ChiefsPlanet - Life What am I thinking...?

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What am I thinking...? (https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=199175)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 5328909)

Denver is the finest city in the world, in my opinion.

How is this even possible with all those Donkey fans?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCJohnny (Post 5329267)

Could you please clarify whether you are a paratrooper or not?
I was not being sarcastic. Its tough outside the military right now. the types of bonuses and benefits being offered to our servicemembers now are the best in history.

Sincerely (no sarcasm),
Good luck, buddy.

Yes I am an airborne...and I know this is gonna sound funny... veterinary technician. I am the NCOIC of the vet clinic and take care of all the MWD's (military working dogs). I am extremely aware of the bennies. I will be taking full advantage of the GI Bill and VA Home loan. I'm looking into finishing up a RN within a year of clinicals when I ETS. My main goal is to provide stabilization for my family. I have a 6 and 8 year old and want them to have a steady middle/high school life.

Sorry for assuming the sarcasm, these computers have a way of twisting words....

Thanks for the well wishes.

I grew up in a small town in Missouri... went to college at the University of Kansas... and now I live in Lee's Summit... it is the 7th best school district in the US.

My wife and family love it here.

The only other place that I want to move to... is Vancouver Island in Canada... which is a strong possibility.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coyote (Post 5329330)

Several points:
1) Thank you for your service. You have and are doing what most Americans don't have the stomach for. Never forget who you are regardless of what you decide.
2) Assuming this is the end of your first enlistment approaching, a lot can change in 2 years. It seems today you have decided to leave the Army. The new GI bill starting in Aug in 2009 is a great counter to re-enlisting that you earned. It makes the decisions concerning any re-enlistment bonuses/ incentives you may be offerred tougher. I have a suspicion those bonuses are going to start being reduced-they are in the USMC. Makes the decision tougher, particularly with the transferrability for continued service clause of the new GI bill for your family.
3) K.C. area. You hit most of the fan favorite locations. Schools drive many decisions for parents. I returned here after 30+ years (promise to my wife) and came back to visit for many of those in between deployments but was a west coast Marine most of the time. Screw Denver. Choose a career/school/geography with equal weight for you and your family.
4) Tough call but it's yours alone. KC Johnny has great points and I've commanded many marines and a few soldiers that I've seen again after they left once. It's an individidual decision. You likely have an IRR committment past your active obligation. Look at it carefully and remember you have reserve options as well. Most hard core guys I've served with either stayed or walked and did not half-step in the reserves. I have known many however that really appreciated the flexibility of the reserves. I am very familiar with USMC IRR involuntary re-calls, don't know much about the ARMY's. I recently commanded several marines deployed OCUNUS that were involled back to active duty. All were not pleased but were doing their duty as they voluntarily signed the contract to do. Ironically about 1/2 of those guys wanted to re-enlist back into the active component. That was tougher to do while deployed then it should have been due to law/policy and we worked through that. About 1/2 just wanted to complete their tour and get back to school, HVAC business, life, etc. All did their duty and are appreciated regrdless of their personal decision. Good luck with yours and Thank you

Wow, I really appreciate the time it took for you to write this. Fortunately I have given the Army 6 years and will have served the entire 8 by the time I get out so they can't (fingers crossed they don't come up with some crazy law) call me back in. I'm just ready to live my life on my own terms. All you vets out there understand this.... simple stupid stuff like, getting called in on Thanksgiving morning for staff duty cuz some idiot went awol and not being able to say... Sorry 1SG my wife has big plans and I didnt get to see my kids last year so I am gonna have to stay home...

Just ready to grow a beard and let my hair touch my ears for a bit... I know this sounds stupid to you non-mil personnel but do not take it for granted ;)

I was in the Army, and I feel your pain.... it sucked. I can't even imagine being in the Army in today's climate. **** that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs (Post 5329566)

I was in the Army, and I feel your pain.... it sucked. I can't even imagine being in the Army in today's climate. **** that.

Haha! Grunt. Should've gone into the Air Force, dummy - had my own room as an E-2. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMaslowski (Post 5329561)

I'll be honest about my military career - yes, it does suck when you have to work odd hours or play war games again and again or just basically be put upon because of your job, but there are days I'd give a bunch to go back into the Air Force. I missed it more than I thought I would.

That being said, I totally get where you are coming from in wanting to get on with your own life. Good luck no matter what path you choose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by el borracho (Post 5329278)

Denver is great but it is not the "finest city in the world." It is not even the best city in America.

San Diego > Denver

San Diego has the year-round 70 degree weather thing going for it, but here in Denver you can eat outside in the summer without bugs, and the cats don't have to wear flea collars. That's huge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMaslowski (Post 5328869)

I get out of the good ole Army in 2 years and have convinced my wife that we need to move to KC. 1. Who moves to a city due to their love of a football team? 2. What are the decent neigborhoods/surrounding towns?

3. Is it a nice place to live or should I say **** it and go back to South Dakota?

Look forward to all of your insights....

My brother was going to get out of the armed services last year, but then he realized how sweet of a deal he has going, so he re-upped and I believe he is going to remain there until he can retire with full benefits and all that at age 39. Then he will start working for an aerospace company as a civilian getting paid double what he does as a military man. He then will retire at 60, tripling his monthly income.... asshole.

edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser (Post 5329576)

My brother is currently in the USAF stationed at Eglin AF base. He is happily going to remain there, 20 minutes from Pensacola, Florida. He called me on Christmas to let me know that it was sunny and around the mid 60's with a nice warm breeze.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 5328932)

I wouldn't think that the crime here is notably greater than in Kansas City. In fact, I'd bet it's lower. The Broncos are annoying, but I think of them as a way to get the Chiefs to come to town once a year. And being in an AFC West city makes it more likely that you'll get the Chiefs on TV, unless of course they've got an idiot coach and lose a couple of dozen games a year or something.

I've never lived in KC, but I would heartily recommend Denver to anyone who's looking to make a start.

This - born and raised in KC - and it is a great place to be "from".

Denver is great and there is a lot of military around for your wife to keep her job if that is important.

Several really good school districts in the metro area - if you are planning in kids.
Noticed in another post you have kids - there are several sites where you can check out school districts nationally.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefDave (Post 5329376)

How is this even possible with all those Donkey fans?

Heh - I almost always wear a Chiefs hat or shirt when not at work and always run into Chiefs fans here. My license plate is 1CHIEFN, I have a helmet decal on my tailgate and fly a Chiefs flag on my truck during the season. I constantly have people drive by doing the tomahawk chop.

It's a great place to live and be able to give donkey fans a ton of shit.

I spent 6 years in the Navy and just about everyone from the Captain on down wanted to me to stay in. I had a lot of options. But the Bosslady said "Do what you want, but I'll be in KC." Kinda made up my mind real quick. Then one day she mentioned that had I stayed in that I could have retired with 30 years and had all that money. Darn near decked her!

Back to your question. If you do decide to move to the KC area your options may well be limited. If your wife wants to work in Levenworth, you'll need to move somewhat close to there. If you want to go to nursing school, KU Med Center would be a good choice, but it's not close to Leavenworth. So you may have to split the difference.

To really do anything in nursing, you will need a BSN as a bare minimum. If you can stand the education, you may look at being a nurse anesthetist. These folks can pull in $100k a year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbymitch (Post 5330272)

I spent 6 years in the Navy and just about everyone from the Captain on down wanted to me to stay in. I had a lot of options. But the Bosslady said "Do what you want, but I'll be in KC." Kinda made up my mind real quick. Then one day she mentioned that had I stayed in that I could have retired with 30 years and had all that money. Darn near decked her!

Back to your question. If you do decide to move to the KC area your options may well be limited. If your wife wants to work in Levenworth, you'll need to move somewhat close to there. If you want to go to nursing school, KU Med Center would be a good choice, but it's not close to Leavenworth. So you may have to split the difference.

To really do anything in nursing, you will need a BSN as a bare minimum. If you can stand the education, you may look at being a nurse anesthetist. These folks can pull in $100k a year.

You read my mind! I didn't wan't to get far into the details on it but that is the plan... finish up the associates in nursing, do the RN-BSN program online while working in an ICU and then off to the 3 year Nurse ansthetist program...

Salary dot com median salary 130,000

and even for RN it's 60K.. and no layoffs in nursing.

I was stationed at Leavenworth for a year. Don't know anything about the schools except that they are on the main drag thru town and they change the speed limit at 7:30. Cop gave me a $100 ticket at 7:25 because his watch was 10 minutes fast compared to the radio. Safe, quiet little town because almost everyone there is 1.) in the Army or 2.) prison guard and the criminals know it's easier and safer for them to go on down to KC to do their nefarious deeds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 5328909)

I'm biased, but I'm not sure why someone would pick Missouri if they can go anywhere. Denver is the finest city in the world, in my opinion.

Although your efforts are admirable, I don't think we'll ever recruit enough to become the majority.