Originally Posted by
deadseal
Dude, I can't help but chime in here. Ask yourself this one question. When you are 60 years old, what would you pay to have had more time with your kids? Think about this. What dollar amount? I completely cut ties after 11 years AD. And dude..... It's awesome. I am carpool dad, soccer dad, breakfast maker dad, homework dad, etc etc. tri care and 30 k and a retirement when I'm 60 aren't worth losing these moments . IMHO think about it....all of you
Here is another perspective on the topic...
There is benefit in having the security of ANG/RES job as a secondary source of income, especially when you are near the bottom of the seniority list. Ask any 1999-2001 hire about it. Their families certainly enjoyed the security of a steady paycheck with healthcare and retirement when they were furloughed. Some who would have left at 12 yrs with nothing ended up with a 20yr active retirement at about the time they were recalled to the airlines.
If you fly ANG/AFRES and an airline job, the key to survival is not maximizing both careers. Acknowledge ahead of time you will not be the ace of the base, but rather a steady contributor. You aren't the WS/GS whxxx either. Put in your mil leave pre month to reduce your airline schedule. In my case, I would drop a 3-5 day trip to do my ANG duty. During the mil days, I was home for dinner with my family and was there to tuck my kids in bed. That was 3-5 extra bedtime stories from Dad they would have missed without the mil flying. It's all about having the self discipline to set a limit on the number of workdays and nights away when you have the potential to work every day of the month.