US Army – “What a way to live”

Pros

lot's of time off on weekends and holidays. 30 days vacation per year and plenty of opportunities to travel across europe. We've seen Germany, Poland, Italy, France, Belgium (2 times), Paris, Berlin, Rome, Phillipines, Alaska, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Australia, and many other locales. I could say that working with a large group of diverse backgrounds is also very rewarding. One time I worked with the Polish Army, the Czech army, the British Army, the UK Army, and the Welsh Guard. I've seen the inside of helicopters, airplanes, and boats. I've been shot at, blown up, spit at, rocks thrown at, yelled at, flipped off, and more.

Cons

bullets, bombs, mortars, people who want to kill you. I've seen the inside of helicopters, airplanes, and boats. I've been shot at, blown up, spit at, rocks thrown at, yelled at, flipped off, and more. One time, at band camp, a mortar round landed in a building we were having a cookout in. It was really loud. You also spend a lot of time away from family and friends. I left for Iraq when my daughter was 7 weeks old and returned when she was 18 months. Our brigade was extended past 12 months, at the very last week of our 12 month tour. Kind of sucked.

Advice to Senior Management

More money and quicker retirement (10 years)