Okay, so it’s not really two years anymore until my enlistment is over with the Air Force. It’s more like a year and eight months, but two years sounds better for a title and as of today when I’m writing this I have 610 days until June 12, 2019, my ETS date.
That’s all I have left. It doesn’t have to be. I could always reenlist for another four years and continue to reenlist until I hit my 20 years and then retire at 38 and go on to do something else. That’s not what I want though.
At the end of my enlistment I’ll have put in seven years. Seven years is a really good chunk of time, especially for a first enlistment. That’s my doing though. I originally enlisted for six years due to my job and I just extended it by another year so I could purchase my third property. (A small sacrifice in order to build wealth for the long term).
I grew up in a military family. My father served, grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins and I’d say we’re pretty proud of the time we’ve spent in the military. Some for thirty years and some for four years. When I bring up the thought to some of them of getting out, sometimes I’m met with the question of why? Why would I do such a thing when I get a steady paycheck every two weeks, free medical coverage, tuition assistance, and all of the other benefits? Also, I’ll be seven years in. Only three years from being half way to retirement and once you reach half way you might as well stay in for the long haul right?
Ehhhh, I don’t believe so.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Some people absolutely love being in the military and stay in as long as possible and there’s nothing wrong with that. I really look up to those men and women. When I first joined that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to make it a career. Do my twenty years and collect the retirement check afterwards then have the rest of my life to accomplish things that I want to do.
WHAT’S CHANGED?
I have!
I’m not the same person that I was when I joined. I’m not even the same person that I was a year ago or a couple months ago. I’m constantly developing and learning new things. Through reading more and trying to immerse myself in the world of self-development and business, I’ve learned that I need to do what makes me happy in life.
I don’t wake up everyday excited to go to work. I don’t wake up anymore excited to put on my uniform. Being in the military limits me as far as income sinceI can only make as much as the rank I wear. I’ve started working on other professional routes that do give me joy such as the real estate investing and with that I have the chance to earn an unlimited amount of income.
I could go on and on, but as of this current moment the pros of getting out outweigh the cons. Who knows though. I could always change my mind and stay in. I just need to listen to myself and the things that are going on around me over the next two years.
Just because I’m still in the military for the time being doesn’t mean I can’t keep working on my goals though.
My current goal by the time of my ETS is to purchase four more properties, bringing me up to 7. At the very least I should be making around $1,000 a month through real estate. Then I want to use that money to help invest in more. Essentially letting my investments pay for themselves.
In short, two years right now seems like quite some time, but I know it’s going to fly by. The last 5 years in the military have for sure. I’m just going to keep my head down and continue to improve everyday. I’ll have a plan and take it one day at a time.
Here’s to the next two years (and maybe last two years) in the military!