Men who were in the military and left, how is life now?

41 comments

1. Going great, but if I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have gone in the Military. The lifelong disability wasn’t worth it.

2. Not me but my dads friend, he was in my countries military until last year after 3 months he decided that the civilian life wasn’t for him so he called dad and told him his plan to grab his hunting rifle and end it, he went to his funeral 4 months ago, that was the first time I’ve ever seen him cry

3. Great, I still work for them, but now they pay me more.

4. 8 years navy.

   Its great. No student debt. No down payment on my house. Veterans preference for hiring.

   Friends in the DoD that can look out for contracts that I can be part of.

5. Did an enlistment, went to school on their dime. Overall the military wasn’t for me but I don’t have any real feelings one way or another about it. I’m glad I did it because my experience was largely positive, but I know that’s not the case for many many people.

6. Irish Army 5 years complete waste of fucking time.

7. Was in 3 years and learned a lot. Glad for the ass kicking it gave me as I needed it. I’m very grateful for the experience but I’m not the follow orders kind of guy. I’ve done extremely well since. No regrets.

8. Did my 4 years in the Navy from 2002-2006 and it was the best decision I ever made.

9. Way better than I was when I was in. I make more money to just go to school and I’m not under contract by the govt anymore.

10. It’s fine.

11. It’s alright. I would’ve retired 4-5 years ago…..so that sucks considering I’m looking at another 15-20 to retire civilian. But life is generally good.

    I recommend anyone that can retire. You’re young as fuck when you get out with full benefits. I would have retired at 38. And civilian retirement plans blow goats.

12. 1 enlistment, 1 4 year “extension”, USAF to space force.

    got out after a solid decade of doing great things, now i make roughly 200k, maybe a little more with disability.

    first year out though, kinda worried about how hard tax season is going to slap me in the face next year lol. i think my days of getting refunds are over.

    otherwise, still work in the same place, at the same 3 letter agency, with the same people. now i get to grow my hair out, and wear nice clothes, and work my own hours.

    ​

    i definitely work more, get about the same amount of leave, very flexible. i got really lucky.

13. Was in the Navy on a DDG, life was mega fucking stressful sometimes but now its better.

14. Much better than it would have been had I stayed in.

15. 4 years Navy. I’m glad I’m out cause I fucking hated it. But if I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t have the opportunities I get now.

16. 31yrs old, Got a small secluded house with my dog outside of a smallish town on a dirt road. Dealt with alcoholism and mental health for a few years after I was out. 50% disabled working as a local contract truck driver. I work when companies loose drivers or need shifts covered for a premium. Currently working one day a week but sometimes it’s everyday for a month or two.

    I avoid stress like the plague and people as well. My friends are either hyper successful working all the time or addicts in some way I don’t want to be around. I’m in a weird spot where I’m kind of just done trying to reach a goal, besides quitting nicotine, I’m content with what I have and who I am. I’m not happy but I’m not sad.

    It’s peaceful and calm just hanging out with my dog everyday and chosing when to participate in society. If I was still in or didn’t have extensive therapy when I was out to help me find a place as a civilian that works for me, I would have 100% shot my self.

17. Paid for college. Been an ER RN for a long time. Money is good. Got me a 2.5% VA loan for my house. Thanks Navy

18. Six years Navy here; it opened up opportunities for me that have treated me well. I did a lot of growing up in those six years and have a little different perspective. Plus some veterans benefits have been pretty kickass.

19. I was in 13 years. Finished my masters right before I got out. The huge drop in stress is amazing. Life is good. Have a wonderful wife,a house, and a job I enjoy. Gi Bill prevented most student loan debt, VA disability is nice to use towards investments and free up more money for discretionary expenses.

    Overall it was well worth my time.

20. 3 years Army (TF/STREFE), going great! Pay doubled, no stress, and I can grow a beard. I do miss the bluntness and camaraderie a bit, but swings and roundabouts.

21. Did 14 years in the Navy and I can honestly say while some parts of it sucked (12 months at sea is no joke), it was the best decision I could’ve made. I spent 5 years in Japan and it was absolutely amazing and without a doubt the most rewarding experience of my life. I’ve been to 15 different countries, ate some of the best food in the world and met some of the coolest and most interesting people. I met my wife who was Active as well and when she got selected for Commission, I decided my time was done. I separated at the height of COVID which wasn’t the best decision, but it allowed me to use my GI Bill fully online and still get the full benefits. I leveraged my security clearance and degree and got a great GS job which after just 6 years will put me at 20 years of federal service and allow me to retire. Add to that both my kids who I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and I wouldn’t want to change a thing.

22. 8 years+ Marines, three combat deployments. It was the best and worst decision I ever made. Had some rough times after separation, but still moving forward, started businesses and family, life is pretty sweet now.

23. Army Vet. Just short of 10 years. Computer guy that jumped out of planes.

    I miss it sometimes.

    I want to keep missing it.

24. 8 years Army. Combat Vet Iraq. Life is great. Loved it and hated it all at once.

25. Did 20, got out, have a union job. Pension and disability almost cover my mortgage.

26. Life is amazing out of the military. I work for a large financial firm. Met someone there. He joined the firm as an intern at the same age I joined the military. 17. He has over 2.3m in his 401k. I have broken knees but am extremely resilient. So I’ve got that going for me

27. Going much fucking better.

    I’m alot happier now and have learned so much more in just a few months.

28. Awesome… F15 Avionics.. been in electronics or robotics since.. make excellent pay

29. Went to PA (Physician Assistant ) school in the Army. Retired at 37 and doubled my income the next day. Now making about 4x my military salary.

30. 21 years Navy. Retired at 38. Honestly the best decision I ever made. Free college for me, my wife, and my kids. The freedom that comes from retirement and disability pay is huge for my quality of life. I was able to take a job that I enjoy instead of worrying about how to pay the bills. Plus, I have a lot of great stories to tell.

31. Compared to when I was in the Marines? Great. I’m treated like an adult and have the ability to have real hobbies and travel. I haven’t been punished for the actions of a coworker ever as a civilian.

    To make up for the lack of that brotherhood element, I joined the local rugby team. They’re not quite as “ride or die” as Devil Dogs, but they’re a suitable replacement.

32. Did 21 years and have been collecting a monthly check since 1996.

33. 7 years active duty US Army. Once I started taking it seriously I loved it. Learned a lot about teamwork, emotional intelligence and a sense of duty/purpose. After I left, the biggest shock was coming to understand that the civilian sector does not have the same kind of camaraderie and shared mission, but I adjusted.

34. Discharged due to a medical reason. I miss it every day.

35. In the process of getting an admin discharge (not honorable, not dishonorable). Was in for about 2 years, did some really dumb shit. Nothing serious but, in the military, a bunch of little stuff becomes big.

    Trying desperately to stay in or join another branch, but now that I’m sort of back in the civilian side, I hate it. The civilian side is so much more relaxed and free (you don’t even realize until you do something like military). But it’s also WAYYY more stressful. You don’t have friends to constantly turn to, you don’t necessarily have the same steady paycheck or benefits, the sense of purpose is just completely sucked away from you.

    I know I will make it on the civiee side, but fuck man if I’m booted, it will haunt me the rest of my life, I can tell you that. Better to have never served than to have served and fucked it up. 100%

36. Been out since 2007. Life is good. Amazing Wife, great job, good money, great little dog.

    My Military experience set me up for success. Honestly before it I was a punk kid with no goals or ambition.

37. US Army from 1995-2003 first job was heavy equipment operator second was a Vet tech. I never had to deploy. Only thing fucked up from it is my hearing but I get a little bit of money each month for that.

    Life is wonderful. I used my GI bill to get a degree and now I’m making crazy good money working for a community college.

38. Fucking sucks. My body is broken, and mental health is gone.

39. 15 years later, and I’m finally not angry all the time anymore. I take pills for sad, am lightly disabled, in therapy, sober finally, divorced and only now after all this time do I feel like I have hope for tomorrow

40. Idk man I got some trauma and some issues. My career is technically going great but I just don’t give a shit about any of it it’s weird.

41. Going pretty well.

    Got medically retired early due to some injuries sustained while serving. 100% T&P Disabled by the VA. I am lucky, though, in that I am one of the very lucky few to have no mental impact or truly incapacitating physical impairments. So, the monthly compensation that comes from that for the rest of my life is a nice thank you from the taxpayers of the country.

    I decided to go to grad school upon getting out instead of immediately trying to find a civilian job. I used the GI Bill for all its worth and got three master’s degrees over the course of 3.3 years. The GI Bill pays a monthly housing allowance for the zip code of your school. I was stationed near and currently live in the bay area, so I went to a school in San Francisco. Between disability and GI Bill, I didn’t need to work. I was making more after getting out than I was while I was in. I also didn’t pay taxes for over three years because it was all non-taxable income.

    Graduated at the start of this summer and started looking for work. It’s tough out there. It took much longer than I had hoped and expected. Every company has unrealistic expectations of how much experience candidates can really have. I must have applied to 500 or so jobs. I applied to over 200 positions at a single company. Had only a handful of interviews over the last three months, but landed a decent gig that pays fairly well.

    I mean, sure, I am a little fucked up both physically and emotionally like many others who served, but I am better off than many others.
    I know the military is difficult on marriages, and my first one didn’t last. However, I got remarried not long before I was retired and we’re still together after 4+ years, so that’s a good sign. I have difficulty resisting the programmed need to have a daily routine, overly organizing my life, and controlling my environment. I’m getting better as time goes on with that, though. It helps that I married a free-spirited woman. If you are a rigid man who is concerned about adjusting to life on the outside, just get yourself a hippie, they’ll loosen you up.