When did you decide to retire?

[Battleshort]

This thread could also be titled “What caused you to retire?”

Time away from family? Deployments? Policy changes over the years but you cannot? High year tenure? The list could go on.

Let’s hear what you have to say on how you decided to end your carreer.

[CrustySMSgt]

Don't know... I'n not there yet... lol

I'm not ready to figure out what I'm going to do when I grow up.

6.5 years to go...

[Red Dragon]

After 23 1/2 years of service, I grew tired of getting screwed by officers. TO WIT: I busted my ass everyday, but the ossifer took credit for MY hard work. When that happened in Afghanistan, I decided that I would no longer work to make some Major look good. I took my skills and have a great job; that major now has to screw some other hard working individual.

I really just got tired of busting MY ass and then some ossifer took credit for all of my hard work.

[FLAPS]

After 23 1/2 years of service, I grew tired of getting screwed by officers. TO WIT: I busted my ass everyday, but the ossifer took credit for MY hard work. When that happened in Afghanistan, I decided that I would no longer work to make some Major look good. I took my skills and have a great job; that major now has to screw some other hard working individual.

I really just got tired of busting MY ass and then some ossifer took credit for all of my hard work.

The officer, CMSgt and ANYBODY over you will always take credit for what you do.... Believe it or not, their leadership/management has something to do with your success in one way or another. It's no different on the outside. Next time you go out and do some work, do it for the mission and don't be so concerned about who else might take credit.

[SgtMac6]

I rerired after 23 years because I couldn't keep up with the physical demands of my job. I can not ask those under me to perform a task if I can't do it. It was just time for an old fart to get out.

[Calmo70]

Me (a Chief) and the Wg Command Chief didn't get along (pretty much hated each other) mainly over IMO his political BS. Anyway, got put in by WG/CC for reassignment - was offered the pentagon. Said stuff it, put in my papers for a year out and they couldn't move me. Continued to fight for my troops until the last day. Then got a job on base and continued to harass the Command Chief until he left. It was all good in the end.

[OSC(SW) USN Retired]

That was kinda decided for me when I severed my ACL in my left knee and tore all the ligaments and cartilage up in the process.

[MACHINE666]

The officer, CMSgt and ANYBODY over you will always take credit for what you do.... Believe it or not, their leadership/management has something to do with your success in one way or another. It's no different on the outside. Next time you go out and do some work, do it for the mission and don't be so concerned about who else might take credit.

Isn't that the way it should normally work? But sadly enough those snake-in-the-grass types get promoted off your hard work and you just sit there and get passed up for promotion. The only difference is that as a civilian you can give that guy the "Hawaiian good luck sign" and quit with little to no repercussion once he takes credit for what you did.

I had a major here get a commendation medal partially for keeping a specific base program at 99% compliance, the highest for its kind in USAFE, only he never played interference when I had supervisors and IG inspectors beat me up for the mistakes of my forerunners. Try having 3 colonels beat you up simultaneously over a mess someone else made and you're going to be pissed when higher leadership doesn't step in and say "It's not entirely his fault", but take the credit for everything right you've done.

[Battleshort]

Here are some of the issues that either started me thinking about retirement or set the process into motion:

1. When the base gym became the facility wellness center.
2. When ESWS became mandatory and they relaxed the requirements.
3. When the Integrated Undersea Surveillance geeks got a warfare pin.
4. When it was more important to have 12 in-port duty sections than have a secure ship.
5. Having my Security Alert Team and Duty GM on the fire-party.
(The USS Cole attack fixed # 4 & 5)
6. The first time I heard we were “right-sizing”.
7. The first time they changed “safety stand-down” to “safety stand-up”.
8. Sewing 20 dollars worth of patches on a 10 dollar set of coveralls.
9. TQL, TQM and all that other touchy-feely crap.

Just to be fair, here are a few things that I do miss:

1. The ports.
2. Sunsets at sea.
3. More stars than you can imagine.
4. Sunrises at sea.
5. The sound and smell of naval gunfire and missile launches.
6. The Chiefs Mess.
7. Most of the people. Not all – just most of the finest individuals our country has to offer.

Remember – these two lists are not all inclusive. Some of these items may resonate more with the sailors than anyone else, so if you have terminology questions – fire away.

[Measure Man]

I think about retiring every single day.

I believe my time has come...I just need to plan my exit strategy.

[jeffersj]

1. I hit high year tenure in the Navy Reserve Component. I could have kept drilling for retirement credit only if I wanted to. Wife had an issue with that, as my unit was 55 miles away from my residence.

2. Family issues - there are certain things going on that I need to deal with.

No one misses the pure unadulterated male bovine droppings. However, you do miss the good times and the good people you served with.

[chevyman]

I have about two years left until my twenty. Unless I make MSgt I don't see myself staying a day past twenty. I'm not going to by that guy, the one that hangs on for the hope to make the next stripe. I'm getting tired of the BS, getting screwed over by leadership, back stabbing peers that are only looking out for themselves and thier next stripe. people taking credit and getting promoted off my back. I'm aslo tired of the PC bullcrap. It isn't the same Air Force I joined in 1991. If the economy is good at that time I will be dropping the paperwork.