Originally Posted by sigtauenus

I was pretty well set on getting out the past 2 years or so. The current job I have is riding a desk, and being a fighter guy, it really hasn't floated my boat. I am up for orders this summer, which is in line with my commitment being up, so I can go either way. I complain a lot, but the fact is, I still like being a Marine. But that only goes so far since taking care of the family is top priority. If the monitor offers me one of my top two choices, I will take the orders and stay for another 2 or 3 years.

Age 65 hasn't changed my decision, but the fact is I haven't positioned myself well enough to get out just yet. I have about $100,000 in IRA/retirement savings, which is good for retirement, but I effectively have nothing in regards to a savings backup plan if I get hired and immediately thereafter have to survive a strike, get furloughed, or God forbid, don't make it through training for whatever reason. Granted I didn't get to where I am today by planning for failure, but with a wife and 2 kids, I have to have a contingency plan. All the cars are paid off and the only debt we have is the house mortgage, and we positioned ourselves with the house/mortgage that we shouldn't have to lose anything to sell it if it comes to that (ie, we have equity vice being upside down). So its not all doom and gloom in regard to our finances, but with contract negotiations coming up in the next couple years at almost every major, I am just not in a position to take a pay cut and then survive a strike or furlough. I think thats a serious issue that needs to be planned for, and my retirement account is not a "war fund" that I plan on tapping in the event of a strike.

I'm at 11 years now. I haven't bought into the whole mantra of "if you don't get out now, you are in for 20" I have no problem taking the next set of orders if I get what I want, take the extra $1000 a month the O-4 promotion gives us and bank it all for 3 years on top of our regular savings, and be better positioned to reevaluate in 3 years. 3 years down the road, if I get another set of orders I want, maybe I'll take them, maybe not.

If I don't get promoted, this all becomes moot, as the $70,000 goes right into the coffers of the war fund and I go right to interviewing with everybody I can.

BTW, question was asked above about how long you have after you get passed over. The law is that as an officer, you get passed twice for promotion, you are out seven months after the list is confirmed. The list comes out in January, you probably have a EAS of 1 Aug. If you are still on your commitment, it doesn't matter. That commitment is effectively a gentleman's agreement between you and your service (USAF, USN, USMC, etc), whereas the law is set in Title 10, United States Code. The law trumps your commitment.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/ht...2----000-.html

Originally Posted by MAGNUM!!

Buzz, are you an IP at Columbus? If so, what jet?

Originally Posted by Buzz

Yes, T-38.

Originally Posted by scrapdog

Sig, I'm still waiting for your resume man. Oh wait, you said you were a mayreene...nevermind!

Originally Posted by sigtauenus

Hey, you forgot to throw out a BO-AT jibe. What's up with that, not on your game this week? Seriously, I thought the VA ANG wasn't taking anybody? How is the manning levels right now? I should find out what I'm being offered here in the next couple weeks or so. I'll be shotgunning out the resume as soon as I firmly decide to leave.

Originally Posted by BDGERJMN

I had to laugh when I read about the Raptor fellas complaining about turning through the pits. Happy New Year!!

Originally Posted by BDGERJMN

Sig, come on man, Scrap is just jealous I had to laugh when I read about the Raptor fellas complaining about turning through the pits. Happy New Year!!