Civilain life SUCKS!!!

[SkilletsUSMC]

skillets i know how you feel i got out in 03' same reason had a 9 month old and wanted to spend time with him ....i went to the police academy in florida in 06' and graduated in 07'..had a job line up w/ the sheriffs dept. but missed the marine corps more .....so i talked w/ my wife and decided to get back in ...i went to the recruiting station and talked w/ the recruiter in nov. of 07' he did all my paperwork i went to meps for a phys. 2 months later i was swearing back in and i could not be happier to be an 0311 again...you get to keep your rank but you do loose your time in grade....also once you swear back in be ready to recive your orders i worked at the recruting station for a month and then recived my orders....good luck..

Great 3rd post!

Im not too worried about losing my time in grade. Ill Pick up Soon enough, but Getting busted down for nothing would SUCK!!!

GLAD TO HEAR YOURE BACK!!!!

[ErikHeiker]

Well, I'm going to run counter to everyone else. I got out after six years because I didn't want to raise children as military brats and I didn't want to have to pack up an entire household every few years. I severed my official ties with the Marine Corps and went home. Like a lot of former Marines, there was something about military life that I missed. I would have considered the Marine Corps Reserve, but there was none in Alaska at the time.

So I joined the Guard. I spent almost 26 years in the Guard, most of it Air Guard and most of that as a C-130 loadmaster. I can honestly say that the best years of my career were those I spent as a loadmaster. I got to travel all over the world and normally I'd only be gone a few weeks at a time. I also got to spend time in a combat zone, something I never got to do while in the Marine Corps. Due to the high level of participation, we were for the most part only allowed to spend 65 days or so in the sandbox. We would then rotate planes and crews out and come back to relieve our replacements 60 days later. That was much better than going over for 15 months at a time. Going on 15 month tours every year or so has got to be a terrible strain for those who are married, have children or are in some kind of relationship.

While at home station, in between our sandbox time, we would fly missions to other parts of the world. It was on one of those other missions that we were tasked to deliver a group of Navy personnel to Iwo Jima. I cannot describe the feeling I felt when we went to the top of Mt Suribachi and saw the memorial there. And to look down at the beach where the initial landing was made you knew it was pure hell those first few days.

In short, there are other options besides returning to active duty that still let you serve your country. One of the things you can also do now is use your GI Bill and get your degree. I used mine to get my Bachelor's degree. That will give you the option of going officer. Maybe going back in is the best thing for you, but at least explore the alternatives.

[Hell Boy]

Suck it up and make the call.

[nptwildcat]

There's no "sucking it up" Brother. She needs to be happy. I was married 2 1/2 months when I got shipped to Beirut. When I got back I was a short timer. Told mama I was thinking about re-upping. She said go ahead, but I'm going home. So I got out. Two kids, two grandson's and a 26 year anniversary coming up in July. I hated the desicion at first, but it turned out to be the right one.

[Swampyankee]

I did 3 in the Corps and 7 in the CG. After the battles I saw of my mother and father (dad was a Seabee with an affection for the antartica) I told myself I'd never get married while in the service. Ma wanted dad out and become a cop. It wasn't my fathers fault that dear old ma had a hair across her ***, she married a Seabee. But just the same, I wasn't going to get married and be stuck on a ship if I had any kids being born, as I witnessed while underway. And ma never let me forget dad was down south when I was dropped.

Having said that, I still feel a need to move to another state every few years. My wife has moved more in the 19 years we've been together than I did during my 3 in the Corps. Thought I was tired of the seabag drag. And I guess the fact that I'm posting and reading this forum I still enjoy the company of other Marines. But whatever you do, you've got to live with it, not me.

[temarti]

It has to be an "all in" decision with your wife. Four months before my EAS my wife and I weighed the options, re-enlist and if so it was for the long haul or get out with a plan and make it work. It is scary at first with the insurance and starting at the bottom. However, if you find a career that you love you will exceed and keep going without looking back. We did not have children until a year after I was out. Now with three (11, 7, 3) we are able to make it work and do well with the decision.

[jetdoc]

Erik, you were not the only one that had that viewpoint brother, I did too, but most seemed to say go back in.

I too did the Air Guard thing and retired. Our unit at Andrews AFB didn't even deploy, ever! Not even the two weeks in the summer thing, (summer camp as they called it), did we deploy.

I agree with you Wildcat, you gotta keep mama happy. My wife and I have been married for 28 years and as anyone thats been married long enough knows, the wife is the key to keeping the house happy.

[SlingerDun]

...I weighed the options, re-enlist and if so it was for the long haul or get out with a plan and make it work

See right there it is, you gotta have a plan! Marines who get out and don't formulate one can waste years wandering aimless getting kicked around from one s hit ass job to the next or stuck in a dungeon.

Oh poor me why didn't i stay in the Corps, i had responsibility tenure and rank, i patrolled men and marched them in parades and i was somebody now i'm such a f ucking loser. To whomever...BS. Don't be a punk ass. Get a plan and stick to it.

To whomever...

--->Dave

[SkilletsUSMC]

See right there it is, you gotta have a plan! Marines who get out and don't formulate one can waste years wandering aimless getting kicked around from one s hit ass job to the next or stuck in a dungeon.

Oh poor me why didn't i stay in the Corps, i had responsibility tenure and rank, i patrolled men and marched them in parades and i was somebody now i'm such a f ucking loser. To whomever...BS. Don't be a punk ass. Get a plan and stick to it.

To whomever...

--->Dave

Since this is my post, "to whomever" is obvously me. I dont understand what the hell your point is. Before I got out I was on the fence about staying in or getting out. I decided I was going to co back to my old job, and give the 1st CIVDIV a try. I HAD a plan, but my former career (carpentry) is not doing so well up here, and now I have to deviate from the plan.

Im happy you have a plan and could stick to it. I dont, but it doesnt make me a punk ass.

[cucinae5]

I think you should do what makes you happy. Your wife will understand if it makes you happy.

I had the same thoughts you did of going back in and was all for it. Unfortunately for me I had some things come up that stopped me from going back in full active so now I am in the process of going into the Marine Reserves. At least I will have some part of the Corps still with me.

Good luck with everything and hopefully it works out for you and your family.

[SkilletsUSMC]

I think you should do what makes you happy. Your wife will understand if it makes you happy.

I had the same thoughts you did of going back in and was all for it. Unfortunately for me I had some things come up that stopped me from going back in full active so now I am in the process of going into the Marine Reserves. At least I will have some part of the Corps still with me.

Good luck with everything and hopefully it works out for you and your family.

I can live with the reserves, but the nearest Reserve Company is in California, and Im in Seattle.

Would they pay to fly me out there?

[rvillac2]

Would they pay to fly me out there?

Nope. There used to be an Reserve Arty unit in Yakima. You don't have to limit yourself to the Grunt Reserve. You could crosstrain.
You could also consider the 5thMarDiv.


You realize that alot of us have gone through this. After having golden moments with my children, I don't think I would have preferred being back in. That's what made your sacrifice and the current sacrifices of Marines still on duty so valuable. You stood in our place. Thanks again.

I think you should include your wife in your decision making and make her part of the solution. She needs to buy into whatever you decide if you have any chance of keeping her happy.

In my Christian faith, we pledged to die for our wives. That isn't just stepping in front of the bullet. That sometimes means giving up your personal wishes and putting her and family ahead of them (I die a little bit every time I missed a poker game).

I hope you come to a decision that will lead to happiness for all.
Semper Fi, Brother.

[SgtThrasher]

Skillets,Follow your heart,it will make you strong.When I rotated back from Vietnam in Feb 69,I had orders to DI
School @San Diego,after leave ,I processed into something
that in my day was a honor to be selected to, drill instructor
school,the only problem was I had 6 months left on my 4
year enlistment and they wanted me to ship over and go
through the school and they promised I'd be on the drill
field 3 years.I had 18 months in grade as E-5 and I would
make Staff Sergeant after shipping over.My career advisor
told me I could be the Sergeant Major of the Marine
Corps if I made it a career.I always remember his words,
"You may leave the Marine Corps but will the Marine Corps leave you" and he was correct.I went home,married
raised a daughter and had a 35 year career @3M Company and made good money,but always
had a emptiness for the Corps.Sorry for the long post and I wish you well in your endeavors.Keep us posted
Brother.
Semper Fi,
Sergeant Thrasher

[SlingerDun]

I figure it's critical that such an important topic maintain a sharp edge, avoid fluff and cut right through the jingo. Hell other than those who cash in on duty, last i heard we all gotta be civilians someday.

Believe it or not my last post was not isolating anybody. I tend to generalize on forums perhaps influenced from time spent as a coach and clinician in front of a mob. No i was just borrowing this post to stir up the pot, why?

For generations men can't wait to get out of the Corps and enjoy the freedom they served for only to find that life is expensive and opportunities for success are puzzling and often seem unobtainable...so whats a guy to do. Go back in the Corps or some other branch of service, it's all i know and i'll be taken care of.

Well i think thats fear talkin BS, motherin up to a big warm military tit. All of us were civilians long before we were Marines and most adjust again and inevitably will need to. It doesn't get any easier finding a new life and career as you age.

--->Dave

[FistFu68]

GO FOR IT MARINE,HELL IF YOU DO 20 OR EVEN 30 ACTIVE;YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT.I KNOW A CHITLOAD OF FORMER MARINES,THAT RETIRED AT THE AGE OF 38;WHO ARE US.MARSHALS AS WE SPEAK.THEY ARE KEEPING ALL THEIR TIME FEDERAL,"GREAT PENSION".