Originally Posted by
rickair7777
The military provides only short-term security (3-6 years). Long-term security is zero, it's up or out, if you miss the next promotion, you're out. I think maybe 20% actually qualify for the 20-year retirement... the pyramid gets steeper every step of the way.
You will also need to do a career change eventually, because there are so few slots available at the highest ranks that almost everyone is out before age 50. Really only flag and general officers can get anywhere near age 60 and just retire for real.
So not the rainbows and unicorns some civilians think it is.
Federal civil service on the other hand is a pretty cush gig, other than the inherent toxicity in many sectors.
No kidding. I didn't care how secure my job was when the 107mm rockets were sailing in or when I was flying overhead of two dead aviators in a burning Apache. Also found out it wasn't that secure when they retired our airframe and said "good luck" to 600 good pilots.