Officers, what do you do now that you got out?
Good evening, I’m a 1302 halfway through my contract and am contemplating not accepting career designation. A lot of it boils down to the duty stations and how it has disconnected myself and my significant other from civilization. Being in Lejeune and coming from NYC, my girlfriend and I find every opportunity to leave and head back up. We do not particularly enjoy being away from friends and family. On top of that, with us wanting to start a family, I do not want to miss raising my child for a deployment only for me to go to Oki or sit on a boat.
Though I gripe about this, becoming a Marine has been the greatest thing I’ve ever done for myself. I am so grateful to be in the position I am today and to have experienced things not many can say they have. Despite all of the hardships, stress, and lack of sleep, I feel true purpose in what I do and I love it.
Right now I am weighing my options between staying in for a B-Billet or getting out. I feel a lot of uncertainty about going into CivDiv as I know I am going to miss the sense of purpose, mission, and the camaraderie the Marine Corps gives me. However I know I will have more freedom over my life. But I just don’t know what I would want to do outside of the Marine Corps. My only goal is to have more freedom and make more money.
So, officers, and maybe even specifically 1302’s, what do you do now that you got out? How do/did you find purpose? What are some careers worth transitioning to with my background?