opening up....why I left the army
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- After serving as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army for four impactful years, I made the difficult decision to leave. This video delves into the candid reasons behind my departure, including financial, mental, and physical aspects.
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“The constant anxiety to be better…..”. Dude I have been trying to pinpoint why I loved the Army so much but hated it at the same time. That phrase resonates more than ever.
LOL. Try corporate world. It would be soul-sucking & pointless even more.
@@casioak1683 I’m there right now at a power company in the USA, the good news is that you’re not competing against a lot of high performers. I love the civilian corporate world, and I’m not destroying my body trying to compete in elite units. It’s glorious.
@@thomasloveless4800 Yes. But in corporate world, in a company with many competing companies, it's even more soul sucking. "The constant ajxiety to be better" is what I feel right now, if one is not performing then one would be fired. Job market competition in corporate world is mostly fierce. Power & energy sector in every country generally is considered a stable career and even monopolistic industry.
@@thomasloveless4800 I'm working in banking sector right now and honestly I don't like how it is going, very toxic environment, no "buddy got your back" (because one's life depends on other) like in the military, and "constant anxiety to be better" is worse because if one is not performing then one would be fired here.. unlike in the military where one can't be fired unless they committed a serious act against laws.
@@casioak1683 I’m being honest when I say this, It takes a lot to get fired on the corporate world. You can coast without cause for concern. With the work ethic I gained as an army officer, I’ve been promoted three times in 4 years. I absolutely love the civilian world. I made 90k as a Captain in the Army. I make over 210k now as a civilian with a fraction of the responsibility. Best decision I ever made.
I spent 20 years in the Army infantryman / paratrooper Ranger with the 82ND ABN now I’m retired disabled veteran my knees wore out, I have bilateral knee replacement I’m in constant pain, he speaks 100.% correct.
Thank you for your service. 20 years is a long time to dedicate to the Army and I truly respect that. We’re able to be the powerhouse nation that we are today thanks to selfless veterans like yourself
but worth it for the freedom amiright?
Being a paratrooper sucked and is pretty much obsolete. I’m surprised countries still have dedicated airborne units.
did consider xferring to a POG at some point?
@@chuckiepeoples telling you ain't ABN without telling me you ain't ABN. 😂
4 years was enough for me on the enlisted side and no shame in doing one contract and getting out. I'm much happier that I got out and I've found that I can achieve a lot more without the military. Thank you for your service
Thank you for serving as well! Agree that people shouldn’t feel shame for not sticking through. At the end of the day, it’s a career choice and there are other paths to take outside of the military.
@@TheChangClubI feel much the same sir. I was active Navy and Army Reserve and yeah it was physically taxing and it comes to a point can you do this for another 12 years and ultimately said can't do it. Which suck because I love being Infantry but the physical toll was what made me pop smoke. I miss the guys though.
@@TheChangClubthere never really is going to be good time to get out but you get out when you have more reasons to not reenlist then that's time to go. Thank you for serving Go For Broke!
I did 7 yrs and that was more than enough for me. LOL. At the end of my contract I was burned out mentally & physically after leaving Korea,I knew then it was time to leave. My last year I pretty much coasted through on cruise control,but,glad I left tho. LOL.
@@808INFantry11X I did active Navy too,how long were you in ???? Ship or shore ???
Very good insights, thank you. I spent 7 years on active duty in the US Army, half as an Enlisted soldier and half as a Commissioned Officer. I completed my enlistment as an Enlisted soldier as an SP4 and I left the Army the second and last time as a First Lieutenant (Promotable) - on the promotion list for Captain, O-3. I realized that as much as I loved the Army, it was not the place for me, at least that time. Like you, I too am an American of Asian descent. While I have met and worked with some amazing soldiers while on Active Duty, I cannot count how many times I was asked by others as to why I spoke English "so good". When I corrected their English (should be speak English "so well") most did not know what I was saying...or they pretended to not know. I was also one of those office-job soldiers (AG branch), but as part of ROTC training, both in High School and University, I was trained in the fundamentals of Infantry tactics - much respect. At the end of the day, like any other job it's about transferrable skills. The Army taught me to complete my college education, and when I completed my bachelor's degree after leaving the Army the first time, I had also completed my Senior ROTC at the University and having been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, I went back on Active Duty as a Commissioned Officer. Years after leaving the Army that second time, the lessons I learned in the Army helped push me again, this time to earn my MBA. I am grateful to the Army for what they have taught me. Thank you for your service.
It was a pleasure serving with you in the scout platoon sir. Even though it was for a short time with how quickly they move officers from platoon to platoon. Keep them gains coming you look awesome.
Scout platoon was an awesome time and I was lucky to be a part of it!! And will do 🫡
Damn bruh you look big a beast you need to serve 5 more years
Thank you for serving!! This guy deserves 100k subscribers already
Haha 😂 yes please
no he doesn't he quit period. His mind was weak. I love the Infantry because I love the challenge and I 'm 66 now and still l.ove to ruck with my son now to teach him how to push pass wanting to quit.
He's weak
He "served" for about 5 minutes. He spent more time in the gym and building a TH-cam following, than serving his country.
@@rigger8609 ahhh! Yes, the bad as* 66 year old; retired with 25 YOS here. There's no shame in the game; it's a free country, the guy put in his time, compared to 99% of Americans (likely including your son) wouldn't dare signing the dotted line. All the best!
One of the best decisions I've made was to enlist and serve in the United States Army (Active). It became a pathway for me to become a U.S. citizen. I just wish I could have served during my younger years, but anyway, it became a stepping stone for me to build a life in this country as a U.S. citizen.
You're doing it the right way!
wow you totally explain what i was feeling in the army, but couldn't describe it, i was burnt out mentally and physically, i was E5 running a S6 shop slotted for E7 and having to do E5 stuff like training plans and training, and then doing higher level stuff like coordination and reporting to the XO or LTC. it did fast track me to getting out and giving me the confident of getting a job in IT.
Don't blame you for getting out! Good luck and God bless you always!
Compared to the other "Getting Out" videos I've been watching lately, you have the best attitude. It was almost like watching a light hearted infomercial for why you should get out, but with tons of laughter and smiles. 😂🎉❤
Haha this was such a nice comment to read so thank you!! I definitely wanted people to know that I gained a lot from the time and experience as well.
....bro!!!!!!!!.....dude!!!!!....I will be screaming, cussing, rage, etc., if I did a video to why I got out, I h@ted so much. I didn't finish basic but still...that small experience is enough.
@@garouuchiha4041 What the recruiters don't tell you, never tell you, is that just making it through BMT is not a guarantee! The washout rate is quite high! Especially for the ground force branches. Then, you have the high washout rate at the Specialty schools. And in the end, most separate after their first and only tour, if they don't get kicked out first! So staying in isn't an automatic, given thing. As your experience. Even lieutenant Chang did the typical one tour. But, he can be recalled at any time. So technically he isn't really out.
Damn wish I had you as a PL lol. If your in a combat arms MOS and aren’t deployed life at garrison blows. Army was the best/worse time of my life. Never regret joining because it set a foundation for myself for success after the service. Thank you for serving!! 🇺🇸
Bro, you hit the points spot on. Stay safe brother and keep up the good fight. The Army gave me a lot but also took a lot. The constant want to improve and be better was a double edge sword because i wracked up tons of injuries trying to get into every elite program I could, volunteer for deployements, ect. RLTW!
Thanks for serving and glad you resonated with the video!
Hey man! VMI here too. Airborne Infantry, combat 2X. Left the Army too. Tired of doing the bad things. And yes, I could tell my body would not last long doing this. Got burned out.
Thank you for your service brotha you're a BEAST 🔥🔥🔥
Thank you for your service. If you were chasing achievements like a "combat deployment", you probably got out at the right time. If we end up going to war with China, it'll be like Bakhmut. I hope we can avoid having our young kids experience that flavor of hell.
I was in the infantry, I guess you can tell based on my name and I was in the legendary Easy company from the show band of brothers....anyway, every point you touched on, is very true and it's refreshing to see someone tell the honest truth, especially coming from a rank such as yours, it gives insight to the fact that officers are human as well and truly understand the struggles of a junior enlisted soldier....I really love the fact that you touched on the unfairness of the pay of a infantry guy vs someone who sits in an office all day, I believe if they could somehow fix that issue, you would have more people wanting to join the infantry, so in hindsight it does seem like a dumb thing to do, by getting paid equally as someone who doesn't have the everyday stressors we have/had.....it's no shade like you said, it just makes no sense at all really.
Really glad you enjoyed the video and could relate to some of the points. I know the military is having a ton of recruitment problems so i’m really curious with how they plan on tackling it
@@TheChangClub that's a tough one brother, money is always going to be a big motivator, the army can also do better with commercials....those two things are a start, but with this current and new generation, they need someone to go out to some of these high schools and sit down with some of the students and find out what appeals to them.....they also need to offer huge incentives to prior service and maybe bring them back especially since theirs a bigger threat now, they'll need experienced soldiers, offer them a rank up from what they were prior to getting out and higher pay.
Thank you for your service David! 👊☺️
Thank you. Glad to have had the opportunity!
New sub here. Not sure how I came across your video, but great information! You seem like a jacked, cool dude! I'm actually a medical examiner for the VA and sometimes I wonder what the reason is for leaving service so it's nice to see someone's aspect of it. And I love it when you said you would sign up again. All veterans that I have come across and had asked that question said they would definitely do it again because it is life changing. Truly, thank you for your service!
6:00 You buy a home, then rent it out when you PCS. That's one of the things I regretted not doing when I was active. A few of my buddies bought places at two or more of their previous duty stations and are now making an okay amount with rent income. It's mostly passive income, minus having to deal with occasional maintenance or when they have to find a tenant. Plus the house itself is an appreciating asset. As a young Lt I was also paying off loans but was also able to invest. Like you, I had roommates but probably had a hyper cheap lifestyle that most people probably couldn't handle. And, I agree grunts should get some sort of additional incentive pay, similar to aviators getting a bit extra.
Thank You For Your Service 🫡🫡🫡🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Started as enlisted and later transitioned to officer corps; best decision after 25 YOS as an O4. It was tough; but worth the ride. All the best!
Green to gold ?
The mental aspect is the trap. There is always someone that has done more (schools or combat). If you’re constantly trying to prove yourself, there is always someone ‘better’
This is so true. I didn’t even realize it at the time and it just felt like the obvious thing to do. I had a friend in 1/75 call it “chasing the dragon”
@@TheChangClub Happened time and time again during my time. Infantry looked down on POGs, Infantry with Ranger tabs looked down on infantry, Ranger Bat soldiers looked down on infantry with tabs…. Etc. Wish I would have recognized the futility of this thinking sooner. We need better senior mentors in the military.
4 years as an infantryman, 2 tours in Iraq, then i was out. I am forever grateful for my service. had one of the best and worst experiences in my life. as a disabled veteran, I'm very happy where i stand now. thank you for everyone's service!!!!
Med boarding been in 5 years army broke me mentally and physically ready for the next chapter of my life
Good luck on the next stage! I definitely try to carry some of the lessons I learned while I was in the Army in my day to day still. Hope you have positive lessons from the Army that you’re able to carry with you in this next chapter as well brother
I subscribed because everything you said was spot on. It took me 13 years to realize what i was missing outside the Army. I joined when I was 18 and knew nothing but the Army life. Drank the kool aid and got the shirts. I didnt realize i was stressed out until i got out and was exposed to what vacation days and sick days were lol. 13 damn years damn it. Slow learner, but learned nevertheless. Great times, no regrets.
Love to hear it! The Army life really can be great and perfect for some people but I knew that I would always be wondering what my life could be like outside of it.
These guys that seem to have their sh*t together in their late teens, into their early 20s blow my mind. I'm twice his age and still don't have my 'ish together. Dude is going places.
Haha thank you brother! What’s on the surface isn’t always the truth though so I try not to compare
Great job graduating college and then serving our country. I enlisted almost 20 yrs ago and retired as an E-7 (P) 5 years ago. I felt just like you did many times don't know how I managed to stick it out for 20 years. Im glad I served just like you LT. God bless, sir!!
Realized that most of what you do in the military means nothing in the civilian word. Pops told me when you done let it go. I'm now a civilian and using my mos and making 6 figures, plus vacation/sick days and I moved my TSP. It's a great stepping stone to better things in life.
i was active af and went guard, like the culture but day to day stress is through the roof, thanks for serving our country
I retired after 28 years active duty in the Army in 2014 (82nd 505th PIR, Observer Controller too many deployments etc...), in the end I would not change a thing, I remember driving out the Main gate and was like wow what next (no more emails, no more getting some joe out jail etc....) just relax surround yourself with like minded folks and enjoy life and best of all Grand kids for me which currently is fireteam size and awesome.....stay healthy, focused and have a good attitude.
Thank you for your service! 28 years is a long time and i’m sure you mentored and led many many soldiers through that time. Just a few good leaders can make all the difference for joes in a unit!
I went in at 38 came out at 41 as a E4 but I knew I had to move on with life, Granted I was in the ANG and being a father of a 18 year old made me think should I continue driving 300 miles round trip. I went ahead and ETS and Im actually considering going back in after I move. I found a unit in the city I will be moving too. I can see why you left and that was a great idea.
Thank you for your service 🇺🇸
I’ve been counting down the days to getting out for awhile now. This video brought me joy. Thank you!
Love the honesty, transparency, and courage to be real. Well put brother.
The reason I got out after 12 years and went into federal Law Enforcement. I was able to buy my time back and roll it into my Federal retirement, plus, they paid overtime beyond 8 hours.
That’s an awesome move. You played chess and not checkers haha
That’s my son’s plan. Get a military job with a clearance level and parlay that into a federal LE job that his military time will transfer to.
Congratulations, Thank you for your service. It's an honor
Good debrief! Thank you for your service!
i love the army but i only hit 6 figures when i left active duty. some friends died as well.,.
great video! thank you for your service Sir!
Dude, I enjoyed those stories. Thank you for your service and best of luck on your future endeavors.
Much appreciated! And glad you enjoyed!
The Army gives me purpose to get up everyday. Yes, no one likes getting up early 0400 0600 or what ever case it is...but I enjoyed every minute of it!
You did a brave thing to leave, never easy
Thank you for your service oppa. And for the insight ❤
After 20 + years active duty, I have no regrets, but could not do anymore then that. Thank you for serving Lt.
Thanks for your service brother!
Thanks 😎
This guy is an absolute beast. Enjoy the content big dawg and your rats were definitely the best part about VMI 😏
Can’t deny that!! Definitely had the best rats
I'm honestly really surprised how finances is one of your low points for leaving. As an Enlisted E5 I was putting away basically 70% of my paycheck (or whatever the max contribution was for the year) into TSP and was able to make my TSP reach 100k USD in about 3 years while still being able to do what I wanted (which wasn't much to be honest) I guess the biggest difference is you had debt to pay off.
That’s crazy!!!
In the Australian Army we get $100 for every day out in the field and to top it off, most of our positions must have portable toilets so it’s actually ok…
But yeah I always have to be mindful when working with Americans or British when we talk about pay..
I spent 20 years as a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps (1967-87). Privates today are making as much as I did as a captain then per month. Yes, inflation is over the top, but I loved living on base free in a community where there was no trash on the streets, no graffiti, free medical, nice housing where everyone kept their yards neat, almost no cost per birth of a child, good schools which had patriotism, respect, moral character, etc., and better prices at the on base PX, commissary and gas station, etc. There were things to do such as rental houses at the beach or in the mountains, special services activities and sports all in a safe environment. I can't say I ever got burned out. We got 30 days paid vacation per year which negated a lot of stress. Of course, it depended upon what your specialty was and where you were assigned. I can see where today there is a lot of social experimentation and woke crap that we didn't have during my service. I was glad to have missed all that BS. I used to joke that I had to go through a three day class on sexual harassment and since then I was not harassed once. Darn! That joke now would have in front of the CO for discipline. The military perhaps has lost its' sense of humor. and common sense. The top leadership seems to be even more political than ever which appears to support all the wokeness. Those folks need to go.
You are a freaking Warrior ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
Damn, you are pretty articulate for a grunt! Thank you for your service!
Good look to u man wish you all the best. Thank u for your service 🙏 🎉
Thank you!! Appreciate the kind words
Gonna hard disagree on the financial aspect. That all boils down to financial management. I spent ten years as a normal civilian before joining the Guard and lived paycheck to paycheck that entire time. Then spent five years M-Day before going full-time and it’s been the biggest financial boom to my family ever.
I did my 20...enjoyed getting out of the Army so much I did it twice...12 of 20 on jump status...I am now paying for my misspent youth...Airborne, All the Way...would do it all over again...
Thank you for yours service, sir! Infantry Officer is tough life!
Thankyou for your services.
Did 8 years Active duty in the Army as 12B and 92Y. Did my absolute best and loved it. I did not enjoy people getting credit for all my work, leadership giving opportunities and covering issues for people that did not deserved to be in the Army. The moment you seek mental health, they label you. I wanted to do 20 years, but this new generation of soldiers made me realize I will get screwed in combat.
Why?
I am really Proud of you guys!
I feel like someone who is sitting in the office all day shouldn't be paid more or the same as someone like you who has to be out in the field a lot more and stressing your body to the point of it breaking. Yes, it's all on rank and location but i wished the army would look at it differently and how much pain the infantry goes through in suffering mentally and physically and give them more. A headache from paperwork in the office is a lot different from a headache from out in the field all day rucking, shooting, running constantly.
Keep going with your content brother, Ive been active infantry 11B for 9 years now and everything you’ve said especially with the anxiety on being the best, that seriously wore me down mentally. Especially when I fall short, the feelings of shame this put me in a major depressive state. Anyways brothers and sisters God bless you and may you all have an awesome life in Jesus name.
Thank you for serving! 🫶🏼
As an Army veteran and Chinese American myself, wow! Great to see another Chinese American who have served. I hope that you have filed for VA Disability. You have definitely earned it. I didn't know anything about that when I got out in 1996 and didn't file until 2016, so don't be like me. File for what you have rightfully earned!
Glad you got out entirely, versus letting them talk you into transferring to a REMF community.
No status, no unit cohesion, love triangles, and the list goes on. 🤠
What’s a REMF community?
@@TheChangClub Rear Echelon Mother #$%&ing. Finance, quartermaster, etc.
Doesn’t get better , my girlfriend tenant was a major in the army in the nyc area … they did everything to try to break him . He had over 26 years in . Ranger …. Infantry officer. And finish up as a Chaplin .
Thanks for giving me advice early on in my career!!!
Happy to help! May do a video on my journey transitioning out as well
That’s a good way to ignore your body’s signs about sickness, hurt, pain just to make sure your ego and pride don’t look bad
Very well said and likely what a lot of our brothers think as well 🔥
Thanks brotha! Truly glad it was such a big part of my life but also happy for this next chapter
I just retired in 2022 active Army. I had 8 years Coast Guard enlisted and 12 Army officer. 2 deployments (OIF/OIR). Glad I did it. Very glad to be done.
Making the Asian community look great, thank you for your service bro!
100% TRUE, from 101st airborne infantry. OIF deployment. Asian. So true to everything that I have felt.
The reason why I got out of the Army is because I felt like I wasn't getting promoted in a timely fashion. I saw others get promoted that didn't work as hard as I did because they kissed a lot of butt. Also I knew that I could get better pay without the Army headaches on the outside. I loved my time in the Army and would do it again If I got promoted faster and in a fairer way.
Joining the Infantry is a dangerous and difficult lifestyle choice, if having lack of money was one of your reasons leaving you just wasted your time and more importantly your teams, your unit and the armys time..
Dude the military isn’t for everyone. You can do a few years but it still doesn’t mean you were cut out for it.
The biggest determining factor is that the higher up you go, the more responsibility and experience you are REQUIRED to have. Welcome to the profession of war fighting.
Someone sounds salty .... lol
My question for you is, did you deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan? I will say something similar to myself: I medically retired after two deployments, OIF and OEF. I never really bought anything permanent on active duty. It never felt like home, so I kept the bare minimum.
Getting out of the army and being out is hard man it makes you feel like you should
Be doing even more things
Agree, that anxiety to be better never stops but I feel like I have more of like an internal locus of control of my situation now
I am a Navy brat. I had to go in the Navy as an enlisted man which made my father proud but after 5 years active I felt I could exceed being a civilian. Mind you I went in during the Vietnam war. In a way I regret leaving the Navy as a corpsman.
Thank you for your service
i got 20 years in and everything that you said translates across the board. 100%
Around 4:22 the last w the 2 kids in front of her was definitely sneaking peaks 🤣they can’t help it when they see a muscled up dude man it never fails
Sometimes I wonder how different my life would be now if I had signed up for the Army at another time, like when I was 18 or 19, and for a different cycle, since the choice I made just led to a discharge because of injuries, etc. The Army can be brutally unforgiving in a physical sense because of its challenges.
Damn , this just showed up in my suggested videos. A troop 5-15 cav, never forget lol. Glad you’re doing well bro!
Haha what a small world! I kind of miss those days. I wonder what all our former DS are doing now
Chang for president! RVM, hope you’re doing well.
Thanks my brother!! Hope you’re doing good as well!
Good to see a fellow VMI alumni on youtube...Rah Virginia Mil '14
The anxiety to be accomplished feels so real.
Thank you for your service brother
Thank you! Some of the best and worst times of my life
Same. @@TheChangClub
For your last point, if you're an officer and you're getting bad reviews eventually you'll get forced out right
I'm Australian military but to your last point - don't you guys get field pay?
I couldn't do jack in the Army. Could not go to school stayed on missions, points were too high to make E6, and my commander would not let me go to green to gold. Everyone else could go to Army schools, civilian schools, and getting promoted. Not me. I got out and became a contractor.
Thank you brother for your service - enjoy your retirement.
I'm in the process of applying to be an officer in the British Army and I love the video!
I assume management is one of the career aspects for officers leaving the Army, what did you do?
Good luck! Are you able to pick your branch? I was mostly a platoon leader so there’s definitely a lot of personnel management and leadership involved
@@TheChangClub
Hiya, Yes, we apply in our second term of Sandhurst, and I will personally apply to the infantry branch regiments.
Money - officers get pretty decent money and no one said you would be Warren Buffet by being in the military. I lived ok with a wife and kid. If nothing else I learned how to manage money really well and at 75 am well off
That’s great and i’ve seen plenty of people set themselves up to be financially successful in the Army too. I guess I just wanted to be a little closer to being like Warren Buffet haha
@@TheChangClub don’t we all.
You don’t pay for rent or any living expenses in the army. How you felt as if you was living paycheck to paycheck
I would say that anyone E5 and above who isn’t in the barracks have their own expenses to manage. We receive our basic housing allowance tax free and it’s really on us to pick cheaper places to live and etc off base.
Literally everyone is getting out. I'm next fck it
Did you go to West Point?
How much money did you make during your time in the military?😮😮😮
Thanks for your service 🇺🇸
Where is that western store located?
In some years the Army commission 4000 2nd Lts. I know because when I was commissioned back in the stone ages of the 1980's the Army commissioned over 4700 2nd Lts. Most get out in 3 years. I know a fellow 2nd Lt who was assigned to the 7th ID at the now closed Fort Ord. He lasted under 2 years. Very few are commissed as Regular Army. Most are Reserved commissioned officers like myself. If one goes to the Poin then it is a completely different story. But it was still a great experience and I woudl do over it again.
It's called service for a reason.
7yrs later your boy still in miss ya glad to see you person your fitness goals
Miss ya brother! Stay safe!!
I did 10 years infantry. I remember how toxic it was
Please, what were you eating? It looked amazing.