Life Changing Decision
Throughout one’s life decisions must be made, some are easy, some not so easy. In the near future I will have to decide whether to stay in the Army or get out and become a civilian. There are of course pros and cons to each side. Even with identifying all the pros and cons it still does not make it an easy decision. There are also different factors that can push the decision one way or another.
There are a few different reasons why I would stay in the Army. The biggest one that jumps out is obviously job security. As of right now I am under contract until November 22, 2014 and while that may seem a little ways off yet, it is really closer than it seems. The benefits that come with being in the Army are pretty hard to beat. Health insurance along with dental insurance for my family and I is way cheaper than if I were working at say a local police department where I live. There are also different allowances that come with being in the Army whether stationed overseas or in the United States, money for housing, food, and additional cost of living is added to ensure a smooth transition from place to place. Being in the Army has allowed me to see many different places, some good and some not so good.
The main reason that I have for getting out of the Army concerns different aspects of my family. My wife and I are going to start having children in the next few years, and while having job security is important when having a family I have to decide, is the army lifestyle worth it. I have never been assigned to a specific duty station for more than three years. Meaning that my kids would constantly have to change schools and meet new friends. The other aspect is that I really want to be involved with the rest of my family other than the occasional chat on Skype. When I do have kids I want them to be able to see their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins more than thirty days out of the year.
As with any decision one factor could change it all, that factor for me is if I get promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Right now I have been in the Army for six years and in the coming months I will go to the promotion board. If I do get promoted than I will not have to worry about retention. I am not saying that it is my dream to retire as a Staff Sergeant nor am I saying that there is anything wrong with it but, it is nice to know that all the time I have spent working towards retirement will not be wasted.
As one could see there are different reasons for any decision especially life changing decisions. It seems the more I think about it the more I am split on my decision. It also doesn’t help when people such as family members give more than advice or opinions. I do like insight especially from people who have gone through it, but there is a fine line between helping and being overbearing. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time where I could make the little decisions in life and not the big decisions that can affect mine and my family’s lives.
Kody,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain because this is a hard decision. I have two kids and my ex-husband was deployed twice during the first few years of both of their lives. It was hard and I wanted him to get out so we could have a normal family. However, he was and continues to be the primary breadwinner for our family and provides for us now, which is extremely important. Unfortunately, we are no longer together, but that is our situation. There are pros and cons to each decision, and one will be right for your family. Good luck and thanks for sharing!
~Leigh