what’s life after the Army?
small backstory and then i’ll get into it.
(yes i posted this in r/army)
ive been in since i was 17. female in combat arms, with almost 5 years in. i always planned to just continue to re-sign for my same job because i love it, passionate about it, and dedicated. whatevs: earlier this year i got pregnant, and have now been doing a solo pregnancy, and obviously going to be a single mother, im due in November this year! when i decided to keep my son, i knew it was time to leave behind combat arms and move into a different corner of the army, because all moms have to make sacrifices and i know this will be best for us considering all the factors (family, distance, job risk etc etc). my contract is up May2027, and I was looking to sign again and reclass, sadly nothing has peaked my interest, but obviously still trying to narrow it down.
i go and talk to retention, he says i have to re-sign again before Jan2027, but because i’ll be freshly post-partum, i can’t reclass until Nov2027. he starts talking about college, certain qualifications, no slots open, E-6 and above only, and basically every question i had, was shot down with a “yeah that’s not gonna happen”. we get to a point in the conversation of “if you wanna stay in, you have to reenlist and stay in combat arms, and there’s no guarantee we’d be able to send you to any school to reclass at all” and we both agreed it was a bit of a gamble. obviously he gave me his number, and told me to narrow down some choices, but i should just pick something that “sucks the least, but won’t be combat arms”. i’m like well shit.
every part of the convo where i was like “ah yes an open door!”, the door was quickly closed. no no no no, and no to every scenario. as we’re sitting there talking i get this gut feeling of “ok well there’s your answer, it’s time to move on”. i thanked him for his time, told him i’d reach out, and left.
i enjoy being in the army, i couldn’t imagine doing anything else….but i know i wont be able to fill the role of single mom and be the same combat arms soldier i used to be, which IMO feels like a liability to other soldiers and my career field. i want to be involved with my sons life, close to my family (who are over 1,000 miles away) and see what the world has to offer. so whats the big deal? i’m terrified. everyone i’ve worked with who has gotten out is 1.) living in their moms house with no job or 2.) working minimum wage jobs and giving up on their “post army dreams” of any career they used to talk about.
i GUESS what im saying is, life after the Army? is that such a thing??? is there anyone out there that actually went to go do something after they got out? and if so, what is it? yes, i’d like to go to college, and i am someone the enjoys working, so even doing some blue collar stuff for a while is fine. i enjoy the feelings i get of manual labor and hard work.
also how the fuck do i even get out? who am i? what will i be? how is any of this possible? what are yall doing? who am i without being like “hey, my name is \_\_\_, im a soldier in the U.S. Army!” what’s my life if i’m not questioning troops on their shave job at 0600????????
maybe i’m looking for hope idk? guidance? or someone to be like “yeah this is what i do, no i don’t live in my moms basement, and no i don’t work at burger king and play videos into the wee hours of the night, it’s totally possible to get out and still stay a float in the civilian world”
idk man at this point ill take some crumbs. oh, and a chili mac MRE…maybe the grape drink mix if you have it.