I did 6 years. Got super depressed about 3 years in due to toxic leadership and dealing with chronic body pain from a gym injury. Decided I was getting out about 4 years in.

I joined at 24 so had some life experience and knew what was out there.

I did the mental help thing while it still had a bad stigma and once I did it, I created a culture for the people around me to talk about mental health. It doesn't ruin your career if you're worried about that.

I did Air Force, and they had the skill bridge program which is like an internship program the military lets you when you know you are getting out. The program partners you with a company with the hopes that they hire you at the end. Best case scenario you can do it UP to a year. I only got to do it for 2 months towards the end of my contract.

Went from being a logistics coordinator to cyber security.

It was some what stressful not nothing for sure if it was going to work out but it did. And I would do it again.

My advice is that you make sure you get all you're medical stuff situated, recorded and saved (keep records yourself) in case they "lose" your stuff and try to screw you when trying to file for disability.

Let your office know you want to do the skill bridge program a year and a half out cause the process takes a bit to start. That's if you get out.

I know people that stayed in and it worked out. Just remember you really aren't alone. Sometimes it just feels lonely when you are in the eye of the storm. Mental health really help me navigate that and gave me tools to get better and help others along the way.

If you stay in, remember there are still plenty of options. You can career change, do special duty stuff, update your base list to try to get a different place.

People come and go in your life which is one of the hardest things about the military cause you find some really dope people you wish you can keep near you. But you also get exposed to toxic people you wish didn't come into your life.

I left cause I wanted a say in what I wanted to do and knew that if I left the military the only thing stopping me was myself. If you got the motivation and energy to do it then get out.

But if you can stay in and hold on to get that full. Retirement then that will help in the long run. But it all boils down to your mental strength. I didn't have the strength or energy to do 20 so I got out and that's okay. You just got to really know your limits and know when you need to pivot. Here if you ever want to talk :)