[BadSaver]

I retired from the Army after twenty years at age 41. Went through a couple of wars. Left my family many times for 6-12 months at a time. It was very hard on them. Was supposed to go to S. Korea (w/o family) for a year the day my son was born. After some work got that deferred for two months. When I showed up in Korea they didn't have a spot for me (excess). When i got sent back to the states they wouldn't allow me to go back to my original duty assignment so I could sell my house. Poor wife was left stranded with a baby for years... Family was fun to visit...

Got sent to Bosnia (and Kosovo, Hungary & Croatia) many times. My rank was high enough that I thought it wouldn't affect me. however, a friend of mine. The same rank. His wife wrote a ton of bad checks in Germany. She escaped by returning back to the US. He escaped by volunteering to go to Bosnia. That set a presidence for someone of my rank to be in Bosnia. Next they sent me. Once again, leaving my wife and baby but this time for only six months. Only because someone wrote bad checks a year before.

The second time I got sent to a Bosnia was as a First Sergeant. Another friend at another base had an incident where two of his soldiers decided to wife swap. Before he was to deploy, one of the wives went to him and confessed. Weird... He didn't take action on it. When the command found out about it they pulled him out of the position. I ended up leading his company in Bosnia. Six more months away from my family be someone was immoral.

Once the Army was exhausted the National guard took over. Thought I was out of it but the National Guard guys weren't trained to a level that would allow them to complete the mission. Spent the next three years on the road in and out of various war zones.

Every time it was a real challenge to our finances. We'd save up and then have to spend money because of a move or separation.

After retiring from the Military, went back to school and became a CPA. About a seven year struggle during ones forties is not fun. Family is counting on you in so many ways.

The Army is an affirmative action type place. Had i known this i wouldn't have joined (as enlisted). They PURPOSELY have no testing to tell who knows their job, etc (used to have SQT then SDT). Very easy to not get promoted because you are the wrong sex or color. I'm talking ranks E-7 to E-9 but applies to all enlisted. Unlike firefighters, soldiers aren't allowed to sue and have no recourse. I scored the highest in the Army on the SQT (for my job skill) when they tried it. They tossed the test and promoted a guy who scored 30% on it. Additionally, as you've read above. People not knowing their job can affect you in so many ways more than just promotion.

If you get killed in the military your wife or whoever you select gets paid insurance proceeds that you pay for. If you die slow, then your spouse can get a retirement for life plus the insurance. If you die in an Army hospital, the Army doctor may delay stamping your death certificate until the command can get the medical retirement approved.

For example, one guy on post with the same truck as mine. Friends thought it was me... He ran into a light pole one evening. This caused him to have brain injuries. I thought that the command believed his accident to have been caused by drinking and driving (based on rumors I was hearing). They didn't have any sympathy for him so they didn't rush to get a medical retirement done. He died the next day in a German Hospital - his wife was left without a retirement and only the insurance proceeds. He had many years of military service. His death was not service related. But, military law covers you 100% of the time. When you're in the military, your in... Don't count on any military support coming back to you. Best to keep a million bucks worth of insurance on yourself. Insurance is cheap at that age.

Once retired, if you die. Your spouse gets up to 55% of your retirement from the insurance you pay called SBP. Leaves one to worry about what if after retiring. Note that one social security goes away when one of two married people die as well. My wife's family all lived into their 90s. My family, no male has lived past 63.

If I could do it over again. I wouldn't go into the Army. Better to be a public servant in California.

Sorry, no time to word smith this.