110 days remain until my journey with the military comes to an end. It all started in 2002 when I was in 10th grade and my high school was offering a program called the "Army Co-op" which allowed you to complete your basic training during the 2nd semester of that year, while being paid reservist pay, and getting 2 high school credits. Without that course my life would have taken a very different path.
Fast forwart to 2016, I've spent a total of 11 years with the military, with a 4 year break between reserve and regular force service where I attempted to go to university, I'm married and have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, and now my time in green is almost up.
I have to say that I'm excited to see what lies ahead for my familly and I, but I would be lying if I said there isn't also a sense of trepidation. I don't know what opportunities are going to be available on my release, I never did finish my university degree, I don't have experience in any civilian sphere outside of customer service, and I don't have many business connections outside of friends and family in the place I'm moving. The military is the only life I've known for so long that I don't know how well I will be recieved in the civilain world.
My saving grace is the unique experiences the military has allowed me to include in my resume, which I believe is strong and will be my best tool for helping me get my family in a stable and happy position when we move back home.
Some have insninuated that they view my return as a failure, that I'm slinking back with my tail between my legs, having failed to make it in the outside world. But I have never seen it this way. From my point of view I did what I had to ensure I would even be able to start a family, and I found that the "outside world" was far from supportive in that regard with the lack of family support that exists, so I'm returning to the only place it makes sense to go. Not because of failure, but to find success above and beyond what I've already achieved.
