We have friends we met back in the early 90's, who became very close friends over the years and eventually became like family. Dad passed away a few years ago, but mom is still kicking and we see her at least once/week. We get together for lunch or dinner regularly and sometimes spend a few hours playing cards. I handle minor chores for her around the house and keep her car serviced. She's in her mid-80's, but still drives to the grocery store, bank, beauty shop, etc, but that's about it.
The kids have all grown and moved away to start families and follow their careers. One daughter lives in Australia, one in Orlando and a son in Texas (in the military). The kids were all in school when we met the parents, so we've watched them grow up, graduate, go to college, attended graduations, weddings, baby showers, etc. I remember when the only son graduated h/s, he had no clue what he wanted to do. He was not excited about going to college and was just floating ideas when I suggested he go into the military, spend an enlistment and maybe he'd get an idea what he wanted to do, then get out and follow his desires.
He ended up doing just that and he took to the military like a duck to water and made it his career. He's done a few tours in the Middle East, but has seen no combat as he's more into the administration side of things. He spends his tours in headquarters buildings and such, as opposed to working on the front lines (if that's even a term they still use these days). Anyway, he was here for Christmas and told me he'll be retiring this year. WTF??? It "seems" like he just got out of high school, but I guess it's just a reminder of how fast time flies these days.
Well, I just received a message from him this morning. He was getting his packet together and ready to submit for retirement in a couple months. BUT ... the Army just offered him another stripe. Another stripe would make him a Master Sergeant in the Army. (to youse non-Army dufuses, that would be an E-8). I don't know what sort of additions or bonuses he gets, or what he gets for his still dependent kids, but going by base pay alone, he's making close to 80K/year and the stripe would kick him up to 90K plus add-ons. I know you need to keep your rank for at least 3 years to retire at that paygrade, so in effect, he'd need to stay in another 3 years to avoid falling back to the E-7 pay grade upon retirement.
I told him (IMHO), he should grab it and run with it. Stay in another 3 years (he's still young) and go for the extra retirement $$$. There's no way in Hell, he'd ever make E-9, so bail after 3 more years as an E-8. (probably only the top 1% of the entire Army would ever make it to E-9, so for an administrative type guy, I'd say there's zero chance he'll go any higher in rank) He's not really burned out, so why not? That was my 2-cents, but I have no idea what decision he'll make. I will say one thing though, he sure is making me feel OLD!
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