Ok say your husband was supposed to ETS in Jan 09- but he going to be stop lossed in Nov 08 anyway, for a deployment spanning 15 months...... would you accept the military's offer if they said "Stay in for 5 more years and we will give you $15, 000 lump sum".

Ok so that's what we have been offered.

It's making me feel sick actually. The thought of him staying in for an additional 5 years is just :sick

But ofcourse- the catch is that he WILL be deploying in February 09 anyway (being stop lossed in Nov)........so he wouldn't get back until Mid 2010. And that's way past the original ets date- so if he is going to be stuck with the army- he might aswell get some extra cash- know what I mean?

I hope this makes sense-

I just want to know what you guys would do. Would you be all for it considering he wouldn't be ETSing anyway? Or would you run for the hills as soon as the deployment was over?

I seriously have no clue- and neither does dh. :bored

I see what you are saying, if they stoploss him once they might do it again, I say take the money and at least get something out of it. that way you aren't getting screwed both times kwim

Yeah- see dh got somewhat of the same offer back in 2005. And 3 months later he was stop lossed and didn't have a chance of etsing until Feb 07. Then being completely scared- we decided to stay in anyway- bringing the ets date to 09.

it's just so hard to think of. Dh & I have sooooo many dreams and aspirations- we just don't know what's what anymore

I see what you are saying, if they stoploss him once they might do it again, I say take the money and at least get something out of it. that way you aren't getting screwed both times kwim

:agree

I see what you are saying, if they stoploss him once they might do it again, I say take the money and at least get something out of it. that way you aren't getting screwed both times kwim

:agree

Yeah- see dh got somewhat of the same offer back in 2005. And 3 months later he was stop lossed and didn't have a chance of etsing until Feb 07. Then being completely scared- we decided to stay in anyway- bringing the ets date to 09.

it's just so hard to think of. Dh & I have sooooo many dreams and aspirations- we just don't know what's what anymore

it's really hard because they can always stop loss him, which is complete crap imo but the money can help make some dreams and aspirations a reality. It's not an easy decision, but... if they are already going to extend him to 2010 you will practically be half way there, and 15k richer.

I personally don't think a measly 15k is enough to spend that much time
but then again I really have no idea what you're talking about!

ITA agree with rosebud i know it must be a hard decision simmy

That is a tough choice. I see it that the war isn't going to end anytime soon, and that the stop losses will keep happening.
I can't say what I would choose if it were about my dh, because I think it's a completely different ball game when they're on the ground. But I would probably lean toward the situation that at least made us feel in control, and that would be choosing to stay in and earning the bonus, as opposed to letting them decide for us through stop loss.

Hope that makes sense, even though it's probably not much help.

:hugs

I'd take the money. With everything going on, stop lossing is inevitable and we would rather do it on our terms instead of their terms, KWIM?

I would personally have DH stay in. Put the extra away not touching it and use it as a nest egg for when he does get it out there is no financial worries

i think they give you 1/2 up front, and then the rest in increments though?

i think they give you 1/2 up front, and then the rest in increments though?
:yes they do but if he gets it over in Iraq it will all be tax free

i think they give you 1/2 up front, and then the rest in increments though?

Apparently he would get it all in 30-90 days and it's tax free.

If we decided to take the money- I'd want to pay off a debt.

Oh bills are so boring.

I'd take the money. With everything going on, stop lossing is inevitable and we would rather do it on our terms instead of their terms, KWIM?

I do agree with this.

But, $15,000 for 5 years is complete crap.

I do agree with this.

But, $15,000 for 5 years is complete crap.

I agree!

But when we were in Germany- they offer 1200 bucks.

Dh has re-enlisted so many times, it's like they think WE should be paying THEM to keep him in :rolleyes

One of ours goals is to get some contracting work in the UK- it'd be a great opportunity- so it's so hard cos the UK may never happen- but it could......and it wont if dh re-enlists.

Catch 22 situation

I agree!

But when we were in Germany- they offer 1200 bucks.

Dh has re-enlisted so many times, it's like they think WE should be paying THEM to keep him in :rolleyes

One of ours goals is to get some contracting work in the UK- it'd be a great opportunity- so it's so hard cos the UK may never happen- but it could......and it wont if dh re-enlists.

Catch 22 situation


Well, that is definitely better than 1200 bucks. :tu

Contracting job sounds good but it's risky too because you don't know when you will get it and whether they will take both of you or just one of you and support the other...Have you thought about the middle east contracts? What kind of contract job are you guys looking at?
How long has he been in the military?

Contracting job sounds good but it's risky too because you don't know when you will get it and whether they will take both of you or just one of you and support the other...Have you thought about the middle east contracts? What kind of contract job are you guys looking at?
How long has he been in the military?

We thought about it all last year.

LOL it's all we thought about........... and then it came around to him ETSing and we got scared.

He's been in for 13 years this upcoming November.

We thought about it all last year.

LOL it's all we thought about........... and then it came around to him ETSing and we got scared.

He's been in for 13 years this upcoming November.

I understand..DH and I had talk about contracting and then I got pregnant so we put that on the back burner for now..But it's still there...

So that means he's got 7 years left..honestly he should finish the last 7 years so that he can get that pension...I know it's not what you want to listen but he's pass that half way mark....that's just my opinion...Yeah the distance will suck but he's almost done with the 20 years...Also at least it gives you time to look for more options. And like you said with the money you can pay off your debt and be over and done with that...

i totally agree.. if hes been in for 13 years, finish the last 7, and be taken care of!

Yeah, adding his time already in to the equation would make me more likely to vote for staying in.

Looking at how close he is to that 20 year mark I'd probably say just deal with the last 7 and get the pension. I know it's not really what you want though. :hugs good luck in whatever you decide!

I see what you are saying, if they stoploss him once they might do it again, I say take the money and at least get something out of it. that way you aren't getting screwed both times kwim

:agree

7 years is alot of time though.

It's easy to say- but its so hard to think about when it's you on the door step.

I have no clue what we are going to do.

But right now- im so tired I'm actually hallucinating.

7 years is alot of time though.

It's easy to say- but its so hard to think about when it's you on the door step.

I have no clue what we are going to do.

But right now- im so tired I'm actually hallucinating.

Yes 7 years is a lot of time but it passes by quickly...

And go to bed young lady..it's almost 4 in the morning there..no wonder you are tired and hallucinating...:D

Yeah- it does pass by quickly.

That's exactly why it's catch 22.

We could do so many things in 7 years.

And at the same time, maybe we can't?

Military is a great fall back plan, but sometimes it only stops you.

We won't know what way it goes until we are there.

Ah i do need to sleep but dh just signed into YIM for the first time ever!

no gmail YAY