Sometimes, there's no question that it's time to leave:
- You're the only one left at the party, and the hostess is alternating between yawning and checking her watch.
- The lights in the stadium are powering off one by one.
- The waiters are staring you down while they sweep under your table.
- Your kid breaks something or has a meltdown or an accident.
Then, there are those tricky decisions, like whether or not to leave the military. The right decision for someone else may not be the right one for you. Make sure you're seeing the big picture, and make the right call for you.
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Whether you're just ending your first tour of duty or facing retirement, making the decision to leave the military can be difficult. You can poll your friends or solicit mom's pearls of wisdom, but at the end of the day, no one can make the decision for you. Follow these guidelines to help make your decision easier:
- Your benefits in the military versus out of the military
- The differences between military and civilian life
- The opinions of your family
- Your career prospects in the military versus out of the military
Benefits
What do you have to lose? It depends. Military retirement keeps you connected to some benefits, but they may cost you and be a little different from what you're used to. If you separate from the military before retirement, be ready to part with your military ID and many of the benefits it brings:
- Medical and dental insurance — Outside the military you can expect to contribute to your premium and pay co-pays or deductibles. If you will have a gap in your coverage or you're starting your own business, you'll need to price an individual policy. Continuing to serve through the National Guard or reserve could keep you covered by TRICARE Reserve Select. Retirees have coverage options through TRICARE as well. Get the details on your TRICARE options.
- Life insurance — With Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, you're covered for 120 days after military separation. You have the option to convert your insurance to Veterans Group Life Insurance.
- Retirement — Compare the military's retirement plan with the retirement plan offered by a potential employer. See what your military retirement would look like at the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Military Compensation website.
- Commissary and exchange privileges — Retirees, National Guardsmen and reservists have access to installation shopping benefits, while former service members do not.
- Education benefits — Visit the GI Bill® website to find out how separating from the military would affect your eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill®.
Military life versus civilian life
Making the choice to leave the military is more than just changing jobs - you're making a lifestyle change for you and your family. You'll probably notice differences in:
- Job security
- Income
- Workplace camaraderie and loyalty
- Social connections
While you may miss your trusty basic allowance for housing, it might be worth it to you to choose where you live. And while you may have made lifelong friends in the military, you might not be ready to give up that connection with colleagues who are more like family.
Before you decide, it's important to consider things like: The benefits you might be losing versus gaining; what your new workplace might be like; and the impact of your decision on your family. Don't forget, when making a decision, involve your family - listen to their concerns, get their opinions, talk about how things would change.
If you're on the fence, attend pre-separation counseling through your installation's Transition Assistance Program office, and bring your spouse. You can get some of your questions answered, which will help inform your decision.
Impulse decisions have their place - like choosing between popcorn and candy at the movies, but choosing to stay in or get out of the military is not an impulsive choice. Take a breath. Review all your options. Make your pro and con list. Don't rush a decision just to avoid your less-than-ideal orders. At the same time, don't re-enlist just to avoid having to update your resume.
Once you've done your research and considered all 1,001 options, make your decision. Feel good about it, be all in and make it work for you and your family. Once you've made your decision you know what kind of support you need and you can find it on your installation or with Military OneSource.