re: Military Families

Quoting ♡Sarah♡ + 2:" Yeah, neither of us want to go back to our hometowns for that very reason. His wouldnt offer him anything ... [snip!] ... There are lots of jobs for DH in his field and lots of AF reserve units which had more in his job than his current branch USMC"

Yeah, we've talked about going to our hometown, which would offer him the best choices of civilian jobs and AGR jobs, along with the Air Force base out there. But, I have no urge to live in my hometown, I would rather live in his, but his only choice for jobs would be Border Patrol, Police, or the Railroad, so, he'd end up taking a pay decrease and losing benefits. It's all so wishy-washy right now and it sucks.

I'm home for his deployment and I love being around my friends and family again, but I just don't know if I'd be happy enough to settle down here for the rest of our life and I know, the military will be the only reason we will ever leave.

Decisions, decisions!

Quoting aℓyssa™:" For those who (or husband's) who have reenlisted, how, as a family, did you come to that decision? My husband is ridiculously torn right now, as am I. "

If he doesn't have a job set up for when he gets out, I'd reenlist. That's how my decision is made anyways.

Quoting The Icebox {MBRD}:" If he doesn't have a job set up for when he gets out, I'd reenlist. That's how my decision is made anyways."

The only issue is with what he wants to go into, they won't start looking at him until he's completely out. So, it's a HUGE risk.

Quoting aℓyssa™:" The only issue is with what he wants to go into, they won't start looking at him until he's completely out. So, it's a HUGE risk. "

damn, I definitely wouldn't risk that. I'm also a single mom though, at least while he's doing that you can work ya know?

Quoting The Icebox {MBRD}:" damn, I definitely wouldn't risk that. I'm also a single mom though, at least while he's doing that you can work ya know?"

It's all so hard right now.   Because if he gets out, the main reason would be so I can go back to school (cheaper and easier to go in my home town, even with all the military spouse incentives.   )

I'm just over this process and wish we could figure out a solid decision. :lol

Quoting aℓyssa™:" It's all so hard right now.   Because if he gets out, the main reason would be so I can go back ... [snip!] ... all the military spouse incentives.   ) I'm just over this process and wish we could figure out a solid decision. :lol"

So he'd get out, without a job, and you'd have no plans to do anything but go to school? Sounds kinda iffy lol. I'm sure it'll work out either way

Quoting The Icebox {MBRD}:" So he'd get out, without a job, and you'd have no plans to do anything but go to school? Sounds kinda iffy lol. I'm sure it'll work out either way"

  I'd keep my job I have no, which I've been at since 2006. They're more than willing to work around my school schedule and Seth has 3 jobs that he could go to until he got into what he really wanted. So, it's not as bad as it sounds! But still we wouldn't be as financially set as we are right now.

Has anyone been stationed in Augusta at Ft.Gordon? We will be going there for the career course then staying if his FA packet goes through. Can you tell me good places to live? Best school districts? Or how the housing is for O-3 on post. We own a house here so we'd be renting there. Luckily my job will transfer there as well.

Quoting aℓyssa™:"   I'd keep my job I have no, which I've been at since 2006. They're more than willing to work around ... [snip!] ... into what he really wanted. So, it's not as bad as it sounds! But still we wouldn't be as financially set as we are right now. "

As long as you guys think about all the extra things you will have to pay for in the civilian world and can find jobs to where you can afford everything financially, I'd go for it. My SO reenlisted so he could deploy for a full deployment with his unit (his contract was 30 days short). This contract will also give him his partial retirement benefits so we have started discussing on whether or not he'll just go the full 20 yrs. He was already on his 3rd contract when we met though, so I'm leaving it up to him. Just depends on the situation you find yourself in.

Quoting aℓyssa™:" For those who (or husband's) who have reenlisted, how, as a family, did you come to that decision? My husband is ridiculously torn right now, as am I. "

As in get out entirely and then go back or just continue on for 'x' number of years?

My husband signed in... oh... 2009? He has been in since 2005 so I guess he'll be signing for his third time next year. We barely even discussed it, lol. It has always been understood he's a lifer. I couldn't imagine him doing anything else, really.

Quoting Raptor Jesus (TTC):" As in get out entirely and then go back or just continue on for 'x' number of years? My husband signed ... [snip!] ... barely even discussed it, lol. It has always been understood he's a lifer. I couldn't imagine him doing anything else, really."

I think if he plans on getting out, he'll go guard for 6 years. He's wanting to get a AGR job, which they do have plenty of opening about 110 miles from our hometown.

He's just completely on the the fence. Which is ridiculously annoying.   I wish he was leaning one way or the other, so I could encourage him more. lol.

Back from Ft. Meade. Out of the seven I've attended this was by far the most unusual ball I've ever been to... The Marine detachment at Meade only has about 80 Marines at any given time so there were no more than 150 people at that ball. There also weren't any high ranking people there really so it was laid back. There was no seating chart even and the bar was open (always good).

<removed>

I wish my husband would wear his Sam Browne belt more often. I don't know why but that thing makes a man infinitely more sexy.

Ft. Meade was nicer than I had imagined it. It's a small base but it's in a decent area outside of Baltimore. I was told it was awful but I have to disagree. It's your typical suburban area and doesn't retain much of a personality but it could be so much worse. The mall there was insanely huge though, oddly enough.

There's not much else to say about my trip. Obviously seeing my husband for the first time in a while was great but I missed our little boy SO much. I even woke him up when I got home (which I promptly regretted, of course). I honestly don't know how my husband does it. I asked him and he didn't really want to answer; he doesn't even like talking about how he feels about being away from our son =/ It makes me sad that he has to be away so much. I know he misses him dearly.

Quoting Raptor Jesus (TTC):" Back from Ft. Meade. Out of the seven I've attended this was by far the most unusual ball I've ever been ... [snip!] ... how he feels about being away from our son =/ It makes me sad that he has to be away so much. I know he misses him dearly."

Great picture. Glad you had fun. I wish we had open bars.

Quoting It's Delivered:" Great picture. Glad you had fun. I wish we had open bars."

Thank you. It was the only one we took. I wonder if the photographer there posted any, come to think of it...

The open bar was nice but I've never seen one at any of the other balls I've been to. My husband said his first ball back in D.C. in 2005 had an open bar but he hasn't seen another since. Budget cuts and such I guess. I personally believe our military's alcohol budget should be raised but maybe it's just me...

Quoting aℓyssa™:" For those who (or husband's) who have reenlisted, how, as a family, did you come to that decision? My husband is ridiculously torn right now, as am I. "

We talked about DH reenlisting and it wasn't for us. Even though when DH got out he didnt have a job, we moved home to my FILs house, we had school lined up immediately. So he got out in september and started school in october. We recieved unemployment until he found a job. We also receive VA benefits which helps alot. We are doing pretty good since he got out.

You just have to talk about deployments, military life in general and if thats what you want to continue to do.

My DH didnt want a job he didnt love. He didnt love the military and getting out made him happy. Even though the benefits are amazing by staying in, it wasn't what he wanted to do in life.