Should I join the US Air Force n retire at 42yrs old...or go to school n work til im 60?
117227
Keep in mind that "retiring" from the military generally does not mean you retire - it simply means you are eligible for a military pension - which is about half of your highest pay rate while you were in.  Given that you also lose a number of other benefits when you retire (housing allowances, etc.), living on a half-salary is not viable for most people so in all likelihood you will still be working past the age of 42.
871775
You're going to love it. I grew up all over the world because my dad was in the Navy. N i had lots of friends that were in their late teens early 20s that were in the Navy. LOTS of girls do join the military..there's a good number of them. Its a lot of fun for them..they see the world..and its like being in college. Because you will live in a barracks. BEQ...Bachelors Enlisted Quarters. Its like living in a dorm. Weekends theres parties..during the week you work. N check this\n\n- You dont pay rent..even if u have a family..or after u get past   E-2 or E-3 u can move out of the dorm n live in ur own place..they give u housing allowance\n\n-You dont have to pay for your electric n water bill\n\n- Free health insurance and dental...4 LIFE! If you go past 10yrs in the navy\n\n- after 20yrs u can retire..if you're in your teens when you join..u can easily retire at the age of 38-39 or 40. My dad retired at 42. With Pension!\n\n-They pay for your schooling (college..vocational..its encouraged)\n\nIf I were you...i'd join the Air Force though. If ur pay gade is E-2..n u go out to sea for 6months on ship, you wont get extra pay. u wil l make as much as somebody in the air force who is on land working at his office. That's just me. If u want to join the military but dont wanna get sent off to war..Join the Navy or Airforce. Navy is harder since you will be required to do sea duty. and when you're at sea..u work 18hrs a day..instead of the regular 8-4 job u'd do on land. \n\nEither way, whatever you choose, you will have so much fun. Im joining the airforce early next year. I'm just in it so i can retire at 40 n just open up a little business n just relax. Goodluck to you! But plz research the Airforce because it IS a good job to do if you dont wanna go to war...n their bases are a lot nicer!\n\n***ADDED***\nAbout ur 2nd question about going out to ship. Here's what happens, you have 3 choices to what base you want to go to. Some bases have ships..some dont. For example, NAS (Naval Air Station) Sigonella, Italy..is a shore base..it doesnt have ships. So you'd be on land. But, NAS Mayport, it has ships. But, you can choose, either shore duty, or sea duty as your next assignment, you aren't REQUIRED to do sea duty, u can dodge it. My dad in his 20yrs time..he was on ship for only 3yrs during our tour in Florida. after that, he dodged the sea duty. But, its ok to be on ship, its fun, you get to see the world, and it's an experience. You do get moved up i rank faster if you have had sea duty, and that's  good, because the higher u move up..the more money you make.and the bigger housing allowance you will get. TO become a Chief Petty Officer..u need to have served 2 sea duty tours. My dad only served one..so he wasnt able to become a Chief though he was over qualified. So, my suggestion is...get the Sea duty done with within the first 10yrs of ur 20yrs. So that u dont have to worry about it later..unless you like being on ship. Like..when you first get out of bootcamp..request sea duty..3yrs then after that..request shore duty...thats a total of 6yrs already. Then 3yrs sea duty again after your shore duty. then after that..keep doing shore duty...have fun, learn the ways, you're just gonna have lots of fun.
432757
Join the military as an Engineer, your housing, children and future will be covered. You can be a map maker which is what my husband did. When you get deployed you are on the very back lines. I suggest you do two years of college and go as an officer, I highly recommend air force. You can start as a poliot and change careers while you're in. \n\nDefinately look into it. Not everyone in the military sees combat. The benefits are out of this world, especially in today's ecom.
207431
This is a truly personal decision, and if you have any doubts, don't do it.\n\nKids your age do not appreciate their freedom in this country, but let me tell you that older people do.  There may not be much support for the war, but there is tremendous support for the men and women who fight.\n\nMy husband waited until he was 23 to join the Army.  It was always something he had wanted to do, but he waited until he was sure.  His family and friends are all very proud of him.  I think the cut-off age to join is 30, so you have more than enough time to think it over and decide if this is something you want to do.\n\nThe Military lifestlye is not easy.  You basically give up your freedom to fight for someone else's.  It means long hours of hard work, even when you are not deployed to war.  It is separation from your family and friends.\n\nBut the Military is a family in and of itself.  Your brothers and sisters in arms are always there to help you in your time of need.  You are always fed and you always have a free place to stay.  You become very close with your new family, and some of these single soldiers are wild!  It can be a lot of fun at times.  \n\nThere are many benefits.  Employers will always look at your military service and respect you for your decision.  Not only do you get full medical and dental insurance, you get good life and disabilty insurance, God forbid you ever have to use it.  You also get college tuition assistance, and you only have to serve for three years to qualify for the G.I. bill and a VA loan.  You can get college grants when you get out and you are almost guaranteed for a home loan.  These benefits will follow you forever.  I have an uncle who served in Vietnam who is still using the VA loan benefit to buy land.\n\nSo, there are many risks and many benefits to serving in the Military.  You have to weigh these in your own mind and heart and decide what you want to do.  But let me tell you that there are people who will appreciate your decision if you decide to join, now or later.\n\nGood Luck
993552
No, you are not too old.  The TSP is more like a 401k.  If you want to retire in 13 years, you have a lot of work to do... I mean a LOT.  What GS are you?  Are you making enought money to save?  With the TSP, you should be contributing atleast 3%, because they will match with 100%, then 50% above 3%.  You might want to look into talking with a financial advisor.  If you dont' want to pay fees to an advisor, you should start learning about different types of investments (if you don't know already).  Try www.investopedia.com to learn and www.sharebuilder.com to actually invest.  I recommend ETFs and Index funds.  Over the long term, they will always have gains.  4.5% is a good rate for a savings account but watch out for "catches" also, it may just be an introductory rate.  \n\nIdeally, if you retire at 40 and live another 40 years, can obtain a 7% rate of return, and need $40,000 a year for the 40 years in retirement, you need to have a little more than $500,000 in savings by the time you are 40 years old.\n\nYou can reach this $500,000 if you save about $27,000 a year for the next 13 years, given a 7% rate of return.  \n\nDepending on your salary, this may be obtainable but you have a lot of work to do since you have basically no savings.  Also, I used 7% because thats the average rate of return in the stock market but depending on your investments, it may be more or less.  I would take full advantage of your TSP because all that matching the gov't does will really pay off.  Also, it may be tough, but buy very few "wants" and try to stick to spending money on "needs."  People usually think it is impossible, but it really isn't.  Also, I'm sure you'll want a home at some point and you have to take that into consideration as well.  Good luck.
342549
Awwww gee, at 21 you're just barely getting out of the starting gate. It's a good time to think about your goals, and where you'd like to be in your life in 5, 10, 15 years, etc. It's the best time to start out at those "entry level" jobs that will give you experience to move up to the big-paying jobs later. Also, if you haven't had any college education, now is the time to think and plan for it. If not, when you're 40 you'll still feel the feeling you feel now at 21 when you're still slingin' burgers or stuck in a job that you absolutely hate. But it's NEVER too late to go to school. However, the younger you start, the more you retain (an element of human development) and the better chance you have to move up the ladder at a relatively young age. Good luck.
1041699
Are you ready to be married and be alone?  This isn't about money or status, it is about two people that can handle staying commited and true no matter what and at your age that is a lot to bite off.\nI bit it at 18 and found at 30 that I really felt I had missed out on lots of fun.\nIf your love is real it will weather the time in the airforce and still be strong when he returns.  I suggest waiting so that you both still have the freedom without regret to experience the rest of maturing.
248461
You are only 35 so I think you have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. If you don't need the money you could do some volunteer work instead of working. Or you could volunteer part-time and take some courses at a local college. \nKudos to you for staying at home with your kids, that as I know is a very demanding job. Don't be scared, take a deep breath and get out there! If you can raise two kids and run a household you can do anything! \nNow of course I expect you to say all this to me in about 10 or 11 years. Good luck and don't be discouraged if it's not all sunshine and lollipops. You can't succeed if you don't try.
270741
Why can't you put your dreams on hold, no one says you have to stay in the navy forever, you can always get a skill you can use in the civilian world.  My cousin was in the air force for 12 years and is now working for the air force as a civilian, he makes better money, and is not obligated to go to war.  My husband was also in the Marine Corp for 4 years, and the National Guard for 3 years, and now is self-employed.  There are always options.  My husband put a lot of his dreams on hold to provide for his family, and he has never resented it.  Even if you wait to get out in 20 years, you will be about 40 years old, which still isn't too late to start a new life if you want to in fulfilling your dreams.  Ultimately the decision is yours, you have to decide if you really love her enough to work a little harder to make yours, and her life work together.
464152
Yes! As you move into your thirties and beyond, having a college degree is going to be more important in your earning power. Research shows that every class you take will improve your earnings, even if you still don't graduate. And continuing education helps keep you healthier and happier. If you have kids, it is so good for their education and motivation to see you studying.\n\nPlus, you don't want to wait until you're in your fifties and have your children complain that since you've been going to college, you only call them when you need money!
1170733
There's a trade-off for everything. I moved a lot for career purposes and in my experience, you make new friends whenever you go somewhere. It really expands your mind because you get to know so many different kinds of people.  My family was a 6 hr flight away. The second move was a 12 hour flight. That was hard, but nowadays there are webcams with free voice, etc. Re the love of your life. If she really is the love of your life, marry her and take her along.  I also have a flat in my hometown that I have rented out. Today, I'm 45 and don't have to work anymore, whereas most people have to work until they're at least 65. That is the trade-off.  Whatever decision you make, consider this: Imagine you're 60 years old and looking in the mirror and asking yourself what your life was like. You don't want to be in a position where you'll say: oh, I wish I had done this and that, because then it'll be too late.
776771
Your never to old to make changes to your life and 50 is not old!  I suggest looking into going self employed as a trainer. I work for a training company and we are always looking for trainers (and pay them a very generous wage). You can work the hours you want to and still get satisfaction from helping others achieve their goals. Good luck in whatever you decide. Make the break it will be worth it in the end and if it doesn't work out you can always go back to teaching.Just remember,If you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always got.
774638
Air force. Its the most intellectual branch, and that will help you later in life. The living conditions are 5X that of the army. Think , one bedroom apartment, with a nice fast broadband connection. ;p
549153
Probably not but it is hard for me to answer than now because I am already older than 50.  Had I known I would only make it to 50, I would be spending as much of my money as possible doing all the things I want to do: travel, visit friends and family, eat in all the great restaurants, etc...in other words, live life to the fullest since you wouldn't need to save for retirement.
998060
Soldier, let me thank you for you service to our country. You are a noble warrior. My brother just retired after 23 years in the Army. He also served in Iraq. The best advice I can give you is to follow your heart. If you truly enjoy what you are doing, and if it means that much to you to stay in, do so. Get your retirement. However, if it is too much to bear or isn't what you see yourself doing for the rest of your life, cut and run. Take care and good luck to you in all you do. God bless you.
998065
I retired at 38, but that was 2 years earlier than I planned.  But, that is because I was self-employed.  My husband, on the other hand, will not retire until he is 62 1/2 in order to get his full social security benefits because he'd be a fool not to.  He's paid into it for 40 years and deserves every penny of it.  If he retires early, he would receive a lower monthly benefit.
523812
YES!!!  I'm sure it sucks, but you are more than half way there.  Might as well get a retirement out of all your hard work.  If you've made it 11 years, you've got enough rank it doesn't suck as much as it did when you first started out.  Stick it through.  You've given enough of your life, the army owes you something.  9 more years is a long time, but you've seen 11 already.  Do it.