Originally Posted by
HerkDriver
I am happy with the decision that I made, and was lucky that I made it when I did...but I would sure like to have had that little extra $ rolling in every month from a completed military retirement. As much as you might feel like "sticking it to the AF" by leaving early, I would urge you to seriously consider staying in and securing this retirement instead. When your time is up, you will still be young enough to get a flying job outside of the military and you will soon see that having that little extra bit of money in your pocket will go a long way in easing some of the stress that looking for a new job and starting another career WILL bring.
Getting passed over hurts...some of my very good friends on AD were passed over for LtCol, and these were guys who I would have bet my life on that they would be selected for promotion. Easy for me to say here, but:
Don't let it eat you up inside.
Get angry, then get over it.
Keep flying.
BE SAFE!
Do your job, but don't come in early or stay late anymore. Sombody else can be the POC for the CFC now, if you get my drift.
Use your newly found free time to get your ducks in a row for when you do retire (resume, ATP, medical, letters of rec., etc).
Start saving NOW so that the first year you are out won't be as traumatic.
Start saving NOW so that the first year you are out won't be as traumatic.
Start saving NOW so that the first year you are out won't be as traumatic.
(Get the picture? 20-25K might be a reasonable goal.)
Best of luck with your final decision, Mox. Take care and Fly Safe.
HerkDriver
P.S. Shoot me a quick PM when you get a chance. Mox Nix...ever stationed in Germany?
Thanks a bunch Herk, I'm with you on all points. My "stay or go" dilemma wasn't ever a "stick it to the AF" kinda thing, it was more "what the **** do I do with my life now?" But even with the passover, I wasn't really torn up about it. Kinda moped about it for a day or two, and was over it quickly. I wasn't really gunning for SQ/CC or O-6 (those guys work too damn much!) so all it did was cap my paycheck...with the side benefit of letting me keep flying the line! No staff tour to deal with! So I made my last PCS to Moody last summer planning on finishing my time there.
Got the ATP a couple years ago, medical is next after I get back home. Doing the resume and gathering letters of rec and such will soon follow...read up on interview preps and perhaps schedule mock interviews too. All in an effort to be ready whenever that time comes.
And, you're right about the $$ thing...I'm in OK financial shape now, not much debt, some savings...so these next three years will help position myself a little better in that respect. So that's the plan