To be honest I am not really sure about anything, I do not know if I want to get out or stay in, if i knew that I would not have posted here at all. I am not sure if I want the disability, if i was sure that I want it then I would not be considering becoming an officer, it is just nice to know i have options. I apologize if my post sound like I am look out only for myself because that is not the case, I am only doing what is in the best interest of my family. My decisions are no longer about what I want, they are about what is best. I really don't care what I do for a living, I could stay enlisted my whole life and be content, but I could never give my family the life that I know they deserve. I would like to become an officer, maybe I dont have the drive and determination, maybe I am jaded from actually being a E-nothing for 4 years. All I know is whatever I do and I am going to give it my best shot.
Jim,
I am a prior enlisted butter bar as we speak. I spent 2 yrs 4 mo. as a blue-shirt before going to OCS. Getting in to OCS was very competitive...it took me 3 tries; once as a civilian and two as an E-3 and an E-4. I would tell you as a guy who did what you are trying...don't. It took all the determination and grit I had as an individual to get through OCS. I didn't do it for my family, or for money, I did it for myself. I think that probably goes for the other OCS/academy/ROTC guys here. When it comes down to brass tacks and there is doubt in yer head as to why you are here (wakeup wednesday/black saturday/RLP/H-class) you will have to be there because you WANTto be there. Not because it seems like the easy way. Trust me, it ain't.
My suggestion is to use that Masters and Bachelors you have and go find a good job outside of the military. Your military background should give you a great resume, the fact that you bothered to get a bachelors and a Masters while enlisted speaks to your drive. But to stay in a field where your decisiveness and integrity will be affecting the very lives of the men/women you lead would be a disservice to yourself and the blueshirts you wish to protect. I am making this judgement on you based solely on your posts here, so I could be WAY offbase...I hope I am. But the fact that you tried to game the system based on bad gouge (and I have heard that same gouge about disability) at a cost to taxpayers and your fellow shipmates speaks to what decisions may come in the future.
There are a great many jobs out there, and you will be able to keep Tricare Plus for yer family while on reserves. And working as a civilian will give you the freedom to get out and look elsewhere if you are dissatisfied.
This is just my opinion, and as we all know opinions are like assholes, so take it as you will.
God Bless.