Bitter Sweet

[clayton86]

Finally decided to get out of the army after 7.5 years. Just finished up my last drill/annual training other then going back to the armory and turning in my gear I am officially done. I had all intentions to do my 20 and retire out of the guard but things have gotten to soft and political in the army and my civilian life has finally gotten comfortable to the point I don't need this as an escape or extra money I'm actually loosing money on my long drills.

Went out with a bang though with my final drill being a annual training prepping for JRTC. Was 17 days of force on force and I went full on Rambo lol we did our company defense the last three days and as a 240L gunner I'm normally on support by fire and not really moving a whole lot. That is till the Opfor took out all but 4 of my platoon and another platoon I heard my first sgt yell to rally the troops so I took my 240 out of the tripod slung around 200rnds around my arm and jumped out of my foxhole and went cyclic taking out the Opfor and linked up with a stud and started bounding with a 25lb machine gun. It was sweet other then it being blanks and miles gear. Everyone's been talking bout it. Then I shot off about 3000rnds on the live fire also and got to drop rounds in the 60 mortar tubes also which was a first for me.

I'm definitely gonna miss it but im also sooooo glad to be getting out I'm gonna grow my beard and hair out for a year. Lots of great memories from it though.

[slonezp]

thank you for your service Clayton

[K_Mac]

thank you for your service Clayton

x2

[tater555]

Thank you for your service sir!

[F14A-B]

Yep, thanks young fella! ( wuss ) JK ..

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Thanks for your service my friend.

[AdamsEye]

Thank you for your service, your time, and dedication. As much as I honor and respect your service, I would rather see you at home with your family bro.

 

From the sounds of things, you story will be spoken of for a while, at least by those present!

 

Enjoy you earned it!

[clayton86]

Thank you for your service, your time, and dedication. As much as I honor and respect your service, I would rather see you at home with your family bro.

From the sounds of things, you story will be spoken of for a while, at least by those present!

Enjoy you earned it!

I'm home with my family most the time it's just national guard. Other then long summer ATs and schools I've gone to and one deployment I'm home and work a civilian job just like anyone else and go train one weekend a month. With talk of a deployment in the next two years though I kinda want to stay in but I think it's my time to leave.

And yeah my story is being told by everyone it's kinda funny but it's made its way up to the battalion commander that a short timer was out bounding and assaulting with a 240. Him and a bunch of other higher ups have been bugging me this whole AT about staying in there is a $14,000 bonus to re up plus I would make sgt as soon as I re upped but it's not worth it to me anymore but is very tempting. Im definitely going to miss and and probably want to be back in a few months when I'm home all month long with no paid get aways shooting stuff.

[AdamsEye]

I'm home with my family most the time it's just national guard. Other then long summer ATs and schools I've gone to and one deployment I'm home and work a civilian job just like anyone else and go train one weekend a month. With talk of a deployment in the next two years though I kinda want to stay in but I think it's my time to leave.

And yeah my story is being told by everyone it's kinda funny but it's made its way up to the battalion commander that a short timer was out bounding and assaulting with a 240. Him and a bunch of other higher ups have been bugging me this whole AT about staying in there is a $14,000 bonus to re up plus I would make sgt as soon as I re upped but it's not worth it to me anymore but is very tempting. Im definitely going to miss and and probably want to be back in a few months when I'm home all month long with no paid get aways shooting stuff.

 

I didn't realize you were only gone 1 weekend a month. I thought you did a longer trip once a year or is that reserves? I know I miss my kids a lot, but they are still young and cute and stuff lol. So that was just my Dad side shining through! 

[Lund Explorer]

Finally decided to get out of the army after 7.5 years. Just finished up my last drill/annual training other then going back to the armory and turning in my gear I am officially done. I had all intentions to do my 20 and retire out of the guard but things have gotten to soft and political in the army and my civilian life has finally gotten comfortable to the point I don't need this as an escape or extra money I'm actually loosing money on my long drills.

Went out with a bang though with my final drill being a annual training prepping for JRTC. Was 17 days of force on force and I went full on Rambo lol we did our company defense the last three days and as a 240L gunner I'm normally on support by fire and not really moving a whole lot. That is till the Opfor took out all but 4 of my platoon and another platoon I heard my first sgt yell to rally the troops so I took my 240 out of the tripod slung around 200rnds around my arm and jumped out of my foxhole and went cyclic taking out the Opfor and linked up with a stud and started bounding with a 25lb machine gun. It was sweet other then it being blanks and miles gear. Everyone's been talking bout it. Then I shot off about 3000rnds on the live fire also and got to drop rounds in the 60 mortar tubes also which was a first for me.

I'm definitely gonna miss it but im also sooooo glad to be getting out I'm gonna grow my beard and hair out for a year. Lots of great memories from it though.

 

Congrats on your pending return to that sleep until noon, let your hair grow out, walking around with your hands in your pockets civilian's life!

 

Now print out a copy of what you posted, and save it for the next 12 1/5 years.  At some point you are going to think back on this day and wonder what it would have been like to be getting that pension check every month, and if you made the right choice.  The years will fade the memories of everything but those "Going Rambo" moments, and reading this at those times when the hurry up and wait bull outnumbered the good days is going to help.  My old boss told me something that has stuck with to this day.  War is hell, but peace is a witch spelled with a capital "B". 

 

You've done your share and its time for you to move on with your life.  You've done your duty for the country and now its time to do the same for your family.  When they've reached adulthood, they are going to be just as proud of you then as many of us are of you today.

[clayton86]

I didn't realize you were only gone 1 weekend a month. I thought you did a longer trip once a year or is that reserves? I know I miss my kids a lot, but they are still young and cute and stuff lol. So that was just my Dad side shining through!

We do longer trips that's what Annual Training(AT) is the "2 weeks a year" part is this year it was 17 days it's what I'm currently doing we just finished it now I get to clean all my gear and give it back for good.

[Oregon Native]

Enjoy the new life...thanks for your time

[clayton86]

Life will still be the same other then a few things that I think I will enjoy greatly actually know I will lol. Like I'm gonna grow my beard for one year untouched don't care how much the gf protests same goes for my hair but that one o may get annoyed with I've always rocked the buzz cut or high and tight since well ever. Now I don't have to worry bout going to concerts or planning something just to cancel because it's a drill weekend and they change the schedule all the time.

Been sitting all day though waiting for the supply sgt to get done with inventory so I can turn all my gear in its getting boring going on 7 hrs of having it all laid out and clean just waiting to check off its all there.