To reenlist or to not reenlist that is the question.

[Dinner]

As many of you know I spent six years in the Army and I've spent the last two years in the IRR ( a kind of nondrilling reserve) but what you may not know is that come Aug. 2nd I will be out of even the IRR. I've been reflecting over all of the good times, the bad times, and the in between times I had in the Army and now I'm mulling over the idea of reenlisting in the reserves.

I honestly thought I had decided not to reenlist several years ago but after a recent thread here at Apolyton (about good part time ways to make extra cash) I have once again reopened the Army can of worms. What do you folks think? What are the up sides and down sides that you can see to reenlisting?

I really like the free travel, the friendships, and the extra money would be nice but not really enough to get excited about since it would only be a few thousand a year. The idea of getting a military pension in addition to all my other retirement savngs is also a plus but you can't draw a reserve pension until you're 65 so I've got nearly 40 years to worry about that. The obvious downside would be the possibility (read almost certainty at least for a six year enlistment) getting pulled away from my civilian job, my family, and my friends to go to some hell hole overseas. Iraq and Liberia seem like obvious candidates but Bosnia or even another tour in Kosovo are possibilities. Am I missing anything here?

[Pekka]

Re-enlist. I see only positive things coming out of it.

[David Floyd]

Definitely do not re-enlist. Especially with our current administration, you could very easily be pulled into some bull**** war somewhere, or even worse, occupation duty.

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by Pekka
Re-enlist. I see only positive things coming out of it.

Except for that whole "Death in some foreign hellhole thing."

ACK!

[Pekka]

Tuberski, True...

[Dinner]

Occupation Duties... Yep, I'd give it 50-50 that if I reenlisted I'd end up with occupation duty at some point. Especially given my MOS which the Army Chief of Staff, during his interview on NPR today, listed as a "criticially in short supply" area. In other words they need 37F bad to help out with the occupation duty.

The upside is I do reenlist I might not have to go for a year or two and by then things will likely have cooled off a bit.

[Tuberski]

Any chance at a signing bonus?

ACK!

[Dinner]

Currently $5k but their talking about raising it to $10k. Included is $20k in student loan repayments. Admitably I'm done with school and have virtually no student loans to repay but it might be nice if I ever go to grad school.

[David Floyd]

The upside is I do reenlist I might not have to go for a year or two and by then things will likely have cooled off a bit.

In Iraq, sure. In Liberia? North Korea? Afghanistan? The Balkans? Who knows.

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Currently $5k but their talking about raising it to $10k. Included is $20k in student loan repayments. Admitably I'm done with school and have virtually no student loans to repay but it might be nice if I ever go to grad school.

If you are going to do it, what until $10k kicks in. $5k more and a chance to size up future travel plans......if you know what I mean.

ACK!

[CorpusScorpius]

What exactly is your job in the Army? Do U have any family (Married w/ kids)? What would be the civilian Equivalent of your current job? Would U be able to take a pay cut if you were called to go overseas?(Civilian jobs tend to pay more)

[Dinner]

The limiting factor is if I wait past Aug. 2nd then they might not let me keep my rank where as I do it Aug. 1st or sooner they will insure I keep my SGT stripes.

[Sprayber]

Hey man. It just so happens that the same question is being asked inside my head at this very moment..

Some questions you have to ask yourself

1. Opportunities for advancement. You have to find a slot that allows for promotions otherwise you could be stuck in a low rank. Would you have time to go to schools that are required for certain slots.

2. What rank would you go into the reserves as? Going from one status to another often involves a decrease in rank.

3. What kind of units are around your area. Some units go more than others. I'm in a matenience unit but I'm in one that is nondivisional so we could be supporting an artillary unit one month or an infantry unit the next. I could end up in Germany, or Iraq.

4. Family support. Are you involved with someone that would not understand or like you being gone for the annual trainings and possible depolyments.

5. Threshold for Army BS. Sounds funny, but think back to all the absolutely stupid things you had to do from time to time. If they didnt bother you too much then they aren't an issue.


It's a big decision. And to be perfectly honest my answer about weither to re enlist changes from day to day. For the most part I am single and extended deployments dont' bother me too much. If things would have went right a year ago, I would have been married with a little one. Then my attitude would have been different.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Currently $5k but their talking about raising it to $10k. Included is $20k in student loan repayments. Admitably I'm done with school and have virtually no student loans to repay but it might be nice if I ever go to grad school.

They pay you to go to grad school. You don't need the army for that.

[Dinner]

I only had like a 3.0 so I doubt I could get much of a grant. Besides if I went to grad school I'd probably go for an MBA in which case they most certainly do not pay you.