When is the retirement age for the Army? I heard it was 55. Could I stay in until 60? just wondering.?
830121
Retirement from active duty is now "mandatory" at age 55.  I believe the rule is the same for the reserves, but it's hard to say for the National Guard because each state has different rules.  However, there is an exception to every rule, and it's possible that you may be able to get an age waiver for retirement.  If you want to find out for sure, call the base operator at your nearest Army post and ask them to connect you to the military personnel office -- customer service division.
1026669
Did you know you have to work at the same job for at least 20 years to collect a pension, 30 years to collect a full pension and can't collect till you are 62...year after year the government takes your money and again you have to wait till you are in your 60's to get a small portion back from social security...hats off to people who worked hard all their lives and still have good health and able to work in their 60's & 70's!\nGreedy????
1158358
Remember that members of the military get paid not only by rank/pay grade but also by number of years in.  This is as of Jan 1 2006\n\nPay is as follows (without benefits)\nO-10 13365-14196 (20years-26 years)\nO-9   11689-12525 "                            "\nO-8   8271-11348 (<2-26)   11075 (at 20 years)\nO-7   6872-10066 (<2-26)   10015 "                  "\n\nI've never met an O-7 or above with less than 20years but the site had the numbers, so they're shown.\n\nWhen you get up there you start raking in the money, especially as a nuke...benefits add a few thousand dollars on all of these figures.
543073
As a member of the US Army for over 18 years I can say that alot of what you hear is not true. While it is true that the military has the least benefits than any other Federal Government branch. When people are discharged from Active Duty they have a 6 month window to take care of any medical conditions that have occurred. \nNow the pay leaves something to be desired. You can't work in the military for the money, unless you are miserly and live on base or post and eat in the Mess Facilities.\n  Now that I have reached a higher rank, the money is better and the housing allowances are better. Separation pay is good, if you are married. \n  I have been wounded four times in combat wiTh the US Army and have fought a medical discharge twice for the last injury to my foot. \n  Now, I have known guys that take a discharge because they don't want to fight it. Some stay in and some go. But, God willing, I will stay for as long as I can.\nBut, there will always be people who feel the US Government cheated them, It may be true or it may not. But my advice I give to all that feel that they shouldn't be discharged, is hire an attorney. I did and finally after I reached my 18th year I was saved. I got my lawyer to argue my point and to delay a hearing until I reached my 18th year, where the Military cannot discharge me, if my injury was duty related.
232537
I'd stay in for 14 more years and get lifetime benefits. You can always pursue another job when you get out, or you can stay retired!!!
183155
I am not sure exactly what your question is asking.  If you retire at 55, but need to access your IRA money right away, you should look into IRS rule 72t.  There are a few different methods of doing this and you need to sit down with a tax advisor to make sure that you do it right.  Click this link for an article that has more info\nhttp://ktla.trb.com/business/yourmoney/sns-yourmoney-0403moneytalk,0,7524444.story\n\nGood Luck!!!
743149
There is no official minimum age of retirement here in Canada.  The average age is 65, but you can start collecting pension sooner than that.  It just depends on your circumstances.
1142420
I'm thinking about joining soon too.  I found a few good online resources to help me out.  My favorite is military.com.  Check it out:
500101
I was in the same boat with the Army.  I toughed it out.  My wife pushed me to stay on, and it worked out.  The last couple of years were the hardest, and easiest, of them all.  I won't say that it was a cake walk, but knowing that I ONLY had 10 years, 8 years, 1 year to retirement made a difference.  If I had gotten out, I think that I would be kicking myself for not staying.\n\nMy brother got out of the Navy after 10 years, and went to work as a contractor.  He and his family have moved 4 different times since he got out, so the moving part is still there.  BUT, he is happy with his decision.  I told him he was nuts, he was half way there, etc.  But, he had had enough.\n\nThe ultimate decision on this is between you and your husband.  You will have to weigh the pros and cons.  I, personally, think that if your halfway there, and don't have your degree yet, then you should stay.  But, then again, I've already passed the hump.\n\nGood luck, and thank you for your service.
368406
i joined the military a year after high school.  In my mind it has bettered my future.  I have learned leadership and management skills that most Citizens would pay to have.  Its easier to get a job saying that you retired from the military.  It shows that you come from a background of lots of hardwork, dependability, and that you will get the job done.  Its a great way of life, but not for everyone.  You have to learn to sacrifice your time to take care of others, and that its not all about you anymore.  The benefits are great.  The pay isnt that great unless you are an officer.  But, you can learn to manage your money and put it to use and have a great retirement.  When i get done with the military i wont have to work again unless i choose to.  Id say give it a shot...just dont be a douchebag, do what your told, be where you are supposed to be, in the correct uniform, and dont cock an attitude at your seniors and you will do great.  You dont have to be smart to make it far (on the enlisted side that is).  If you do then good luck, and remember it is only what you make of it...if it sucks then your attitude sucks.\n\n\nAlso served in iraq, now in korea...and education is possible.  Dont listen to what the others say on that issue.  If you are willing to give up some of your "free-time" then you can do it.
232255
To join the military is a big adjustment period.  Let alone with a child already.  First you have to realize that there isn't one job in the Army where you can say 100% that you will not deploy.  Now deploying means anywhere from Kosovo to Iraq.  I have two children of my own.  I didn't have any when I joined.  Due to training, Temporary Duty in places where I'm not stationed, and Deployments I have missed both child births, both first steps, and both first words.  Is it hard?  Of course.  Is it worth it?  I believe it is.  Now also realize I'm an Active Duty soldier.  When I deploy it involves a lot of training before hand which means weeks away from home and long hours before I'm gone for a year.  For NG and Reservists deploying means "mobing" at an Army base for up to 6 months followed by a year long deployment.  As far as the push ups and the climbing goes. Ask your boyfriends father to teach you the correct push up form and start working on it before hand.  The minimum you have to reach by the end of training is 40 pushups, I believe, for the age group you're in.  Basic Training is hard but not impossible.  When things get hard just remember that you aren't the first female to go through it and you won't be the last.  I'm also an Army Brat.  My dad served two tours in Vietnam as well as Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, and the first gulf war.  I'm extremely proud of him and he helps me in my current carrier when I have leadership challenges.  Your boyfriends dad may or may not tell you what you want to hear.  He has a tough job though and I couldn't really blame him.  However my recruiter worked for my dad at one point so I got straight answers.  Ask him and when he tells you see how it makes you feel.  This is a decision you have to make for yourself.  You are responsible for raising your child and if this is the best way you can then go for it.  Is it better for a child to have a homeless family who's there all the time or a taken care of home who's parents are gone for periods at a time?  Granted that there are in betweens but I hope this kinda puts things in perspective.
1176416
What branch?  The army, I'm assuming.  If you do join, you will go to war with the army.  My fiance is in the navy.  That is the only branch, other than the air force, that is over there on volunatry basis only.  He loves the navy, and ships out in October again.  If you do join, join active duty, not the reserves.  You do not qualify for the benefits and pay if you join the reserves.  With active duty, you get great medical and dental, as well as better pay, and you qualify for combat pay, hardship pay, etc.  Since you are a female, I reccommend the navy.  My sister was in the navy, my dad the army, and my grandfather the marines, my uncle the air force.  I am from a military family, and I think the military is a great thing.  I would reccommend getting a degree first, though, because if you do, you will go in as an officer, with more rights and better pay.  Some cons are being away from your family.  There aren't really that many cons in my opinion.  When joining, you are serving your country.  With the military, you are financially secure and, if you choose to stay in, there are great retirement benefits.  This is a life-changing decision, and a very difficult one to make.  I wish you all the best, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  Good Luck!!
219559
i dont know where you want to proceed in your career after you get your degree,but ive got a lot of friends in the army,the national guard,and other branchs as well that got their training in the millitary and love every sec of it.I mean they get to travel the world, or stay close to home like the national guard or reserves.Plus once you get out the millitary you have one of the highest recomemdations of all.Right now you may think im a recuriter or something ,but in fact im not im a regular soldier in the national guard.My mos is millitary police.Currently im a security guard,ive already been accepted for the police dept but choose not to take the job until i turn 21.i stay close to home(20 min)and im very happy with the way i got my job and training.
637878
My husband was 18 when he joined the Army.It was his choice to go or not.He knew what he could be dealing with.He's now 25 and went and fought the war when it first started.Now he's out the Army and wishes he was still in.I don't think its a crime,I think some young men have the will and some just are not meant to be in the Army.What ever it is they make the choice.
436241
I ask myself that same question all the time, i would've retired after 20 years. now i have to wait until I'm 65. If your thinking about reenlisting I wouldn't wait too long,you might lose the time you already served.\n   I am very proud that i did serve my country, I still have my crackerjacks, I just can't get rid of them, I mean it's been 27 years since i was in, if I was younger I'd go back in a heart beat. good luck in what ever you decide.\n       squids forever
1040664
As I am getting ready to retire after 20 years in the Navy I can tell you they do not pay enough!!  I know men with less education that do the same job, work less hours and do less that is outside the realm of their "job" and make a LOT more than I do.  I could spend an hour or so explaining what I do that is outside my job realm but is still apart of my "job" but suffice it to say we do not make enough.\nHaving said all of that, we do get quite a few perks.  We make money that is not taxed. We will always have a roof over our head and food in our guts.  It may not be 4 star cuisine and a 5 star hotel, but it isn't a cardboard box and McDonalds either.  We get medical care and dental care for nada.  But we get what we pay for.  Some of the Navy Docs are good, some aren't.  I get to retire at 38 and collect a paycheck for  the rest of my life.  I get to go to college using my GI Bill.  I went to college and took 4 classes and it cost me about $250.00, the rest was tuition assistance.  \nSo the military isn't for everyone.  But it was a good move for me.
311817
I am a member of the military and have to say that the choice to join the military (In my case the army) is a personal one.  \n\nI joined the army at an older age after some college and almost ten years operating my own insurance agency.  \n\nThere were of course a number of reasons for this (Some would say illogical) course of action (Sometimes I think they're right).\n\nThe first is while I was gradually paying off my student loans it was taking a long time.  The army paid them off in three years.  I've since finished by bachelor's and begun working on a masters.  I certainly wouldn't have done so without the army's help.\n\nThe second is that although I was enjoying a reasonable amount of success in my career it was not very fulfilling.  One day I was sitting at work and thought to myself that forty years from now I could retire from my agency in reasonable comfort.  \n\nI realized though that while I certainly could have this it would not be fulfilling.  Would my peddling insurance for forty years be of any value to the world?  I answered myself no.  A little less than a year later I had sold my home and insurance agency and was done with basic training.\n\nThe military I now know is one of the most rewarding and frustrating things that I could possibly imagine.