When you get on with your dream job you need to really consider getting out/going IRR.

As an enlisted SM, I am sure it's not the money that drives one to continue.

Please pull your head out of your anus.

You can be furloughed from that dream job so easily not to mention your reserve or ANG job might be fun. Mine was.

That is awful advice!

You can go back in if you get furloughed. Maybe not to the same job or same unit though. If his reasons for serving are more than financial, then it probably is worth staying. I was a 15 year E-7 when I pulled the plug. I didn't enjoy it anymore though. I ran the numbers and figured I would lose quite a bit of money in the long run by staying in 5 more years. If I get furloughed I'll probably go back in. I miss the people I worked with, but I don't miss giving up the time with my family to sit through the latest version of SAPR training.

I wouldn't take for granted that you can get back in. I knew a number of folks who got out in the 90's (the military was degraded, and airlines were booming) only to get furloughed or lose their pension after 9/11. Fortunately for them the military business picked when the airlines tanked so getting back in was no problem. In the end I was glad I stayed in...I'll retire several paygrades above some of my buds who gapped service.

But in a plausible future economic scenario there may not (likely not) be a major conflict involving large ground forces, force structure increases, and reserve recalls. Getting back in might be problematic depending on force structure, and your age/rank. Easier for enlisted, but still.

Something to consider. If it were me I'd try to get into a career field or job that would be fun or at least tolerable and stick it out.

Hi Viper, each situation is different. I got sent to Singapore, Norway, Korea, and a bunch of other fun places so I didn't mind being in the reserves. Doesn't sound like you had a good time in your unit, sorry about that.

You punched out at 15 years, wow, you guys don't have correspondence courses?

As far as getting back in there usually has to be an opening for officers, who knows what the next administration is going to do as far as military right sizing.

Anyway good luck at AA.