I'm not going to read 12 pages of threads, but I'll share my experience"
I really loved my first 9 years. A LOT. So much in fact that if I could have done the first 9 years again, I would...maybe even for a lot less money. IT WAS THAT GOOD AND I ENCOURAGE EVERY YOUNG AMERICAN TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY!!! But the writing was on the wall and it wasn't pretty: the next 11 years were going to be very painful. As an O-3 departing my first fleet tour, I had just cracked the code for success: hard work, a good attitude and the ability to "just say it" without being disrespectful, arrogant or entitled. However, I cracked the code a little late and I was only ranked #5 of all LT's. That got me an EP, and flying orders. But back then, you had to be dead from the ass up to not get flying orders if you wanted them. I then went down to Whiting Field in 05 and literally flew my ass off. It was great. On check in the CO said give me 50 hours a month and I'll stay off your back. It was great, but even then we all knew flight time didn't get you promoted. So, I went to UF one weekend a month and picked up an MBA, because that's what we're supposed to do right? BUT, even then the game started to change...by 07 you better have JPME completed too. Hmmmm, that's new and BTW, that kinda sucks too, how am I supposed to get an MBA, JPME AND Fly 50 hours a month. Then...IA started becoming mandatory checks in the box. Really!? I'm going to get a raise for this, right?! LOL!! No, you're going to get paid the same as the biggest dirt bag in your peer group/command. Uhmmmmm, no thanks. Talk about adverse selection. Yikes.
Getting out: When I decided to get out 07, I had a great front office that supported my decision and understood why I was getting out. I had to declare my intentions for the detailer 9 months prior to my PRD, which was 4 months earlier than my EOS, which left me with 13 months on my clock. Turns out that was a bad number, because out of the clear blue sky, IA orders showed up in message traffic with my name on them instructing me to report for IED Disposal Team Duty in Iraq. No shit. IED Disposal...FML. No one knew these were coming. My CO and XO pulled me in together and actually asked me if I was working something on the down low. The answer was an emphatic NO. But, as I'm sure some of you are now aware, BUPERS had started a policy, without really telling anyone, that if you had greater than a year on your clock and had dropped your letter, you went on a stack for IAs. Awesome. BUT, since I was a pretty good IP, Officer and all around dude, I had been selected as 1 of 4 CNATRA Stage Managers for the curriculum, and since I was recommended and endorsed by my CO and our Commodore and selected by CNATRA to serve in that capacity, my previously mentioned awesome front office was able to get my IA orders cancelled due to me being a strong performer and them not wanting to go through the hassle of finding another stage manager. Talk about dodging a bullet, or clean living paying off or whatever lucky dog analogy you can think of...i was seriously relieved but seriously pissed at the same time. It made me realize that my decision to cut bait was the right one. When I left my command, 2 of the top 3 LT's were getting out...in fact #1 and #2 of 30-ish had dropped their letters. I was #2 and my buddy was number #1. However, the front office decided they couldn't rank two guys who were getting out that high. So, they dropped us to #2 and #3 and leap frogged #3 to #1. I felt pretty lucky I got to keep my #3 EP, because I thought I was going to get destroyed for getting out. But, like I said, a great front office that recognized performance. It does happen, even in the Navy.
Job Prospects: When I got out, I took a job that paid $80K + Benefits + Car Allowance. Pretty big reduction in total compensation. I also decided to go SEL-RES, because that looked like a pretty good deal. It was...for a while. But eventually, all the bull shit from AD found it's way there too. IA's, JPME and MBA's. I was 1 for 3 and really not wanting to go for the tri fecta. Anyway, SEL-RES kept my foot in the door in case things went south on the civilian side...and they did. The company I went to work for was a construction company and "shit got real" in late 09 and 10. So much in fact that I wasn't sure I'd have a job for long, so I put in an FTS package and got picked up. Fortunately, the really scary time in the civilian career passed and I ended up declining FTS and stayed Sel-Res. Turned out to be a good decision as I was able to leap frog and maneuver my way up to a Vice President gig that compensates me anywhere from $175K+ Benefits + Car Allowance to almost double that per year depending on the performance metrics of the company. Don't think that just happened...it took some serious sacrifice and commitment...every bit as much as I put forth in the Navy. But it was great to see the hard work, effort and sacrifice translate into something other than a high ranking and being handed another standard career choice (i.e. Shit Sandwich). Please understand, this wasn't a brag...it's a data point...if you perform, you'll have options and the ability to influence your future, even in the Navy, but not to the extent that you would as a civilian. Also take note: I did not go airlines...mostly because I couldn't...but there's more to life than stick and rudder.
In conclusion: I highly recommend serving, but don't swallow the kool aid unless you really like the flavor. The good news, if you have a successful career in the Navy, you should have options available...even outside your Navy field of expertise.
