Originally Posted by
jsfBoat
Its been nearly a year since I finished up last May with 9 years in and as a E-5, it has been a good and needed break. Problem is that I'm starting to miss it. I wasn't deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan and always felt like I was missing out being with my friends who went.
Consider yourself lucky, going to the sandbox is HIGHLY overrated...especially if your job will take you "outside the wire." You should be proud and content to have served with honor, even if you didn't place yourself into harms way. By the fact that you volunteered to put on the uniform, you done more than 97% of the population.
Originally Posted by
jsfBoat
If it goes down with North Korea or somewhere else, I don't want to miss out again being with my buddies.
Trust me, as someone among many here, who has spent lot's of time in "overseas contingency operations." You are not missing out on anything...other than a little bit of camraderie...which you can get without going into a combat zone and is not unique to the military.
Originally Posted by
jsfBoat
I enjoy my flying job, despite my often complaints about it and sometimes wanting to do something else, so Im leaning towards National Guard to get something that would get me sent over, but also to continue being in the military. Should I stay out, only to forget it, or go in again? I'm on the fence.
Forgive me for sounding harsh, but it sounds like to me that you want to join up and deploy ONLY to get some "combat stink" on you. If that is the reason for wanting to get back in do yourself a favor and DON'T! Depending on what job you had when you were active duty, for most people (MX, Finance, Supply, etc.), deploying is just like doing your normal duties...just in a combat zone where there is minimal personal risk to your health and well being and 12 hour shifts. Some folks will even get scheduled days off! For those who "leave the wire" everyday, this can be a drastically different experience depending if you are infantry, SOF, helicopter crew, etc. And realize the experiences deployed of someone who flys on C-17's for example, is vastly different than someone who flies CAS on A-10's or CSAR in HH-60's. Bottom line, if you enjoy your job and life is good, stick with it don't throw a good thing away just to get some "combat stink" on you.