A soldier no more....

[laserspeeddemon]

Well after 6 years of proud service in the United States Army, the honor of serving my country has come to an end. I have planned this day since I got entered the army back in 2001. The plan was to get in, get a security clearance, get the experience in Compture Science (thats what I do in the army) and get out. My goal was to make $75,000 a year when I get out. Everything went perfectly as planned. I got in as a 74B (Information Systems Analyst/Operator). I was trained for about 5 months in IT; everything from Windows, to UNIX, to Cisco Router configuration. I went to Germany to serve a 3 year tour, where I attained a Top Secret/SCI clearance. I didn't get much experience but I got alot of training and classes. A year, before I was to leave Germany, I called the powers that write the orders. I called them every week for almost 6 months. My request was to make it to the DC area, a place abundant in government contractors. Finally, one day I called and they said, "Where do you want to go?" I said, "DC area." She said "Is the Pentagon good?" I said, "Yep, that'll do" I moved to the Pentagon, where I became a database administrator. I finished up the 2.5 years left in the military and started transtional leave. I've had my resume out for the past year, and I've started aggressively searching for a job for the past two-three months. Most of my offers were around $50,000-$60,000 range. Finally I got an offer from the contractor that works along side me in the Pentagon for a little over $70,000. Another company counter and I just signed up with BAE Systems for about $73,000/yr with amazing benefits.

I served my country proud but its time to move on to the next chapter in my life.

 

[ecarrillo]

Thank you for you services and just as i type this i have many friends who are also in the military and some who i dont know where they are at anymore

 

[VPrime]

Wow, very cool! I never knew such things were possible, to go from military to what "regular" education "gets you"!
congrats on every thing, hope it works out well for the DSM

 

[Defiant]

Good job, Sean.
I wish my military-eligible years had been during a different part of history.

 

[a_scobel]

Good job, Sean.
I wish my military-eligible years had been during a different part of history.

Yeah WW1 was hell, wasn't it...

Sounds like you found a damn good job, dude. I hit my five-year mark at the end of April, & right now I'm pretty sure I'm gonna stick it out for the whole 20 years. After Korea I'll be at Andrews for a while (Until I crosstrain), so maybe I'll see you around!

 

[laserspeeddemon]

After Korea I'll be at Andrews for a while (Until I crosstrain), so maybe I'll see you around!

Hell yea, nothing like another DSM buddy. You'll be quite a drive though. You'll be west of DC in Maryland, and I'll be East of DC in VA.

 

[TrystanGST]

That's the same plan I had!

I went in to the Air Force for 4 years in the IT field. I got out last August and found a nice job back here in Chicago. Too bad it doesn't use my clearance. Then again, I didn't want to live on the East Coast, which is where most of the clearance jobs are.

 

[11secDSM]

Congrats man! Feels good to succeed, doesn't it?

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Hey, great, I am just about done with the Marine Corps. I have 2 months left from my 5 years... and yeah, it has been one hell of a ride... I dont know how it is in the Army or Air Force, but here, I have no regrets at all... Enjoy Camp Couch, 1st Civ Div...

 

[MILITISINVICTUS]

This should help you better afford those DSM parts. You made a good MOS choice, lots of people getting out of the military only qualify for crap jobs and must go to college to get up to speed. I recall a retired Sergeant Major working at the used car lot..

 

[Quasimondo]

Congratulations on landing that job. Now find yourself a house with a huge garage.

 

[sherwinz28]

I didn't know you could do that in the military. I would've considered it rather then going straight to college and then a career. I also have a computer science degree which basically took 5 years to complete since I had 2 part time jobs trying to make it through. What is the pay difference between doing what you do in the military compared to outside the military?

 

[laserspeeddemon]

My pay is 23,230/yr as a army specialist. But I also get 20,000/yr for housing. $4000/yr for food rations and the benefits are UNBEATABLE!!!

 

[projekt1]

Congratulations on your ETS and your new job... At least you're coming out with an excellent job making $70000+ due to your MOS and training, something i should have done, not my MOS (11B) and training not to mention my tour in the eastern hemisphere but its ok i landed federal job.. Thanks for your service. Welcome back to civilian life.

 

[Eastwood95]

I'm about to get out of the Marine Corps after 9 years. I'm looking for an Avionics job. Yay me.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Avionics pays good too, or so I heard.

 

[Quasimondo]

Can't just look at the pay difference between the two. You have to take into consideration that while the paycheck may be lower, your cost of living expenses are pretty much nil. No rent, no utilities, and for most folks, it's just phone, cable, car payment, and insurance. It may look like they're not getting paid a whole lot, but then again, they're not having to spend a whole lot either.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

well said.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

My pay is 23,230/yr as a army specialist. But I also get 20,000/yr for housing. $4000/yr for food rations and the benefits are UNBEATABLE!!!

You are crazy. 23,230 base pay, along with an extra 20,000 for BAH and COMRATS is only 4,000? No, you have been in for 8 years, as an E-4? Specialist is an E-4, and the base pay is same for all DOD employees. Google it, and see the numbers for yourself.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

I don't know what your point is.... but heres how my numbers come out according to this months LES

Base Pay: $2048.75/ mo x 12 = $24,585/yr
BAH (DC): $1657.00/mo x 12 = 19,884/yr
BAS: $279.88/mo x 12 = $3,358.56/yr

Total annual Entitlements: 47,827.56/yr

 

[a_scobel]

BAH (DC): $1657.00/mo x 12 = 19,884/yr

$1657/month BAH. That's crazy. & I thought the $920 they gave us in Cali was high.

 

[Shaggy_357]

This gives me something to look foward to, I just signed up for 6 years in the USAF as PMEL (don't know if anyone's heard of it, I sure hadn't). My plan is to get my radiology degree and get out making 60k - 80k/year. Now here's hoping the Air Force doesn't have any bases like Ft. Sill LoL

Congrats on the new job, and thanks for putting on the uniform in the first place.

 

[spinninfwdlaser]

Thanks for serving our country!!!! Where were you stationed? I lived all over the country because my father was in too. We lived in lejune, and some other camps. I am glad you made it through. It takes guts to do it.

 

[Eastwood95]

I've been stationed in:
Pensacola, FL
Cherry Point, NC
Okinawa, Japan
Camp Pendleton, CA
New River, NC
Qandahar, Afghanistan
Newburgh, NY

 

[Thomas91169]

w00t Congratulations man! and thank you!