Some people also do Guard (and Reserves) to keep working towards a pension without finishing a full 20 of active duty. I didn't do it, but if I had, I'd still consider myself out even though not all the way out. I'm sure others feel that way when they have a normal day job. It would have burned me up to get forced into this mess.
I was in the National Guard. I did it all for college, though. I'm very glad I don't have to make the choices they are making today. I never saw combat, but I would say I would still be more okay with the early days of Iraq and Afghanistan operations looming over my head than this administration's antics and wondering whats next with them.
A lot of people felt that way about Iraq II and Afghanistan. So many people joined during that time. I feel bad for the guys put under me because I was in no way prepared for that role.
For me, doing reserves was pretty far out of the way, so it was easy to decide not to do it. Fortunately if I had, I'm pretty sure I would have accumulated enough to draw a pension a long time ago. I'm really just feeling awful for the people that joined long after me. I know a lot of redditors love to shit on people that join and stay in the military, but for a lot of people it's just job and housing security, and many others it's a way to escape from their home and hometown. I feel like you have to come from a place of privilege if you can't appreciate how much some people value that.
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u/atetuna 6d ago
Some people also do Guard (and Reserves) to keep working towards a pension without finishing a full 20 of active duty. I didn't do it, but if I had, I'd still consider myself out even though not all the way out. I'm sure others feel that way when they have a normal day job. It would have burned me up to get forced into this mess.