If you or someone you know relies on a Vet Center, be aware that changes like this can affect the experience. And if you believe cutting essential staff from a crucial Veteran support program is a mistake, let your voice be heard. Contact your representatives, share your concerns, and help advocate for the resources Veterans deserve.
You donāt look like a Veteran
So Iām a black dude, I used to have long locs(cut em a while back)ā¦I primarily kick it with other vets for obvious reasonsā¦but when weāre out at a bar or whatever and weāre talking about time served just reminiscing about our prime days more of than not some random mf that never served will butt in and say āwell you donāt look like a Vet!ā So my question to yallā¦have yall experienced this? And WHAT THE FK DOES A VETERAN LOOK LIKE?! Iām sorry I donāt have a blonde buzz cut with blue fkn eyesā¦but why is it always the same shitā¦I never understood this and it pissed me off having served and to have some fuckin goofball utter these words.
Stolen Valor - Congressman Cory Mills (FL-7). Career based on lies.
The article (published by NOTUS.org) is free, but requires email to make an account. Mills has a Bronze Star supposedly for savings lives in Iraq at great risk to his own life. Ā Multiple soldiers have corroborated that Mills fabricated his involvement in the events. I could find no evidence that Mills ever spent a day in Iraq or Afghanistan while in the Army (1999-2003). Potentially he spent time in a combat zone as a civilian contractor with DynCorp after 2003. The House Committee on Ethics has an open investigation since March 27^(th) 2025, but its not clear the scope of the investigation. The stolen valor concerns around Mills have been public for a long time, but this new story May 5^(th) 2025 is the most corroborated accounts in one article.
Haircuts during duty hours
Edit: I'm happy so many commenters have had good supervisors/flight chiefs that give them all flexibility to do these things on duty. It might seem strange, maybe not, but for a large portion of my career I had supervisors and flight chiefs that did not allow these type of activities. The only time you got to handle haircuts was off duty or during your lunch hour, and if you were late coming back from lunch you were written up. Lunch was 1100-1200 and if you were not back at your station working at 1200 you could get a LOC. This was not at one base/squadron, I have PCS'd 7 times and had around 10+ flight chiefs and even more section and direct supervisors, and the policy for most of my career was "you do that on your own time". So once again, I'm glad things have changed, and for some of you, have been good for a long time. \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ As I inch closer to retirement I realize, you should let your troops get haircuts and drop off uniforms at alterations/dry cleaner during duty hours. AFIs require grooming and uniforms to be correct, but nothing that I've encountered says these are only off duty activities. Sure, ops temp and mission requirements might not allow it, but we've all had those days (even in maintenance) where there is a lull in work (even it's only for a few hours). I was 16-17 years in when my Flight Chief on a random Tuesday said, "Be back in a bit, grabbing a haircut after the meeting." Ever since that moment I went... Wait we can do that? I let my subordinates know, "you can get a haircut on company time, just put an appointment in the calendar, and if you take that appointment at the end of the day expect to see a clean haircut tomorrow". Your mileage may vary.
The A1C's Email to CSAF
We have to make sure this never dies, so it's good to bring it up every few years. It is part of our heritage. Background: For some years the Air Force had a policy that folks (in career fields that could) were obligated to wear blues each Monday. This was a policy from CSAF, General Schwartz. In 2009 an Airman decided he would rather not wear blues for an upcoming Monday duty, and when told by his chain of command that it was a CSAF policy and an exception would have to come from him, well, the Airman emailed him. Here is the text of the email (name redacted) and the text of the response. Which the CSAF's O-5 exec sent to the unit commander to pass on to the A1C. Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 4:04 PM To: Schwartz, Norton A Gen AF/CC Cc: LT Col 603 AOC Subject: Easter Monday Request General Norton Schwartz, I am an Airman stationed at the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center in Ramstein Germany. Monday April 13th I have a mission qualification board in which I have to give a brief followed by an hour long Q & A session. My request to you is for permission to wear my ABU's in replacement of the standard Monday uniform of the day, the Air Force blues. I personally would feel more comfortable, mentally, weraing my ABU's during this mission ready board rather than the blues uniform. I talked to my DO and he told me that it was not in his power to make such a decision and that I would have to take it up to the Chief of Staff. Thank you for your time sir. v/r XXXXX, A1C From: LT Col AF/CC Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 11:17PM To: LT Col 603 AOC Subject: Easter Monday Request Email LT Col, Please pass the following on to A1C XXXXX. As the Chief's Assistant Executive Officer, I intercepted A1C Snuffy's email to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, but not before he was able to read it. It is true that General Schwartz has an open door (or email) policy, but with that extended privilege comes discretion and judgment. And good judgment would require such a request as sent by A1C XXXXX first be routed up the chain of command to the appropriate level. This event can hopefully serve to remind A1C XXXXX and his fellow airmen that when we hit the "send" button, it goes out to the world. Sometimes we would sit on an email overnight or at least run it by a trusted colleague before sending. And please pass to him that he can rest assured that Airmen across the world will be joining him in wearing blues on Monday as we each deal with the daily challenges of our profession. v/r, Lt Col, USAF Asst Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff Air Force Pentagon
This is actually how bad the job market really is regardless if youāve served or not.
Despite having 7-8 years of food service experience which includes my time as a CS in the Navy, it wasnāt even good enough for a part time job at Waffle House. Iām going on 6 months unemployed and I either get ghosted or receive these bullshit emails. Iām under two temp agencies and have not gotten a consistent shift out of either of them. WTH is really going on?
Weird experience at base gym
As a 67 year old retired E9, I am pretty lucky to be able to use the base gym to try and stay in shape. I donāt advertise retired rank as thatās pretty weird for me. The base I use has a row of lockers just for E9s. I rarely use it but the gym that day was more crowded than usual so I changed in the E9 area. As Iām clearly retired, including having a gray beard, I was getting the stink eye from an AD CMSgt. I looked at him and said everything ok? He said ājust do you know, this area is reserved for E9s. I looked at him and said Iām a retired chief figuring that would end it. He said, ālet me see your ID, and I think itās for AD E9sā. I didnāt show it to him and gave him my best screw off look and walked to the shower. I came out and he was gone. Havenāt seen him since but it pissed me off. Two days later, same gym, the gym was crowded again as I go early and all the people that are now doing the mandatory everyday PT were taking all the lockers. I found one and some young Captain said to his buddy, āthis gym would be great if it wasnāt for all the old retired fucks hogging all the equipment and showersā as he glanced at me and one of the other obviously retired guys. I kinda snapped and said āRelax and just worry about you and pray that someday you can have a career like I did and be my age and still able to work outā . He looked like he was going to explode but just stormed out. I mean WTF. If I was hogging the equipment as he claimed Iād kinda understand his beef but I wasnāt. Is this going on elsewhere? I try to go early and miss the AD rush. I would think 8 or 830 am is late enough to not interfere with AD folks working out before work.
And they wonder why people kill themselves in the military
They wonder why there are such high suicide rates. They wonder why so many people kill themselves after they leave. The sigma is still there. Leaders are blind. They only care a little when someone actually offs themselves. Seeking help is not a career ender, but it is still a big stigma. These so called mental health professionals will blab their mouths to leaders and the airman will suffer. Hold these leaders accountable. Hold mental health accountable.
Hanging it up at twenty, but have some stuff for all you youngins out there.
Over the last few years, I have noticed a trend of several folks posting as they retire and passing on a little bit to the current generation.Ā I am by no means saying that what I have to say will be revolutionary or profound, but maybe you will read this and pick one thing out that speaks to you and know that it came from a place of love from a total stranger. As I begin my Skillbridge, I have likely hung up my NWUās for the final time already and would like to pass on a few things. 1. **āThe Navy has gone soft.ā** \- Every generation says this bullshit about the next.Ā Someone in my generation, probably even me, has said this to one of you. A whole lot of people said this bullshit to me and my generation. It goes all the way back to 1775.Ā Has the military gotten soft? Maybe in some ways, but to generalize it like that is idiotic and you should let anyone know that says that, they are fucking stupid. You will find some Cold War and Gulf War vets talking about how soft we are, yet they could never conceive or handle the hurdles placed in front of us today. When something broke, they reached in and fixed it in an instant. There were no tagouts, WAFs, briefs, and annual NKOās just to access those systems. The Navy is a completely different place than when I joined in 2005 and to think the same Sailors would flourish in another era is asinine. Think of Jerry West, Magic, Jordan, and LeBron. All were stars of different eras and they cannot be compared. The Navy has not gone soft, we are a product of relative peacetime, poor funding, and exhaustive admin. 1. **āShould I reenlist?ā** \- A lot of people come to me, having been a twilight tour maverick for the last few years and ask me why they should not reenlist. I tell them that I would never make a choice like that for them, but that they should base their decision off of one thing. Being submariners, I say that they do the coolest job on the best crew of the best boat with the least amount of responsibility they will ever have and that if they do not enjoy it now, it will only get worse. From there, they can decide if they enjoy it enough to do another handful of years or not. Being a first tour Sailor is hard. No one cares what you think. You are doing all this bullshit grunt work. Everything is stupid. These are all things I thought would get better over time, but they actually got worse.Ā Even as a Chief, some boot JO or moron from the ISIC thought they knew better and me and my guys, who actually own and operate the equipment, had their recommendations and opinions blasted. Even though we were always eventually correct.Ā The final advice I give to people on reenlisting: make a list of everything you want to get from the Navy. GI bill, VA loan, bachelors degree, etc. Make a hand written list and when you get everything from the Navy, it is time to leave. It does not matter if its 4, 8, 10, 13, 20 or 28 years. The Navy will squeeze you for all you are worth, but make sure you get everything you want from them. 1. **Suffering is not job performance -** Likely the most toxic trait I have seen in the Navy, and having done both submarine and amphibious communities, its at its worst in the submarine force, is that people believe that making sacrifices, even needlessly, is some measure of devotion to your job. It is not. Losing leave days is not a flex, it means you are not taking care of yourself. Staying up 24+ hours is maybe sometimes necessary, but just doing it and calling it necessary is stupid. The Navy is going to give you plenty of bad deals that you have no choice to take, but a surprising amount of these things can be avoided with some planning and communication. If you make a plan to spread out the bad deal to everyone, its just a normal day at the office. Being burned out will not help you on your next eval and makes you a less effective warrior. 1. **Live life now -** If you have been in longer than one enlistment, you have seen it. That guy who retires and dies less than four years later. Even my dad, who was not in the navy, worked so hard his whole life and had aspirations of touring North America on his motorcycle and living in a camper all over the South. He died less than two years after retiring and barely took a vacation for himself the previous four decades. Find small ways to enjoy life now, because who knows what will happen. Get outside, take the hikes, book the trips, and travel despite all the BS security manager red tape. It will be worth it. Also, over time, things become more expensive, so you need to travel while you are young so it won't cost you as much later. I love my family and I love my hometown, but if you are traveling there during every leave period, you are fucked up. Funerals, weddings, graduations, and meemaw who cant travel are all reasons to go home, but most of those people can also come to you and visit a place they have never been. You can meet them in a destination as well. It is not always on you to visit them, even if they tell you that. If you mattered to them, they would put out some effort as well. 1. **Family First -** My advice is really to stay single and kid free as long as you can in the Navy. If you are debt free and dependent free, it makes getting out infinitely easier after you have finished your list of goals. When you have that spouse and kid, you really have a choice: you or them. I have seen so many people who think they have both, but they really do not. If you actually knew what was really happening behind the curtain, those who choose their careers are hurting their families.Ā My ex spouse and my kid have made so many sacrifices over the years and in some ways their lives will be better for it, but many of those were not necessary. Things I volunteered for and just said were part of the job. In this current Navy, they need you more than you need them, so you are in the best position you will ever be in to put your family first and the Navy just has to take you as is, assuming you show up and do the bare minimum for them. The Navy comes to an end for everyone someday and after its over you will have to deal with the strain you caused your spouse or kids. Minimize it now or risk losing them forever. 1. **Money -** Most of you are young and now have more disposable income than you have ever seen in your life. I can sit here and talk down to you or I can be realistic.Ā I will only say one thing that will have a good impact on you and then go be an idiot with the rest for all I care.Ā Get a modest car, get it paid off as soon as you can, and keep it forever. I had the same Pontiac G6 from when I was a frocked E4 until I was already not being selected for Senior Chief. Over 13 years.Ā I paid it off in four years, I learned how to meticulously detail it, and YouTube made it so I never had to pay anyone to repair it.Ā No matter what you think, you do not need a sports car or a brand new truck. Get the car you want, but just get an older and reliable one. A 2013 Silverado is pricy, but not nearly as much as a new or almost new one. With some love, it will still last forever.Ā The benefit to this is honestly just having more money for other dumb shit. I have not had a car payment since that Pontiac was paid off in 2012 for my own car. I bought another modest car in 2020 with cash and then bought a 2019 Rav4 with all the bells and whistles, but still five years oldā¦ with cash. To me, not having a car payment is a bigger flex than driving a Lexus or Mercedes. Back to having more money for dumb shit, its allowed me to have some expensive hobbies: I have a full on sim racing rig with four monitors and a nice gaming computer. I have a nice motorcycle and recently downsized from a fleet of three bikes. I also have a bicycle that is worth about $6-7k. People gave me all kinds of shit for spending that much on a bicycle, but at the same time they were spending 50-75k on a new truck every 2-3 years. My Pontiac and bicycle were 20k, way less than their 50k truck.Ā You get the idea.Ā The other thing that I will say about money is just meticulously watch every dollar that goes in and out. Do not put everything on your spouse and do not just spend it without looking where it goes. If you watch your trends, you may see some alarms go off and fix them. I have more money advice if you want it, but this is enough for now. 1. **Mental Health -** Everyone has said it. I will only bring it up to emphasize importance. The ship is still getting underway without you. You arent letting anyone down. Get the [help.You](http://help.You) are not less of a man or whateverā¦ if you are not emotionally fit to fight, you are less effective as a Sailor, spouse, and parent. Go to therapy and actually put the work in. if your therapist sucks, get a new one. Thats it. 1. **Why your Chief sucks -** Like I said earlier, i thought it would get better as i climbed the ranks, but it never did. Why? Being the first tour pee-on is hard. Being the senior petty officer in a situation is also hard. Being in charge is really hard. I am not telling you that your Chief is not a piece of shit, because there are a lot of bad ones out there. At the same time, most are doing their best and deserve a slight bit of grace. There are many things you donāt see. When you forget about your dental appointment, your Chief has to go talk to the XO or whoever and explain why they are a piece of shit because you missed your appointment.Ā When you dont have time to get a passport, it's often the Chief getting grilled as to why they cant manage their personnel. When you were too lazy to do a tagout the correct way, backstage its the Chief getting blasted for you āalmost dying today.ā So, for some of you, I think that understanding what they go through may make you hate Chiefs just a little less. You will never get to see the Chiefs massaging a watchbill at 7pm on a Friday the week before deployment to make it so all the new Dads can fly home. You didnt see the Chiefs, in all ratings, staying on the boat during liberty to fix all the sinks and shitters that no one reported as broken until it was randomly brought up and the CO shit a brick. That being said, I have plenty of words for the E-7ās who dont do it the right way. Sadly, they lack enough accountability to know who they are. 2. **Things I used as a leader that you may consider using -**Ā 1. **You work for them** \- Before I ever heard the term āservant leader,ā thats what I was. I always told my students as an instructor, my entire command as a 3MC,Ā and my division as the LCPOā¦ āI work for you.āĀ Itās true. The first tour kids run the Navy and its my job to arm them with the tools they need and keep them in bounds. I have gotten two of my kids jobs at a company that I havent even started at yet. I had a mental health drop who reaches out to me for help with his resume and as a reference. There are Moms and Dads out there that have essentially entrusted you with their 20 year old and its your job to be what they need. I can remember one time, forward deployed, i was sitting in the Chiefs Mess trying not to helicopter over the kids. I did the midwestern knee slap and said āI am going to go see if my LPO has put me on liberty yet.ā One of the other Chiefs immediately said āOh, you work for a first class?ā My reply was that āI work for all of them.ā Despite me being the 3.3 Promotable twilight tour chief, a handful of the others in there came to my defense after I left.Ā 1. **They make the rules** \- When I reported as the LCPO, I sat down with everyone in my chain of command from the E3 to the Department Head. I asked what weĀ got wrong and what we got right. More importantly, I asked what are your expectations of me and what should I expect out of you. They would give me some very standard stuff but also you got a sense of what mattered to them. On the same token, we had issues with keeping our watch station, our divisional space, and berthings clean. I told them to come up with a set of rules for those things. Now, for all of the expectations, I am not enforcing anyones rules but theirs.Ā When I hold liberty or lose my shit about it, I am reminding them that these are rules they made for themselves and that they need to be better about holding each other accountable.Ā Eventually, there was significant improvement.Ā We were probably the only division that made their beds and had a spotless berthing to start the day.Ā When the triad would come through and check cleanliness or stowage for sea, we were on liberty already while other departments were knee jerk reacting to a triad temper tantrum. This also translated to them being better about things like medical and dental, so when the shit list got read off for missed appointments and such, we were almost never on it.Ā 1. **You cant lead them the same -** The best thing about the Navy is we are all unique with different backgrounds and perspectives.Ā People also want different things from the Navy. You have to learn your people and what motivates them and how to talk to them. This also means expectations are different. A Sailor may say Chief you let this guy get away with not doing this and ask me to do more. I say that my expectations of your experience and abilities is higher than where that other Sailor currently is. Even at the same paygrade and time in service, unfortunately. You will have the next coming of Jesus sometimes. You will also have some window lickers. Everyone has something to offer and managing your expectations of each accordingly will make for getting more use out of them. My window licker could not write a WAF if his life depended on it, but there were many less cerebral tasks he excelled at. Plan accordingly. Also, some people, regardless of skill do not want to excel at all.Ā That is okay. I had the Sailor of the Century in my division and it was not because of anything I did. He wanted to do all of those things, but not everyone does. Pushing your average Sailors too hard to be something they do not want to be is bad for them and therefore bad for you. The Navy needs P Sailors too, but my expectation is the bare minimum to not detract from anyone elseās existence. The thing I tell my Sailors is no matter what you think you want to do, always have two plans. One for staying in forever and one for getting out in 90 days. That is all I want from you. What would you do in either plan? If you're getting out in 90 days, you should really think about what you would do and what can you do to prepare for that now. If you are staying in for twenty, what would you do? Usually it is strive to get some qualifications and stuff now so that at your next boat you are simply requalifying quickly rather than for the first time. This can push even someone unmotivated and doing the minimum to go just a bit further. 1. **Command/Divisional stuff is for working hours -** If they want to organize some get togethers themselves, thats fine, but I never initiated anything that wasnt during working hours. People have lives, especially me, i have shit to do. My division enjoyed wallyball at the gym against other divisions and would also go to lunch periodically.Ā 1. **The Work Group Chat** \- I was in like four or five of these fucking things and I hate them. Since you dont get a phone allowance, no one can make you be in it. I tried to have rules for the group chat and tried my best to get them to follow them, but honestly, they were already conditioned to incessant group chats. The rules wereĀ 1. Work related only, fuck off somewhere else. 2. If its not meaningful to tomorrow morning, it can wait til quarters. 3. Turn off notifications for the chat and check it before bed and when you wake up. LPO or I will call if its that time critical. 4. Answer my phone calls, because if I call, its that critical. 1. **Never at your own UIC** \- Okay, so when I was in my post divorce hoe phase, there probably wasnt a rank that I missed. So, hit me with that Chief stereotype if you want. I avoided all the headache and drama by having one rule: Never at my own UIC. 1. **āIf you are going to be a sea lawyer, you gotta go to law schoolā** \- It should go without saying, but you cant enforce shit if you dont know the rules. You also probably look like shit if you dont know the rules. Be better than everyone else, know the instructions and not just the ones you care about. 1. **Does it matter?** \- There is too much to handle this day and age.Ā We are undermanned and overtasked. You wont get everything and if you do you will hate life and your division will too. When times are tough, you need to look at the situation as a whole and pick the shit that doesnt matter and just punt it. Life isnt going to be perfect. Your CSMP will never be empty and a few check notes and PMS alerts arent the end of the world. A few hours on the beach may be what your kids need to just survive until tomorrow. They usually will reward you back in the end and make it up to you. Youll take the ass chewing for it, but you are the Chief and thats your job. Besides, what are they going to do? Fire you? Let them. Tell them youll be sure to give a good turnover to whoever they find to replace you or type it out if they plan on gapping the billet for a while. You are the umbrella of protection from the storms of department chiefs and officers who want to look good to their higher ups. 1. **You donāt know everything and thats okay.** \- That is pretty much it. Find out who knows so you can ask. I had a student buried in bankruptcy proceedings and somehow I became an amateur attorney. I wasnt before, but i learned quickly! If you made it this far, thats nice of you and you didnt have to do that.Ā I hope that you become the person and the leader you never had or emulate the good ones you saw, inside or outside of the Navy.Ā Reddit fam is always authorized to reach out if they need anything. Love y'all.
STOP TELLING LTs THAT THEIR OERS DONT MATTER
Lieutenant OERs do matterāand it's time we stop pretending otherwise. ā¢ If theyāre entering a two-way market for a high-demand location, you can bet the LTs with a stack of MQs are going to include their OERsāregardless of what the marketplace "rules" say. ā¢ Looking to apply for Ranger Regiment, SF, or a Functional Area? Guess whatātheyāre going to review your OERs. ā¢ Even some promotion boards have been known to glance at LT OERs, especially if they help paint a complete picture of your performance trajectory. OERs might not dictate your entire career, but they absolutely contribute to shaping itāespecially early on. Donāt let anyone convince you to treat them like they donāt matter. Have fun, make mistakes, come back better, enjoy the process but take them seriously. -Sad CPT that wishes he would've taken them seriously.
Change is coming just like before
I wanted to put in words my feelings about where we are and whatās in store. One of my commanders said a few months ago the military are truly the most directly impacted group for any given election. Even though weāre small by numbers compared to the rest of the country, our lives can change every four years. Despite that change, weāre expected to carry out those changes as ordered. While many feel a range of ways about the most recent election, leaders know and see that anxiety. Iāve existed on active duty for 6 presidents, three wars, and across 3 very different career fields. Know that itās been a pleasure serving with all of the walks of life in this military regardless of creed, sex, color, or sexual orientation that make up our airmen. The fact that all of those are included as a testament to the US militaryās ability to embrace and work through differences that much of the rest of the country was not able to accomplish at a range of periods in US history spanning almost a century. Good leaders will go to bat for their troops, but understand for any given circumstance that they can only go so far. Remember to protect yourself. Make good choices while you serve to better serve you in the long haul. Know that the Air Force will have its pound of flesh for as long as youāre here. Thus, ensure that whether you have a solid career with retirement or get out early that the people you choose to elect appreciate veteran issues and will go to bat for you when you inevitably leave the service. TL/DR: Iām old. Protect yourself and your people. BOHICA.
The VA is what the rest of our nation's health and medical care should be striving for.
In recent months I have dealt with some debilitating physical issues. The VA in White River Junction has been helpful, prompt, and effective. There is nothing in the private insurance system led hospitals that I can say positively compares. I make that last statement from 30 years of helping folks access and manage their health care. I've been in a lot of very pretty hospitals that line you up, sit you down, and make you wait endless hours. In contrast, that ugly VA plant in WRJ gets one in to the appointment and out. Show up early? No problem - if there's time, there's you. The VA is what the rest of our nation's health and medical care should be striving for.
āYour spousal considerations are not compelling to the Air Forceā
I know. I signed on the dotted line, the needs of the Air Force come first, and I need to prioritize service before self. I get it. That said, for an organization thatās bleeding talent at an alarming rate and struggling with retention of high performing personnel, itās incredible how reluctant AFPC is to work with members to accommodate their families. I just hit my ten year mark two months ago. Iāve done a short tour overseas and Iāve deployed to numerous overseas locations. In total, Iāve spent over two years of my time in the Air Force OCONUS. I got married two years ago and my spouse is now in his final semester of flight school. My one and only request to the assignments team was to put me stateside. I offered to go anywhere, even the shitty places, cuz he can work anywhere as long as itās in the US. I had stateside units by name requesting me to go there. I was ready to move to Minot if I had to. Assignment drops. 3 year accompanied tour in Europe. I call the assignments team and let them know that going overseas puts a hard stop on my spouses career. I beg them to trade with someone else. I remind them that the literal only thing I asked for was CONUS. āWe already slapped the table. Your spousal considerations are not compelling to the Air Force. Everyone loves Europe; if you donāt like it, youāre welcome to separateā. I love my job. Iāve generally loved being in the Air Force. But shit like this makes it so difficult to continue serving. Anyways, if you made it this far, thanks for listening to my rant. Iāll be pouting at the bar if you need me. ETA: I genuinely appreciate all of the advice. I spoke with AFPC/the assignments team already, and thereās no getting out of this one/no ability to swap. We accepted the assignment and weāre gonna hopefully make it work with his flying requirements. Weāre excited for Europe and excited about the unit, just bummed about the career pause.
10 duty days remaining (rant)
This is it, the home stretch. I'm not a 20 year SNCO or anything, did my one 6 year contract. Terminal starts the 26th. Getting a job in Colorado lined up hopefully. Man, these last 6 years were a lot of things, but fulfilling doesn't come to mind. Not everyone has a plan when they join, and that's fine. I joined when I was 25 though, and very much did have a plan. I got the AFSC I wanted, which at the time was 3D1x2, cyber transport. Now it's 1D7x1Q (network) or something, and before that, it was an A shread, but now it's a Q shred because of my current unit. If that last sentence was confusing, yeah, reason 2 I am not extending. The Comm career field debacle is just annoying. Reason number 1 of why I'm not extending is the units I've gotten. November 2019 I got stationed at Beale AFB. Word of warning, if you get that place, use your one deny. Base is literally falling apart. You know that saying about being able to tell the quality of a base by how many traffic lights there are? Beale has zero traffic lights. Speaking of the road, 50mph speed limit on the main road and it takes 15 minutes to get from the flighline to the other side of the base. No hospital, no 24/7 food, car required, smallest BX and commissary you've seen, and living 25 minutes away from base was considered very close. But that's not even the main reason I hated Beale. My unit there was very unique, we were ground communication technicians for the RQ-4 Global Hawk. I was comm, doing some RF, some satcomm, and some aircraft maintenance things. Never did I do anything in my career field. 24/7 ops with 3 month rotations, toxic leadership, constant high tempo ops, and horrible handling of COVID. Speaking of... Yeah, they literally told us we weren't allowed to leave our appointment/dorm or have anyone over. I'm not going into that, but let's just say I'm getting 100% disability, and only 20% is physical. The only reason I even PCSed was because the unit shut down after the block 30 GH and below got cut. I PCSed to a base I'm not disclosing since I'm still here, into a unit where I would go on to sit in a room and continue not doing anything related to my AFSC. Was my time in the Air Force a miserable experience? Actually, no. I learned a lot, met some friends I will have for the rest of my life, and built myself up into a better person. I feel ready for most of the things life can throw at me, and overall, I didn't hate everything looking back. So, here we are at the end. To the people, peace guys, I'll miss you. To the Air Force, thanks for the support, you tried.
Hey, y'all. We need to take a moment and catch our breath.
Alright ladies, gentlemen, enbies, and Marines. Gather round and pop a squat. We need to have a lil heart to heart. This doesn't apply to most of you, but I'm betting it applies to someone you're acquainted with. In the last 24 hours, America has had two separate incidents involving Iraq veterans shooting up civilian targets. This isn't okay. As of this writing, the motivations of the shooters is unknown, but let's be real, there's absolutely *ZERO* reason for someone to justifiably unload into a crowded civilian structure, but this is especially true of veterans. We don't farkin kill helpless civilians. Period. Quite the contrary: our purpose is to *protect* civilians from this kind of attacks. How many of us literally stood as human shields between hostile insurgents and unarmed civilians when we were overseas? Look, we all need to stop, take a step back from everything, and take a few deep breaths. I understand that stress and anxiety levels in the veteran communities are high right now. There's a lot of uncertainty on the horizon, and a lot of us are definitely feeling the old, familiar weight of the world once again bearing down on our shoulders. But we need to keep each other accountable. Reach out to your brothers, sisters, and uncategorized. Check on your peoples. Remind them they're loved and that things are still okay and they're not alone. Now, more than ever, we need to be unified... especially as the rest of the nation continues to be further divided. Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other. Find yourselves a little bit of peace this week. Reach out if you're struggling. I love you. It's gonna be okay. We can make it through anything so long as we're together.
Discussion: I was just told the GI Bill is welfare by a Texan.
For the first time, I experienced discriminationānot because of my skin color or a general dislike of the military, but because someone sees Veterans using the GI Bill as being on welfare. According to them, since weāre "getting handouts from the government," we canāt understand how expensive school is. Iāve never come across this particular reason to hate on Veterans before. Have any of you ever experienced wild or unexpected discrimination for being a Veteran? Or have you been discriminated against before they knew you were a Veteran?
It's time to talk about the REAL issues with the army.
Let's think about it, what's a consistent through line most soldiers are tortured with on a near daily basis or at least at one point in their military career? Thats right, mid 2000s rock music and radio country songs. As you can clearly see in the graph above. VA hearing claims have only RISEN since the release of Seethers hit song "Remedy" in 2005. Hence why the VA is on the fritz about tinnitus claims. It's time to update the Armys playlist. I will be bringing this up in my next company training meeting. Godspeed troops.
Is anyone else living a better life post military service?
Honestly, I came from very little. I was raised by a single father and born with pretty noticeable disability which led to a childhood of ridicule, torment, and self hatred. After serving in the U.S Army, I left with a sense of honor, confidence, self worth, and pride. I overcame hardships that I never could have thought possible. I was able to use my GI Bill and not only become the first graduate in my family, but I graduated with top honors as well. I've been able to use that degree, and the principles the Army instilled in me, to save lives during the pandemic and almost every day since. I have a quality of life that I never thought possible. It was a lot of hard work, but none of this would have been possible without the military giving me a chance.
Woes of a Failed Officer
On my command make a horseshoe or whatever. Fall out. Alright, I know many of you don't like officers, and there's nothing I can do about that. Officer or not, I'm still a human being. My wife doesn't understand what I'm going through, and I'm too ashamed to go to any of my peers or mentors. I feel completely alone and I'm barely holding it together. I've been in a little over 7 years. Had one successful-ish company command. Got out of there with a HQ "oh that's an MQ write-up" OER. Lies, but whatever. That was my first CPT OER. Took a second command. Was told by my rater that he was recommending me for an MQ. But, (4 months late) I ended up with a center-mass bottom-third rating by my rater and a top-third (but just barely) HQ by my senior rater, with no mention of future command potential. This was a short one. I suspect it was worse than it could have been because my rater and I had a bit of a falling-out near the end of my rating period. That was my second CPT OER. I'm due one more in this job. Thru date is next month. It'll be another short one, (5 months) and I expect it to be another center-mass rating. So, my career as an officer is basically over. I'm not competitive for O4 and probably will never be. My PZ look is in 2027, but with no top-block in command I'm a dead man walking. Look. It's super humbling to admit, but I probably don't deserve to be a major, and I was the world's most okayest commander. Not sure how I fooled my leadership into giving me two commands, but it happened somehow. I think it may be because I'm a serious person, and people mistake that for intelligence. You never think you'll be a statistic, but *someone* has to be profile fodder. That's me. I always tried to do right by the troops. I actioned their paperwork quickly, made sure they got fed, paid, and trained properly, and treated them like human beings. But am I a transformational leader? No. It turns out I'm more of a "keep the lights on, accomplish the mission, and don't get anyone killed" type of leader. I'm not anything special when it comes to tactics, logistics, or technical things. Admitting that is hard. I can't look my wife or kids in the eye. It's my job to take care of them and I'm failing at that, too. My wife thinks I'm the best leader ever because she has no idea what I do, and she doesn't believe me when I try to explain why I'm not. I hate myself, I am having trouble eating and sleeping, and I feel like I'm gonna throw up at any given moment. Ashamed as I am to look at them, my family is still keeping me here. I couldn't bear to inflict any pain on them, so no worries about me executing a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Truly. So, I need a plan. But it's hard to think straight because I'm in such a deep blue funk. So here we are. Any other officers here who were shown the door early? What did you do? Were you able to dust yourself off and make a respectable life for yourself? I've got one more month in command. Then I'll PCS, drop my REFRAD soon after, and...find a job. It's that last part I'm still trying to figure out. Thanks for listening, guys. I'll take an icewater and a spicy McChicken. Fall out. Edit: Thanks so much for both the kind words and tough love. I really do feel a tiny bit better. Y'all are great.
Hardest day of my career
As the title says, today has been the hardest day of my career as an LPO. One of my sailors took his own life on the day he was supposed to fly back from holiday leave. Initially, he was reported missing, but when I called his parents, they informed me that he had passed away. Unsure of what to do, I notified the chain of command to the best of my ability and informed everyone in the division (there are only seven of us in total) about the situation. I've been a first class for about six months and an LPO for about four, and I want to do everything I can for my sailors during this time. We've already provided them with the Chaplain's contact information, but beyond speaking with them individually, I'm not sure what else to do. This is incredibly difficult for me personally because we were close, and I feel like I can't talk about it without breaking down. I'm struggling to figure out how I should react whether I need to hold back my emotions to show strength or if it's okay to be vulnerable. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
I was never like this.
I wasnāt always the guy everyone points to as the problem. I wasnāt always the one late, the one on extra duty, the one everyone whispers about. For 5 years, I used to be the high-speed one. The guy who volunteered. The one who believed in the whole āArmy Valuesā speech. Then I watched the people above me lie first. They broke rules, bent policies, laughed about doing the same shit they crucified me for. They admitted it out loud. They joked about it. And when it came time for someone to pay, it wasnāt them. It was me. I fucked up. Iām not pretending I didnāt. I broke a rule. I made bad choices under stress. Poor judgment, decisions. I own that. But what happened after thatā¦ it stopped being about ācorrectionā and started feeling like someone decided I was the perfect person to dump everything on. Suddenly Iām the curfew guy, the problem child, the āshouldnāt have joinedā guy, the example in the safety brief. I lost my stripes. I lost the board that kept being āworked onā but somehow never actually happened. I lost my chance to grieve my own family properly. I lost my chance at a stable home for the person Iām responsible for. I watched everything I was trying to build fall apart while the same people who helped knock it down stood over me asking: āWhereās your motivation?ā āGrow up.ā āEveryone else has problems.ā āBe an adult.ā I tried to keep going. I picked up extra roles. I stayed late. I took on more than I should have, thinking if I just performed hard enough theyād see I wasnāt what they decided I was. Instead I ended up standing behind vehicles hearing senior people talk trash about me like I wasnāt there. Words like āuseless,ā āfat,ā āshitbag,ā āwouldnāt survive.ā Hearing your own chain say that about you hits differently when you were the guy who used to be āhigh-speed.ā I tried to build a life. Tried to set up a home. Tried to be there for someone who depends on me. Then housing got yanked. Money disappeared. The house deal fell apart. Suddenly Iām basically homeless, trying to pretend everything is fine in uniform while my personal life is on fire. The worst part? When I finally broke, when everything snapped and I tried to check out for good, it wasnāt some dramatic moment where anyone rushed in to pull me back. It was quiet. It was ugly. And it confirmed exactly what Iād been feeling: To them, Iām not a soldier who slipped. Iām not a human being who got crushed under too much. Iām just the enemy. The fuck-up. The disappointment. They lie. They get away with it. I make one wrong move and my whole life goes off a cliff. I know Iām not innocent. I know I made my own mistakes in all of this. Iām not asking anyone to call me a hero, or fix my career, or rewrite my story so I look good. I just want it known that I wasnāt born broken. I wasnāt always like this. A lot of this was done to me. Slowly. Over time. By people who will never see a single consequence. Iām tired. I donāt know whatās left for me after this. But I wanted this out there at least once: The lying? They did it first. And Iām the only one who paid. Colonel didnāt care, at least enough to finish reading the paper. My unitās gone. I didnāt want to inconvenience them. The hospital doesnāt help me. The pills arenāt working. My main phone password is 020204 Second phone password is 753669 My computer pin is 753669 Email accounts are still logged in. Navy fed app pin is 7536 GPT has all the history. SCO and CSM did everything they could. I apologize. The lies were unfair. I love yall two. Thank you for everything. NCOs. Please, be kinder. Human. Officers. Everyone else is still a person. Please, validate them. I love you. My wife. Yāall will grow up amazing, sisters. Iām sorry. You did great, mom. I wish I couldāve been at least a fraction like you, dad. Baby, the car is yours. Please, take care of it or completely get rid of it. He needs a lot. The dealership can tell you. All my personal gear, my buddies can keep for themselves. Mods. Please. This is what I have left.
āSee you around man!ā
At some point in this long career, I stopped saying goodbye. It felt too final. Too heavy. So I started saying, āSee you around, man,ā like weād all run into each other again, somewhere down the line. But the truth isā¦I never saw most of them again. What started this post is me being bored in my office. Looking at my memoirs and the coins. Wow what a career I had. I remember looking up one of my closest buddies from basic years later. Found out he retired in 2015. It brought back the last time I saw him, two young privates. So pure. So innocent. āYou went to chow without telling me? Who did you cheat on me with? The black guy from second platoon?ā Haha. At the airport, full of jokes, nerves, and dreams. We were all so excited about our next duty stations or just getting home. I still remember being jealous of the guys with girlfriends waiting for them or theā¦what we called the ānatty gurlsāā¦going home to their families. āFinal goodbye?ā I asked him back then. āMaybe,ā he said. āIf you ever end up at Drum, hit me up.ā āYeah, haha. Goodbye bro.ā I didnāt know that would be the last time. He didnāt die; we justā¦ drifted. Life pulled us in different directions, like it always does. Now Iām at that point in service where most of the people I knew are either out, retired, or gone back to earth. Civilian life. A different rhythm. Final sleep and I sometimes would feel generous and give them coins since they beg for them so much. Those fuckers man; go to work, stop sleeping! I wish I could slap them and tell them CQ tomorrow or something hahahaā¦ fuck. I think back to those moments, in schools, at airports, at Bliss, at the final Taps, and I wish I could bottle them. Even the ordinary ones. The dumb jokes, the beers, the long waits in uniform. The ever complaining about leaderships. So funny so pure ofā¦ life. Part of me wants to see those friends again. Just to say, āHey bro, remember me?ā But part of me knowsā¦ itās time to let go and move on. I am glad I was a part of their lives; be it ugly or simply beautiful. Writing this post is a way for me to let it out haha, my wife wouldnāt understand nor my kids. Sometimes writing helps. Still, if any of yāall out there ever wondered if someone remembers you, I do. Diet Coke and McChicken please.
Was anybody else just over it ?
I retire in two months. The army did alot for me and I made some great friends. But I find myself very bitter and fed up. I told them I did not want a post retirement ceremony because it feels more like just a box for someone to check. Letās face it, most officers higher than Lt Col couldnāt pick you out of a crowd without matching your name tape to a roster their staff writes up for them. Iāve spent half my career writing my own ncoers and awards and got asked by my boss the other day āwhen I was going to write my awardā šā¦I just dgaf enough to do it this time. Iām just ready to start the next part of my life and the next job. Does anybody close to retiring or just retired feel like this?
I am thinking about ending it
prior active duty Army. Have been on Reddit for years and have seen many cries for help. I donāt know what this is honestly. Iāve fucked so many things in my life. Married with two boys. There are so many benefits to me leaving it all. They get 7 figures in insurance and donāt have to worry. There will be questions but Iām realizing that I am actively planning for it. Going to an AA meeting today - 3 years sober next month. Donāt know why I posted this. Update Im not sure how to post an update but here goes. I posted that today and life happened. Got busy at work, busy at home and then I finally got around to catch my breath and saw all of the comments and DMs. You people hit me right in the chest. So many amazing, stop me in my tracks comments. Thank you. Thank you - from the depths of my soul and for my children. This is the darkest hole I have ever been in but I did got to an AA meeting today at noon and it was good to speak there. I talked to my sponsor and also texted my best friend. Iām hopeful that another nights rest and solid meals tomorrow will help square me away more. Iām somewhat out of crisis mode. It was 8 days of a dive bomb into darkness but you all helped me pull up. Thank you and bless you for taking the time out of your lives for me.
Jimmy Carter, Navy Veteran and former Commander-In-Chief, passes at 100
(From a News article) Carter became a submariner in the Navy, where he was spotted by Adm. Hyman Rickover, who is considered the father of the U.S. nuclear submarine program. Rickover selected Carter as an aide and assigned him to Schenectady, New York, where the family relocated while Carter studied reactor technology and nuclear physics at the Union Graduate College. Eventually, Carter would become a senior officer of the USS Seawolf, the United Statesā second nuclear submarine. Speaking of Rickover in a 1984 CBSās ā60 Minutes,ā Carter said, āThere were a few times when I hated him, because he demanded more from me than I thought I could deliver.ā Carter appeared set for a stellar military career under Rickoverās tutelage, but in 1953, he left the Navy after the death of his father, returning to Georgia to run the family peanut business.
34 years old I ship out for basic in 2 weeks
Iām doing okay financially have some debt thatās hovering around 15k. 110k salary great bennys no mortgage. 2 kids and a wife. Iāve had the same job for 8 years thatāll be there when I finish my contract. I always wanted to join and idk I figured the window was closing age wise, walked into a recruiters office and signed up; process took 4 months. Wanted a middle of the road army experience so I chose infantry. If you were in my shoes what would you try and accomplish with this stint? Any sort of response is appreciated but I aināt switching the mos, thanks. For the most part I just didnāt want to be 60 regretting that I never did it Edit: I got a 93 on the asvab and signed a 3 year 6 month contract
Is the Army just a joke now?
Im a spc in an nco position, possibly soon to be an nco myself. There are so many people in my battery, both new and old, that just dont care, that are constantly shitbagging, or who are dumb and physically unfit. I have to take charge of the people in my section but theres onpy so much i can do against people who dont give a fuck. Being army used to mean something, but now it feels like people just wanna join for the benefits and do bare minimum (or even less than that) and get out, which makes things more difficult for people like me who actually try to care and want to peruse the army as a career. God forbid we actually go to war. Were all gonna die
So tired of people hating on my benefits
I currently live with my brother and we currently share a 2 bed 2 bath apartment. Due to my VA disability compensation, I agreed to split rent 60/40 with the bonus being I get the master bedroom and covered parking spot. However, my brother keeps saying I should pay more of the rent or bills since my āfreeā money covers my half of the rent while he needs to dedicate at least 40% of his monthly income to rent alone. I care for him but also want to tell him that he can still join the army and bust his back. A family friend named John also often criticizes me for collecting benefits. John is an older man whoās close to collecting social security. John always asks how Iām collecting disability compensation when Iām āclearly not disabled.ā I try to explain to him that just cause Iām not in a wheelchair or missing a limb doesnāt mean Iām not hurt or suffering from illness. John claims that āyou were just fine a few years ago. So all this stuff suddenly started hurting?ā I again try to explain that heās not with me 24/7 and Iāve dealt with pain, sleep issues and mental issues for years and only started collecting compensation after avoiding it for years. I then turn it on him and say heās about to start collecting social security on top of his day job and he says thatās different because heās āearnedā those benefits. And please no snarky āthatās why you keep your benefits to yourselfā comments. I realize that now but back then, I didnāt think anyone wouldāve offended by me collecting benefits. Sorry fam just venting here. Hope youāre well all.
Soldier returned from holiday leave, thinking of recommending an Article 15
So I have a Soldier who returned from leave over the holidays, and he is completely ate up. This soldier has refused to adhere to AR 670-1 his entire career from my understanding. He was recently given to me and is now my problem. I have seen him around before this, and I know his facial hair has never been in regs. This is in addition to flagrant and numerous uniform violations. He refuses to acknowledge my orders, or really anything at all for that matter. Because of this I'm going to recommend that he receives a FG article 15, and start separation asap. I think that's going to be an issue though, as I'm pretty sure he's going to be a dental CAT4. I'll take an eggnog with some bourbon. https://preview.redd.it/tkjoycepanae1.png?width=797&format=png&auto=webp&s=b55112fbcac4fb1cef807e1ebaac05bb2e1d097c
Pete Hegseth Is Living the Dream
"There is a certain kind of Army officer who, after the excitement of company command, finds his career stalled, and who perhaps leaves the service as a major in the National Guard filled with bitterness and resentment. He may then dream of one day being in a position to make all the superior officers who failed to appreciate his leadership qualities, his insight, his sheer fitness stand to attention and hear him lay down the law about what it is to be an officer, and threaten to fire those who do not meetĀ *his*Ā standards. In this respect, and this respect only, on that stage Pete Hegseth was living the dream." [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/pete-hegseth-quantico/684423/?gift=j1oO8eedRcPJzo3QUxPxQwp2TWdJCRqG95XRiUmYX2Y&utm\_source=copy-link&utm\_medium=social&utm\_campaign=share](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/pete-hegseth-quantico/684423/?gift=j1oO8eedRcPJzo3QUxPxQwp2TWdJCRqG95XRiUmYX2Y&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)
SecWar's new policies are dangerous
Iām a year into retirement after 20 years in the Navy. The best gift the military gave me was the opportunity to live and work with a true cross-section of America outside of my small hometown. Traveling the world with a diverse and inclusive force set my frame of reference for what this country is, for all its faults and merits. What I see now is the SecWar (is that a thing?) is trying to destroy that for future generations. # From the transcriptĀ ([Source: war.gov](https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4318689/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-addresses-general-and-flag-officers-at-quantico-v/)) **Universal Clean Shave:** >*"If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shaveā¦ Telling someone to shave ā¦ that's exactly the kind of discrimination we want."* Targets black men. Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is a medical condition that affects 45-85% of male African American servicemembers ([Source: Oxford University](https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/186/1-2/e52/5948064)). I remember when NAVADMIN 071/19 came out, pushing guys to choose between painful laser surgery or getting kicked out. It was described to me as 1,000 rubber bands snapping on the face. The lesions were unsightly. **Gender Neutral fitness standards:** >*āToday, at my direction, each service will ensure that every requirement for every combat MOS, for every designated combat arms position returns to the highest male standard onlyā* Targets women. The "highest male standard" is a Trojan horse for gender-neutral PT standards across the force, which will disproportionately force out women, especially older senior leaders and those returning from maternity leave. In 2016, when the Navy was losing too many experienced sailors, it loosened body fat rules to retain them ([Source: Military Times](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/03/06/navy-loosens-body-fat-rules-to-retain-sailors/)). If standards get relaxed to keep people in, it can become stricter to boot people out. **Bad leadership can be excused:** >ā*But you should not pay for earnest mistakes for your entire career. And that's why today, at my direction, we're making changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records that will allow leaders with forgivable earnest or minor infractions to not be encumbered by those infractions in perpetuity.*ā >*āAnd that's why today, at my direction, I'm issuing new policies that will overhaul the IG, EO and MEO processes. I call it the no more walking on eggshells policy. We are liberating commanders and NCOs. We are liberating you.ā* Enables shitty leaders. I used to run a first LT division, which essentially became the people dumping ground of the waterfront. About half were women with injuries after giving birth, and the other half were Sailors who were suicidal. A common theme with suicidal people was rape. This ādirectionā will enable those assholes. **Sexual Assault:** The DoD's own FY2024 report documented **8,195 reports of sexual assault** ([Source: SAPR.mil](https://www.sapr.mil/reports)). **Suicide:** The DoD reported **523 service member suicides in 2023** ([Source: war.gov](https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3965617/dod-officials-underscore-long-term-commitment-to-suicide-prevention/)). **LGBTQ+ Harassment:** LGBTQ+ service members make up only 12% of the force but account for a staggering **43% of all sexual assault victims** ([Source: RAND Corp](https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1390-1.html)). **Redefining "Toxic":** >āThe definition of toxic has been turned upside down, and we're correcting that. That's why today, at my direction we're undertaking a full review of the department's definitions of so-called toxic leadership, bullying and hazing, to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second-guessing.ā If the above doesn't work, not re-enlisting will. The end result is a military of white males who are, at best, "ok" with their surroundings. **TLDR:** As a 20-year Navy vet, I believe Sec. Hegseth's new policies are not about basic military standards, but about whitewashing the military IAW Project 2025.
Update Post
OG Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/army/s/YUjyyq4Olk Ya boi drank the cool aid and now my knees hurt. But overall Army lowkey been a W, a lot of ups and some strong downs but the bois make it all worth it. Goal for the next year is locking tf in, continuing losing weight and getting stronger. Hopefully leadership will send me to air assault school but most importantly getting a rasp packet approved would be huge. While Iāve had a handful of buddies who gave rasp a try but couldnāt make it, many both stronger physically and mentally than me I still want to give it a shot . While I know Iām not special, I donāt want to go through my army career feeling regret for not giving it a go. Can this broken leg get 4 6 MG Rouge, 2 lower, 2 upper decky and a white monster to wash it down?
Thank you for your service
With the release of NAVADMIN 111/25. I just wanted to say to all the transgender sailors that are being unceremoniously removed from service. Your service matter! You did what most people of this country will never do and volunteer to serve your country. You stood the watch, you did the deployments, and you shared hardships with your fellow shipmates. I hate that good hardworking sailors like you are being forced to leave the navy. I hope you go far in your future civilian career and I wish you fair winds and following seas. So thank you for your service.
If it makes sense, we don't do it
So, I'm that dude who got pissed off about 9/11 and joined the Army at 31 years old in 2002.I intended to start a late career and do my 20 years. 11B basic and airborne at Benning was not fun at all, I quickly realized that the infantry was a young man's game. Well, I was tall, so I got the pitch from The Old Guard. My recruiter, a retired SF civilian told me "never turn down an assignment" so I ended up at Ft Myer VA. Within a month, we get a notice that we need to write down all of our equipment sizes, BDU tops/bottoms, boots, etc. Well, the war gods decided that The Old Guard was going to deploy for the first time since Vietnam. Everyone in the company was beyond joy. Fast forward...uneventful deployment to the Horn of Africa..done. I promoted to E5 in 2004 and I submitted a DA 4187 to transfer to the airborne unit at Ft Richardson AK because they were gearing up to deploy. The command staff quickly replies "sorry bud, you have to spend 3 years in The Old Guard before you can transfer out". I accepted their decision and went along with my duties. Well...a couple of weeks later, I get orders to transfer and attend recruiter school! My mind was literally blown. I was an NCO volunteering to transfer to a unit that was gearing up to go to war and was denied because I hadn't met the TOG time in assignment, yet was available to transfer to a POG recruiting position??? Fortunately, I blew out my rotator cuff and the surgery prevented me from transferring to recruiting. A year later, I bid the Army a big farewell. I will never forget the idiocracy that I encountered during my service. The non-special dudes in the infantry world train to the time instead of the standard. Way too much hurry up and wait. There were so many times during garrison, field ops and deployment that decisions and activities didn't make sense, but we just blindly did them. And, that's sadly why I didn't spend 20 years in the Army.
Seeing Officers come into your unit 4-5 years after high school
Post is more of rant/open thoughts, but I wanted to see if anyone else has this shared experience. I enlisted out of high school, and one thing that made me look at my life, where I was at, and where I was going was seeing new liuetenants commissioning and arriving in my unit. I didn't take college seriously at the time but then I observed how they were around the same age as me but seemingly they were more established as a person with a degree and a competitive yearly salary with benefits (higher BAH as an example). My perspective was limited as I never have been in their position, but this had a big impact on me personally and after that I put way more effort into using my TA to get my degree. I'm over halfway done and getting my bachelors before my ETS has been a goal of mine that I work towards every day. To this day, I still regret not starting college as soon I arrived to my unit
Pentagon takes step toward potentially privatizing commissaries
Commissary officials have taken the first step toward the potential privatization of the military grocery stores, seeking input from the commercial grocery industry on whether they could take over the operation of 178 commissaries across the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Defense Commissary Agency released an official Request for Information, or RFI, on sam.gov, the federal governmentās contracting site, on Friday. Itās a preliminary step before a Request for Proposals could possibly be issued. āThe purpose of this RFI is to determine whether commercial grocery operators and investment firms are both interested in and capable of assuming commissary operations, with no government subsidy or with a materially reduced subsidy, while preserving the critical military benefit of a 23.7% average savings for authorized patrons,ā commissary officials stated in an announcement Friday. Commissary stores receive more than $1.4 billion annually in taxpayer dollars to cover operational costs, including salaries and other costs, which enables the stores to provide the commissary benefit at a savings to patrons. The request is the result of the Defense Departmentās April 7 memorandum, which directs all functions that are not inherently governmental to be prioritized for privatization. It specifically cites retail sales and recreation as examples.
Treat this career as a Vocation if not just a career. If the army is NOT for you, please do your time anyway.
My O3 buddy is getting qmped/ 2x time non select at 12 years of service. He knew it was coming but he just had a long monologue with me on how he didn't take his army career as serious as he should most of the time. It was a hard conversation for both of us. \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **For young soldiers and those still undecided:** Many service members view the militaryāspecifically the Armyāas their vocation or chosen career path. However, others serve primarily for the benefits, and some join simply to meet basic human needs. you decide sooner than you think. In short, this vocation/career is for some but ***NOT*** everyone. **P*****lease do your time and extract every single ounce of benefit from the military service; BAH, TA, GI BILL, paid global travel, the specialty pays, etc.*** I dropped out of a private university at 19 years old. I decided to be my own man in life. I encourage everyone to be more independent. Go from Private to General. The current CSA was once a private. You can go from lowly private to the General of the Army! However, such takes serious effort and treating this service as a vocation rather than a basic career or just a job. My older friend failed to do the hard things while he was younger. No troop schools or functional area. He just went with the flow for years. Started an online MBA but never finished. Had mid-range OERs etc. He was truly average on paper for years. He is still in denial to an extent. Please realize your career is a competition as well. If you don't plan to be the best or are the best, please dont expect to be selected or promoted ahead or with your peers. However, we never know what tommorow holds. We could get deployed tomorrow and lose a leg. Use those benefits like TA and GI bill to position yourself and your families during service so they are not close to destitute due to an unexpected injury or QMP. TY please take this seriously if you want this to be your vocation/career. if not a careerist extract everything you legally can from the army (TA, benefits, the travel, experience, etc).
Met a real life āalmost joinedā today
Guy in his 60s came out to give me a quote on garage floor today. Seemed nice were talking he saw my veteran plates and then it beganā¦. How many benefits we get, how he almost joined and how he would have retired in 2002 and since it was before any wars he wouldnāt have deployed and just did his time. When he said how great of a career choice it is for someone with no direction in life and then youāre set up for life, honestly it felt offensive a bit. Tried to tell him a little bit sacrifice involved to get these benefits, but the almost joined of course knew betterā¦ anyway I thought these people were kind of made up, like are there really these not self aware individuals? Yeah there are! Not getting my business !
Divorce & Benefits
Some of yall may have seen this already but guys. Protect your assets and assess at all cost. Of you go look at the posts in that FB group, you will notice most of the posts are dependas asking how they can go about getting the MOST OUT OF YOUR BENEFITS š³ Also keep in mind, the number of years married stops the day the divorce is final, not the date of separation. If you don't have time and are close to the 10 year mark, definitely get a lawyer and ask for a bifurcated divorce. Ask me how I know šš©
Rant: there should be an actual AGSU class in basic training
People regularly complain on here that we look sloppier than the other services. The AGSU isn't perfect, sure, but I also have noticed the Army doesn't really teach new soldiers *how* to wear it, let alone take pride in it. USMC boot camp teaches how to do a military tuck with a Class B shirt, how to tie a Windsor knot in proper and tight way, and also takes the time at CIF to make sure these items are properly fitted. When I went through basic, some raged out CIF civilian threw a bunch of oversized clothes at me that I had to eventually replace on my own dime, and it was completely up to the Drill Sergeants to tell their platoon as little or as much as they personally knew about dressing neatly. Come to think of it, nobody even actually gave instruction on how to wear OCPs. The result is that most young soldiers start their careers without knowing how to look sharp, and to the extent some do, there is no UNIFORMITY in how we wear the uniform. Go to an AIT graduation and marvel at all the different angles and fits of the garrison caps, some pants hemmed too short, some completely sagging, the list goes on. I am NOT saying we should obsess over dress uniforms like the Marines, but if senior leaders could implement just TWO things it would make a huge difference: \- Proactively enforce the standard on CIF personnel to issue correct fitting uniforms in accordance with DA Pam 670 and the fitting guide. \- Add a standardized and comprehensive (a couple hours) service uniform block of instruction to BCT This would honestly go a long way in not making us look so goofy next to our sister services.
Question for people who have worked with military influencersā¦
A thoughtful commander knows that a Marine with influence can be an assetāor a liability. The goal isnāt to stifle expression but to ensure that the Marineās online presence enhances, not undermines, the reputation and mission of the Marine Corps. Therefore it is in the interest of the commander and the Marine Corps to support the Marine in their influencing career. With this being said, what has the impact been working with these folks? I can imagine that influencers who start as passion-driven creators and stay connected to the purpose of the Corps tend to respect their dual roles. Whereas those driven by attention or clout can veer into entitlement territoryāespecially if no one reins them in early. TL;DR - Are these military influencers douchebags or what
How much is the Army going to charge me for my woobie?
Im retiring in April. This woobie has been mine since September of 2005. This collection of synthetic fibers has kept me warm and less suicidal for my entire career. It has snuggled me in good times, and the worst moment of my life. I have PCSād and moved around, but this blanket has always been a constant. This blanket or āponcho linerā is older than most folks on this sub. There is a zero percent chance I am giving this up. What will CIF value this steadfast and unnerving friend?
Gather āround, Gents. Advice for young Devils coming to the 1st Civ Div.
I just nutted really hard to Sydney Sweeney and the Lord put this on my heart to sayā¦ For those of yous about to get out, or recently out (and anyone else out). (Current executive in a large service industry with 5,000 employees. I didnāt finish college and started at the very fucking bottom and worked my way up. So, I know a thing or two and want to help, legitimately). Get yourself some good shirt stays. Pictured above. These cost $11.75 on Amazon Prime with two day delivery. Theyāre nice, go over the toe and under the sock, so no nasty nut schalpping surprise. Most importantly you look squared away. Attach those shirt stays to a nice shirt. Wear a nice pair of trousers. Match your belt color to your shoes. White under shirts, ONLY. Iām telling you, a nice crisp professional look will get you past 95% of applicants these days. You wonāt believe the shit I see come into one of my branches for an interview. Anyone in a nice shirt and trousers is going to catch hiring managersā eyes. In fact, go to JC Pennyās, Macyās or even Menās Warehouse. Get two to three shirts. (Plain either white or light blue), and two pairs of trousers (one blue l, one black, both tailored). It may cost a little money up front but will pay dividends in the future. Trust me, invest in yourself. If you can afford a tailored suit, even better. But, not necessary. Iād rather see you in a well fitted shirt and trousers and a cheap AF and ill-fitting suit. It demonstrates self-awareness and social awareness, too. Ties are great. Donāt get a silk tie for god-sake! Youāre not a cheap ass pimp. Most of the people your age come in looking like shit, like they donāt care, or dressed in street clothes that look like shit but cost their parentsā entire government check for the month. Stand out. Shave. Mother fucking shave. If you canāt, clean beard. No one is going to want to hire Ragnar Lothbrok outside of very few employers. Almost forgot, donāt wear white socks. Moving onā¦ Tone it down. Iāve seen so many veterans (especially POGs) ramp up the military jargon and āattitude ā. Lots of ācheckā, ātrackingā, ārogerā, āOscar Mikeā, āsend itā, etc., combined with an annoying ass alpha dog military manner. Civilians donāt know what the hell youāre saying and are weirded out by it. Us veterans, just think youāre gay. And not the good gay. Just come in with your Sunday School professionalism. Be relaxed. Talk like a human being, and throw in some āYes, Sirāsā āYes, Maāamāsā. Donāt be cocky. Theyāll say they care, but no one cares that you are a Marine, beyond the thought that youāll work hard and be responsible. Brush your fangs! Especially you gotdanged smokers and coffee drinkers. Bring some chewing gum too. After your interview, if not offered a job on the spot, follow up. Many hiring managers deal with hundreds of applicants. Drop and email or quick call and thank them for their time. Get a professional email. Gmail is great. Pussyslayer2002@yahoo.com will get ignored. Just some version of your name @ gmail is good. Proton is another good service. I guess yahoo is okay if youāre a fucking boomer. Hotmail is a no no. Ghetto AF. Once you land your job, be appreciative. It may not be your dream job, but stability, hard work and a little something extra will take you a long way and breed prosperity. Job hopping looks bad on a resume. And you tend to have to start at the bottom all over again. Once I stopped job hopping I went from $11.71 per hour to over $100k a year salaried with a 20% performance bonus in less than 10 years. You have to grind. Finally, remember, youāre a Marine. That means you hold the reputation of every Marine past, present and future on your shoulders. Act like it. Supplemental: Get a mentor in the civilian world. Ask vets who are out and successful about their journey. Emulate them. If at all possible, LEARN TO WRITE. I took a technical and creative writing course and it served me exceptionally well. Learn smartsheet, excel, word, google sheets, etc. Have someone review your resume. And if anyone here needs any of that help, feel free to DM me. Iām happy to help any young Marine in any way I can. Iāve made a ton of mistakes and have things to teach about what not to do. SF There are some errors above. I canāt fix cause my phone wonāt let me move the cursor back up. Just askā¦
Admiral Lisa Franchetti's retirement card available to sign
[Admiral Franchetti's retirement card](https://groupcards.io/share/FZijqMQCqVz) is available for you to sign if you would like. People have been asking me about a non-political way to show support for Admiral Franchetti following her dismissal as CNO. Why not sign her retirement card! She's had a stellar career and no matter your political persuasion you can certainly respect her service to our Navy and Nation over the past 40 years. You can leave a note or other greeting. No email or identifying information required! Feel free to forward the link to whomever you think would be interested in signing.
If you think the Air Force isn't paying you well, please consider...
Active duty servicemembers who think their military pay is lousy tend to have one thing in common: **they have never held a full-time civilian job.** Very few jobs in the civilian world can match Uncle Sam when it comes to perks and benefits, such as Tricare and retirement. In the military, itās often what you *donāt* pay for that makes you money. As a former active duty officer, current ANG officer, *and* a GS civilian, I have some insight on this matter. On the military side, Iām an O3 with nine years of service. If I were on active duty, my gross pay would be **$120,922**. After taxes and deductions, it comes down to about **$103,619** (at least per the app Iām using.) Now, letās look at the civilian side: My salary as a GS13 civilian is **$114,012.00.** So, not that big of a difference, right?Ā Guess again. Health insurance? $9,663.63 Dental insurance? $1,659.62 Federal retirement contribution? $5,013.26 After these deductions and taxes, my take-home pay is a paltry **$76,095.20**ā¦just *two-thirds* of my gross pay! Furthermore, although we have āgoodā health insurance, not everything is covered. We *still* make co-pays. But, of course, I also have drill pay from the Air National Guard. If I drill every month and do 15 AT days during the year, then Iām looking at grossing **$19,500.89**, of which I take home **$15,319.89**. Combining these two streams of income, Iām netting **$91,415.09** annuallyā¦*still* less than Iād be making on active duty! Of course, you donāt have to go into federal employment when you separate: private companies can pay great salaries. When I first separated in 2016, I accepted a hoity-toity corporate job at a healthcare conglomerate in Oakland. Adjusted for inflation, I had a starting salary of $152,300. Yes, itās an expensive area, but it was more than manageable for a (at the time) single guy. But, alas, after just a few months of working there, management decided my position was no longer needed, and I was laid off. Thatās another thing to keep in mind: in the private sector, they can lay you off at any time for any reason. *You have no job security.* Of course, your income is just one factor when it comes to overall well-being and quality of life. With this current set-up, I have a much better work/life balance than I would have on active duty.Ā Everyone's circumstances are different and you have to take many externalities into account. But, I hope this rant helps you weigh your options as you consider separation.
āBoggles the mindā: US defense department slashes research on emerging threats
Terminated projects include studies on the implications of AI in combat and how extremism spreads online. What are the implications of allowing artificial intelligence (AI) to make critical decisions about life and death in combat? Thatās a question that Nicholas Evans, a social scientist at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, was hoping his research could answer ā until funding for his grants was cut by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) this month. The grants were among 91 social-science studies terminated by the DoD, including many that were part of the flagship Minerva Research Initiative, which supports basic social-science research so as to better understand emerging threats to national security. āOne of the brilliant partsā of Minerva is that it takes āthe notion of security broadly,ā says Leonardo VillalĆ³n, a political scientist who studies the Sahel region in Africa at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Minerva grants fund research on global dynamics such as violence, instability, natural catastrophes, human displacement and migration, he says. The defense department stated in a press release that it was āscrapping its social science research portfolio as part of a broader effort to ensure fiscal responsibility and prioritize mission-critical activitiesā. Termination notices, seen byĀ *Nature*, state that the grants no longer served DoDās āprogram goals or agency prioritiesā. āThe big challengeā, says Evans, āis that there is almost nowhere else in the United States where you can get two and a half million dollars to do social-sciences research, and that limits our ability to get funded.ā He and his collaborators received US$5.3 million in research grants in 2021 and 2024, as part of Minerva. With the funding cut, he will lose US$4.3 million. # National interest The Minerva initiative was launched in 2008, and grants are managed by research offices run by the army, air force and navy. A portion of the funds go towards educating students at US military schools and academies in key areas of the social sciences, and many of those grants have also been terminated. Neil Johnson, a physicist at George Washington University in Washington DC, received termination notices for two grants, each worth about $2.5 million. One of them, close to the end of its five-year term, supported research on how threats, hate and extremism spread through online and offline social networks. The other focused on security threats along national borders. āThe rationale was really weird,ā says Johnson. For years, he has participated in calls and briefs at DoD agencies. Among other things, he has advised intelligence officers at military bases of his research findings, from the weaponization of health to gun violence. Now that all stops, he says. Spending money on military preparedness ā on armaments and technology, for example ā but not on understanding the nature and causes of potential military conflicts is incredibly short-sighted, says Kathy Baylis, a development economist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. āIt kind of boggles the mind,ā she says. The Minerva Research Initiative accounts for a fraction of the DoDās budget. In its 2024 budget request, the department requested $64.3 million for Minerva out of a total budget of $842 billion. Baylis has also had her Minerva grant terminated. Awarded in 2023, it enabled her to study the effects of climate shocks on food security in sub-Saharan Africa. It was initially guaranteed for three years, with an option of two more. Between the Minerva losses and cuts to grants from the US Agency for International Development, Baylis has lost roughly US$5 million over the past few weeks. Since then, she has been scrounging for money to pay salaries and working out ways to share the limited data that she and her team managed to collect. āThey just wasted a whole pile of money that had been spent on research that can no longer be fulfilled,ā she says. VillalĆ³n, who was studying the impact of climate hazards on societies in the Sahel, and how those communities were responding to changes, had already spent most of the $1.6 million awarded as a three-year grant in 2022. He and his team had only about $200,000 left over, which would have been used to support data analysis and publication. # What next? Many researchers are looking for alternative sources of funding, and some are discussing legal recourse with their universities. Ethan Addicott, an economist at the University of Exeter, UK, whose terminated grant was supporting research on geopolitical tensions that could arise from warming oceans and movement of fish stocks, says students and postdocs recruited for these projects are in danger of losing their jobs as a result of the cut. The terminations could also mean that researchers will seek funding from other nations that donāt necessarily have the same national interests as the United States, Addicott says.
Advice For Pete Hegseth
Atlantic columnist Tom Nichols, a retired Naval War College national security professor and #NeverTrump former Republican, reacts to the confirmation of the grossly unqualified Fox News host as our new SECDEF with some "advice" Hegseth will surely not follow. [America Is Now Counting on You, Pete Hegseth](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/01/america-is-counting-on-you-pete-hegseth/681469/) Dear Mr. Secretary, Tradition dictates that I begin by congratulating you on your confirmation. You seem like a man who appreciates frankness, and so I will spare you empty decorum: It would be disingenuous of me to deny that I have been opposed to your nomination to lead the Department of Defense from the moment it was announced. But the Senate has voted, and you are now the leader of the most powerful military on the planet. Rather than offer you empty congratulations, I hope you will acceptāin the spirit of the love of country that I know we both shareāsome unsolicited advice. You face unique challenges: You are among the least qualified major Cabinet nominees in modern American history, you have no background in leading a large organization, and you come into office with serious questions about your character and fitness, even from some in your own party. I must tell you that I believe you should have told Donald Trump last fall that you could not, in good conscience, accept his offer. But you did accept it, and so I write to you today not as a critic, but as a fellow American. I knowāas you doāthat your success is essential to the security and safety of our nation, and so all of us with something to offer owe you our best efforts, including our direct and honest views. I send these thoughts to you without partisanship or ill will: The time for that is over. We live in dangerous times and you cannot fail in your new duties. I have no interest in lecturing you about your personal life, or your reported use of alcohol. I have been through such struggles myself, and I believe that evenāperhaps especiallyāin challenging moments, you will choose to approach your new responsibilities with both physical and intellectual sobriety. I worked in national security and defense affairs for nearly 40 years, including a quarter-century in which my responsibility was to educate American officers. I do not know how to be a Secretary of Defense, but based on my experience, I have three recommendations for you that I hope will contribute to a successful tenure leading Americaās military. First, and most important, I implore you to listen to the men and women working for you who have served our nation. Listening is a sign of strength, Mr. Secretary, not weakness. Every bad senior leader I ever encountered in my career, including generals, admirals, and elected officials, all had the same flaw: Insecurity. They talked and opined and issued orders instead of listening. (From your own military days, you probably remember this expression:Ā *They only had Transmit Mode, no Receive Mode.*) I know youāve been charged with shaking up the Pentagon, but the dangerous world around us will not put their plans on pause if you get distracted by a superficial domestic culture war. You will have the power of decision on almost anything that crosses your path, but you are not omniscient. You are surrounded by a wealth of experience and expertise. Yes, some of the people under you will not be happy about the election or your confirmation, but they respect the terrible burden youāre carrying, and they are there to help you. They share your love of country, and your sense of duty. Their success is your success. They are not the enemy. Hear them out. Speaking of enemies, you must contend with the reality that you are entering office with almost no credibility with your opposite numbers in Moscow and Beijing (and elsewhere). I say this not as an insult, but to describe in plain terms the conditions you face abroad. I have long experience with the Russians, in particular, and while they will treat you with formal courtesy, make no mistake: These are hard and dangerous people who will have no respect for a former O-5 and talk-show host. I realize it is an uncomfortable truth, but defensiveness about this will only distract you from the work ahead. You must cover a lot of distance with those opponents. Your previous skills as a public commentator will be of no help and in fact will prove counterproductive in such situations. You cannot bully and speechify your way to respect with such people; they are tough in a way that cannot be countered with macho posturing or rants about DEI. The facile charm that worked for you in public life will be a vulnerability in dealing with our enemies, who will seek to exploit every thoughtless word. The combative punditry that works so well on cable television in America might have helped you burn time during your confirmation hearing, but none of that will serve you well in negotiations or discussions with our dedicated foes. (It wonāt do you much good talking to our allies, either.) Instead, you will find that you must rely on people who have been in the rooms youāve never seen until now. You are not required to take their advice, Mr. Secretary, but when your counterparts call you, your staff will be able to assist you in ways you might not have considered. They can warn you about your opponentās strategiesāand weaknessesābefore you even pick up the phone. Your previous career has rewarded bombast and bluster; now you will have to master judiciousness, restraint, and the strategic use of silence. Finally, I hope that you will leave behind the kind of rhetoric that brought you to prominence. I know that you gained this post by being a loyal soldier for President Trump. The truth is that most Americansāincluding the Americans who serve in the U.S. militaryādonāt really care nearly as much as youād think about the cultural issues that brought you into the Trump administration. You are no longer a pundit or a provocateur: From today, your fellow citizens are trusting you with the lives of their children. (āThank you for giving us your son,ā a general told one of my friends whose boy, like you, went through ROTC. āWeāll take good care of him.ā) The rest of us are trusting you with all our lives. You could well be the last person to speak to the president before he decides to go to warāor considers using nuclear weapons. Partisan attachments will be meaningless at such moments. When I was barely 30 years old, I advised a Republican senator who was trying to decide whether to support President George H. W. Bushās 1990 decision to go to war against Iraq in Kuwait. āAm I doing the right thing?ā he asked me. At that moment, I felt as if the world had fallen on my shoulders. Nothing else mattered. āYes, I think so,ā I stammered. And then we spent hours in the gloom of a winter afternoon discussing his eventual vote to send young Americans into battle. You will face decisions galactically greater than my one small moment with my boss 35 years ago. Some decisions you make will feel small to you, but they will have an impact on hundreds of thousands of people in the military community, and others will live with them long after youāve left government service. More importantly, some of your answers may have existential consequences for humanity itself. The election and the speeches are over. The lives of millionsāor perhaps billionsānow depend on things you say that no one but the president might hear. You are a man of faith, Mr. Secretary. We have that in common. And so Iāll close with my sincere wish that the Lord keep you and guide you in the days to come.
The U.S. Military Has Met Its Match: The Fat Gen Zāer
https://preview.redd.it/yxac19xenvee1.png?width=402&format=png&auto=webp&s=537ca4151213b295ef012358222484f46e31886b **By Francesca Graham** **Published Nov 30, 2024** Lt Col (Ret) Ryan Sweazey (Retired, Air Force ā United States Air Force Academy), President and Founder of the [Walk the Talk Foundation,](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwalkthetalkfoundation%2Eorg%2F&urlhash=daaR&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block) authored this article. (Published November 30th, 2024) Check out our Podcast, The Star Chamber, on:Ā [Apple](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts%2Eapple%2Ecom%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-star-chamber%2Fid1782042858&urlhash=Lf5F&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block) lĀ [Spotify](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen%2Espotify%2Ecom%2Fshow%2F6VaOHHycLS5fu0OAr5mXAJ&urlhash=rpgk&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block)Ā l [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TheStarChamberPodcast-q3h?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block) If I had a nickel for every time in the last year plus that Iāve read how the military attributes many of its recruiting woes to out-of-shape Gen Z, Iād be able to treat myself to a nice steak dinner.Ā Ā And each time I hear our DoD brain trust lament āwoe is us, only X% of America is fit to join,ā I must shake my retired head.Ā Allow me this minute to pontificate on the āGreat Satanā which is our out-of-shape youth: Red Flag Rule #1: Donāt Fight the Scenario!Ā Ā This was the first thing briefed at every [Red Flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Red_Flag?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block), an Air Force combat training exercise: fight the adversary, not the ruleset.Ā Ā In other words, donāt waste time and energy fighting the boundaries that are put in place, instead, focus on fighting and defeating the enemy.Ā Ā In the guise of this topic, there are some unavoidable facts that the military should not be fighting: 1. Americaās youth is not fit. 2. Americaās youth will likely continue to be less fit. 3. Americaās military must be manned; this is aĀ no-fail mission. This is not rocket surgery here. America is changing.Ā Ā Military leaders ā you with all your Professional Military Education and your self-labeled āstrategic visionaryā LinkedIn by-lines ā news flash: you have to change with America, you (and your legions of [non-volād recruiters](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emilitary%2Ecom%2Fdaily-news%2F2023%2F11%2F01%2Farmy-suddenly-and-chaotically-told-hundreds-of-soldiers-they-have-be-recruiters-immediately%2Ehtml&urlhash=ROx3&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block)) canāt just impose your will on the nationās youth (unlike the already-recruited youth you can and do impose your wills on).Ā Ā In other words, stop fighting the scenario! This is not unchartered territory here. When I entered the Air Force to be a pilot, no one asked me how well I could fly a plane.Ā Ā When Army soldiers enlist, no one asks how well they can shoot a rifle.Ā Ā Why?Ā Ā Because the military trains their people to do those things.Ā Ā So, if I can go from showing up off the street to flying an F-16, is it too much of a leap to expect our military to be able to train our recruits on how to exercise and have a healthy lifestyle?Ā Ā With that being said, is it really that much of a calamity to have to lower standards for enlisting (insert indignant gasp here)? Despite its shortcomings, the U.S. militaryās tactical prowess remains the best in the world, and this is because its training is the best in the world. Ā We can teach kids who have never flown to be single-seat 5th-Gen fighter pilots; surely, we can teach them how to do a push-up. And while we are on lowering standardsā¦ Upon entering the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995, the eyesight requirements for me to become a pilot were incredibly strict. Ā You basically had to be able to see through walls to be āPQā (pilot qualified). Ā Fast forward a mere 3 years and a major pilot shortage later and the Academyās Commandant was nearly ordering people to go to pilot training with all sorts of waivers and relaxed standards being tossed out like candy. Ā And despite all those concessions, guess what happened? Ā People went to pilot training and excelled, as they had been all those years before ā no jets falling out of the sky, or post-Lasik eyeballs exploding, or any other manifestations from the gloom and doom predictions from the nay-sayers. Ā So, this talk about adjusting standards to ensure a steady supply of recruits is nothing earth-shatteringā¦we just need to do itā¦again. āWe are suffering from a healthy economyā I love that line. Ā And it is here we get to the supply and demand discussion as it pertains to the military as a career. Ā In this case, military jobs are what is being supplied. Ā As for the demand, well, itās headed down the toilet. Ā So, letās say you are one of those out-of-shape Gen Zāers and youāre considering what you want to do for a living, at least for the next few years. Ā In your eyes, the military is offering you the āprivilegeā of perhaps going to war and being killed and/or maimed and/or traumatized. Ā Further, the military is āenticingā you to forfeit some of your rights as an American while it tries to, and does, infringe on other rights youĀ shouldĀ have. Whether or not you go to war while in the service, youāre statistically more likely to be [raped or assaulted](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eprotectourdefenders%2Ecom%2Ffactsheet%2F&urlhash=LgSI&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block) if you are a woman. Ā And if you do enter into the service, over 17 of you will, during or after your career, [kill yourself each day](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ementalhealth%2Eva%2Egov%2Fdocs%2Fdata-sheets%2F2023%2F2023-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508%2Epdf&urlhash=s8PR&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block). Ā And with all that, what is the militaryās āsales pitchā to you: āYou need to run faster in order to be considered worthy!ā Ā Is it any wonder why so many kids give the military the middle finger!? Ā Succinctly put: the military is not creating any demand for their products (jobs). Far from it, in fact. If theyĀ wantedĀ to get in shape for the military, wouldnāt they? But hereās the thing ā if Gen ZĀ wantedĀ to work for you, wouldnāt they do what you asked? Ā I know I donāt think like an 18-year-old (well, mostly), but if someone told me that I had to run around a track 6 times to get the job I wanted, Iād have my ass at the trackā¦and I donāt like running. Ā But kids arenāt doing that. Ā Why? Ā Not because standards are too tough or too high, itās because they donāt want any part of our once-heralded profession of arms. Ā I chuckled the other day when I read that the Navy put out a pamphlet on how kids who have not yet enlisted can prepare for passing their PT test. Ā Cool product, Seamen. Ā Problem is ā itās not that they donāt want toĀ run, itās that they donāt want toĀ join. Ā (I do feel sorry, however, for that sap O-4 staffer that missed his kidās recital because he had to stay late to put that pamphlet togetherā¦Iām sure some O-8 took the credit, though.) My friend āDeuceā used to tell me to think of things in extremes to help frame an issue.Ā Ā So, hereās an extreme: if the military paid an E-1 $10,000,000 (thatās 10 million dollars) a year, how many fat Gen Zāers would get into shape?Ā Ā Is it unrealistic to think thatĀ manyĀ would?Ā Ā And although that salary is absurd, it serves to convey this point: there is an extrinsic value that everyone places on most everything and entering the military is most definitely included in that calculus.Ā Ā So, in all this discussion about recruiting woes and fitness and whatnot, how many times have we heard a military senior leader go to the Hill and lobby for higher wages for enlistees?Ā Ā (And Iām not talking about [piddly-shit raises](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwalkthetalkfoundation%2Eorg%2Fpriorities-priorities-general-flag-officer-promotion-vs-competitive-pay%2F&urlhash=wN2v&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block) that canāt even keep pace with inflation, I mean likeĀ [actual](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebarrons%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Fpilots-american-airlines-delta-united-pay-3d0f7ba5&urlhash=gRzF&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block) [raises](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebarrons%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Fpilots-american-airlines-delta-united-pay-3d0f7ba5&urlhash=gRzF&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block).) Crickets.Ā Ā I briefly worked for [Air Force General Mark Kelly](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaf%2Emil%2FAbout-Us%2FBiographies%2FDisplay%2FArticle%2F108818%2Fmark-d-kelly%2F&urlhash=k4IL&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block)Ā who would say something to the effect of āweāve relied solely on the patriotism of our military members for far too long.āĀ Ā Poignant, no? A(nother) āHearts and Mindsā defeat. Letās not mince words here ā the recruiting crisis is a conflict that our military is wagingā¦and losing. Ā It is the easiest conflict we can and will ever fight for we have all the intel at our fingertips. Ā There is no fog of war, there is no unpredictable adversaryā¦and yet, we are still pretty much getting our asses kicked. Ā But I donāt accept, and I hope you donāt either, our militaryās sulk-in-the-corner response: quibbling about fat kids, or the economy, or BRAC (all the while yammering about howĀ theyĀ [arenāt getting promoted fast enough](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Earmytimes%2Ecom%2Fnews%2Fyour-army%2F2023%2F11%2F14%2Farmy-secretary-fears-mid-career-officer-exodus-amid-promotion-holds%2F&urlhash=sWEQ&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block)). Ā This war doesnāt require a [McChrystal-like spaghetti chart](https://www.linkedin.com/redir/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enytimes%2Ecom%2F2010%2F04%2F27%2Fworld%2F27powerpoint%2Ehtml&urlhash=i8hV&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block)Ā to grasp ā itās pretty straightforward and here is the solution to it all: 1. Compensate your people well. 2. Treat them and their families well. You do that, and they will do all the sit-ups and ammo-can-lifts you want them to. [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-military-has-met-its-match-fat-gen-zer-francesca-graham-st9oe](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-military-has-met-its-match-fat-gen-zer-francesca-graham-st9oe)
Divorce after retirement. Spouse couldn't adjust.
I retired less than a year ago and I'm getting divorced. My spouse couldn't adjust to me not being active duty anymore. I had a difficult career while I was in. I drank way too much, I smoked, I was extremely depressed and had suicidal thoughts more than I actually admit out loud. I tried medication and therapy while I was active but they didn't really do much for me then. I was miserable but she was happy. Her and the kids were always taken care of even if I wasn't the best husband and dad in the world. Since retirement though I've seen a lot of personal growth/improvement. I don't drink any more at all, I quit smoking and the meds and therapy seem to be working. Depression has lessened and no more suicidal thoughts. I picked up gardening and decorative painting as hobbies. I am way more engaged with my kids and I began taking my dogs out more and just things that normal people do. When I started getting better is when things started getting worse. She started demanding more. No matter how hard I worked at being a better person, no matter how much of a better person I became, it was never enough. I asked her to see her own therapist and she refused. She was steadfast that I was the problem and had all the problems. I managed to convince her to go to marriage counseling because maybe a third party could help me understand what she was trying to communicate. After a initial session we agreed that the counselor was a good fit for us. At that point I also authorized the marriage counselor to talk to my therapist so I could really tackle the problems she thought I had head on. Turns out that the marriage counselor and my therapist agreed that I was doing really well. Making great progress from who I was to who I am now. The counselor even told her that in session. Counselor suggested that she focus on herself with her own therapy. I don't think she was expecting to hear that because she really went off the deep end. She started stealing and abusing prescription pills, drained the bank account became verbally abusive to me and started to try to manipulate the kids against me. She then became physically violent to where police were called and she was arrested. The marriage counselor, my therapist and my psychiatrist know the story and seem to agree that my personal improvement after retirement somehow left her feeling some type of way about herself that she couldn't reconcile on her own. They've suggested that she needed me to be the one with the problems so she could feel better about herself, and once she felt exposed she lashed out. Like the title says, I'm divorcing her now. I'm curious if anybody else has a similar story. TL:DR Spouse didn't like the person I became after retirement. Getting divorced. Anyone else?
I feel helpless
USAF SSgt stationed overseas with over 6 years of service. I know I haven't been in that long, but I've seen my share of changes and political turmoil. But I have never felt this helpless and horrified by what is happening politically. I feel powerless as I watch the republic I served and the constitution I swore an oath to get slowly destroyed. I no longer feel any pride or desire to serve, especially under this administration. Has anyone with more experience ever felt this way in their careers? Is this administration unlike any before? I genuinely can't think of any administration in the last 50 or so years that was this blatantly corrupt and tyrannical. Thanks everyone, hope you are all holding up ok.
A note from Admiral Sims, the commander of the U.S. Navy in WWIā scolding my young grandfather.
My grandfather was an avid autograph collector, and Iāve been sorting through some of what he left behind. Some signatures are from household names, others more obscure, but as a Navy vet myself, itās been fascinating to see his interest in the military and aviation before he ended up serving in WWII. Not sure exactly when Sims wrote this note, but he died in 1936, so my grandfather wouldāve been quite young. I donāt know how many folks here are into the historical side of things, but I figured some of you might appreciate this, both for the autograph and the classic Navy-style tone he used to scold a kid. For those unfamiliar, hereās a quick AI-assisted rundown on Sims: **Admiral William Sowden Sims (1858ā1936)** was a pivotal figure in U.S. naval history, best known for revolutionizing naval gunnery, modernizing fleet tactics, and commanding U.S. naval forces in Europe during WWI. He challenged outdated practices early in his career and even bypassed his chain of command to write directly to President Theodore Roosevelt about Navy inefficiencies (which actually earned him a promotion). During WWI, Sims worked closely with Allied navies and played a key role in countering the German U-boat threat. He later served as President of the Naval War College, where he helped shape modern naval doctrine. Sims was respectedāand sometimes resentedāfor his bluntness, intellect, and willingness to challenge the status quo.
Trump announced a $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' for service members tonight. Here is the summary.
Update: Our team just read a memo confirming it is coming from the BAH pool. Itās a supplement to BAH, and even those members not receiving BAH who are eligible will also receive the Warrior Dividend (e.g., members overseas, junior enlisted in barracks, etc.). Members will still receive BAH. According to a senior administration official, the Warrior Dividend is actually a one-time basic allowance for housing stipend already approved by Congress. Here is the updated article: [https://mybaseguide.com/warrior-dividend](https://mybaseguide.com/warrior-dividend) \--- Just watched the address. Here is the breakdown of the $1,776 payment announced tonight: **The Gist** * **What:** A one-time payment of **$1,776.00**. * **Who:** Announced for "every service member," though Guard/Reserve specifics are pending official guidance. * **Funding:** Stated to be from surplus tariff revenues. * **Timeline:** Trump said checks are "already heading out," but we are waiting on DFAS/Pentagon to confirm actual deposit dates. **Key Details** * **Not a Pay Raise:** This is separate from the 2026 pay raise, BAH, or BAS. It does not replace any existing benefits. * **Tax Status:** TBD. No official word yet on whether this is tax-free or taxed like a bonus. **What to watch for next** * Official DFAS drop date. * Clarification on Guard/Reserve eligibility. * IRS/DFAS guidance on taxes.
Completed 2 military basic trainings in under 16 months
Unique experience. I know of many people to serve in multiple branches, and heard of some to serve in every military branch. Might be a little specific, but did I complete 2 basic trainings in a quicker span of time than anyone? Is there any way of verifying? Kind of specific, but I find it interesting.
Exhausted with the Navy life
Been playing the Navy life for sixteen years now. It feels like the Navy is a young and single person's job. I'm on my final sea tour, and contract will take me to the 20 year mark. I had a family in my last shore tour, and they are my life. I deployed multiple times when I was younger. Now, this shit hurts every day. I dread heading to work every day. I dread doing the work. I dread having to go out to sea. I miss my family daily and struggle with focusing at work over how much I hate this shit. Duty every few days takes me away from them, the people don't really give a shit, the triad are all about advancing their careers. Everything about this job is fucking trash, and I see civilians come aboard and help work on my stuff that do a fraction of what I do but get paid two times or more than I do WITHOUT the Navy stuff in between. How the hell do you guys continue to perform at such a high level and not get burnt out because I am so tired of all this stuff and I am stuck until the very end.
Iām gonna boycott the commissary
Thereās nothing better than after grocery shopping watching your groceries get bagged five times slower than you would beg them by a pair of 80 year-old who then proceeded to help you bring your groceries to your cart at a walking paste thatās three times slower than you. And better yet they get paid no money so youāre pressured to leave cash. Theyāre always super nice to me and I like them, but I wish they would just stand there and talk to me if they want to talk to military people because watching them bag groceries at a sloth pace, every single time is infuriating. As someone who worked at a grocery store more specifically as a bagger and takes pride in his speed of begging this is my sincere pet peeve and then I take my groceries out myself because I donāt want them walking out in the rain at their young age of 85 and I feel like the bad guy because Iām taking their job why does the commentary employ senior citizens for zero dollars a year salary when Iām 85 I do not think I would want to be an indentured servant at an Air Force Baseās grocery store. I will try to be more grateful and positive, but I truly do not understand this phenomenon. EDIT: I am fully aware I am the problem let me rant to random redditors
Eyeballs, Officers of Marines
I know your secret. The one that you never bring up, when you puff up your chest and tell OCS stories your junior warriors, because it's shameful. Because it's a crutch that your commission stands on. /s You get liberty during OCS, are you fucking serious?! I would've heavily considered going mustang if I knew I could boot up tinder every OCS Saturday night and got some puss. This needs to be advertised better. I'm looking at you, career counselors
Navy Rant to Admin Rates
Why are ya'll so difficult to work with? If I were to make a mistake with the engines I am absolutely held accountable. So, for ya'll to make a mistake on things that affect my career and workflow is infuriating. Seriously, I am about to crash out on all ya'll PS's, YN's and HM's # NOT V/R Why are ya'll like this?
My Dad was Marine.
My dad's family had a long tradition of military service. Mostly in the Navy and Marines. My grandfather taught Celestial Navagation to NROTC students at Yale in the 30's. When the war started he got a commison and was XO of a Destroyer Escort. A bunch of my uncles were WW2 Marine Officers. One commanded a truck company, and two were infantry officers. Another avoided combat by pitching for the USMC Baseball team in Hawaii. I had another uncle that flew helos for the squadron that plucked the Mercury Astronauts out of the ocean. My dads younger went to Nam as a a young Lt. and got a serious wound to his ass. Also got stabbed on liberty on Oki. He stayed in the reserves and retired as a Full Colonel. Even my aunt , who was a big hippy, served as an air traffic controler in the Air Force. My dad joined up in the late fifties after blowing a full ride athletic/music scolarship at Syracuse. He wanted to be in the Marine Band, but ended up in the Air Wing instead. He spent his time as a airborne radio operator on C-141s. Mostly in Asia. He had wild stories about flying men and material around the far east. Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam. He went everywhere, and had a great time doing it. He wanted to make a career of it, but he had a very bad off duty motorcycle accident. Apparently, they used to get drunk and drag race on the Runways at his base in Japan. Had a really bad limp for the rest of his life. Anyhow, he loved the Corps and talked about it constantly. He had a EGA decal on the back of his car, that was bigger than a dinner plate. He wasn't happy when I joined the Navy, but was thrilled when i told him i was a Doc.
This NFL-style Army selection program was called 'woke.' It mostly picked White men.
A follow up published this weekend takes a loser look at the CAP stats and the reasoning for its destruction. Despite being appointed to revamp promotion and selection, Stuart Scheller apparently had no hand in this, which makes me wonder wtf heās been doing at an SES salary the last few months. We just ārenamedā it a month before this - so this rollback smacks of indecision and poor choices. The program *was* the closest to a merit based system people claim to want. Now weāre back to quick packet reviews thatāll probably just be about who you know.
I got hit by a drunk driver in May
After the accident itās been one road block after another my package for lateral move fell through the theory the interviewer gave me was I didnāt have a PFT in the system and they were looking for a 1st class, medical will not put me on LIMDU because I donāt meet the criteria yet so I cannot do a medical extension. There was a lack of information in the Career Counselor community Iāve been trying to send up an extension package for months and I kept getting turned down because I have no PFT in the system come to find out yesterday that this whole time there was no requirements for an extension, so yesterday I sent up an extension and it got denied in an hour because it was past the deadline July 28th. Is there anything anyone can help me with Iām really trying to stay in. Iāve been working with other commands and mentors because Iām having issues with my direct chain of command, theyāre making it incredibly difficult to stay in.
THE NOVELTY STILL HAS NOT WORN OFF
I was just reminiscing with myself and I realized - though I have been retired for close to 23 years - the novelty of not standing duty has still not worn off! I was in 3 & 4 section the majority of my career on ships, and at one shore duty station only had 3 8-hour watches a month, but I still smile to myself every couple of days because I know I get to go home EVER DAY after work!!!
Good job Pete! You're a good helper!
I wonder how painful it is for career officers to have to listen to this guy, knowing he offers no experience, insight, or perspective.
that stinks doesn't wash off...
about a week ago, working with a new crew member, I looked at him, apropos of nothing, and asked "were you a Marine?". he answered that he was, and asked what prompted me to ask. I couldn't say. He had seen the typical EGA sticker on my car, so he figured I was, too. I'd been out 30+ years,and he'd been out over 20, and neither were Career. I couldn't say what tripped my Jarhead detector, but discussing it, we both could think of a few times we had just known it about someone. anyone else have this sort of experience ?
Staff Duty is insufferable
My God. If you're dying to have all your dreams of an long illustrious Navy career come to a screeching halt, come to one of these. The amount of Kool-Aid drinking that goes on here is unimaginable. Any idea I had of commissioning is gone, the LTs here have the worst workloads and are treated more poorly than any rank I've ever seen. Any technical acumen I wanted to hone here is also nowhere to be found, as an E6 you're either treated like a deck Seaman taking out trash, or just another LT (albeit severely underpaid) editing monotonous policy paperwork till 1730. It really feels like everywhere I look I'm surrounded by political beauracrats chomping at the bit for the next pay grade. I very well may be wrong about this, but if this is what I can expect from picking up any more rank in today's Navy, I'm good. I'll take my degree and hopefully a contracting job. If anyone has any pitches to stay Navy, I'm all ears, I've wanted to serve my whole life, but I'm pretty pessimistic at this point.
Hegsethās Own Lawyers Sound the Alarm on Trumpās Drug Boat Killings
Military lawyers warned that President Donald Trumpās strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats were potentially illegal, but their opinions were ignored or sidelined, according to a new report. Trump announced this month that the U.S. military had destroyed three different boats that were allegedly crewed by members of the Tren de Aragua gang smuggling drugs to the U.S. from Venezuela. The president shared footage of two of the strikesāwhich killed a total of 14 peopleāon social media, and mentioned a third boat in passing while speaking to reporters outside the White House. Officials have refused to answer questions about where the strikes took place and under what circumstances, and have not provided evidence that the boats were carrying drugs, The Washington Post reported. They also have not provided a legal authority that would justify the summary execution of civilians. But within the Pentagon, some career defense officials and military lawyers have provided verbal and written opinions to the Department of Defense leadership, saying they were concerned about the legality of the strikes, the Wall Street Journal reported. The U.S. Coast Guard often intercepts suspected drug smugglers, but the standard rules of procedure for dealing with cartel members are to arrest and prosecute them, not execute them. **The officials identified problems with the legal justifications for the strikes, and they warned that the soldiers who conducted the attacks could be held personally liable for the killings, sources told the Journal. But the officials believe that decision-makers at the Department of Defense sidelined them and ignored their concerns, a source told the paper. Other officials are looking for ways to provide legal protection for the individual military personnel involved in the strikes.** In a statement to the Journal, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the trikes were āfully consistent with the law of armed conflict,ā even though the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela. āThese presidentially directed strikes were conducted against the operations of a designated terrorist organization and were taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and in the collective self-defense of other nations who have long suffered due to the narcotics trafficking and violent cartel activities of such organizations,ā she said. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell also denied to the Journal that any Pentagon lawyers with knowledge of the strikes had raised concerns about their legality and said the administration was on āfirm legal ground.ā
You left the Army to take your special skills elsewhere. Is the salary all itās cracked up to be ?
A lot of people talk about leaving their 17, 35, 25 series job for greener pastures. Was it worth it? How much do you make now? I do pretty well working non gov cyber
Donāt risk it. Itās not worth it.
With the recent addition of psilocin or āmagic mushroomsā in the DOD drug testing panel starting Oct 1, 2025, itās unfortunate how much misinformation has been spread among sailors, airmen, soldiers, marines, etc. Specialized lab testing like āLS/MSā can detect psilocin use through a method called hydrolysis. Tests arenāt looking for āfree psilocinā which leaves the body 24-48 hours after ingestion as MANY service members acknowledge. Specialized lab tests are looking for psilocin-o-glucuronide which can be cleaved BACK into free psilocin. This method CAN detect ingestion up to 5-7 days after use. The memo released in August doesnāt make clear how or which method will be used. But itās not worth it. Donāt risk your career. Donāt risk your benefits. At the end of the day I cannot tell you what to and what not to put in your body. Stay safe, shipmates. Proof (direct detection of serum psilocin glucuronide) : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11419-006-0006-2 Proof (The detection of psilocin in humans): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11373000/ Proof (Metabolisms of psilocybin and psilocin): https://www.ricardinis.pt/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Metabolism-of-psilocybin-and-psilocin-clinical-and-forensic-toxicological-relevance.pdf
Best LAT move MOS?
I just got a list from my career planner and honestly have no fucking clue what to LAT move into so I was hoping someone can at least tell me if I got some good options or anything. I just want something that not fully a desk job.
š Marine Corps.
Soā¦ just thinking about how funny this is, as Marines, we are gay as hell. The homoerotic culture of the Corps is hysterical, and itās something we all joke about. When I came out, suddenly everyone was afraid to make gay jokes around me (to which I understandā¦ no one wants an EO issue) but when I would make gay jokes, it was the funniest thing in the world. Iām out now, I have a very successful law enforcement career (Detective for a very conservative sheriffās office), where I am the only openly gay guy on staff, and itās the same way, itās like people feel like they canāt be themselves when a gay dude is in the room because they donāt want to offend me or something. I guess this is a weird rant, but Iām just a dude who likes dudes, but I still do dude shit like shoot guns and blow stuff up and watch hockey while praying for a fight, Iām weird. Rah.
Serious question: why do so many dependapotamuses exist?
Every day during my lunch break at the PX, I see many rather overweight women wandering around and doing shopping for the kids. Why are there so many of them? I'm assuming based on the stereotype that these women depend on their soldier husbands for money. They do little to nothing for work, and basically exist only to goof around all day and raise the kids. In this economy, how are an unemployed woman and her two kids supposed to survive on the E-5 husband's salary? Money can be tight for the family even if she works two jobs to supplement the husband's income. So how do so many of these women just sit around all day and eat fast food while the husband's at work? This happens even in the HCOL states that I've visited: Hawaii and Colorado. These also happen to be the most outdoorsy states with the lowest obesity rates, and I've seen many a dependapotamus hanging around the food courts. Something doesn't add up if they're parasites during all this inflation. I could maybe see the stereotype being true in the 1980s, but how has it survived to this day?
Why do Navy Gyms suck so bad?
Recently PCSād to Norfolk. Was exited to finally have āfreeā gyms to go to. I was sorely mistakenā¦ None of the gyms have proper ventilation or even air conditioning, the locker rooms are absolutely disgusting, and the equipment is gross. The fleet fitness center, McCormick hall, and N-24 all have broken ACs. They look like shit, but god forbid you donāt show your CAC to the person scrolling TikTok at the desk and press the iPad check-in. I literally just flashed a credit card one day just for the hell of itā¦ Want to shower off now that youāve sweated the equivalent water weight of a toddler? Then go to the man made horror beyond your comprehension that is the shower stalls. By the way the hot water doesnāt work, but donāt worry, we put up a hard card laminated note telling you that a ticket has in facts been submitted for a year. Plus itās 90 degrees inside, so why would you need hot water to begin with? Same for the pool of rancid piss thatās been sitting in the broken urinal for the last 3 weeks. The gym parking lot fleet side is basically just extra parking for the piers/NEX, so you have to park and walk a literal quarter mile to access the building. My 30 minute workout literally takes 1.5 hours of effort and planning to complete. The main gym by gate 2&4 was built in 1909, literally at the time where guys in funny mustaches lifted comically bulbous barbells in leotards. The paint is chipping off in all of the basketball courts, which could be properly fixed by a single deck division from any ship in a work week. The equipment at the fleet gym is good, but itās hotter than Satanās asshole and the showers are a living bioweapon. I love the navy, but the one thing that has always chapped my ass in my career is the fact that they always bitch about sailor fitness, but do absolutely nothing to support it. There is no command PT, no time cut out for fitness per day. Any nutrition, training, or dietary services that Iāve ever referred my sailors to are always 3 month wait times because dependents take up most of the weekday slots and have time to do so. Shipboard nutrition is rough. The only time they care about your fitness is apparently during PRT or Chief season, at which point theyāre either signing waivers like theyāre going out of style or fudging BCAs. This is part bitching, but also frustration. My state college had a gym that was leaps and bounds better than we have today and that was 12 years ago. Sailors are motivated when inspired. Give them the tools to succeed and theyāll rise to the task. Just build new gyms to replace the hellholes currently offered. Itās not that hard.
Quickest You Have Seen Someone Ruin Their Career
There was a post earlier that made me think of this guy. It was 2011/2012, and Spice just became a thing in the Navy. I am a relatively new officer, but I was a prior enlisted FMF Corpsman before, so not new to the Navy. IAs are in full swing around this time. We had a sailor on our ship get sent back from an IA early due to behavior issues. Our CO then gets picky about who he sends on IAs and makes me "interview" people because I have deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan x2 (1 was an IA). The idea was I could let them know what they are getting into, which in reality, you could end up doing anything on an IA. I saw some random sailors conducting supply convoys in country, I met a random IT3 pull into our Combat Outpost who was gunning a 240 in a dangerous area of Afghanistan, I ran into a GM back in 2005 at Camp Blue Diamond Iraq who was working with Marine Ammo Techs, met a guy in Kuwait while headed on leave who was doing detainee ops at Camp Bucca, and I met a random BM2 who was working at the gym at Bagram checking out basketballs. I ended up meeting a 3rd-class who was selected for an IA and was excited about it. I worked somewhat close to this guy, so I knew him well enough. When it came time for his IA, he asked the right questions for someone thinking long-term, inquiring about how I was commissioned and where I attended college, as well as the number of hours I spent as a TA. The individual was a smart and very well-organized person. He said he wanted to commission after his IA. Within a month of this conversation, this dick head decides to get a DUI a few weeks before he is supposed to leave for his IA. He goes to the mast and receives a suspended bust from 3rd class, but he was not eligible to deploy to Afghanistan. We give him some advice to just take this as a learning experience. Moron decides to smoke spice with Salvia in front of everyone who is on duty on Saturday. He gets told, as suspected, the next day to report to medical for a drug test and gets in a shit ton of trouble. He thinks itās a smart idea to commit larceny, destroy evidence, make death threats to people who were witnesses, and engage in general stupid behavior to try to cover his tracks. He then proceeds to claim he needs rehab, thinking that will save his ass if he goes inpatient. He threatens the poor people in an inpatient setting, with another charge added. In reality, he probably would have been separated with a general discharge, maybe a BCD, but it would have been quick. His behavior was so bad that he went to the brig for over a year before his court-martial. He got in a shit ton of trouble in the brig. At his court-martial, the judge rips him hard and gives him 10 years in confinement. I googled the guy's name, and it appears he has been arrested since his release. The guy was actually a good dude before all this, but talk about a way to fuck up your life quickly.
Army cutting 6,500 aviation jobs in overhaul toward drones
The Army is slashing thousands of active duty pilots, flight crews, and helicopter maintenance jobs as the service begins a fundamental pivot towards unmanned drones for modern wars, officials told Task & Purpose. The service will begin cutting nearly 6,500 active duty aviation jobs in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 as part of the Armyās broader transformation initiative. The Army currently has around 30,000 aviation branch soldiers, but ātalent panelsā scheduled for October will decide which officers and warrant officers will be retained and which will transfer to a different branch within the Army. The service will also decide whether to hold similar talent panels for its enlisted aviation soldiers, which includes most flight crew and nearly all mechanics and maintenance troops, Army officials said. The strategy to cut aviators is a switch from the Armyās efforts to fill out its pilot force less than a decade ago. In 2019, the service offered pay raises and promotion opportunities to meet a warrant officer shortage of almost 700 soldiers. As the service reduces its aviation force, Army leaders are doing an ongoing analysis āto determine the appropriate approved excess strength to minimize turbulence,ā Russell said. The 6,500 cuts are separate from the nearly 4,600 reserve soldiers who are facing cuts, a drawdown reported by Military.com. With those moves, the Army plans to eliminate all Army Reserve helicopter units by the end of the summer. Army officials said the Reserve Command is working on its own manpower plan āto address the unique circumstancesā for their soldiers.
I tried.. but I couldnāt keep up.
In January of 2020 I left for basic training. This was just before Covid took hold of the entire world. I was devastated when I learned I wouldnāt see my family on graduation. I went to Fort Lee Virginia where I again grew distraught that I would see my home (New York) was full of dead people coming out of hospitals because of this.. I knew in my heart I would not be seeing my family once again. I started eating more to deal with the stress. I graduated AIT and became a hold over.. shortly after someone in my platoon took their life. It hit hard. I felt similar feelings. I knew I wasnāt doing okay. I had little friendships and people around me noticed that I was mentally struggling and avoided me. Everyday became a battle dealing with the demands and stress of the Army. I didnāt want to seek help because I didnāt have the courage to ask someone to wake up early to walk with me to the mental health clinic. I was then sent to Korea. Separated from everyone I had met and grown to know and live with in the Army. After a month long quarantine I go to my unit where I completely broke down.. I was contemplating buying as many pills as possible and ending it there. But a voice in my heart told me to seek help.. I spent 7 months in Korea constantly being seen by behavioral health. I had a profile that said I canāt use firearms. I felt so useless. So empty and lost. I gained so much weight and began drinking quite a lot that didnāt help me in any way but to feel something other than this misery in my heart. I was admin separated with an honorable discharge. To this day I wish it played out differently. I wish I could proudly tell someone I served and Iām a veteran but I feel like a fraud. Like a complete failure everyday. I dream about being in the army still. It was once my determined passion to get in and serve my country.. but I failed when it came time to live it out. How is someone like me supposed to leave the past behind me when it was such a defining moment in my life? Iām 25 now (20 when I enlisted) life hasnāt gotten better. The regret and shame still lives with me. I struggle with long term employment and relationships due to my severe anxiety and depression. Itās as if I never had a place in the world let alone the army. Iām sorry for this rant.. just needed to vent.
Handing NCOs spreading wild political misinformation at work
I am on a duty bus right now and two senior NCOs are openly talking about stuff like sharia law being implemented in the United States and other far right talking points that are just objectively false. They are saying it loudly and confidently like it is all established fact. I am not junior to these guys. I'm almost certainly well senior to them, but I am also not in their direct chain and their talking points are all derived from the President's favorite "news" outlets. This is happening in a public work setting where other soldiers are listening. At what point is it appropriate to step in and challenge that kind of misinformation when the conversation is not directed at you but is happening in front of everyone. I am not trying to argue politics for fun, but it is frustrating to hear leaders confidently repeat things that are clearly misinformed and that start to blur into prejudice rather than fact.. Do you ignore it. Do you correct it. Do you only step in if it directly affects the mission or the soldiers around you. Genuinely asking where the line is. Thanks Edit: I should have known better than to ask a legitimate question on here and not expect people to immediately question my leadership instead of engaging with the actual issue. The question was about how you handle misinformation when it is coming directly from the Commander in Chief, especially in light of how aggressively politically appointed leaders have gone after people for dissenting from the Presidentās agenda. Everyone acts like they would happily stick their neck out on an anonymous forum, but the reality is very different. We have already seen how fast the knives come after the killing of Charlie Kirk and the ensuing witch hunt for anyone posting how Kirk pushed violent and divisive rhetoric. And now the White House is publicly throwing Admiral Bradley under the bus now they're under heavy scrutiny. When leaders are getting publicly blamed and careers are on the line, it is not hard to understand why people are cautious about speaking up. Other federal agencies actively asked for tips from staff to rat on each other for the crime of being anti-Trump.
For Veterans making over $200k: What are you doing now, and would you recommend it?
Hey all, Iām curious to hear from fellow vets who have transitioned out of the service and are now making over $200k a year. - What career path are you in? - How did you get into it? - Would you recommend it to other veterans? - Anything you wish you had known before starting down that path? I think hearing real experiences could help a lot of us still figuring out our next steps. Thank you! Edit: Thank you everyone for the incredible responses! Iām honestly blown away by how many fellow veterans took the time to share their stories/advice. I actually made this post because Iām at a bit of a crossroads and really want to make a change in my life. Iāve been feeling a little down and confused lately, but at the same time I feel like a breakthrough is close. Because of your posts, Iāve been able to narrow things down to three career paths, and Iāll be making a decision soon. I know money isnāt everything, but I want to be honest how I want my future to look like. Reading all your responses has been inspiring and motivating. Itās a tough period, but Iām hopeful. Thanks again for the positivity and for showing me whatās possible!
Retirement Rack
Hereās my Retirement Rack minus the badges, foreign awards and other things. For everyone posting their military, JROTC, or family memberās uniforms, ribbon racks, medals and shadow boxes please add them to this newly created community called: r/MilitaryDisplays Here you can post your uniform, or ribbon rack, or ask what ribbons they are. Display them proudly and add any stories with your post about your career or your familyās career. Weād love to hear it. We hope to see more of you vets, current active members, family members, and military enthusiasts join! Thank you. r/MilitaryDisplays
Upcharging on Food, Selling Booze: The Army's Plan to Privatize Dining
[https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/06/25/upcharging-food-selling-booze-armys-plan-privatize-dining.html](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/06/25/upcharging-food-selling-booze-armys-plan-privatize-dining.html) ""TheĀ [Army](https://www.military.com/army)Ā is preparing to overhaul its food service system in a move that could strip away government-run dining facilities and hand operations to private, for-profit companies. Framed as a modernization effort, the plan could saddle enlisted soldiers, many of whom already struggle with lowĀ [pay](https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay), with even greater costs for meals they are effectively required to buy. So-called "campus-style dining" has been pitched to lawmakers as a way to incentivize private vendors to create Army dining spaces where soldiers want to eat, with longer hours, a better atmosphere, and additional menu variety. **Read Next:**Ā [Military Domestic Violence Conviction Skyrocketed After Commanders Were Removed from Process](https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/06/24/military-domestic-violence-convictions-skyrocketed-after-commanders-were-removed-process.html) But documents reviewed by [Military.com](http://Military.com) show a system light on guardrails, nutrition standards and financial transparency -- and heavy on opportunities for contractors to upsell alcohol and high-priced extras to a population that has little choice to opt out. So far, the Army still hasn't found a contractor to take up the deal. The deadline for contractors to make a pitch is Tuesday. "\[We\] will leverage industry expertise and incentivize a contractor to operate a facility where soldiers want to dine, with better ambience, additional healthy food options, extended operating hours, and more," Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, the acting head of Army Material Command, told lawmakers during an April hearing on the Defense Department's food operations. The pilot program, currently open for bids, covers dining operations at five of the Army's largest installations: Fort Bragg, North Carolina;Ā [Fort Carson](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-carson), Colorado;Ā [Fort Stewart](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-stewart), Georgia;Ā [Fort Drum](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-drum), New York; andĀ [Fort Cavazos](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-cavazos), Texas. Under the proposal, contractors would run the facilities, cover renovation costs up front, and be allowed to sell premium items such as higher-quality meal options, snacks and booze. They would also share the profits with the Army. There are few restrictions on what vendors can sell, and they are exempt from following Army nutritional standards altogether, though the service itself alsoĀ [frequently skirts its own nutrition rules](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/02/29/army-going-all-food-kiosks-base-dining-facilities-struggle.html). The Army has also waived compliance with the Berry Amendment, which requires the military to prioritize U.S.-made products or purchase through the Defense Logistics Agency, which governs oversight and logistics of food products for the Pentagon. For many of the troops who would be affected, there is no real choice in the matter. Junior enlisted service members who live in barracks are automatically charged a Basic Allowance for Subsistence, or BAS, amounting to roughly $460 per month. That money is deducted directly from their paychecks, regardless of how often they eat or what they consume, though the service has been largelyĀ [unable to account for how that money is spent](https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html). Under the privatized model, the deductions would continue, but soldiers may find themselves paying out of pocket for items not covered in the contractor's meal package under the "campus-style dining" initiative. "It's important to stress this is a pilot program; we'll be assessing how this goes," Col. Junel Jeffrey, a service spokesperson, told Military.com. "Regular dining facilities are not being replaced." Phrases such as "high-quality" and "fresh" are used frequently throughout the solicitation for contracts dictating what the Army expects from potential contractors, though the service never defines what those words actually mean. The Defense Department has had mixed success with privatizing some of its major quality-of-life services, such as medical care, housing and militaryĀ [permanent change of station](https://www.military.com/money/pcs-dity-move/pcs-checklists.html)Ā moves. It has looked to private companies to tackle some of the department's largest duties since the early 1990s, giving broader access to privately managed health care to family members and retirees, establishing the privatized military housing program to address shortfalls in family housing and, most recently, awarding a contract to a private joint partnership to run military moves. For the most part, companies have invested heavily in their military contracts, providing services and benefits beyond what were offered by the Defense Department when it managed the programs. But those efforts have not been without trouble and, in some cases, major scandals. In 2018, the Reuters news organization uncovered shoddy construction and workmanship, poor service and inadequate maintenance thatĀ [contributed to poor health and safety concerns](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/02/13/mold-lead-and-vermin-survey-finds-toxic-conditions-military-housing.html)Ā among military families in privatized housing. A change inĀ [Tricare](https://www.military.com/benefits/tricare)Ā contractors this year continues to affect military families, who haveĀ [faced problems getting medical appointments](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/05/pentagon-scrambles-fixes-tricare-beneficiaries-western-us-hit-contractor-issues.html)Ā and maintaining their services with private health care providers in a new network managed by TriWest Healthcare Alliance. And as recently as last week, Defense Secretary Pete HegsethĀ [canceled a $7.2 billion contract to a company hired in 2021 to run the services' permanent change of station moves](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/06/20/hegseth-cancels-massive-contract-military-family-moves-pledges-fixes.html). According to the DoD, the company, HomeSafe Alliance, failed to deliver on promises that it would assume management of nearly all of the DoD's domestic moves this year. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said cancellation of the company's contract was "for cause due to HSA's demonstrated inability to fulfill their obligations and deliver high-quality moves to service members.""
Retaliation Against Civilians at US Coast Guard Sector New York ā Removals Already in Motion
Posting here because I know a lot of folks in this sub understand how things actually work on the ground ā and what crosses the line. Right now at USCG Sector New York, multiple civilian employees are being targeted for removal. And from everything Iāve seen firsthand, itās because they spoke up. Hereās whatās happening: ā¢ Civilians who filed EEO complaints are now being processed out. ā¢ Employees who took FMLA leave to get space from hostile environments? Also on the chopping block. ā¢ People are being marked AWOL for calling out sick even with leave on the books, unless they hand over a doctorās note ā and thatās only being enforced against folks whoāve filed complaints or grievances. None of this looks like standard policy enforcement. It looks like retaliation. The environment has gotten toxic ā and this isnāt just grumbling. Itās stress-related health issues, write-ups, investigations, and removals. Itās real lives and careers being dismantled because people tried to follow the rules and protect themselves. If this sounds familiar, or if youāve dealt with something like this in your command, please speak up. Even anonymously. This kind of thing doesnāt stop unless it gets daylight. And once people start talking, itās harder to bury. āø» If youāre dealing with this kind of retaliation: ā¢ Document everything Contact: ā¢ OSC (Office of Special Counsel) ā¢ DHS OIG ā¢ EEOC ā¢ Your union, if youāve got one since the president ended it and our labor relations seems to not know what to do with themselves so they just give management bad information āø» Not trying to start a witch hunt ā just trying to stop careers from being crushed behind closed doors. Would really appreciate any advice, shared experiences, or even just confirmation this isnāt isolated. If leadership isnāt going to protect civilian employees who follow the law, someone else needs to.
Has anyone found a career that offers the same amount of time off work as the military?
Retiring in 5 months from the AF. Despite all the BS we deal with, I feel we get a lot of time off. Perhaps Iām lucky cause Iām AF and I am a nonner (aka office job). But Iām used to random family days off, 4 day weekends for federal holidays, choosing Xmas or new years āweekā off just because. Going to appointments easily and if itās at 2pm, Iām done for the day cause Iām not going back. Then to top it off, 30 days annual leave. Not trolling and not trying to be a prick but thatās a lot of time off especially when I talk to civilian family/friends. So aside from being an entrepreneur making your own hours or working on base as a GS/contractor, what else out there offers a similar perk?
20yrs erased possibly
I donāt post much, but Iām really not okay right now and needed to reach out somewhere that might understand. Iām hoping this community, full of people whoāve made the same sacrifices, might get where Iām coming from or just give a lending ear. A week after I hit 20 years of active duty service, I got into trouble. Nothing violent, no one was hurt, but it was enough for my chain of command to take action. I made a mistake just one, a big one, but after 2 decades of serving honorably without a single issue. No Article 15s, no disciplinary record. And now, instead of an approved retirement in December, theyāre trying to involuntarily separate me before/after that date. That means Iād lose my retirement pay, my health benefits, everything I earned through 20 years of sacrifice. And I canāt lieā¦itās wrecking me emotionally. I feel like my entire identity is being stripped away. I gave my life to the Armyā¦missed holidays, built my entire adult life around serving. And over one mistake, theyāre acting like none of that ever mattered. Like I never served/deployed/did BCT DS time. Iāve seen others do far worse (or do the same and just receive art 15/GOMAR) and walk away with less punishment, and itās hard not to feel like Iām being made into an example. Iām being treated like Iām some kind of disgraceā¦like I was never a good Soldier/NCO/SNCO. But I was & still am. And now I sit here with everything I built for 20 years at risk, and no one around me seems to care what that does to someone mentally/emotionally. Iām not suicidal, but I am struggling. I feel hopeless and somewhat depressed. I never thought this is how my career would end. I just want to know if anyone else has ever been through something like thisāor even just understands what it feels like to be discarded after giving everything. Thanks for letting me get this out. Any support, words of wisdom, or just shared experiences would mean more than you know. Thanks. ā Edit for clarity: I wonāt be sharing the specific details of my case or situation. The Army is small, and itās easy to connect the dots with too much information. What I will say is that itās not a felony, and has nothing to do with sexual assault, EO, fraternization, or adultery. I also didnāt specifically ask for advice on my original post, but thank you to the ones who gave good info! šš¼ To those who may be quick to judge or leave negative comments: I wonāt be engaging. No one is denying accountabilityā¦.I fully recognize that I made a mistake. In my case, I stopped the scenario once I recognized things were not ok, got in trouble afterwards. To all you perfect ppl out thereā¦.I hope you continue your perfect life and stay perfect š What I can share is that Iām a female, and both my 1SG and Commander are advocating for the lowest level of punishment possible. They donāt want my retirement or benefits affected. Unfortunately, our new CSM is pushing for the harshest possible outcome. While the BC initially supported a more measured response, itās unclear if that will hold under pressure. As far as anything goes paperwork wiseā¦.Iāve received nothing other than a 4856 and a 268, so far.
Just realized I have the LUXURY to do what I want to do because of veteran benefits.
I feel like I've had an epiphany. I got out of the military a little more than a year ago. When I first got out I was met with many challenges simultaneously - ongoing divorce, my father passed away 1 month into the start of my first semester, and I was trying to transition from the life I had known for the last 7 years into a college student at 30 years old. I slowly started to realize the degree program at my school was not preparing me for what I wanted to do for a career (too much focus on non-practical job skills that employers do not care about). I started to apply for jobs doing what I did in the Air Force and landed a well paying job (did not finish my degree) and I am now withdrawing from my classes - as I start the job at the beginning of next month. Unfortunately this job may not be long lasting as I did self-disclose that I tried weed when I got out of the military (wasn't for me at all) so my clearance may be in jeopardy. Originally I was scared to take this job knowing it may not be long lasting and I'd be uprooting myself. But figured I'll ride it out, save up money, and prepare for the worst. Then I came to a realization. I've always wanted to travel the United States, visiting each state and just taking in the beauty and freedom. I've now decided if this job doesn't work out, I am going to leverage the AMAZING benefits we get and go chase this bucket list item. I am no longer scared. I will drive across the U.S., do my school work for income, and I'll make some supplemental income in other ways (not bloweys at the truck stop lol) if I have to as well. I'll get to spend at most 2 years traveling the U.S., seeing the sights I've always wanted to see, and getting to experience true freedom and I wouldn't be nearly as carefree about it if I didn't have the income coming in from the benefits. I almost hope that the job doesn't work out now. Not many people have the chance to make income while traveling and receiving an education. I know it's not for everyone, and it may not even be for me. I'll just have to wait and see.
Thank you, Air Force, for the opportunities you gave me.
It's been roughly 6 years since I've been out of the Air Force,Ā and I just want to take a moment and reflect on all the amazing opportunities that were provided to me during my 4-year stay. I was in a rut before the Air Force.Ā I was highly addicted to video games with really no direction in my life.Ā I was even underweight at 110 pounds and had to get a waiver to be allowed in. I didn't get the exact job I wanted,Ā but it was close enough and I got such valuable job experience out of it regardless.Ā I got the opportunity to make friends and live in Japan and Korea,Ā getting the full experience of those countries,Ā which was pretty amazing.Ā I went from a video game addiction to traveling the world in less than a year,Ā which I still find incredible. I got to take full advantage of Tuition Assistance and get my degree in IT Security from WGU while I was in,Ā all without even touching my GI Bill.Ā I also got to use Skillbridge for the full 6 months,Ā which led me directly to my first job out of the military.Ā That first job was a 150k salary,Ā a direct result of the work experience,Ā security clearance,Ā bachelor's degree,Ā and certifications all paid for by the Air Force. I noticed that not many people took full advantage of these same programs,Ā but the opportunities are definitely there for those who seek them out.Ā One of the people I'm most proud of is a friend I made in Japan.Ā He surpassed me,Ā getting his Master's degree and high-level Cisco certs (during his 6 year enlistment),Ā and now has a higher salary.Ā I still admire his dedication,Ā and we're friends to this day. It was an amazing experience overall and I just felt like expressing some gratitude for it all.Ā Admittedly,Ā I wouldn't have been able to accomplish so much if it weren't for the Air Force.Ā Thank you.
Today May be the Day I Quit my Job
I work a very stressful career. I'm 100% P&T (70% MH) which unsurprisingly has not reduced ant level of stress or anxiety I have. My specific anxiety is related to atychiphobia which is a direct fear of failure. Basically nothing I do is ever good enough, I push myself 150% and aim for perfection. If it's not achieved I break down. I have developed OCD rituals and tendencies too. So my job is literally killing me. My wife and I have talked. All of our bills can fit within my VA Disability aside from Food and Spending. Combined we'd bring in about $7800 after tax a month with $4300 from my disability. Today may be the day I Say I have FU money and spend time with my kids and my family. My oldest is headed out of High School soon. My youngest is in 1st and wants to do sports. My wife will use Chapter 35 and go to school but also get free tuition through Florida. Pray for me š
I f*ing HATE fireworks
My town has a weekend of celebrations coming up. 48 hours of bonfires, drinking, music and fireworks. A LOT of fireworks. After a career in the infantry, I find myself absolutely hating fireworks. I just don't don't see the point of them. People around me don't seem to get it... I'm not sure I do either to be honest. Is this common among veterans?
Enlisted vs. Officer Mindset
For people who have been in officer-driven, officer-majority/centric places, or can relate to this, what would your advice be? I'm trying to understand the enlisted and officer dynamic better to help with interactions and have an easier time at work. I don't mind being told I'm wrong, if any opinion or thing I have in this post is incorrect, please tell me! My goal is to try to understand officers holistically to hopefully have better insight during day-to-day by understanding what the common goals and motivations are. So far, I am thinking about the social background, being that the officer is college educated or a West Point grad, makes a middle-class or above salary, versus the enlisted person who is experienced, coming out of high school, and usually with no degree or in the middle of doing one, etc. Then there is also the responsibility dynamic where enlisted people face counseling or UCMJ/demotion but can typically move on and still have Army career prospects, whilst Os face a much higher level of scrutiny. Another thing that gets joked around about a lot, but maybe not fully understood, is the MQ dynamic or overall politics. I have read on this sub a lot about how there may be backstabbing, a politically correct culture, and, to my understanding, not receiving MQ for every evaluation can seriously hinder promotion to the point of being forced retired at 16-18 years/MAJ. I wonder how this impacts day to day decisions and interactions with enlisted. Also, another thing I wonder about is whether the salary is worth it or not. Sometimes I think I wouldn't care how dumb meetings are if I am about to get paid $7k in a day or two and never be put on shitty details. However, a lot of CPTs seem to be REFRADing.
Anyone else not get paid yet ā
Just hoping Iām not the only one whoās running low on the dough. I think this is the longest pay period Iāve experienced anyone experienced longer? Iāll skip the line Iām on dfac salary šŖ
Veterans that didnāt do a full 20, when do you know it was time to get out?
Iāve been in the Army now for almost 7 years, picked up CPT at 4 years and here I am. As a kid I decided i wanted to go into the military and that would be my career, never really considered an alternate route. I went to college at Texas A&M because I had heard they had a good Army ROTC program, which they did. I got branched Military Intelligence and was stationed at Fort Bragg for about 3.5 years. While I was there I immediately got a PL slot and was moved up to XO at the 12 month mark. I split the rest of my time between XO and working as the BDE S3 CUOPS, overall was making a good impression. I get to being a CPT and stayed FORSCOM, this time choosing to got to Fort Hood to be closer to my wifeās work. I was put in 3CR and despite having no S2 experience I ended up rocking that job. I trusted my leadership would take care of me, I was doing a good job because i thought the rest would take care of itself. At 12 months, while in Korea I got rated and HQ with my CDR giving his word that i would get an MQ at 18 months so I could stay in the Army. At 18 months I got a great write up (top 15%, send to resident ILE now) but still an HQ, my CDR neglected to tell me that his profile did not support an MQ. I had stuck with that unit through a lot of crappy times but that really broke my trust and now my career is in jeopardy. That being said I changed unit but I know iāll experience leaders like that again. I want to be there for my Soldiers but I donāt know if itās worth stressing my self out and putting strain on my marriage. When did yall know it was time to get out?
Has anyone looked back on a long career and feel like they wasted their life
Spent 20 years, feel like it was a waste. Way behind peers now in the civilian sector. Not many hard technical skills, only āleadershipā which not many people seem to give a sh@t about. Wars that accomplished nothing. Moving every couple years so no close relationships. Yeah, getting a retirement check is cool, but was it worth it.
What career did you get into after the military?
Iām close to finishing school right now since getting out and still as lost as ever with what I want to do. The thought crossed my mind of going back in as an officer this time (prior enlisted infantry). I miss the deep friendships of the military more than anything and the wild experiences I had while in. I think back on it a lot, even though I hated all the bs and counted down my days til I got out. Curious to hear what career you guys are doing and how much happier, or less happy, are you now compared to being in the military. Maybe itāll give me some ideas of what to do career wise.
What is everyone doing for their career?
30, single, computer science degree, sick of IT and want a change. My company is doing another round of layoffs soon anyways and I want out. I'm too ADD for it and only pursued it because I didn't know what else to do. Now, I'm applying for local and federal law enforcement as that's always something I wanted to do as a kid, but strayed away from after being infantry enlisted and wanting to step away from government. Seems like jobs are much more scarce nowadays as I look online (even for IT), and wages are not so great. I make just above 6 figures now (median in my state) and taking over a 50% paycut kind of stings, but it's what comes with a career change I guess.
Schools NCO Absurdity
This is one position that HIGHLIGHTS inefficiencies. Itās hilariously needed at every BN, Brigade, and Division. The Armyās ability to send people to courses, certifications, classes, BLC, and popular schools like Airborne is so ludicrously bad that we created a position in each battalion, brigade, and division just to manage this. For every 6 BN brigade this is like 700k in salary/benefits just to move around admin packets for various schools. I wouldnāt be surprised if a 4,000 person corporation had 1 person on salary that managed ALL things training, but not a person in each 400-500 man group just to handle administrative tasks associated with schools. Am I right or wrong? DOGE should look into this lol
Civil servants called up for military reserve duty entitled to differential pay after Supreme Court decision
Key takeaway: >The court ruled on April 30 in itsĀ [Feliciano v. Department of Transportation decision](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-861_7lh8.pdf)Ā that military reservists called up to active duty during a national emergency are entitled to the difference between their military and civilian salaries regardless of whether that service was substantially connected to the emergency in question.Ā >That means federal employees that also serve as military reservists may have new claims on differential pay based on their past active duty service, and the Merit Systems Protection Board, which handles the claims, may soon have more work.
VETERAN CAREER
Throughout my career, Iāve had the privilege of working alongside veterans from the Navy, Army, Air Force, and beyond. They are wired differently. The discipline instilled in them is unlike anything most people ever experience. One trait that stands out above all is their bias for action. You donāt need to ask them to step in, they simply do. They offer a hand where needed, respond to situations outside their job description, and carry themselves with a readiness that inspires everyone around them. I often asked them: *Why are you different? Does your service shape who you become in life?* Fast forward to today. I was driving home from an event in the Midwest after a heavy snowstorm with nearly 10 inches had fallen, and the roads were still being cleared. Exhausted, I decided to pull over at a crossroads since the next rest stop was 15 miles away. As I turned, my car suddenly slid out of control and lodged itself in a pile of snow. Thankfully, it wasnāt damaged, but I couldnāt move it no reversing, no turning, no progress. I switched on my hazard lights and called 911, hoping they could connect me with a local tow company. No luck. The nearest help was at least an hour away. I tried AT&T roadside assistance and my insurance company, but again, no immediate solution. Finally, AT&T called back: a tow truck could come in 75 minutes, 30 miles away, at a cost of $195. By then, I had already been stranded for an hour, with cars passing by and drivers staring but not stopping. I stepped out to stretch my legs when a truck pulled over. An older man approached and asked if I needed help. I explained the situation and that Iād been waiting for roadside assistance and it would be another hour. He told me to cancel the call. Heād rush home, grab a shovel, and come back to help. True to his word, he returned within 15 minutes, shoveled the snow, and guided me as I reversed and drove forward. With his push, I was free in just two minutes. When I asked what I owed him, he said, āNothing. I served 25 years as a veteran, and I continue to serve my fellow citizens. You donāt owe me anything.ā I was stunned. He saved me $195 and another hour of waiting. More than that, he reminded me of what Iāve always known: veterans carry their service into every part of their lives. Their instinct to act, to help, and to serve doesnāt end when they leave the military, it becomes who they are. There people like me who appreciate all you veterans do. THANKYOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
Junior Officer Wanting Out
Active duty O3E w/12 years in but so burned out I am leaning on separating vice sitting for O4 board. The pay is great, benefits on paper can't be beat, but it's not being in control of yourself, lack of purpose, inabilty to do your job, etc... My biggest concern is finding comparable salary and I see a lot of JO recruitment agencies...are they legit or scams? Any pointers? My biggest reason for staying in has been job security but at this point I'd rather be happier than stuck. Also, would transfer to reserves so I don't lose tricare and my retirement, just sucks I would have to stay in past 20 years to get my retirement right away.
Officer REFRAD Guide 05MAY2025
**Release From Active Duty REFRAD/ Unqualified Resignation UQR Process** **Guide by CPT Anthony DelTufo Last Update: 02MAY25** **General Steps** 1. Submit Personnel Action Request PAR in IPPSA for REFRAD 2. Complete SFLTAP 3. Submit VA Claim 4. CSP/ Skillbridge (Optional) 05MAY-24JUL 5. Clear Post (25JUL-10AUG) 6. Terminal Leave (11AUG-04OCT) Hello and I hope that you find this information early through your process. The transition requirements and timeline can be extremely confusing and convoluted (I know I found it to be). Even though many people have been through the process, you will get different answers and conflicting information. The process even changed for portions of this while I created this guide. I continue to update this as I have been passing through the steps, but be aware that many of these are either The Old Guard (TOG)/ **Fort Myer Specific** and current only as of the date I have written this. \*Note Easiest way to navigate this guide is by using the navigation pane in the āViewā tab. # 1 Submit PAR You can submit a UQR packet between 6-12 months of requested date. 2) Submit packet with all attachments in IPPSA (PAR>ADMIN REC CORRECTION> UQR) Effective Date: Date you are requesting to get out. If you are participating in a CSP, TOG mandates that you associated with a CSP request must end no less than 14 days prior to the start date of terminal leave or the SMās ETS date if not taking any terminal leave. Any ETS leave that is requested must also be factored into the length of the CSP to accommodate the 180-day requirement directed by regulation. The PAR Packet Contains the following: 1.Ā Ā Ā Your UQR Memo a.Ā Ā Ā This is something that you can fill out 2.Ā Ā Ā BC 4856 est. time of completion: 3 weeks. a.Ā Ā Ā Standard counseling form. It will take some time to get on his calendar. Recommend completing this step before going to the RCO. 3.Ā Ā Ā BC Memo est. time of completion: 3 weeks. a.Ā Ā Ā Bring this along for your counseling with the BC. 4.Ā Ā Ā RCO (Brigade Commander) 4856 est. time of completion: 3 weeks. a.Ā Ā Ā Same counseling as the one for the BC. 5.Ā Ā Ā RCO (Brigade Commander) Memo est. time of completion: 3 weeks. a.Ā Ā Ā Bring this along for your counseling with the RCO. 6.Ā Ā Ā Non-ADSO Memo (From your locationās Education Center) Est Time of Completion 1 week. a.Ā Ā Ā This document shows that you have no remaining ADSO due to using Tuition assistance. 7.Ā Ā Ā SHARP Memo a.Ā Ā Ā Standard Memo format that you can fill out any time. 8.Ā Ā Ā Reserve Counselor Memo Est. Time of Completion 2 weeks. a.Ā Ā Ā You have to complete an online teams brief and then the Reserve counselor will send you the memo with your desired data. You can likely get this information from your S1. My PAR followed the process below total cycle time of 44 days from PAR submission 1.Ā Ā Ā Submitted by me: 05FEB 1. S1: 12FEB 2. RS1: 12FEB 3. Transitions: 21FEB 4. Transition 2: 21FEB 5. HRC: 14MAR 6. Transitions 3: 21MAR 7. Orders Received: 21MAR 8. Complete 25MAR in IPPSA (not included in time to get orders) The only ones you really have to do in order are the BC then the RCO documents. The rest you can pursue simultaneously. # 2 Complete Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFLTAP) TAP Steps Include: 1.Ā Ā Ā Initial Counseling: Done through tap POC. 2.Ā Ā Ā Pre-separation counseling: These were done every Tuesday on Fort Myer and take about two hours. Mine started at 0900 and I was never emailed, so ensure that they have your proper email. Ā (04FEB25) 3.Ā Ā Ā Complete Mandatory Tap Classes (I did mine from 31MAR-04APR). This can be done either online or in-person. The in-person classes are 5 days of class at Fort Myer: To complete Transition workshop courses online, just go to ([https://www.tapevents.mil/courses](https://www.tapevents.mil/courses)). The list of courses to be completed are listed below. I have also attached a copy of the (LMS tip sheet), on how to navigate the TAP Events website. Once you have completed the certificates, please send back over to the counselor, so the DD2648 eform can be updated.Ā a.Ā Ā Ā Week of Classes at Fort Myer Takes Care of the following steps: i.Ā Ā Ā [https://www.tapevents.mil/resources/documents](https://www.tapevents.mil/resources/documents) ii.Ā Ā Ā Managing (My) TransitionĀ 1.Ā Ā Ā Day One Army Day iii.Ā Ā Ā Military Occupation Code (MOC) Crosswalk 1.Ā Ā Ā Day One Army Day iv.Ā Ā Ā Financial Planning For Transition 1.Ā Ā Ā Day One Army Day v.Ā Ā Ā VA Benefits and Services 1.Ā Ā Ā Day Five VA Benefits and Services vi.Ā Ā Ā DOL Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition 1.Ā Ā Ā Day Two Fundamentals of DOL (Department of Labor) 2.Ā Ā Ā Day Three DOL Employment Workshop Day 1 3.Ā Ā Ā Day Four DOL Employment Workshop Day 2 4.Ā Ā Ā Capstone NLT 90 days out (I did mine on 9APR25) a.Ā Ā Ā This portion was a meeting that took 10 min. b.Ā Ā Ā DD2648 is routed to the CO for signature mine was not signed until 23APR. Once complete with these forms and the capstone, you will get the DD2648. Ā (23APR) # 3 Submit VA Claim / ETS Physical You will need to complete your physical 6 months from your separation dates. Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Timeline oĀ Ā **180 to 90 days to ETS date use for the benefits delivery discharge BDD this is the fastest type of claim** oĀ Ā FDC is less than 90 days when you do the claim oĀ Ā Within 1 year from ETS date, is the third option Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Separation history and Physical Examination (SHPE) oĀ Ā File and FDC between 89-0 days before separation oĀ Ā Does not file a disability claim at all Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Separation Health Assessment (SHA) oĀ Ā This one is done only if you are filing a claim oĀ Ā File a BDD claim between 180 and 90 days oĀ Ā Request examination with at least 90 days remaining on active duty Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā First step to filing whatever type of claim you will do is requesting a copy of your medical records from the records department. oĀ Ā Fort Myer Medical Records at Rader said it would take 30-60 days mine was put in on 18FEB and did not get them all back until 15APR (longer than normal) oĀ Ā You have to get Dental separately at Fort Myer it takes a week and mine was put in 18FEB It was ready on 10MAR Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā I submitted my claim on 16APR using a Veteranās Service Organization (VSO). All I needed was my medical records and marriage certificate. We went through the records and submitted a claim. Your TAP office may have a list of VSOs for your area. **ETS Physical (Steps for Fort Myer)** Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā I am including this step here since many people will complete health related steps concurrently. Complete 01MAY Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Go to [www.mods.army.mil](http://www.mods.army.mil) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Find the link for MHA (PHA/DHA/Referral Tracking). And log in with CAC Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā In the yellow bar, click the SHPE tab Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Complete DD Forms: oĀ Ā 2697 oĀ Ā 2807-1 oĀ Ā 2808 oĀ Ā Once all of the forms are complete, contact your clinic to schedule appointment. # 4 CSP/ Skillbridge This is an optional step and requires commander approval. This step is the most likely to change depending on your location or time of submitting. Some of the steps below are specific for The Old Guard at Fort Myer, but the steps are listed to show how arduous the process is. Here is the general information: Eligibility: Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Have not participated in CSP before Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Within 180 days of UQR Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā On track to receive honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Will complete all tap classes prior to start of CSP Packet Submission Requirements (many are specific to TOG): 1.Ā Ā Ā MFR - request and intent signed by SM (section 9 of tog policy letter #11) complete 2.Ā Ā Ā MFR ā concurrence / non-concurrence signed by company and battalion commander (took a week for signature and be sure the BC signs it even though there is not a space for him) 3.Ā Ā Ā Individual internship/ approved DOD skillbridge program requirements with tap office 14FEB25 a.Ā Ā Ā part i: overview of internship b.Ā Ā Ā part ii: employer internship agreement c.Ā Ā Ā part iii: legal review (keep unsigned) \*legal review will occur after submission to rs1 d.Ā Ā Ā part iv: IMCOM review and IMCOM form 45 signed by company /battalion commander i.Ā Ā Ā Note this requirement changed as of the MILPER in APR2025. I had to resubmit on 14APR25 with the new IMCOM 45 4.Ā Ā Ā Verify/ Confirm Approval Authority (NOW CHANGING WITH NEW MILPER) a.Ā Ā Ā CSP within 50 mile radius and < 60 days = battalion commander b.Ā Ā Ā CSP within 50 mi radius and 61-90 days, or >50 mi radius and 1-90 days = regimental commander (RCO) c.Ā Ā Ā CSP 91-120 days, regardless of location = commanding general (CG) d.Ā Ā Ā CSP 121+ days, regardless of location = commanding general (CG) 5.Ā Ā Ā IPPSA Leave Submitted Prior to Routing for RC Signature. (Only applies if you will be outside of 50 mile radius) a.Ā Ā Ā All administrative absence requests associated with a CSP request must end no less than 14 days prior to the start date of terminal leave or the SMās ETS date if not taking any terminal leave. Any ETS leave that is requested must also be factored into the length of the CSP to accommodate the 180-day requirement directed by regulation. Note: I did a pre-approved Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship that I applied at here: [https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/fellowships/fellowship-programs-application/](https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/fellowships/fellowship-programs-application/). I did this way in advance and needed the IMCOM 45 form signed by the BC to even start the process with the HOH rep. My command signature was due on 13FEB25, but the Internship did not even start until 05MAY25, so be aware of these lead-times. I would not necessarily recommend HOH since every company that I heard back from I had to reach out to. I did not get my first acceptance back until 26MAR and other offers were coming after the deadline. # 5 Clear Post Steps Specific to Fort Myer Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā I received the ICP request form and privacy act statement from the transition services branch, go through your S-1 to obtain clearing documents.Ā You will get these 10 days prior to ETS. (25JUL-11AUG) oĀ Ā To get your installation clearing papers from S1, you need: Ā§Ā Clearance request signed by 1SG/CDR/S1 Ā§Ā Privacy Act Statement Ā§Ā Copy of orders Ā§Ā Copy of leave form Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā **Finance Info Sheet**. You will need to complete the separation brief and virtual turn in of your packet before you clear MPD transitions. When I was completing this process it switched from virtual, to in-person, back to virtual. oĀ Ā Packet sent to finance distro Ā§Ā Separation orders Ā§Ā DD214 Worksheet Ā§Ā Separation/ retirement interview sheet: sent as a part of your packet or from S1 oĀ Ā Required Timeline for Service Members:Ā Ā§Ā Service members must walk in at least 60 days before the start of their leave (if applicable), or 60 days prior to their separation/retirement date if no leave is being taken.Ā Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā **Documents Submission:**Ā oĀ Ā MPD will continue to provide Finance with the Orders and DD214 Worksheet via email. (If both MPD Offices do not mind, can the Finance Separations Interview Checklist be attached when the service member comes to MPD and are given their orders and DD214 worksheet.)Ā Ā oĀ Ā Service members will not be able to submit documents via email. If they attempt to, they will receive an out-of-office reply (attached) directing them to our walk-in hours.Ā oĀ Ā Updated Interview Checklist:Ā Ā§Ā The Interview Checklist has been updated and will now be completed during the service member's walk-in time, so please disregard the previous checklist.Ā Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā **Separation Briefs:**Ā You will need to attend a separation brief. Mine was on 13MAY over teams. Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā All ICP request must be sent to the ICP mailbox: USARMY JBM-HH ASA Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Send any updates for your DD 214 WS back to transition branch as soon as possible along with supporting documentation.Ā Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā If you plan on signing a contract with the Reserves or National Guard; provide the documentation (DA 5961 or DD4).Ā This is not applicable if you are doing IRR # 6 Terminal Leave Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Submit your terminal leave up to 60 days (Mine was from 11AUG-04OCT) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā I timed mine to coincide with my CSP and not go over the 180 days. Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā It was routed through my company commander and I needed it submitted to approve the CSP and the leave approved to submit for the clearing papers. # Timeline from Start to Finish || || |**Activity**|**REFRAD STEP**|**Start**|**End**|**Total Time**| |Started REFRAD Process|1 Submit PAR|23-Oct|4-Oct|346| |SHARP Memo|1 Submit PAR|23-Oct|23-Oct|0| |Non-Adso Memo|1 Submit PAR|12-Nov|14-Nov|2| |Reserve Component Memo|1 Submit PAR|12-Nov|20-Nov|8| |REFRAD Counseling (BC)|1 Submit PAR|12-Dec|12-Dec|0| |REFRAD Counseling (RCO)|1 Submit PAR|28-Jan|28-Jan|0| |Initial TAP Counseling|2 Complete SFLTAP|28-Jan|28-Jan|0| |Pre-Sep Tap Brief|2 Complete SFLTAP|4-Feb|4-Feb|0| |IMCOM 45 (BC Signed)|4 CSP|5-Feb|5-Feb|0| |REFRAD PAR IPPSA|1 Submit PAR|5-Feb|25-Mar|48| |Skillbridge (HOH) through tap|4 CSP|14-Feb|14-Feb|0| |Medical records|3 Submit VA Claim|18-Feb|15-Apr|56| |CSP XO approval|4 CSP|27-Feb|27-Feb|0| |CSP request signed by CO|4 CSP|4-Mar|4-Mar|0| |CSP request signed by BC|4 CSP|7-Mar|7-Mar|0| |HOH Company offer|4 CSP|26-Mar|26-Mar|0| |TAP Classes|2 Complete SFLTAP|31-Mar|4-Apr|4| |TAP CAPSTONE|2 Complete SFLTAP|9-Apr|9-Apr|0| |Signed 2648 TAP|2 Complete SFLTAP|9-Apr|23-Apr|14| |CSP S1 review|4 CSP|10-Apr|10-Apr|0| |CSP RS1 review|4 CSP|13-Apr|13-Apr|0| |Submit VA Claim|3 Submit VA Claim|16-Apr|16-Apr|0| |CSP RS2 resubmit|4 CSP|17-Apr|17-Apr|0| |CSP RXO approval|4 CSP|23-Apr|23-Apr|0| |CSP RSM approval|4 CSP|25-Apr|25-Apr|0| |Finance Separation Brief|5 Clear Post|29-Apr|29-Apr|0| |Separation Physical SHPE|5 Clear Post|1-May|1-May|0| |CSP RCO approval|4 CSP|1-May|1-May|0| |CSP|4 CSP|5-May|24-Jul|80| |Separation Brief|5 Clear Post|13-May|13-May|0| |Clear Post|5 Clear Post|25-Jul|10-Aug|16| |Terminal Leve|6 Terminal Leave|11-Aug|4-Oct|54| Ā # Useful Links: Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Officer Separations Guidance: [https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Regular%20Army%20Voluntary%20Separations%20page](https://usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrc.army.mil%2Fcontent%2FRegular%2520Army%2520Voluntary%2520Separations%2520page&data=05%7C02%7Canthony.l.deltufo.mil%40army.mil%7C5e2e90b605a74919f87008dd09814799%7Cfae6d70f954b481192b60530d6f84c43%7C0%7C0%7C638677173015424630%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GGqQuSZAH7cjvNHEqm8INAZKn%2FaKlFB3%2FdcJPVlBOPs%3D&reserved=0) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā All tap classes: oĀ Ā [https://www.tapevents.mil/resources/documents](https://www.tapevents.mil/resources/documents) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Virginia Works (American Job Center): [https://www.virginiaworks.gov](https://www.virginiaworks.gov) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Career One Stop: [https://www.careeronestop.org/](https://www.careeronestop.org/) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Civilian Military Calculator shows my income at $141.309.44 for the are oĀ Ā [https://militarypay.defense.gov/Calculators/RMC-Calculator/](https://militarypay.defense.gov/Calculators/RMC-Calculator/) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Smart Asset paycheck calculator shows what you will make after state and federal taxes. oĀ Ā [https://smartasset.com/taxes/paycheck-calculator](https://smartasset.com/taxes/paycheck-calculator) Ā§Ā I need to make 155k to break even based on current take-home salary Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā What am I worth: [www.salary.com](https://www.salary.com) mine says 161k Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Cost of living resources/ calculators to see how much you need to make based on where you are now oĀ Ā [https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/) oĀ Ā [https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/cost-of-living-calculator/](https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/cost-of-living-calculator/) oĀ Ā [https://smartasset.com/mortgage/cost-of-living-calculator](https://smartasset.com/mortgage/cost-of-living-calculator) Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Most of the content for VA transition information is at: oĀ Ā [https://discover.va.gov/transition-programs/transition-assistance-program/](https://discover.va.gov/transition-programs/transition-assistance-program/) # Credentialing Assistance Just wanted to share some other resources that the Army offers Using your credentialing assistance **does not incur and ADSO.** This is the link to doĀ credentialingĀ assistanceĀ if you want to. Link: [ArmyIgnitED](https://www.armyignited.army.mil/student/account/login) The Army is changing the policy to only $1000 per fiscal year with a max of $4000 over your career (but so far this has not taken effect). Hopefully this will get rescinded. You will have to create a goal and then submit for funding through a vendor after your goal is approved if you want to use it. You can also do training for free by setting up a udemy business account with your military email at: [https://armyciv.udemy.com](https://armyciv.udemy.com/course/pmp-pmbok6-35-pdus/learn/lecture/8315176#overview) Some common credentials in the civilian world ones include: 1. PMP: [Project Management Professional (PMP)Ā® Certification | PMI](https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp) 1. You could also do the onward to opportunity for free [https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/o2o-admission/onward-to-opportunity-application/](https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/o2o-admission/onward-to-opportunity-application/) 2. LSSBB: [peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/Lean-Six-Sigma/IASSC-Lean-Six-Sigma-43/peoplecert-lean-six-sigma-iassc-certified-black-belt-icbb-3119](https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/Lean-Six-Sigma/IASSC-Lean-Six-Sigma-43/peoplecert-lean-six-sigma-iassc-certified-black-belt-icbb-3119) 1. This is Lean Six sigma and specifically Black belt. You can do any of the belts. This certification is about process improvement. 3. SCRUM: [Professional Scrum Masterā¢ I Certification | Scrum.org](https://www.scrum.org/assessments/professional-scrum-master-i-certification) 4. CSSP Also as you are getting out and if you donāt know what to do as a CSP, you can always apply to Hiring our Heroes internship [https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/fellowships/](https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/fellowships/)
Divorce Benefitd
If this applies to you as the service member, look into BIFURCATED DIVORCE! Some states allow it, others don't. Safeguard your benefits, folks. There are people out there OUT TO GET IT. Some of yall cheating abusive do deserve it tho, but not everyone š¤£
Anyone struggling to not open their mouths and say something that'll get them fired?
I am struggling. I work in the care field as a crisis counselor. I consider myself emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and compassionate, for the most part. However, another part of me still wants to yell at the clients, tell them to unfuck themselves, quit stealing oxygen from the rest of us, and get off my grass. I do all the things I should be doingācounseling, meds, etc. I'm just tired of talking myself out of jobs. Any advice? UPDATE: I was notified today that I have been terminated. So, for those suggesting I get out of the care field, I'm looking for new career opportunities! I have a background in Military Intelligence, Nursing Care, Mental Health, and Case Management.
I don't know what to do anymore.
I got out of active duty in 2022 and I cannot find anything that fills me with purpose and joy anymore. I am in the reserves and I look forward to that every month. I've asked multiple people in the unit about an AGR or ART position, but there are zero oppurtunities. I've tried contacting the career development person in the Wing, but haven't got a call back. I miss it, man. Everyday just feels like a struggle. After I got out, I got hired by a major police department in Missouri. I quit the first day because I just didn't want that discipline type style anymore. Then worked in a warehouse, quit, office job, quit. I deployed 6 months later on a volunteer because I hated the civlian life. After my deployment I got hired by my current employer, a small town PD thinking maybe it would fill a purpose, even though I quit the other department. I hate this job. I don't know what to do. I'm just sad and depressed all the time and doesn't help my home life with my wife. She knows I love the military, but I don't want to put her through the TDY and deployments again.
Folds of Honor changes pledge to donors after investigation found it overstated how much it gives to veterans' families
The veteransā nonprofit thatĀ [tried to build](https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/2024/08/25/group-drops-plan-for-golf-courses-at-jonathan-dickinson-state-park/74925730007/)Ā golf courses in Florida'sĀ [Jonathan Dickinson State Park](https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/2025/01/02/jonathan-dickinson-state-parks-wetlands-plants-among-rarest-in-the-world-ecology-conservation/75916962007/)Ā last summer has changed its pledge to donors after aĀ [TCPalm investigation](https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/2025/03/12/folds-of-honor-jonathan-dickinson-state-park-golf-course-charity-overstates-scholarship-donations/78251513007/)Ā found it had overstated how much money went to charity while spending on salaries, social club dues and a private jet for its CEO.
PSA: Before getting out of the military
Iād seen questions on and off here about things to do, see, consider before getting out of the military ā¦ hereās at least my short list. 1) Medical Stuff - Get copies of your medical records - Make sure youāve been seen for absolutely EVERY EVERY problem you have or have had in the military, you want this documented in your medical records. (Did I say every?) - You can now begin to submit information to the VA for a potential claim before getting out ā talk with a VSO (Veterans Service Organization) for help with this. BUT you can do it on your own with enough research. For most a VSO can be very helpful. VSO LINK: https://www.va.gov/resources/va-accredited-representative-faqs/ - Get a copy of your DD 214 and save it somewhere good. You can download it but some organizations may need the one with the embossed seal. - VA Claims ā [Free chatbot](https://www.vadisabilitychat.com) that can help provide guidance on VA Claims. 2) Personal stuff - Get copies of your performance reports, those may be helpful when applying for a job in the real world. - Letters of recommendation from peers / superiors ā these may be helpful in getting a job. - Not sure what you want to do? https://www.militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-service-members/your-career-path-finding-the-right-job/ ā find something that you think could interest you and give it a try, you can always switch (youāre not stuck there). Many companies love hiring military folks, but more for entry level roles since you donāt have the business etc experience. - Education / College? Many states have free community college. Or try a 4 year schoolā¦ or you can do community college then transfer to a 4 year school and graduate just after 2 years. - GI Bill Transfers: If youāre planning to transfer your GIBill to spouse or dependent, do that before you leave. 3) Where to live? - Many states have no income tax ā thatās like an automatic salary bonus. https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0210/7-states-with-no-income-tax.aspx - Many states have additional benefits for veterans who are rated by the VA ā the benefits depend on the rating eg: 50%, 100%, etc ā¦ benefits could be free hunting/fishing licenses, lower or no real estate taxes, free car tags, even a waiver of sales tax (Oklahoma). - Veterans groups ā many states and cities have veterans groups for networking and / or help. Some are non-profits that can help you find direction, jobs, help, etcā¦. Iām sure there are definitely more. EDITS: - Added GI Bill Transfers
Folds of Honor changes pledge to donors after TCPalm found it overstated how much it gives to veterans' families
The veteransā nonprofit thatĀ [tried to build](https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/2024/08/25/group-drops-plan-for-golf-courses-at-jonathan-dickinson-state-park/74925730007/)Ā golf courses in Florida'sĀ [Jonathan Dickinson State Park](https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/2025/01/02/jonathan-dickinson-state-parks-wetlands-plants-among-rarest-in-the-world-ecology-conservation/75916962007/)Ā last summer has changed its pledge to donors after aĀ [TCPalm investigation](https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/2025/03/12/folds-of-honor-jonathan-dickinson-state-park-golf-course-charity-overstates-scholarship-donations/78251513007/)Ā found it had overstated how much money went to charity while spending on salaries, social club dues and a private jet for its CEO.
Outdoor Rec & ITTā¦call for support.
TLDR: Please support these orgās. If they arenāt used and operate in the red another year, bases are going to start loosing them. Iāll explain the details down below, but trust me that these places save us AD & retirees a lot of money compared to private companies imbedded in the surrounding communities. Whatās up folks. Just for full disclosure here, I donāt work at either. Iāll be retiring very soon and wonāt have access to them because Iām relocating no where near a base. But, Iām currently on leave after tacking that onto a TDY to JBER. We used the ITT and Outdoor Rec to book some trips, buy tickets, and rent some fishing gear. While checking in and checking out equipment I made it a point to speak with management. The employees are NAF employees, and most donāt earn a very high salary. Each of them I spoke with, simply love the outdoors and want to help military members. I noticed their staff was limited so I started asking questions. It was explained to me that in the past, many of the base āextrasā (golf, lodging, outdoor rec, itt, storage lots) were all operated under a single funding umbrella. The money makers were the golf course (in some locations) and the storage lots. Those made up for the others who normally operated in the red (cost more to operate than they earned). Well in the last few years (this isnāt politics because it was before admin changes), they started breaking up their funding. With that, they said that every entity must at least break-even or face being closed down. This concerns me because over the last 20 years, Iāve seen installations loosing this stuff. Andrews for instance lost their Garage center. Amn arenāt allowed to change their own oil or perform MX on their cars in the dorms, and the base tells them to pay Firestone on base or similar off baseā¦. Cool. Firestone was charging $100 for an oil change, whereās as Amn used to have the option to learn how to perform this mx for nothing more than the cost of oil (maybe $20-25). That just one exampleā¦ Iāve bases loosing wood shops, garages, Outdoor Recs, etc. I realize those places may not be on the forefront of your mind, but I ask folks to check them out. Even more so if you, or your troops are new to a base thatās drastically different than where they enlisted or commissioned from. Itās a great way to check out the local area and save money doing it. Up in JBER, we rented ATVās at half the cost of off base. Our tickets from ITT saved us another $100 for the 2 tickets. This is just my plug to help those organizations out. Iād hate to see those after me not have the opportunity to utilize such serviceās.
It's still crazy to me
When I see the retirement, VA disability and the job salary all processing in the bank at once...never taking this for granted.
Reflection (itās long)
This is a longer one so I will order a large Baconator now and something at the end. You guys and gals ever reflect on your service and think maybe you didnāt make the right decision? I went to basic training in 1999, right after graduating high school in a really small, southern town. After two enlistments I ETSād, got a couple of good civilian jobs, went back to school, did ROTC, came back in the Army (I know), and hit 20 a couple years ago. I started writing this last night two Old Fashions and a Sidecar into it. I have been a commo guy in an Infantry Battalion, supported Intel and Special Forces units in South America, was one of the first AD Soldiers on ground after Hurricane Katrina (sorry 82nd), was a PL in Kandahar (city, not KAF), ROTC instructor, Commander in TRADOC, and now have a really sweet job working Acquisitions (why I am still hanging around). I left home because there werenāt a lot of opportunities there (and to get my starter marriage knocked out). My current job gives me the opportunity to interact almost exclusively with civilians. Looking at those people, people back home, (wherever that is now) and just the regular public I am not convinced that the last 20+ years were really worth it. Most of us know that you will miss holidays and special events. After 20 years I donāt have a meaningful relationship with any family and donāt really know most of them anymore. Friends from back home are pretty much faces on social media now. Moving every two years and a spouse that primarily speaks another language makes connections difficult. I was really looking forward to retiring and finding something I enjoy but not worry about chasing a salary. Unfortunately due the current cost of living I will probably have to chase the money for a while. Meanwhile people back home have been living and working in the same place for yearsā¦homes have to be close to paid offā¦and they seem to have meaningful relationships. That aside, the people and Government we serve are frustrating at best. Our elected officials become far wealthier than their constituents while serving and engage in political theater that only vilifies the āotherā side. They hide pork projects in thousand page legislation and tell us āwe have to pass it to find out whatās in itā. Unfortunately many of our military leaders arenāt any better. We reward sycophants and yes men by promoting them thus perpetuating the system. The cult of personality v substance largely rules the day for us as well. I donāt know any GOs and few O6s in my current or former branch that make me want to continue service. The people, as a whole, in the U.S. are irritating. They are rude and entitled while they enjoy luxuries that others donāt even know exist. They hide behind keyboards or form their action/protest groups without ever really putting anything at risk. They have the nerve to curse you out in traffic as they safely speed away. So all of this is what we are serving and sacrificing for? Give me the biggest frosty you have while I mull this over.
Slipping the Golden Handcuffs before they get too tight
TL/DR: Recently retired after 20 years, transitioned into the banking industry in corporate America, but thinking about giving it up and living the retired life. I need help getting out of the golden handcuffs. My transition out of the military was the smoothest that could've been asked for. My command gave me an entire year and half to prepare. Because of that, I walked into a corporate job with a nice salary on day one of terminal leave. I received 100% disability right away. My retirement and Disability check pays for all household bills and the corporate job check goes majority to saving and the reminder to discretionary spending. After a year of working in corporate America, I'm realizing that the 9-5 is not the life for me. I have made peace with leaving. But the money is good! Without the civilian job, I would have roughly $1,500 leftover monthly for groceries and gas for the family. While this is doable, nothing would be added to savings or investments. I will be using the GI bill soon and that will take the number up to $2,500 leftover monthly. My problem is that while I plan to take a few months off and decompress, I have no other outlook for future careers once I decide to get back into the work force. The military gave me the fulfillment I needed and checked that life box. Is this a bad move financially? Anyone have a similar story of living off their military retirement and disability?
European marrying a US marine
This year, I (30f) met an American Marine (28m) in Europe. I myself am a European girl and have never been to the US. We've been dating ever since he came here (about 6 months now) and we're falling more and more for each other. He now has been suggesting that if we want to stay together, I could follow him to the US and to his next deployment, wherever that is. He has also been talking about marriage. I love him, but I also have to think practically about this. I'm right now studying for a Master's degree in Sociology, and I don't even know if there are any jobs for Sociologists in the US or wherever he will be stationed. I don't have a lot keeping me in Europe right now, but the financials are worrying me the most. I already don't have a lot of work experience, so probably it will be hard finding a job in new countries. I don't count on his salary being enough. It would suck to end this relationship over stuff like work and finances, but this is important to me as a 30 year old woman. What advice do you have for me? Women who married marines, where do you work? I could try to get a remote job, but I know they're hard to get, so I can't count on that either.
Document Everything, Seek a Battle, Godspeed
Sisters and brothers, I hope you are all living the dream.Ā I [saw a recent post](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/1kosoti/dont_be_proud/) (shout out to u/fishous) that grabbed my attention, and I wanted to piggyback off of their great advice and story to guide you a little bit on the journey I took that led to successful claims on my physical issues that got be compensation after I got out. This little bit of money, isn't really a little bit, it sits right around $4,600 a month, on top of my already six figure salary, this goes a long way in putting my family into a position of financial freedom. It has helped me to bootstrap my own company and has provided the ease of mind of knowing that I don't have to worry about money every month.Ā My story started shortly after Airborne School, I had some pretty good falls and others that were not so great. That was just a start of my soon-to-be knee and ankle problems. After getting to my first Duty station I made it to my infantry scout platoon. We deployed to Iraq in 2006 and while in Mosul I encountered more IEDs than I'd like to count. On a night insertion, we had a Humvee rear end us going about 35 mph when we were at a dead stop. With a combination of kinetic force and the fact that we were wearing night vision goggles the sheer pain that I felt that day I carry with me to this day. I reported that right away to our PA once we returned. Throughout the rest of the deployment the IDS rattled my teeth and caused chronic headaches that I still have some issues to this day.Ā After I got back from Iraq I tried out at SFAS and broke my foot on the Long Trek, but I did finish but came in a little slow, literally as they were packing up the clock. I had to cut my boot off, thank God we were on soft shoe profile. I didn't want to tell the cadre that I knew my foot was broken and hopes that they would still select me, I was told to come back when I was older and had more combat time. My heart was broken along with my foot... When I got back to my unit I got a couple days off and my wife at the time came in and saw my foot and it was a dark combination of black and blue. We went in and got an x-rayed and that's when I found out my second and third metatarsal had been fractured.Ā After my 2009 deployment to Afghanistan, I went off to pre Ranger where the belly buster caused me to fall in a 90Ā° sitting position and I landed so hard that even the Ranger Instructors showed empathy. I went to the PA and got it checked out, he gave me a shot and sent me packing. I returned a month later and this time went through Free Ranger just fine and during Ranger school had another issue with my back and I quickly reported it where they sent me to the hospital for a quick review, it was documented and I was sent right back the same day luckily they didn't make me recycle. I will note that I passed. So, even if you are going to go to a school it doesn't hurt to at least get it documented right there.Ā When I decided to ETS I went through TAPs, at Fort Carson they make you visit with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). They will offer to file or initiate your claim process for you right there on the spot. All of the organizations like them and even your county VSO get a limited power of attorney to represent you directly with the VA. I encourage each and every one of you to initiate this process prior to getting out. Do not wait and do not try to do it by yourself.Ā After I hung out my uniform it was only a matter of a couple months before I got my 90% permanent and total rating and the DAV initiated a request for a follow-up and MRIs. Within only 3 months I got a $10,000 back paycheck and an award of 100% permanent and total.Ā During my transition process I also went to the VA and started counseling to deal with my emotions and other issues. PTSD is a real thing and having been part of the troop surge in both Iraq and Afghanistan really took a toll. There was also the issue of transitioning away from the Army, like some of the posts that happened today, the Army was very good to me and I loved my time. I cherish it and I enjoy scrolling the subreddit, living vicariously through you all.Ā All that said I also wanted to address some of the other things that I'm seeing on this subreddit: depression and suicidal ideations. As I made rank and had my own platoon, during and after afghanistan, I made it very clear to all of my Soldiers that they should always seek out help. During a weekend brief, I retapped on this and our First Sergeant made passing remarks that counseling was for pussies. That still sits heavy with me to this day. If you need help, grab a Battle get the help now. Just before I got out I was in charge of the holdover platoon and had a soldier attempt suicide twice, the third time he used a shotgun. I sat with him during both failed attempts and the ER. I tried everything to keep him alive, offered him everything I could. A month ago I had one of my former soldiers hang himself. Just last year suicide by overdose. And the year before that alcohol abuse. If you see somebody struggling, be the first one to ask that uncomfortable question "are you thinking of killing yourself?" Those Soldiers I lost to suicide, I wonder if it was that passing comment or that same stigma that 1SG had that kept them from getting help. Bottom line: Document everything. I documented in schools, training, during deployment with my medics/PA, quick visits to sick call. Just do it. If you donāt, itās hard to prove what happened later. Without proper documentation, you're far less likely to receive a permanent and total rating - or any rating at all. Donāt walk this path alone use a VSO. If youāre feeling suicidal, reach out to a battle buddy or a hot line. If youāre hurt, report it -no matter how small it seems. The older version of you will thank you. So will your family. Godspeed, brothers and sisters. This old man is feeling sleepy; probably why I am all over the place with this post. \-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647 Suicide Hot Line: 988 press 1, or text 838255 DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO FILE YOUR CLAIM! NEVER GIVE UP YOUR BENIFIT MONEY TO ANYONE FOR HELPING YOU, THIS IS ILLEGAL. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF THESE TO GET HELP: [The American LegionĀ VSO](https://www.legion.org/member-services/veterans-services/veterans-benefits/find-a-veteran-service-officer) [DAV VSO](https://www.dav.org/member-resources/service-officer/)Ā [WWPĀ VSO](https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/benefits-services)
Retired/Current USAF Officers ā Was retiring as an officer worth it, and how did it impact your post-military life?
Iām looking for some honest insight from current or retired USAF officers. Specifically, for those who retired after 20+ years, do you feel it was worth it? And how did it affect your life after the military ā financially, emotionally, professionally? Was it a smooth transition to civilian work or did you face challenges? Hereās where Iām at: Iām currently enlisted, 6 years in, in the cyber field. Iāve already passed the AFOQT and have my bachelorās, so Iām qualified to apply for a commission. By the end of my current contract, Iāll be at the 9-year mark. Iām at a bit of a crossroads and weighing two main options: Option 1: Use Tuition Assistance (TA) while Iām still in to knock out additional education, then separate at the end of my contract. After that, Iād plan to use the GI Bill for a masterās or go after high-value certs, then break into the civilian tech world. From what Iāve seen and researched, six-figure salaries are very realistic, especially with my background. Option 2: Apply for a commission, go officer, and stay in to complete 20. The pension starting at age 49 is a huge incentive. Job stability, benefits, and leadership experience are all solid upsides. But Iām concerned that by going officer, Iāll drift too far from hands-on technical work. I worry that after 20 years, I may not be competitive in the civilian cyber/IT space due to lack of current technical skills. So my big questions are: ā¢ For those who retired as officers, was it worth it in the long run? ā¢ Did the pension and experience outweigh the opportunity cost of not getting out earlier and going private sector? ā¢ How was the transition to civilian work ā smooth or difficult, especially in technical fields like cyber or IT? ā¢ If you could go back, would you still choose the officer-to-retirement route? Any perspective ā good, bad, or mixed ā would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to make the most informed decision I can while I still have some time left on contract. Thanks in advance.
Need advice from veterans. I am struggling after leaving the military
Edit: Thanks to all of you for your words and for your service. Even though we wore different uniforms and served in different countries, I feel connected to you through that military brotherhood. Reading your comments made me feel less alone. Weāve all been through hardship, and itās good to know that bond still exists, even across borders. Hey everyone, I know this subreddit is mainly for veterans from the U.S., but I could really use some help from people who understand military life. I joined the Lebanese military at 17 and became a sergeant by 20. I loved serving, but the financial crisis hit hard. My salary went from over $1,200 a month to barely $30. Even after financial aid from other countries, soldiers are only getting around $300ā400 now. I held on for about three more years, but eventually I had to leave. Ever since then, Iāve been struggling. I feel like I lost my identity and purpose when I left the uniform behind. I canāt afford college, and most days I feel like a total failure. The only thing Iāve been able to do recently is take a barbering course, but the guilt still eats at me. I keep thinking about the military every single day, and I canāt shake the feeling that I abandoned not only my career but also the health insurance my family relied on. I donāt know how to move forward or how to find meaning in civilian life. Has anyone here gone through something similar after leaving the military? How did you cope with the loss of identity and find a new purpose? Any advice or even just words from people whoāve been through it would mean a lot. Thanks for reading.
Struggling to find footing after the military | Iāve done all of the "things" I was told to do but I'm still severely underemployed and have no meaningful connections 6 years out of the military
Hey everyone, I just need to get this out somewhere. Maybe someoneās been through something similar. **TL;DR:** Got out of the Navy in 2019 ā went to college ā worked and studied nonstop ā finished my degree in 2024 ā spent six months unemployed ā took a low-paying job just to survive ā now Iām a licensed loan officer but still struggling mentally and professionally as I'm not making anything of myself in this profession. **The longer story:** I got out of the military in 2019 and immediately enrolled in college in Seattle with a buddy. Things were going well until COVID hit. Suddenly, my engineering classes went fully online. I lost access to teachers, tutors, labs ā basically any kind of support system. Isolation hit me hard, and I spiraled. I failed Calculus II and decided to change my major to business. Not long after, I moved across the country for a private contracting job in New York working under a top-secret clearance. It paid well and went great for about 18 months. When management positions opened up (twice), I made it clear I was ready and capable ā but got ignored each time. They hired people who quit within six months both times. So, I decided to leave, finish my business degree, and try to build a better long-term path. From 2022 to early 2024, I was a full-time business student. I sold my house, moved back home to Wichita, KS, and started job hunting in March while finishing my last semester. By June, I had my degreeā¦ but still no luck finding work. Six months later, Iād sent out nearly 200 applications. I got only three callbacks: two were MLM scams and one was a low-paying assistant job at a mortgage company. I took the assistant job because I needed *something* ā I was living in my dadās basement and losing my mind. I got licensed as a loan officer during that time and stayed on as an assistant while I learned the business. Then my boss started berating women in the office ā yelling, screaming, public humiliation-type stuff. I couldnāt stay silent, so I spoke up and, after enough incidents, I quit. I wonāt work for someone who treats people like that, no matter the cost. I have my values and my honor ā things I will *never* let go of. The military taught me more about how to treat people than anyone else ever has, and I despair at how few people seem to have actual values in the civilian world. In January 2025, I joined another company as a loan officer. I knew itād be tough, but Iām still struggling to gain traction ā despite networking, hiring resume writers, working with recruiters, and trying to translate my Navy nuclear background into civilian terms. Now, 11 months into this job, Iāve realized Iām technically in **debt** to my company because my ābase salaryā is actually a draw against commissions. And I canāt get sales to close to save my life, which just puts me deeper in the hole each month. Whatās worse, Iām another 40-something job applications deep with not a single solid lead on a better or more stable position. On top of all this, Iāve been battling severe depression. I actually had to move all my firearms to my dadās house because I donāt trust myself anymore. If it werenāt for my folks caring about me, I probably wouldnāt still be here. I havenāt really formed any deep friendships or relationships since getting out. Civilians justā¦ donāt feel the same. In the Navy, even if a shipmate made your life miserable, you knew theyād have your back when things got bad. Out here, it feels like peopleās words donāt mean anything. Iām the guy everyone calls when they need a hand, have a crisis, or need someone reliable ā but when I need help? Crickets and no-shows. Lately, Iāve been thinking about admitting myself to the VA for inpatient mental health care, even if it would wreck me financially or cost me my house. Iām just tired ā tired of feeling like Iāve done everything Iām supposed to and still canāt get my life off the ground. It feels like maybe I wasnāt meant for this world. I just want a normal life ā to meet someone, get married, make enough money to pay my bills, and maybe eat out once in a while. But I canāt even manage that if I canāt find stable employment. And if Iām broke and unstable, how could I ever hope to find a life partner? If any of you have been through this transition ā how did you make it work? How did you *actually* take off after the military?
Military Personnel vs Contractors
Why doesnāt the Army rely more on trained military personnelāeither from active duty or the Reserveārather than outsourcing so many roles to civilian contractors? Wouldnāt hiring soldiers who already understand military systems, discipline, and chain of command be more efficient and cost-effective in the long run? Contractors often come with higher salaries and overhead costs, while military personnel are already paid through existing defense budgets and can be mobilized faster with less onboarding time. So, when comparing time, money, training, and mission readiness, wouldnāt utilizing Reserve or active-duty service members make more sense than relying heavily on contractors?
Looking to hire ex-25 series for a WISP in Northern California, have some questions about how to word the ad
So, I run a Wireless Internet Service Provider in Northern California, about an hour north of SF. I want to hire 2-3 Installation Engineers. This role is primarily a field role, doing microwave radio LOS installs, deinstalls, troubleshooting, cabling, etc. We deal primarily with Ubiquiti equipment on the radio side, (with some Ceragon and Nera thrown in) with some Cisco and Ubiquiti middle-mile gear (switches, routers). I had the bright idea of hiring some ex-military folks. Some research showed that the following MOS's deal with LOS (Line-of-sight) communications gear: Army: 25S 25Q 25N 25H/25U (apparently Q/N were phased out...) USAF: AFSC 3D1X2 AFSC 1D7X1A USMC: 0621/0627 0651 USN: IT Rate or ET Rate My question is: In these jobs, what ranks (E4, E5?) deal mostly with the physical aspects of creating microwave LOS links? Erecting poles, hanging radios, aligning and programming them, etc? How much basic TCP/IP networking would people with these MOS's actually have? How much of it is pre-set by higher echelons and just given to the troops in a "plug and play" concept? Lastly would SOT-A and JCU folks have this kind of experience? Edit to Add: Any 35 series guys/gals have this experience in a way that wouldn't require the TS/SCI/SSBI clearance? I think that'd be worth too much$$$ for a role like this, but doesn't hurt to ask. **Final Edit**: Gonna talk to the CEO tomorrow about a higher starting salary. Thanks for the input, gang.
Any TSP wizards here that could help me make a decision?
I'm 26, about to ETS in a couple months. I have about 20k in credit card debt and about 18k in my TSP currently. Credit cards are at 17% interest. I have an accepted job offer for a position that will pay me enough to easily contribute the max matched amount of 6% of my salary (3% matched $ to $, remaining 3% matched $.60 to $) in a traditional or roth 401k. So I'm betting I could make up any amount in from my TSP in less than a few years. If I'm understanding the early withdrawal tax correctly, I will have to pay an additional 10% penalty tax, so up to $1,800 depending on how much I pull out when I leave federal service. In my head, that's still better than that amount in cc debt at 17%. Or, right now, I can take out a 10k loan on my balance with an interest rate of 4.25% with no penalties on paying it off early and put it all toward my cc balance. Do any of these sound like decent options? Am I dumb for even thinking about touching my TSP? I've made a few lifestyle changes and haven't touched my credit cards in two years so I trust myself. I'll have two spicy McChickens and a time machine that lets me counsel my younger self on better financial decisions. Thank you.
Any retired veterans with a masters degree?
Just curious, did you get your masters? Did you find that it helped with your new career? Is the salary worth it?
Abolish the SDDC
Staff weenies and degenerates, I earnestly have to ask, WHAT is the point of the SDDC? Or rather, every SDDC unit that is related to maritime activities. Donāt get me wrong, I know what their mission is on paper, but as an outsider looking in, I earnestly do not understand how they can rationalize their existence. The management of maritime transportation is a critical function of any military. It is an absolute must the military be able to control and manage the movement of goods in a theatre. The SDDC folks (TSBs, ETOEs, DDSBs, RPOEs, etc) will tell you they are super critical, but then when you take a look at their idea of work closely, the lines start to crack. Why pay stevedores 10x the salary of an E2, and deal with labor and unions when the same labor can be performed by an ICTC or SPOC for a fraction of the cost? Why are there so many contractors on the DDSBs staff (who fuck right off to the nearest beach at 1400 daily), when you have TTBNs who are designed to have a full staff to manage fixed and improvised ports? Every Soldier Iāve met in the SDDC loves it because: 1.) TDA means for any mission they are put into fancy hotels. 2.) Fuck all work is performed by them and instead by contractors. 3.) These units are loaded with funding due to the criticality of their āmissionā the good contractors perform for them. I genuinely think the SDDC is one of the largest wastes of tax payer money that exist within the modern military. In my opinion, the Army should abolish every unit in the SDDC that performs maritime management, and instead replace them with TB(X)ās, TTBNās, and SPOC/ICTCs. Before anyone chimes in āWell, ashtually, TB(X)ās are made to manage JLOTS and strictly military operations,ā no they are not. They are designed to run both fixed and improvised ports, please let them do their job, instead of one half of it because the SDDC needs to rationalize their existence. - Signed, a MTOE maritime staff weenie trying to rationalize their existence. Oh yeah sorry, Iāll take two Chicago dogs and a an order of chilli fries. A water too please, Iām watching my figure.
General Dynamics Electric Boat to increase hourly wage
https://turnto10.com/news/local/general-dynamics-electric-boat-increase-hourly-wage-money-cash-employees-workers-quonset-point-service-may-19-2025 >The new wage for hourly employees will increase the starting rate to $22 an hour. Meanwhile, the average worker at an Amazon.com warehouse in CT makes $21.40/hr. One would think you'd want folks building national military assets to make more than a warehouse associate. Good luck with work force recruiting.
18A job opportunities
Hey all!! Iām an 18A currently serving on an ODA and exploring options for if/when I decide to transition out of the Army. Iāve got about 8 years in right now but will be at year 10 once eligible to get my DD214, and Iām curious what kinds of civilian jobs or career paths other former 18As have successfully pivoted to. Ideally, Iād like to find something that leverages my leadership experience, planning background, and SOF-specific skill sets-but Iām open to hearing about anything thatās worked for others. Iām especially curious about roles in the private sector, government contracting, security, outdoor industry, and even completely new directions people have taken. If youāre a former 18A or have worked with one who made a smooth landing in the civilian world, Iād love to hear what that looked like ā job title, industry, salary ballpark (if youāre comfortable sharing), and what you wish you had known during your own transition. Thanks in advance.
Veteran with a Masterās working a retail manager job Iām insanely overqualified for. Really just need a good job, but for now prioritize stable resume, push for promotion, or find marginally better/chiller job while waiting for the Big One?
**TLDR: got a retail manager job Iām absurdly overqualified for but took because I desperately needed a paycheck. I want to find an actual good job and itās probably possible if I apply for a few hundred jobs. For now, should I do what Iām doing and just tune out the stress and apply for jobs, push for promotion so I get a little more cash and look even better on resume, or quit this stressful job and do something chill for same or better money so Iām not all stressed while job hunting?** Iām working for $16/hr as shift manager for a retail store. Iām a veteran with a Masterās degree I got on the GI Bill, 20+ years of work experience thatās mainly managerial, proficient in three languages. I had a major mental health setback over five years ago related to my combat service (no involuntary commitment or criminal record, just iffy credit and several years of resume gap). I was un/underemployed for years and took this job just to avoid total poverty. Been here two years, with a 30Ā¢ raise last year. Boss said Iām getting a ābetter than usualā raise next month and they want to get me Assistant Manager (which I was also told a year ago). Iāve struggled to focus enough to apply for jobs, and all the work stress doesnāt help because Iām regularly getting called in to cover shifts. I did a couple years ago get focused and apply for lots of jobs and most of the ones that interviewed me were $80k-140k annually. This year Iāve only applied for a few dozen but had a couple really good interviews for around $80k jobs that Iād really enjoy. The current retail job is *way* more responsibility and stress than is remotely reasonable for $16/hr. Most of my coworkers are teens, have only a GED, and/or criminal records. Should I: * just try to tune the stress out and do the minimum and try harder to apply for good jobs? Part of me wants to not make waves so I have 2+ years at my current job on the resume as I apply elsewhere. * work extra hard and get Assistant Manager for a little more money and to look good on the resume? And maybe ask them for a clear timeline on getting my own store (about $70k/yr) in case I just never find something better? Maybe even tell them āif Iām not Assistant Manager by 1 Jan, Iāll be sending out resumesā * just quit after my 2 year mark and work anything more chill and enjoyable (say bartending or front desk at a museum) so going into the new year I can have less stress and distraction for a job search for a job with a higher salary and more fitting work for my background? But then my resume would show 2 years of retail manager and then say three months of bartender, and with my resume being patchy over the last eight years Iām worried a recent change looks bad.
Adjusting to civilian work
Iāve been out of the Army almost a year now, and I got insanely lucky to land the job I have. I donāt enjoy it (I went from being a medic to doing corporate work), but I am sticking with it because the benefits of this company are really good, and the work itself is pretty easy (I am an analyst for a bank, so I work a lot with Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel). I just got my performance review for the year, and my manager was giving me compliment after compliment, and she stopped when she saw that it was making me uncomfortable. I told her I wasnāt used to getting good feedback in this way. Even when my NCOERs were glowing it was not made into a big deal. They just told me to read it, sign it, and go about my day. Does anyone else have the same feelings I do? I was also given a small raise to my base salary, which is a first for me. I guess I assumed I was stuck at my starting salary until I got some kind of promotion. That was pretty cool to see.
What career/occupation did you choose after successfully using VR&E?
I hear so many people talk about VR&E and Iāll be the first to say it definitely has its problems. But Iām curious for those of you who graduated using CH. 31 VR&E what career choice did you choose? Do you like it? Salary? What was your experience while using VR&E?
Father Served in Navy - Benefits for Nursing Home - Confused.
So my father is 85, Served in the USN on the SS trigger (proudly!), and recently experienced a fall and a bad case of Rhabdomyolysis. Long lonh long story short, he is in a nursing home with physical ailments and what I will call "dementia". Lots of confusion, mixed up memories, short term issues, that sorr of thing. We are paying 11k a month for the care, which has been outstanding by the way. I am his POA and have been working non stop since April on many many fronts on his and Mom's behalf. I applied on his behalf for VA benefits (hard copy, Dad's ID me doesnt work) hoping there was a trickle of benefits to help us pay for this new financial burden. A couple of weeks go by and I get a call from the VA. Dad is in Priority Group 5. He does not have a combat service record, or a combat injury. The VA rep explained that due to his salary (Lets call is $50k per year, pension and SS) he would not qualify, or **I "think" thats what he told me**. I was trying to take notes and understand all he was throwing at me. He explained the Priority groups, and gave me some additional resources to consider. Second guessing what I heard, I looked into the PG's and there is an income tool you can use to generate possible benefits. That takes you right on to the form we already submitted 10-10ez. Here is what that form claims we might be eleigible for: * Free VA health care for most types of care (like primary care, outpatient specialty care, and inpatient hospital care) * Prescription medicines with copays Is this correct with what the VA rep told me? I take it from the above he would not qualify for Nusing home assistance. I sent a follow up to the VA rep, but no word back. Thought I would post amongst us non government folks as I dont speak their language. Thanks for reading my post. Bear with my ignorance and confusion.
Army band hypothyroid
Iāve been accepted into one of the US army bands after a successful audition, which Iām extremely thrilled about. However, I do have very mild hypothyroidism, where I take 50mcg of levothyroxine daily. Iāve read that hypothyroidism is a DQ for the armed forces. Would this still be the case in my circumstances? I would be completely heartbroken if I wasnāt able to accept this job, as the benefits and salary are beyond anything I imagined for myself
Holloman AFB
My husband and I will be heading to Holloman and would love to know all the good and the bad. For context, I grew up in a big city so Iām really nervous about moving to NM but excited. Iāve been in the same area my whole life so leaving my comfort and safe zone. This is the 2nd base for my husband so not sure how long we will be stationed there (no idea how that works). 1) howās the living situation on base? 2) any recommendations for off base living? 3) would it be hard to get a job that pays well in the area? Iām a practice administrator with my MHA degree. Currently make $110k+ so I would love to make around the same but ok with lower salary bc the living cost is lower. 4) howās the area for building a family? Hubby and I are wanting to get pregnant in the next year or 2. How are the medical services? 5) howās the high schools in the area? My sister might move with us as well. Pls recommend the best high schools in the area. 6) how are the food scenes? Hubby and I are big foodies 7) fun things to do on the weekends? 8) anyone else going through the same thing? Iām feeling all kinds of emotions š 9) also can we request to move to a different base? How does that work? Any other tips and recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank youuuuu
Need Help Finding A Job
Going to be separating from the Navy in a couple months. I am an ETV of 5 years, E-5 with 3 NAMs, and have held leadership/supervisor positions. I am a quick learner and have strong patience. My skill sets are work controls (diagrams, tags, procedures, etc.), navigation at sea, low voltage electrical work, standing watch, atmosphere monitoring, and damage control. Obviously, job security and demand are important (Ironic, I know). I would prefer a salary around 100k or 45/hr (before taxes) in order to maintain my current cost of living as I make 70k after taxes. I understand that is quite unrealistic, but trying to narrow my options. I have my G.I. Bill, so getting a degree is an option (would still need a job in the meantime). Would love to hear some ideas or questions to help you help me, lol. Edit: I do not have any certifications or degrees, but I am willing to get them. I also joined straight out of high school and have no prior job experience. Thanks! Edit: Once again, I understand 100k isn't just going to fall in my lap. I am hoping you all can help me get a better idea on what I should do, like get a degree in X and pursue a career in X. I also know that NAM's aren't worth anything outside of the military, I pretty much threw that in to show that I am not a POS. Thanks, lol.
Should I stay or go? Need advice from others whoāve been here.
Hi all. Iām struggling and could use some perspective. Iāve been rated with the VA at the max VA amount and permanent since last fall, and a few months prior I started a new job with the DOI. Also, it took me about 20 years to do my last claim for MST. It was the hardest thing Iāve ever done. So at this new job, at first, I was hopeful ā a fresh start after leaving a toxic work environment. But lately, Iāve been overwhelmed by constant changes, shifting administration priorities, and the loss of supportive coworkers. I have one left and weāve become close. However, more and more responsibilities are being placed on me, and itās really ramping up my anxiety. I left my last job because of a toxic leader, but now I feel like the chronic stress, unpredictability, and pressure here are triggering my PTSD just as badly ā only in a different way. I'm also beginning to realize that regular 9ā5 jobs may not be a sustainable path for me. Iāve bounced around jobs a lot, and Iām finally connecting the dots: the structure and stress of traditional work environments just donāt mesh well with how I need to live to stay healthy. Iāve been seriously considering resigning. Iām was hoping to get RIFād but nothing has happened yet but we are hearing itās coming. Iād rather walk away with a severance. My spouse fully supports me resigning and thinks Iād be much happier if I did. I have a small side business Iāve wanted to pursue full time ā something I could build on my own terms. Financially, Iād be okay. Iāve been living modestly off my GS-12 salary and saving my VA benefits, so the loss of income, while not ideal, isnāt catastrophic. But itās still scary. Giving up the GS-12 pay, the job security, and facing the unknowns ā especially with the state of the country right now ā is weighing heavily on me. Has anyone else been in a similar position? How did you know it was time to walk away? Any advice or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
VR&E While Employed.
Kind of a weird situation. Immediately after getting out I landed into what was supposed to be a short contracting gig, where I heard about VR&E. I was upfront with them about being employed but was able to be approved due to the nature of work being uncertain long term. Now Iāve finished my degree and theyāre asking for additional information about where Iām currently employed, which happens to be the same place due to the contract being extended. I just want a sanity check - is there any type of risk to acknowledging that Iāve been employed in the field this whole time? Specifically asking because they want my wages, which have been very good for my line of work - to the point that Iām less than fully comfortable disclosing my salary. Additionally, they say Iāll still rate EAA even if Iām already employed full time in my target career? Does that track? Iāve seen other posts where people get it while still looking for another job, but if Iām already happy where I am then is that still on the table? Seems too good to be true and I donāt want to risk triggering some flag that makes them want to recoup the benefits Iāve already received. The degree will absolutely help if this job ever goes away, but I have no intention of searching for another job while my current one is still available.
How do individual combatants handle their factions' ever shifting alliances, and having to ally with former enemies and fight against former allies?
While researching the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars, one aspect that caught my attention was those two wars were the epitome of "warlord playgrounds." Each faction involved was caught up fighting multiple fronts, and were too entangled in their own theaters to capitalize on their enemies' distractions. For example, the primary rebel group NPFL in the first civil war was fighting ULIMO-K in one region, ULIMO-J in another, the ironically misnamed Liberian Peace Council (who was responsible for some of the most horrific atrocities in a war that was essentially a "war crime contest" spectacle) in yet another, and a myriad of regional militias and minor NPFL dissident factions in others. Likewise, ULIMO-K found itself fighting its sister splinter faction ULIMO-J in one theater, the NPFL in another, and the Lofa Defense Forces in a third front. Lastly, ULIMO-J was battling both ULIMO-K and the NPFL while simultaneously dealing with its own bouts of inter-factional fighting. The warring parties also were very fluid and fragile, and were essentially a tangled web of loose alliances. They had a tendency to confederate and balkanize on a whim, and alliances shifted almost on a flip of a coin. On one month, two factions would be allies against a common rival. In the next month, the factions then switch into becoming bitter enemies, while one of them aligns with their former common opponent against their estranged "ally." As a more specific example, ULIMO split into two bitterly competing factions ULIMO-J and ULIMO-K early on in the war's midpoint, and spent as much time fighting each other as their main enemy NPFL. In the war's latter stages, ULIMO-J had an internal power struggle that turned bloody. Which gave the then newly formed NPFL and ULIMO-K alliance a pretense to attack ULIMO-J leaders in Monrovia for "murder charges." The Sierra Leone Civil War, the conjoined twin of the two Liberian Civil Wars, also had similarly blurred allegiances. One of the most crippling issues the Sierra Leone government faced with the fighting the NPFL allied RUF insurgents was the extreme neglect of its Sierra Leone Army (SLA) regular military. An overwhelming majority of SLA units were stiffed of rations, equipment, and salaries by their superiors. To compensate for the lack of pay checks and supplies, thousands of SLA soldiers shedded their uniforms at night and joined RUF rebels in their pillaging sprees, and then retreated back to their posts in the morning. From these literally nightly back and forth defections, the RUF rebels got a hold of a massive stockpile of SLA weapons and uniforms. With the systematic backsliding of allegiances, the SLA and RUF almost completely merged with one another. The SLA also disintegrated into a loose collection of gangs from the lack of cohesion and discipline. Rouge SLA units, nicknamed "sobels" by the civilian population, were very prone to fighting "civil wars within a civil war" with pro-government tribal militias and other rival SLA units. During the Sierra Leone Civil War's midpoint, a sizable faction of SLA dissenters assisted the RUF rebels in their capture of Freetown before they were driven out by the Nigerian army and government loyalists. This overall made the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil Wars a very confusing mess for me to study in depth. Alliances in civil wars such as Bosnia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were also difficult to research for similar reasons. How does your average combatant in these sorts of wars deal with ever changing alliances, and having to fight against former allies alongside former enemies?
Waiting on ARMS program, need advice (68w)
I just completed my ASVAB and I scored an 82, got all the line scores I needed for all jobs that interested me. I was wondering what I can do to set up a solid financial career? My folks keep telling me of a family member who worked at a federal prison and received some supplemental pay thing? I don't want to work at a prison, ideally I wanted to do 68w, eventually get out and work at the VA or some other health organization. I just want to have enough cash to set up my immediate and some of my extended family. I am a very frugal person other than my PC, I buy cheap healthy food, wear cheap clothes, just wondering what I can do. I don't have very many life skills. I'm slowly building them up, but could use a bit more direction than my loose plan here. I want to become qualified as I can, and help people, while making a decent salary. I was considering the Airborne option when I sign for the extra cert and experience.
Should I base my civilian salary expectations on RMC instead of base pay when leaving the military?
The military provides a Regular Military Compensation (RMC) calculator that factors in base pay, housing, allowances, and other benefits. For example, if my base pay is $70,000, my RMC might be closer to $116,000 when everything is factored. Since this total RMC reflects what it actually costs to maintain my lifestyle in the military, should I be looking for civilian jobs that pay closer to that $116,000 rather than just my base pay? I feel like if I only aimed for jobs around my base pay, Iād take a big hit financially since the military covers so many extra expenses. For those who have transitioned out, how did you approach this? Did you target jobs that matched your RMC, or did you adjust your expectations in some way? Any advice would be appreciated!
Advice on exiting with a wife & 2 kids
Title says it all, planning my exit about a year out from now. How did you guys pull it off? This economy is rough and Iāve got two one year olds (Twins). Starting salary for my career field is about 75k, with lots of room for growth, but itās damn near impossible to have a family of 4 live off of that nowadays. All perspectives are welcome, thanks & cheers!
Advise on choosing a branch for reserves
28M, looking at joining reserves primarily for the health insurance benefit for my self and my family as well as the additional retirement in 20 sum odd years. I currently have a very stable and good career in Insurnace and am only contemplating reserves as I found my employer will cover the salary difference during training. Out of high school I had joined the Marines but due to bilateral stress fractures in my tibias I wasnāt able to compete trading and was discharged for healing. Separation Code was JFV1 and ReEntry code RS-3P, so a waiver should not be hard to get. Previously I had a linguistics Intel contract and scored 98 on asvab. Should be able to score pretty similar again. Given all the above what are your thoughts or experiences between the National Guard and other Reserve divisions of the branches. Open to advice on MOSās as well. Given the length of training for Linguistics I likely wonāt try for that again.
Guard to Active question.
Hello, i am currently NG and am thinking about switching to active duty. That said im concerned about pay. I'd be taking about a 15k pay cut if I moved to active duty. As I understand the base salary for an enlisted E4 works out to about 35k a year. I was wondering if anyone knows how much an E4 makes on average between things like BAH. Is it really only 35k a year? Other than promoting is there a way to increase your pay? Any held is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
FMLA for PTSD?
I have a 50 percent PTSD rating. While my work is not phenomenal, my director is very understanding and I'm salary so we've worked around my issues as much as possible. HOWEVER, I have been having a huge backslide mentally and every day is a struggle lately. I'm missing too much work, I feel emotionally burnt out, I'm making critical errors and I feel like I could snap under the pressure. After having an anxiety attack 20 minutes in this morning, I was ready to run for the door and never look back. A coworker asked about getting FMLA. Has anyone ever used FMLA for PTSD to take a few weeks away? I don't want to lose my job, but in the interm, I'm not sure what to do.
Life Guidance
Hey everyone, Iām 23M and just recently got out of the military after 5 years active duty (logistics). Since getting out, Iāve been focusing on real estate ā I currently own 6 rental properties and my long-term goal is to own my own apartment complexes and eventually start a property management/development company. Right now Iām trying to pick a job thatāll help me reach that goal faster. I want to make more money to keep investing and hopefully scale to 20ā25 units in the next 3ā5 years before 1031-exchanging into apartments. Here are my 3 options: 1. GS-12 Government Job (Logistics) ā¢ ~$92k/year ā¢ 8ā4 schedule, weekends and holidays off ā¢ Very stable (annual cost-of-living and step increases) ā¢ Downside: I did almost the same thing in the military and hated it ā thatās why I got out after 5 years. The only benefit is the stability and consistent paycheck. 2. Property Manager ā 200+ Unit New Construction Complex ā¢ ~$70k/year ā¢ Salary, sometimes weekends/overtime ā¢ Includes a real estate license (can sell homes on the side for extra income) ā¢ Iād be working directly with the owner/developer ā great networking and learning opportunity ā¢ Thereās also room to move up in the company: potentially into a District Manager or even VP of Property Management role overseeing multiple complexes ā¢ This job is much more aligned with my long-term goals in real estate 3. Maintenance Supervisor ā Same Company ā¢ ~$70k/year ā¢ Overseeing maintenance teams across 1,000+ units ā¢ Doesnāt include a real estate license ā¢ Still in property management but less aligned with my end goals All three have pros and cons ā oneās stable but boring, the others are more in line with what I love but come with more risk and less pay up front. If your long-term dream was to own and manage apartment complexes, which route would you take? Would you go for the stability (GS job) to fund investing faster, or get into the property management world to build experience, network, and move up? Appreciate any insight ā especially from anyone whoās transitioned from the military or scaled up from single-family rentals into apartments.
VA VR&E for Masters Degree and Undergraduate Prerequisites/Refresher Courses?
Just received notification from my VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) that I am "entitled to CH31 VRE benefits." I am scheduled on 10/1 to meet with my counselor to "move into evaluation and planning status where we will conduct a more in depth exploration into how we can assist you in meeting your vocational goals" I am asking for VA VR&E to fund an online or resident masters of science in data science/analytics/AI as well as 27 undergraduate credits (3 semesters) or more recent prerequisites (pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra, statistics, python programming, and R programming. I am open to full-time online or resident for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Here are some relevant stats about my background: * Retired Army officer with 28 years of combined Active/Reserve/ARNG service * 90% VA Service Connected Disability * Transferred 35 months of Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to my son who is currently in his senior year of a BS ME program * Retained 1 month of Post 9/11 G/I Bill benefits for myself because a was previously advised by a VA counselor that if I have remaining G.I. Bill benefits, I can receive BAH/MHA while attending a VR&E program * Currently looking at online and resident MS data science/analytics programs * Received undergraduate BA Marketing degree in 1994 * Have worked last 20 years in tech as consultant, solutions engineer, product manager, technical account manager, and program manager. I discussed with the VA counselor that over the course of my civilian career I deployed multiple times (5x) which hindered my career progression. I am now competing for lower paying jobs against younger applicants with more relevant educations and need to retrain and refresh my skills to increase opportunities and salary. My disabilities limit my ability to work in some office environments. Ultimate goal is to reinvent myself as a data scientist with experience in the IC and DoW, current TS-SCI and target SDVOSB contracts for set asides and subcontracts for data analytics and AI integration/policy/development. Has anyone ever successfully requested something like this and had it approved? Most likely the schools where I complete the undergraduate prerequisites and masters degrees will be different. Only me, no dependents. I can live anywhere. Even considering buying an Airstream and finding a site near a school or a multiple military or civilian RV sites, enroll in online programs, and live nomadically for 3 years. Any advice, experience, recommendations are appreciated.
Electrical Rate/MOS Types Looking for Work?
If anyone here is are interested in living in/near Chicago, Illinois or Milwaukee, Wisconsin my company is hiring big time out here for Field Service Rep positions involving either Secure Power(Uninterruptable Power Supplies), Power Services(Switchboards, and Square D breakers), and ASCO(ASCO products), Pay(\~75k starting) and benefits are great. Pay is salary non exempt which means that even on weeks you work less than 40 hours, you will atleast get paid for 40 hours and you have access to overtime(there will be overtime). Any weekend work is automatic overtime regardless of your hours that week. Benefits include company vehicle that you can use for everything but vacation, ability to invest in company stock at significant discount with company match, 6% match 401k, 20 days PTO starting for military to include 9-12 days federal holiday PTO, and 2 flex PTO days each year. all travel related stuff is paid for by company up front. Work is generally located at construction sites or already built professional building and data centers. You will be required to perform install/start ups, commissioning, preventative maintenance, and troubleshooting/repairs. If you can confidently talk your way through electrical theory, have great customer service demeanor, and don't mind travel. Click on one of the three links below for the three current job postings available. If you do submit an application, please let me know along with your name so I can have the hiring manager keep an eye out for your name. [https://careers.se.com/jobs/94873?lang=en-us&previousLocale=en-US](https://careers.se.com/jobs/94873?lang=en-us&previousLocale=en-US) [https://careers.se.com/jobs/95436?lang=en-us&previousLocale=en-US](https://careers.se.com/jobs/95436?lang=en-us&previousLocale=en-US) [https://careers.se.com/jobs/94369?lang=en-us&previousLocale=en-US](https://careers.se.com/jobs/94369?lang=en-us&previousLocale=en-US)
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