Originally Posted by
Hilltopper89
If I had a nickel for every left seater I've flown with who failed to get their mil retirement....
It's really a gamble but think too of how much that 20 year AD retirement is worth. You're talking a couple million dollars if you live til you're 80 not counting medical benefits.
Tough call, but then again I started at a major 3+ years ago while on terminal leave. But seriously, every CA I've flown with who didn't get an AD or Guard/Reserve retirement regrets it....to a man.
Concur. The term I often hear is "clean break" . I understand wanting off active duty. Continuing to serve, however, in the total force is a good investment in your future earnings and is great "career insurance".
Had many captains say to me "had I stayed and just done xxx more years, I'd have been done xxx with the reserves xxx years ago...."
Every single person is different. The military is a mess a right now. I get that. What Hilltopper is passing on is simply the same thing I hear, even at a company that is doing well.