The guys I know getting out have already been selected for Major, and are leaving anyhow. No VPS, no involuntary sep, just walking out the door empty handed. Of course, most have they've already "logged" 2 years+ in Iraq by now and are getting a wee bit tired of it.
At least for NAVY/USMC, the guys that got out last year were winged well before 9/11 and well before OIF/OEF and the advent of the IA.
Hmmmm. That sounds familiar!
Navy, winged in '94, flew H-60's for 5 years then got to go fixed wing and flew E-2's. 3 deployments in each airframe. The SG realignment put me "late" for my DH tour after I was already there (my YG was split, and got put back together moving my O-5 board up a year; the CO was not willing to juggle the in-squadron rotation to hook me up; I was stuck behind 2 dudes 2 years junior to me) so no shot at CO. After the detailer said I could plan on my choice of coasts for Strike-Ops or similar ship jobs, I punched rather rot my brain for 6 years.
Not enough FW PIC (no FRS/VT time, did super JO - Wing - DH in E-2's) for a decent paying flying job so I'm loving life as a contractor in Pax River...working with 3 other dudes who were in the same boat and also punched at 14 years. Talking to the boys, retention is UGLY!
Bottom line: not worth the pain if I wasn't flying! Not sure it was if I was flying!
HTH
Spongebob