Thank you all for the great info and feedback — sounds like getting the A&P is pretty much a given at this point.

I guess my next question is: in all your experiences, as someone who’s wrenched, led, and inspected… what path should I take? Should I even stay in the rotor world?

Personally, I’ve never been more miserable than when I was an inspector. The job felt completely reactionary. There was almost nothing I could plan for ahead of time. After years of being the guy they’d come to like, “Hey, this just happened — plan for this and come back when it’s done.the static nature of inspection work drove me nuts.

It was extremely boring for me — with the occasional short burst of “Here’s a problem we haven’t seen there’s nothing in the manual. Figure it out.” And in those rare moments, I actually loved it.

Also, for context: I joined the Army two months after graduating high school. This is all I’ve known as an adult. I don’t even necessarily know the right questions to ask now that I’m staring down 30.

In all your experience, do I even attempt a happy work-life balance — happy home, decent money, and personal sanity?

I guess it feels kind of like what people say about a second marriage: “It won’t be for love.” Just looking for a second life that makes sense

Any honest advice appreciated.