The bureaucracy and lack of being able to tell someone to "go **** yourself" without fear of being sent to jail has been what always kept me away from joining the military. I'm a firm believer there are people in this world who deserve a crack in the chops or at the very least being told to "go rub some salt on your asshole and call me in the morning".

I never wanted to be put in that situation where I can be put in jail for telling someone those words.

As far as I know I missed the opportunity to meet some of the best people in my life. But after 12 years of private school I've met way too many people who hide behind stripes. When I can evaluate who I'll be working for like in civilian world I'll be first to sign up.

Or anywhere in the midwest for that matter...it's a good place to live and all, but there's nothing great about it. If it was up to me I'd be somewhere else.

I came to Kansas City because I opened a store here at Bannister Mall (15 years ago). My wife and I loved it the moment we came to town. We still live in the city limits of Kansas City and I doubt I will ever leave the city.

And my real estate checks seem to point to very cheap houses...

Is that a consensus in KC?

1 more reason.... 4 day new years weekend right? Going to Florence with the family? Naw, just found out I have 24 hour staff duty on friday 9am to saturday at 9am.... Guess the powers that be new about it for a month.

Suck it up Soldier. Quit cryin', you signed up for this shit.......

23 months......so ready....

Since you have school aged kids and your wife would like to work in Leavenworth, I would suggest you live in Olathe or Lenexa on the Kansas side. Both cities have excellent schools and Leavenworth is a straight shot up highway K-7.

Kansas City Kansas, Edwardsville and Bonner Springs would be closer to Leavenworth, but I don't think the schools are up to par. I think they are getting better though with all of the development going on in Wyandotte County (not 100% sure though).

The problem with living on the Missouri side (where I grew up) is that unless you want to send your kids to private school you would probably want to live in the Lee's Summit area like Luv suggested and that is on the extreme opposite side of town from Leavenworth and would make for a long drive for your wife.

Housing in Olathe and Lenexa is more expensive than what you would find in KCMO (in general), but there are always houses out there that are a good value. We've found Olathe pretty reasonable by "Johnson County Standards" and it doesn't seem to feel as snooty as other areas of JOCO. I'm sure there are special veteran loan programs available to you which will help you with your move wherever you go.

Good luck with whatever decision you make and as has been said here before, thanks for serving.

There are several planeteers in the KC area burb of Lees Summit.

The schools were just rated the 7th best in the nation by Money magazine.

Low crime rate.

Easy access to highways to get around the metro area.

Despite the downturn in housing market my house has went up $25K in the last 6 months.

I got out in 99, was in a rapid deployment combat unit. Always getting called out in the middle of the night, weekends, holidays... etc. From my experience there are 2 kinds of lifers, those who just love that shit, and those who fear "real life". The second variety are usually not very smart, have no real skills, no chance at realistically and successfully completing college. The Army is definitely better than most jobs (benefits and pay wise) you would get without some education past high school. I have been out almost 10 years and now have a bachelors degree and job that pays 4 times what I would be making had I stayed in as an enlisted soldier. It sounds, according to your plan, that you are making the right decision, IMO. I do have some great memories and buddies and that I would not trade, and without the GI bill I would probably be in debt up to my eyeballs... Take all they have to offer and run with it... you earned it. Good luck, and thanks for your service. As far as moving to KC, I would go south to the Kansas side, but that's mostly cause I'm bias having grown up there.

Thank you... I like the school stats.. On a map all those cities look so close together. I appreciate your input.

All houses go up? Or just your neighborhood? My real estate checks seem to show very inexpensive housing around there...

KC is great for family. The values here are second to none. Stay away from Olathe, no matter what anyone says, Overland Park too. Unless of course you like more traffic than anywhere else in the city and chain restaurants on every corner. Look to Shawnee, fairway, anywhere north of the river except independence, or the lees summit area. KC really is a nice town, and I have lived in many (chicago, san diego, san francisco to name a few). I'm not anti Johnson county, heck, I grew up there. It has just become so blah. It is the same story everywhere in OP and Olathe now. Plow down all the trees, flatten the landscape, then build 500 similar looking houses, plant one tree in the front yard, and have everyone throw up a wooden fence. Then misplan the street grid so everyone has to go down the 5 or 6 thouroughfares (ie. 135th st) and you have the makings for major traffic all day long, 7 days a week. And besides, you have to sit in your garage or driveway to drink beer there. On a positive note, it is always 70 degrees in Olathe.

Yes, its just my neighboorhood, probably? I live in a high end middle class neighboorhood.

There are many nice raised ranch style homes in very good neighboorhoods for $150K and up.

Also check Greenwood, Mo. They are a little town next to Lees Summit that is a part of the Lees Summit school district. It's a little less upscale, small town appeal but your kids will get to go to the newest LS Junior high and High schools living in Greenwood. I'm sure houses are a lot cheaper there. Phobia lives in Greenwood. He could get you some info on the houses etc there.

I hate to break the truth to people outside the service.... but, well, lets face it, a lot of people in the army are STUPID as shit. That is the hard thing for me, dealing with incompetence. When you know that you are smarter than your boss and they can be dicks to you just cuz.

The GI Bill is even better now. I am gonna milk out the 80 grand.... You know that they even pay for housing when you get OUT of the army, just as long as you are in school.

I think im gonna go about 6 months without shaving or a haircut... And I will wear a beer helmet....

like this guy

Thanks...

I must be missing the inside joke....

By the way, my wife and I moved up to Liberty a few years ago, and you couldn't pay me to go back to JOCO. I could be risking pisssing off anyone else that lives north of the river because the saying up here is to tell anyone interested that it sucks up north and JOCO is the place to be. That way we can maintain our little secret.