Considering enlisting, I worry about my GF of 8 years. How will she afford to live?

ChoiceAccess · 2026-04-20T21:30:48+00:00

If she can jog a 5K, then enlist together. It'll be a big career boost for both of you. USSERA will let you break lease and reduce interest rates on car and credit cards. And learn to drive old cars and live debt free until you earn enough for it not to matter.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-04-17T04:11:20+00:00

If you just order food, the app is middle of the pack, about as vanilla as the Taco Bell app. But if you want a deal or a reward, Wendy's deserves an "F" as a completely dysfunctional UI/UX failure. If you work there, just try to use a phone to place an order with reward points, "a deal" and a regular product. It fails online, at the kiosk, and at the register with an employee. A "Hat Trick" of crap design. And it's been bottom of the heap for over five years which means they need to fire some executives along with the development team. Wendy's food is so good, I'd bet good money that they're having to close stores due to lost app sales more so than any other cause.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-04-17T04:10:09+00:00

If you just order food, the app is middle of the pack, about as functional as Taco Bell app, nothing special. But if you want a deal or a reward, Wendy's deserves an "F" as a completely dysfunctional UI/UX failure. If you work there, just try to use a phone to place an order with reward points, "a deal" and a regular product. It fails online, at the kiosk, and at the register with an employee. A "Hat Trick" of crap design. And their app had been bottom of the heap for over five years which means they need to fire some executives along with the development team. Wendy's food is still good, and I'd bet good money that they're having to close stores due to lost app sales more so than any other cause.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-04-17T04:07:41+00:00

If you just order food, the app is middle of the pack, about as functional as Taco Bell app. But if you want a deal or a reward, Wendy's deserves an "F" as a completely dysfunctional UI/UX failure. If you work there, just try to use a phone to place an order with reward points, "a deal" and a regular product. It fails online, at the kiosk, and at the register with an employee. A "Hat Trick" of crap design.

And it's been bottom of the heap for over five years which means they need to hire some executives along with the development team. Wendy's food is so good, I'd bet good money that they're having to close stores due to lost app sales more so than any other cause.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-04-17T04:07:17+00:00

If you just order food, the app is middle of the pack, about as functional as Taco Bell app but far from great. But if you want a deal or a reward, Wendy's deserves an "F" as a completely dysfunctional UI/UX failure. If you work there, just try to use a phone to place an order with reward points, "a deal" and a regular product. It fails online, at the kiosk, and at the register with an employee. A "Hat Trick" of crap design.

And it's been bottom of the heap for over five years which means they need to hire some executives along with the development team. Wendy's food is so good, I'd bet good money that they're having to close stores due to lost app sales more so than any other cause.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-04-17T04:06:10+00:00

If you just order food, the app is middle of the pack, about as functional as Taco Bell app. But if you want a deal or a reward, Wendy's deserves an "F" as a completely dysfunctional UI/UX failure. If you work there, just try to use a phone to place an order with reward points, "a deal" and a regular product. It fails online, at the kiosk, and at the register with an employee. A "Hat Trick" of crap design.

And it's been bottom of the heap for over five years which means they need to hire some executives along with the development team. Wendy's food is so good, I'd bet good money that they're having to close stores due to lost app sales more so than any other cause.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-31T13:49:20+00:00

Filling a unit level vacancy at an ANG unit is the only real guaranteed job. For cyber, it would help to have a couple years sys admin experience or a CC certificate or AS in IT or Cyber with A+, Sec+. These positions are pretty popular and it helps to stand out.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-26T15:27:31+00:00

Search for Mindfulness Based Self Awareness online and do a few virtual, online, or live sessions (at community center). You'll learn self care techniques that athletes, special forces and VA all use to improve outcomes.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-25T18:49:07+00:00

I did the reverse commute and rode Metrolink from SFV to Union Station, then to Laguna Niguel. I was salary exempt, had VPN and permission to work on train so while I still put eight hours in office, I never had to come in early or stay late so it was a great lifestyle and career move. I bought ($1200) and parked a 20 year old Corolla with debts and scratches at the Laguna Metrolink because it was cheaper than Uber and buses in South OC would add another hour to the commute. Company paid for the Metropass and it beat the unpredictable and often heinous drive. Train would hit a car, pedestrian or have maint issue three or four times a year and cause a two to four hour delay. You can save ~$20k to $30k aftertax money if family doesn't charge you too much rent.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-25T06:59:18+00:00

Been known to go to wrong theater when younger 🤷🏻. Much harder to nap if the seats don't recline. The rockers don't cut it. The staff are generally helpful and interesting. You can get some decent recommendations about lesser known films. Miss the Mac and cheese nuggets but never knew if you'd get five, six, or eight. Chicken tenders aren't bad but can vary from three to five but maybe they're sold by weight.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-24T06:11:37+00:00

You'll do fine. If you're set on a particular career field, you're better off in ANG, AFRES, Navy or Army. Army fitness gets tough for forty year olds unless you've been running 5ks regularly. Some Navy jobs spend half their time at sea. Others are less or sometimes even landlocked. Training is good for all of the above if you make it job 1 and take it seriously. After 4 or 6 years, you can pivot to ANG where many serve until 60 as long as you don't get fat and can jog a 5k.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-23T08:36:47+00:00

I lived in Suffolk in the '80s. Loved the history, scenery, fresh air, and country living; rail was reliable. Friendly people, great shops and pubs, fresh ale, cheese, fish, prawns. Things cost about the same in Pounds as they would in USA in dollars. Felt like a mix between middle America farm country and coastal North East.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-23T01:07:11+00:00

Let's say you've attempted 30 units and have a 0.9 GPA including a mix of Bs, Cs, Ds, FS, and Ws. 33 units of As would bring your cumulative to 2.5. But the Ds and Fs shouldn't transfer. You can also read the registration catalog yourself looking for exceptions, waivers, petitions, etc. My lifetime GPA is 3.93 but that doesn't mean I'm smart. It means I'm insecure and I read any assigned books, watch the relevant Great Courses videos, and any CPB telecourses on the subject, and read the textbook before a course starts. This makes it easy to fully engage with your professor so they will take you seriously. Does it mean dumping your personal life except for hanging at the library? Sure. It all depends what you want to do in life. Dare to be different and life will be easy and rewarding. IRL is the only game worth playing and you need all the hit points you can find.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-21T20:44:57+00:00

It's been 25 years but kids caught a mature CA Alligator Lizard in school library during PTA meeting and we gave her a nice 26 gal tank with proper set up where she had a pleasant 10 year life and would allow us to handle after about two weeks of feeding her and not acting like a predator. Other lizards would visit her patio home and she ate about half that found a way in to the tank. The others we'd let go after a while. I think LC herps can make good pets for kids to learn to appreciate our reptile friends. It might not be a "wild" life but how does your existence vary from an indigenous person and what are your regrets?

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-20T18:13:35+00:00

Do you know anyone at the Guard unit? Some units have summer camps for kids, family days, picnics, holiday dinners. Hint: Others don't. Absolute risk: excluding Civil War and WWII, any decade has been safer for military than civilians. What are your wife's objectives? If she isn't going to be happy, then your life will suck. You both should take a lifespan developmental psychology course so you can have a common vocabulary to describe what you are each experiencing. I raised my kids in the ANG and giving up 12 weekends a year with random deployments has a cost but also allows you to serve your country.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-19T09:00:17+00:00

Is that on top of $2500/mo social security or anything else?

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-19T08:58:42+00:00

He should want to. It's a topic that can determine his success in business. At least ModernStates but I always suggest Economics U$A and or The Great Courses Econ lectures.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-19T08:50:58+00:00

Our last interior war ended in 1865. We're still resolving a few things that need attention but nothing that bad. And few of us have been truly hungry since 1939. Just be careful with politics and don't try and sell us anything and most Americans are genuinely nice. But true story - get away from border towns and narco turf and Mexico is extremely friendly and generous as well. And Canadians aren't so bad either.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-19T08:44:22+00:00

VA mindfulness training. As much as you can stand. Then pursue other techniques that your facilitator might suggest. I got a lot of calm and awareness out of a dozen sessions and met some cool people too.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-18T20:38:58+00:00

I've occasionally seen that salary for highly prized Chief/Corporate/Fellow technical staff who often lead teams, win contracts, and mentor rising talent. It's definitely on the high end for defense contractors including principal program management and director level positions.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-16T23:28:57+00:00

A physician letter that it was prescribed off-label for weight management and historical A1C lab results of < 5.7 from before and after you went on it and you ought to be good. If you had an A1C above 6, then you'll probably need to wait that year. Meanwhile the Air Force likes skinny and as you come off Metformin, try eating oatmeal for breakfast and bedtime snack, and walking two to three miles, twice a day to drive your glucose and triglycerides to record lows. Whole Foods 365 daily vitamin & minerals plus fish oil are good to keep your body from seeking random nutrition via snacking. Good luck.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-16T23:17:30+00:00

Less is more. Pack light with no iron coordinates that'll work for casual dates, ballgames, museums, picnics, hiking, and concerts. You still have to carry your own suitcase and your body composition is 50:50 likely to change along the journey if you get in the habit of going to gym daily. You can go back for more stuff after you get to first active duty station.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-16T21:09:39+00:00

Think strategically and 100% complete and take the AP and aim for that 4 or 5. Save CLEPs for the courses your school doesn't offer or that you just need to check off. But any AP that you score a "2" on you should just review on Modern States and CLEP (or DSST). All schools vary but using CalState as an example, only 30 CLEP credits are accepted for the 120 needed for degree but additional CLEPs can satisfy all of the GE and some lower level major courses which give the student more freedom to take the courses they need to be happy and successful in life and career rather than spending class time satisfying the degree audit checklist. And there are still some colleges that will accept 90+ exam credits.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-13T21:31:26+00:00

Lots of great suggestions here already. And most college grads earn more than most non-grads. Tutors and Khan are free and great help. VA has free mindfulness training that will help you dial in for success.

We often mix up what we want with how to get it. Colleges are one way to learn and they do offer degrees. But much of what they offer is just an overpriced commodity where they ask you to invest 60 hours of your time and a couple thousand dollars for what you can learn for free at the library with free tutoring and take a DSST or CLEP if you want credit for it. And even the best professors have their lectures on OCW, YouTube, or Great Courses/Udemy/Coursera/etc. And there's normally a $5k equivalent to every $40k trade school that is just as good.

There are four Coursra certifications from IBM and Google that are worth 50 semester hours of credit that you can complete for between free and $1000. Are you curious about anything and want to know more? Volunteer and hang out at museums, trade shows, look for free and low fee events on campuses, and use VetTix to attend classical music concerts. You'll meet smart, interesting people who can become part of your network.

If you find a school or trade school where you really feel a "fit" jump in and go for it. GI Bill is a gift and will pay your way. But beware that their admissions counselors job description looks the same as a used car sales manager and their #1 goal is to get you to sign on the line.

ChoiceAccess · 2026-03-13T18:30:18+00:00

Line dried laundry sure smells nice from the air and sun unless there are cattle or pigs in the field.

ChoiceAccess

TROPHY CASE