I believe that Jamie Foxx's character from Jarhead said it best: "My brother owns a store back home. If I wanted, I could go back and we'd run it together. But, you know why I don't? Because I love this job. 'Oorah."
Bro, if you enjoy it, then do it. If it pisses you off, then don't. If it does both, then go with the side that is stronger. I know you enjoy the work. Honestly, aside from the severe ass-raping Uncle Same gave me at the end of my time, I would have enjoyed staying in. Sure I wouldn't have my hair or my "freedom", but I would have a guaranteed paycheck, guaranteed food, guaranteed roof over my head, and a job that has ample opportunities for advancement. I'd always be able to move around(as I hate being in one place for very long), and I'd get to be around a bunch of interesting people.
Do what you truly want to. Don't talk yourself into something, don't talk yourself out of something. Follow your instincts and go with what you really want to do. Make two lists, one that has 10 reasons to stay in, one that has 10 reasons to get out(good reasons for both). After that, decide.
RE-UP pros (4 years) Learn Chinese at DLI for 1.5 yrs. Back to Texas for a few months, then 2 years in Hawaii or Georgia, or somewhere else. Sounds easy, no? Continue easy life with great benefits (medical and vacation, youth and fitness). Build Resume a bit more for a government job.
RE-UP cons Not see much of my son. Really no way around that one. Even if I was stateside. Sign away some freedoms and rights. Trade away the most energetic and productive years of my life into a fairly low-income job, building no equity on a mortgage and putting down no roots. Continue to deal with mind-numbing bureacracy.
damn it if I'm not brilliant!prpledragnFebruary 19 2007, 06:16:45 UTC
So... why don't you buy a house somewhere?? You could rent it out if you want to, that way you can make payments on it while you're in the military and you'll have the added help of renters to help pay it off AND you'll be building credit. Then maybe someday you could either live there permanently or you could sell it and live somewhere else. And as far as seeing your son, ya that part gets tricky, but think about how much most parents get to see their kids, not a whole lot what with work and their school etc. Just find a way to visit him on vacations, maybe get him to live with you part of the year once you get stationed stateside. What else would you be doing with your most energetic and productive years of your life? Parying? Getting into debt like the rest of us normal people? You want adventure right, this has it written all over it. Mind-numbing bureacracy will follow you in any job, people are stupid everywhere, and sadly even in the military. So no escaping that one I'm afraid. Look I'm not trying to get you to reup, in fact I'm usually the one talking people out of the military, I guess I'm just saying that if it's something you really want to do, something that will make you happy, then do it. If I had the chance to do something that made me happy, you know I'd do it, I'd find a way to make it work (us stubborn people are good at that). I just want you to be happy. And if I just happen to have the answers to all your problems... well I'm just that good. ;)
Bro, if you enjoy it, then do it. If it pisses you off, then don't. If it does both, then go with the side that is stronger. I know you enjoy the work. Honestly, aside from the severe ass-raping Uncle Same gave me at the end of my time, I would have enjoyed staying in. Sure I wouldn't have my hair or my "freedom", but I would have a guaranteed paycheck, guaranteed food, guaranteed roof over my head, and a job that has ample opportunities for advancement. I'd always be able to move around(as I hate being in one place for very long), and I'd get to be around a bunch of interesting people.
Do what you truly want to. Don't talk yourself into something, don't talk yourself out of something. Follow your instincts and go with what you really want to do. Make two lists, one that has 10 reasons to stay in, one that has 10 reasons to get out(good reasons for both). After that, decide.
Reply
RE-UP pros (4 years)
Learn Chinese at DLI for 1.5 yrs. Back to Texas for a few months, then 2 years in Hawaii or Georgia, or somewhere else. Sounds easy, no?
Continue easy life with great benefits (medical and vacation, youth and fitness).
Build Resume a bit more for a government job.
RE-UP cons
Not see much of my son. Really no way around that one. Even if I was stateside.
Sign away some freedoms and rights.
Trade away the most energetic and productive years of my life into a fairly low-income job, building no equity on a mortgage and putting down no roots.
Continue to deal with mind-numbing bureacracy.
Reply
And as far as seeing your son, ya that part gets tricky, but think about how much most parents get to see their kids, not a whole lot what with work and their school etc. Just find a way to visit him on vacations, maybe get him to live with you part of the year once you get stationed stateside.
What else would you be doing with your most energetic and productive years of your life? Parying? Getting into debt like the rest of us normal people? You want adventure right, this has it written all over it.
Mind-numbing bureacracy will follow you in any job, people are stupid everywhere, and sadly even in the military. So no escaping that one I'm afraid.
Look I'm not trying to get you to reup, in fact I'm usually the one talking people out of the military, I guess I'm just saying that if it's something you really want to do, something that will make you happy, then do it. If I had the chance to do something that made me happy, you know I'd do it, I'd find a way to make it work (us stubborn people are good at that). I just want you to be happy. And if I just happen to have the answers to all your problems... well I'm just that good. ;)
Reply
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