Duke,
I think this thread is treading the same ground I've been agonizing about for the last 6 months. I'm a Coast Guard C-130 Pilot with 2.5 years until my obligation is up- it'll be the 11 year mark.
No, we don't get shot at, nor do we deploy for longer than a couple weeks at a time, but we also don't get any bonus besides ACIP. No complaints from me about that- I'll pay that money not to get shot at or live in a tent or be away from home for extended periods. Not that it doesn't sound a little bit exciting, but, you know. When we deploy, we generally stay in a nice hotel somewhere reasonably exotic (cenamer, south pacific, carib etc).

I've been really upset with the admin focused and crazy PC world to which the CG is gravitating of late (and being a senior O-3 spending his fourth year as asst admin officer doesn't help!). Been thinking about making that jump, but after reading this post, I'm thinking I dont' have much to complain about, and especially, after running the numbers, the Military retirement is freakin' golden. My only worry is that my last tour won't be aviation oriented and I'll be out the chance to even put in a reasonable application for aviation work outside.
There's definitely a lot of good wisdom in this one, and thank you even though it wasn't directed at me.