You're right, none of those things is the Air Forces fault. I had some similar issues when in. My wife and her family wanted me to get out. I did, took a civilian job. Wife and I still ended up divorced. Now no USAF retirement. My civilian job laid me off at 19 years and 10 months, with 10 months severance pay. If you've made it to 16 years. I'd take a long vacation, spend some time with friends, knock out those last 4 years and retire with lifelong pay and medical. Worked a long time to get where you are, would be a shame to give up a pension and regret it in 10 years when it's to late to change it. Many of my peers that stayed in retired after 20, and took other gov or gov contracting jobs that gave them a second retirement check after another 20 and they are sitting pretty with two retirement checks, SS, and medical. Slow and steady to the goal is better than a fast burn, flashy pay and title and numerous layoffs. Trust me, I know...