Leaving the Military and Loving My New Company

I finished my enlistment of 10 years at Travis Air force Base in Oct ober 2000. I could have re-enlisted but already had orders remote and didn't want to leave my husband.

We agreed that I would have 68 days (the terminal leave I had on the books) to get a job and if I didn't get one then I would re-enlist at the last moment. I was in the services squadron (not much money to be had on the outside unless you're management) but had a position in data automation two years before getting out, I enjoyed computers, and got my MCSE right before separating.

The first interview I went on was with a dot com in Silicon Valley (Mountain View, Calif.) I was nervous, felt sick, and thought surely I had blown the interview (which by the way was six and a half hours long conducted by seven different people) I walked away defeated.

But as luck would have it, late that night I was offered a job and I'm still working on the same product today eight rocky years later. I've weathered many rounds of lay-offs, reorgs, and acquisitions (my services were sold along with the furniture). But, in the end I love the company I work for and I feel I've learned a lot in the last eight years. There are still days I miss the military, but considering I doubled my salary as soon as I got out, it worked out for me.

(Submitted by Mrs. Peggy Boyd)

Comments

[Joe E. Martin]

Hi, Mrs. Boyd, Im from South Carolina and Considering joining the U.S. Air Force.. I've been in Afjrotc for all 4 years in high school and loved it.. But I'm all of a sudden having this fear about doing it/ And i want to but it's getting to me.. Can you tell me about the time when you first enlisted.

[Tom Brewer]

Hi Joe,
Your fears are warranted and don't feel bad for having them. As with any big step in furthering your life aspirations, there are crossroads where we wonder which way to go. As a retired AF Master Sergeant, I can tell you I was terrified when I enlisted the first time as a 19 year old. After getting into basic training and listening to a whole lot of yelling I was wondering moreso then if I was where I wanted to be. BUT I stayed and it actually got better and FUN. After training and getting to my first base, things really changed. It became a "normal" life where I just went to work and got paid twice a month. Your not gonna get rich in the military but you will be paid enough to pay your bills and save some IF you don't spend it foolishly. One thing I will say is that you will receive job training and learn the life skills needed to succeed in life. Like I used to tell the Airman who I supervised, "The Air Force ain't no hotel resturaunt where everyone caters to you, it is more like a Golden Corral smorgasbord because everything you will ever need in life is laid out in a line in front of you, but you have to grab a plate and go get what you want!" Again, don't sweat the apprehension you're feeling, that's normal...just push through it and make the commitment and everything will work out, one way or another. Good luck in whatever venture you choose.