[USER]

Any military folks who retired regret taking a pending promotion? I can retire in two years or take a promotion and retire in 4/5.

A part of me thinks it’s time to let this career go but the other part fears a future regret as the pension difference is substantial.

Thank you for any inputs.

[Wallace]

I turned down promotion to Major twice. Once is frowned upon. I stayed a Captain for 8 years and Company Commander for 6 of those years.

Don’t regret it one bit.

I separated from active duty with 18 years and completed my last 2 years in the ARNG.

It was everything I could do to get my 20 years in. I was DONE with the bullshit…

PS I retired in 1997. I just retired from my second career in the oilfield.

[Elaine]

It all depends, I’m NG and can collect at 56 because of deployments. Im a TDA unit, so non-deployable and a CW3.

My husband is AD and doing 1SG time with an IN BN- it’s a much tougher assignment than mine even though I’m constantly on orders and balancing home.

Depending on where we move to, I’ll retire when we PCS and I’m encouraging him to retire at 20 or stay in if he is happy with the job again.

It’s more about fulfillment than $$ at this point for us.

[Mejia]

My husband kept chasing the carrot and ended up passing away before the “new” retirement date. We missed out on years together.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Add this to your pocket of consideration.

[Jamilah]

CONGRATULATIONS on being selected, and thank you for your service/sacrifices!!!!

I would like to encourage you to make a list of what’s really important to you and your family.

Then, place those items on whether staying in gives you those things (put them on the “pro” or “con” side).

Even if the “pros” has a shorter list, it might be the more important things that your family wants/needs.

My husband and I talked about this a lot, and he just extended past his retirement date (he’s an O-6).

For him, given the number of years he’s put in, he’ll get much more than 50% of his base pay.

For us, we considered a few things:
1. Retirement pay (increased significantly).
2. No more deployments/rarely travels (so we get family time).
3. In a location/house we love.
4. We homeschool, and the perks here (as of now) are like no other.
5. He’ll be 55 when he retires, so he’ll have the option to withdraw from TSP without any penalties.

I could actually keep going. But, more than anything, he didn’t FEEL 100% done.

A friend of ours (also a retire O-6) said, “He’ll know for sure when he’s done…there won’t be a gray area.” Of course, how your spouse feels (if married) matters, and I supported my husband’s choice due to the needs of our family at this time.

And, we definitely needed TIME to plan “where” we’d like to live after he retires–this decision is very hard for us to make.

Because we believe in prayer, we prayed that whatever would happen would be best for our family…

*Note: If you don’t already own a house and plan on buyibg one upon retirings, you should have at least one year left of AD left in order for your income to be counted for the amount you’ll be approved for in terms of a mortgage.

Best wishes for your family, and congratulations, again!!!!

[Anthony]

That’s a great question but a very personal one. The law of diminishing turns plays into your decision.

Does your ROI increase enough with the promotion to hold on Vs taking pension, possible VA rating and secondary job/income?

I am in a similar predicament but look at the promotion and 3 year commitment as a means to an end.

The extra bump in pension will allow me to take a more flexible, lower paying job in the long run.

[Amanda]

Do the calculations for the difference in pension (and TSP contributions if you’re on BRS) to help you decide. What is the difference?

My husband did extend to 21 years but for a substantial annual retention bonus.

I personally would not want to extend beyond that.

[Keith]

Really all depends on your situation. For me I did 30years (prior enlisted) I could have stuck around for O5 but that would have meant moving again and going back to sea.

My situation is kids out of the house, no bills and only me and the wife at home.

I have retired as a O4 with 30 years pension and VA benefits.

[Chuck]

I was 9 months out from a approved retirement date when I was selected for promotion to O-4. I turned down the promotion, retired at 26 years, and have zero regrets.

I retired a year ago this month actually. I still work full time but have so much less stress and anxiety about all the uncertainty that goes along with military life such as:

-Potential deployment at any time
-Having to transfer and sell a house, spouse change jobs, kids change schools

I still work full time (probably another 9 years until I’m 55) but my job is less stress and I make more money when you combine my retirement pay with my current salary.

Stability for my family was my main reason for doing what I did though. Good luck with whatever you choose.

There is obviously more to this decision than finances, but financially I am so much better in retirement (working) all things considered.

My wife doesn’t have to move jobs and start over in her vesting for retirement match, I don’t have to worry about selling a house in an unpredictable market and, like I said before, I end up with a higher income if you combine my pension and current salary.

[Chris]

At about 10 years in I had the choice to take an admin position or get med boarded. I thought long and hard and decided to get med boarded. Best choice I could have made.

I’m home with my family and doing what I love.

My disability covers my expenses and that was a big deal when I first got out. Now our business is doing well and we are making decent money.

Freedom and being at home with your family is worth a lot of money. Do you love what you do now?

If so, keep doing it. If not, move on to your next adventure.

[Maddison]

If you really like your job and would like your promotion stay in because you enjoy it. If you are tired of the military get out.

My husband has been in 16 years and we will be so happy when he hits 20 and can retire, the kids and I are over military life and never seeing him.

If you have a family consider how much of those extra years you will be away.

[Yamilec]

I’ll be up for SGM when I retire and have zero plans of extending to attend the academy and get promoted.

I’m actually planning on dropping my retirement 4187 at the end of this month, two years out.

I ran the numbers and the promotion is equivalent to an additional $15k/year in retirement and an additional $1k/mo in pay.

Still won’t stay. I’m looking forward to having my time back.

But also, my situation may be different than yours as I’m not the sole breadwinner at home.

[Meme]

I’ll retire from military at exactly 20 years and 28 days in 2029, and I’ll find something I enjoy to do.

Best advice I hear is that once you hit 20, half of what you make you already earned it.

Just my 2 cents

[Jay]

The classic question of what is enough and one more year syndrome. Only you can answer this.

What is the balance of being done/ready to live wherever you want and start something new, vs a little

More safety but 4-5 more years. Congrats on a military career and thank you for your service.

[Jonathan]

At 19 years I had the chose of promote and serve until 22 years are retire en lieu of promotion.

For me $290/ month more in pensions wasn’t worth 2 years of freedom.

[Melisa]

The answer is going to depend on several factors. My husband and I have made the choice that he will stay in as long as he can unless he finds a job opportunity that is too good to pass.

I know most people leave for mental health issues. So, you need to look at am I able to stay 3 more years mentally?

How will this affect my future?

How does it fit in my original plans?

[Heather]

My husband retired at 52 last year in March. He was diagnosed with cancer in October. He stayed two extra years.

There will always be the next big pay raise or promotion.

[Author]

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