What percent of new enlisted people stay in 20 years or longer ? (National Guard, officers)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My son was an E-8 (?) and he had been up for promotion twice but there were no slots so, he went to Warrant Officer training and is working on that. He has in 20 yrs between the Regular army, Reserves and Fla Natl Guard.
At each generation change there is a large shift in mentality. Being that I recently retired, I personally witnessed the younger generation mentality shift.
I was enlisted in the Gen X era (from late 80's to late 2000's). Gen X TDY commitment was pretty tough but now this generation of troops goes TDY even more. My TDY workload stressed the family to the maximum, so much so, that we can NOT fathom the stress families are feeling today. Initially, the plan was to stay in for 30 years but the TDY commitment was too much for my family to plan.
With that said, re-enlists and retirements will drop, especially for married troops, which is what the government was aiming for anyways.
I ask this because it seems a lot of the posters who post here are retired military people.
At times, the advice they give ( very good advice) seems to be under the assumption that every enlisted person is going to stay in at least 20 years.
It would be highly unlikely for an 18 year old to start employment with any company at age 18 and stay with them for 20 years.
I started at a company at age 17, from age 20-22 I was drafted and returned for a total of 19 years.
However, I will admit I was the exception where I work and certainly not the norm.
I guess what I am asking is-----what percent of new enlisted persons complete 20 years in the military?
Should they enter the military with full knowledge that after 4 years they may decide military is not a place they want to commit 16 more years to ?
Just " food for thought "
I didn't stay.
As far as the private sector goes, you used to be able to expect more from your company, some sort of loyalty or reward for staying for 20 or 30 years, a pension and a gold watch. Now that companies no longer feel it necessary to be loyal to YOU, fewer people are willing to be loyal to THEM.
And honestly, speaking out of my own personal experience, I've been with my current company going on 6 years. I'm going on 40 this year. Up to now, I've never stayed with anyone over a year. I got bored or irritated and I left for something else, at a higher rate of pay. If I could find something for a higher rate of pay--I might leave again.
I enlisted in the Navy and stayed 20 years and 5 days. My rating had a fairly high retention rate as the work was outstanding and I was primarily shore based.
When the latest grumbling of the retirement plan changing was being discussed, I was pretty certain that the figured used, by the Army anyway, was that 17% of individuals who join the service serve 20 years or more. I don't know if there are any statistical differences between officers and NCOs.
I did 6 years and 3 days, and got out for my own reasons at my EAOS date. All of my good friends that I met while I was in the Navy got out at the end of their four years but two.
One was pushed out at 9 years by the retention boards even though he had great evals, and was the LPO of his calibration lab with no NJP's or other negative write ups.
The other was in my rate and is currently stationed at NAS Lemoore, but is being transferred to an east coast Hornet squadron. He is not sure how much longer he will be in, but he was picked up by perform to serve for re-enlistment, as was I before I got out. He doesn't think he will be able to make it to twenty years even if he wants to. This is the case for alot of military people that I talk to in all branches.
As for myself, I am considering joining the Air National Guard, as I am starting to miss the game after a couple of years.
I loved the Navy, and wasn't a whiner/complainer, but jobs on the air side of the Navy are overmanned and thining out.
As macjr82 said above, the vast majority of enlistees leave the military after their initial enlistment. Just like with any company, the military needs a lot more workers at the lower levels (pay grades) than they need at the top. So staying beyond your first enlistment depends on a number of things; what military job (specialty or rating) you have, what job vacancies your service has when it's time for you to reenlist (and it may be possible to retrain into another job to stay in the military) and a number of other factors.
As for staying on active duty to (and past) the 20-year mark, there are several factors. I'm only familiar with the Air Force so I'll have to rely on the other C-Ders to comment on their branches. To reach the 20 year mark in the USAF, you must have reached the rank of SSgt (E-5) or higher. Beyond 20 years you must attain higher rank depending on how many years you want to stay. I know the requirements of what's called "TOPCAP" recently changed, so I'll defer to my fellow Blue Suiters that are currently serving to fill in the current details. For example, you used to be able to stay in for 24 years if you were a Master Sergeant. (I don't believe that's still the case, though)
As for committing to a 20-year career when you're only a few years in isn't necessary. You reenlist at various points along the way to retirement eligibility. Depending on the needs of the service, you may be offered a bonus to leave (or stay, depending on your skills) And many military members transfer to the Guard/Reserves sometime during their career to keep serving but in a different way.
Hope this helps.
My son was in the Army, very young. Got out. Went into the Reserves. After 9/11 was sent to handle (some kind of )communications at Miami and Ft Lauderdale airports. Stayed there for almost 5 years. Got a divorce. He made e-8 (?) but could never get a slot at e-9 (?) so he went to Warrant Officer school and graduated at 47. He still works for the military in a civilian job , I think is what he told me.
It is all very confusing but, it is sort of like I said. He has been in the Army or the Guard or whatever since he was 18 years old and he will be 49 in October of this years.
I recently became acquainted with a grandniece of mine. She went into the service, was stationed out in Calif. She got married and will have 3 children, under 3 years of age by the end of this year. I understand she will be getting out of the service. Is that because she has all of these children ? I was shocked. I guess she was pregnant the whole time she was in the service. The military paid for them, right ?
eta: oops. I didn't realize I had already posted about some of this. Can be deleted if the moderator chooses, although I would like to know about the 3 pregnancies in 3 years if someone can answer my question.
I understand she will be getting out of the service. Is that because she has all of these children ? I was shocked. I guess she was pregnant the whole time she was in the service. The military paid for them, right ?
The military paid for them, right ?
She may be voluntarily released at her own request. Who knows for sure? Yes, the U.S. Government / Military paid for the babies to be born... My two cost $5.25 each for the rations my wife ate while in the hospital... She was not in the military...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.