hey guys and gals i am a sargent in active army been in for 10 years 3 deployments to iraq and afgan, i am thinking of getting out and join a local police force when i find a location to settle too. after that long protecting my country its time to down size to a smaller area lol i have all ways want to be a cop that job has alls been on my mind married with 2 little ones running about and plus i figured if a am a cop it might help to keep my son from drugs and keep the boys away from my baby girl like on bad boys 2

 i would like to but things change and when change happens change with them or get left behind and with the army they are doing alot of changes and in a couple of years i dont think ill have a retirment. and i read some where that they are thinking about pushing retirement for e7s and higher so i wont be able to retire. they are trying every thing they can do to cut cost just like what they are doing to our health care and for the last 2 years i got no pay dos due to the goverment what will happen if they dicide to go longer. i am just tired of the army life maybe if i was still single but now i have to think of my kids and how they see me and i was in afgan when my son was born wasnt there for him missed christmas bdays all thoughs lil important things i have missed and i dont want to miss that many more. for the first couple of weeks when i got home my children didnt even know who i was tthat hurt right thought the heart. i just think its time for me to take my leave. and pluse i would like to buy a house soon being in them army i move around to much.

Welcome from southeastern PA. Thank you for your service, and good luck as you contemplate a career change.

Welcome to Police Link from Philly. Thank you for your service to our country.

Doc

Hey "frency"!  Welcome to PL and thank you for your service! :)

 Welcome to PL from PA.     Again a big thank you for serving our country.  

Hey Frenchy,

I was stationed there a few years ago. I was the Ops Sgt in E 795 and S 3 in 787.

I'm getting ready to retire myself. I'm at Bragg currently. The changes that are happening are nothing new. We went go through these changes after every major conflict. The Army is just cutting it's fat. The changes that are proposed to happen to our retirement are scary though. The last 10 years have been very tough on our Army. We got used to being an Army at War. This caused a change in focus and we lost allot of the fundamental disciplines that were instrumental in making our Army so effective. Success in War begins with success in Garrison. The basis for everything we do starts with Military Discipline, and that means getting back to the basics of wear and appearance, and customs a courtesies. If you enjoy the Army of the last 10 years then you will probably not enjoy the Army of the near future. As with all things in life, if you do not enjoy what you are doing, it's time to make a change. You only get one life. I've given my best years to the Army and I've gotten a good living for my family and I out of it. It's time for me to move on as well.

I HIGHLY recommend you taking full advantage of ALL your educational benefits while you are still AD though. Make sure that all your medical issues are documented in your records, and make your VA and ACAP appointments early, and go to all of them. Prepare yourself properly for your transition and you will be fine. As for buying a house in the FLW area, the market has never been better, and APRs cannot go much lower than they are right now. The only dice roll is the BRAC. If FLW goes away so does everything in St. Robert. Take a look at Anniston AL after Ft. McClellan closed.

I also recommend reaching out to Mearl Jones from Jones investment group. he is a retired MP CSM and was my 1SG in Bosnia, I know him very well and he can really assist you in retirement or ETS planning. He is an active member of the MPRA, which is the next place I will direct you. The MPRA is very active around FLW. Reach out to Jeff Butler, Tony McGee, or James Barrett. These guys are all local in the FLW area and are really plugged in. The MPRA is our professional organization. Now, keep in mind the names I just threw at you are VERY senior people in the MP Corps, and the MPRA so when you go at them for information do so tactfully and be well written.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck and if I can do anything to assist let me know.

John

 Welcome to PL from NJ. Thank you for your service! I would take Uncle D's advice...get your retirement and then look to join a PD. It's a very difficult time for LEOs and PDs just about everywhere these days. 

Welcome to PL from New Jersey. Thank you for your service.