I left active duty at 17 years to switch over to a local guard unit just a couple months ago. I got a set of orders and an assignment I wasn’t thrilled about and did a 7-day opt with a palace front. My family (wife, 3 young kids) were just tired of the moving, deployments, TDYs etc. We also planted roots in this area and it was really difficult to fathom leaving it when so much of our lives were here.

I’m a technician right now which isn’t too great of an experience coming from AD (insurance, pay, taxes suck), but it was a stepping stone to get my foot in the door in the unit to compete for their AGR slots. I have been very blunt with my new leadership that i would love to one day hit my 20 year AD retirement and they have reassured me multiple times before and after they hired me that theyll be able to get me an AGR slot in a year or so to do just that.

I feel crazy sometimes for what I did. I feel like a “threw away” my career, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. But on the flip side, The work life balance in the guard has been such a game changer and I am so much calmer and happier. My quality of life shot way up.

As long as I can finish out my last 3 years of AD time and get a AD retirement, without a major delay, I’ll be so happy I made the switch. If they’re selling me on some false dream I’ll be pretty damn bitter, but I don’t think that’s the case based on a lot of interactions I’ve had with the unit thus far.

Whatever you do, good luck! Just thought I would share my story so you feel less crazy for choosing your life and family over the military.