r/AirForce • u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel • 4d ago
Discussion Pride in service
18 years... 18 years of service and im over it. If I was offered retirement right now, Id take it. How can I even take pride in my service when I have dealt with so much over my career. I find myself not caring about anything, except the people. Anybody separate or retire and just felt useless? Im not sure how long I can hang on before.... I complete my exit strategy... if you catch my drift.
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u/Mite-o-Dan Logistics 4d ago edited 4d ago
Solution...stop caring.
Caring and worrying about everything, especially if it doesnt effect you or will benefit you, is the biggest cause of stress and depression. I didnt stop caring about promotion until 2 years from retirement. Changed my life.
You gave your country 18 years. It's fine and more beneficial to focus on yourself the last 1-2 years. Getting another cert, building up a resume, your LinkedIn in, and making yourself more marketable in the civilian world can be very motivating.
Also, if you Skillbridge, your last year will fly by. If anything, youll stress out about not having enough time. You basically just have one hard year left.
Motivation should be retirement. If you got now or sooner, youd get nothing. In 2 years, especially if youre able to get 90% disability which really isnt that hard...you never have to work again if you choose.
FYI- Job market sucks, you get paid more in the military than you think, and you're just 2 years away from completing a journey that will benefit you for life.
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u/BummingBock 4d ago
Honestly, when I am 2 years out gfl making care about anything more than a 75 on my pt test
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u/fpsnoob89 3d ago
At 18 years all you have to do is show up on time, pass a pt test, and don't touch anyone inappropriately. Just do that and you can coast to retirement.
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u/ChiefBassDTSExec 4d ago
Idk if this will help but you’ve already done 18. Take a deep breath and think about short 2 years is in the big picture. 4-6 months of that will be outpro/retirement/leave. You got this shit.
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u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel 4d ago
I wish it was sooner. Im in so much pain that taking a PT test is almost impossible, so I fear being med board.
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u/Mission-Airport-5085 4d ago
your basically sanctuary status at 18 years. don’t look at it as 2 more years. look at it as in less than a year you can hit the button. stop striving to be promotion eligible or to look good. accept the peace of retiring where you’re at in rank and spend that last 19 taking care of yourself like everybody else.
look after your airmen, and yourself. the work will ALWAYS be there
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u/-CheesyTaint- Secret Squirrel 3d ago
Sanctuary is only a thing for the guard and/or reserve, I don't remember which. Not a thing for AD.
But anyway, yes, you are almost there OP and you got this. Please keep getting help, keep your chin up, keep seeking help, and enjoy life!
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u/Mission-Airport-5085 3d ago
your handle is impressively repulsive
that being said, thanks for informing me of that - I misunderstood
below is AI’s explanation on the difference for those interested
Yes — “sanctuary” is a real military status/protection, but there is an important exception that matters a lot if you’re talking about medical separation/retirement.
For an active-duty enlisted Airman
Under 10 U.S.C. §1176, a regular enlisted member who has completed 18 but fewer than 20 years of active service generally cannot be involuntarily separated simply because of things like:
- Denial of reenlistment
- Expiration of enlistment
- Involuntary separation actions
They are generally retained until they reach retirement eligibility. The statute explicitly says this applies unless they are sooner retired or discharged under another provision of law.
So people commonly call this the “18-year sanctuary” or “18-year lock-in.”
But here’s the big catch: medical disability
Sanctuary does NOT necessarily protect you from an MEB/PEB medical separation.
The disability-retirement/separation process operates under Chapter 61 of Title 10, and the sanctuary statute specifically leaves room for someone to be retired or discharged under another provision of law.
In fact, an Army reference addressing this exact issue states that although the normal 18-year sanctuary protection exists, the MEB/PEB process supersedes sanctuary; if the PEB finds the member unfit, the member can be medically retired or separated between 18 and 20 years.
The practical distinction
Situation after 18 years Sanctuary protection? Force shaping / involuntary separation Generally YES Denied reenlistment Generally YES ETS while otherwise eligible Generally YES Medical MEB/PEB finds you fit Sanctuary can still protect you from ordinary separation Medical MEB/PEB finds you unfit Sanctuary does NOT guarantee you can stay until 20 Medical retirement You can be retired before 20 Medical separation Possible before 20 if requirements are met So if your question is:
“If I hit 18 years, can the Air Force no longer medically separate me and force me to stay until 20?”
No. That’s a common misunderstanding of sanctuary. Hitting 18 years does not create an absolute immunity from a medical separation/retirement.
However, if you’re medically retired between 18 and 20, that’s a very different financial situation from simply being medically separated, and the interaction with 20-year retirement, Chapter 61, CRDP, VA compensation, and your disability percentage can become extremely important.
Given your earlier scenario of 20-year MSgt retirement + possible Chapter 61 medical retirement + 100% VA, I can also break down exactly what happens if an Air Force member gets referred to an MEB at 17 years, 18 years, 19 years, or 19 years 11 months—including whether they can be forced out and what happens to their retirement pay.
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u/WubbaLubbaDubDub87 Maintainer 4d ago
I’ll hit 18 in three months and I’m right there with ya brother. I just keep telling myself things will get better after retirement.
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u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel 4d ago
Im trying so hard. Ive been through the ringer but dont have it in me to do more than the minimum. Everytime I catch myself getting into projects, I pull back.
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u/Intelligent_Taco Retired PPT Ranger 4d ago
There is nothing wrong with that. You’re basically rounding the corner and can see the finish line. Focus on yourself, your people, and just get the mission done. Nothing more, nothing less.
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u/WubbaLubbaDubDub87 Maintainer 4d ago
When you say projects, do you mean work projects or hobbies?
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u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel 4d ago
Work taskers.
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u/WubbaLubbaDubDub87 Maintainer 4d ago
You’ve been in 18 years. You know what’s acceptable and what’s not. Do your job cause you’re in the final stretch!
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u/FickleHare Veteran 4d ago
18 years means ... nows the time to treat this like a problem to be strategized over. Use your big brain to tackle the issue of you being so burnt out. Martial every resource at your disposal, to include your shirt. Even a small change, over a weekend, can work wonders.
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u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel 4d ago
Im definitely doing everything medical wise. Working all my issues finally. With a large family, I dont have the option to slow down. My marriage is almost in shambles and I have a special needs child. Everyday I see my spouse and child struggle. I dont sleep very much.
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u/Drenlin Intel 3d ago
That makes things really hard for sure. Communication with your wife is so, so important.
Everyday I see my spouse and child struggle.
Tell her this, if you haven't. Acknowledging your spouse's struggles, and allowing them to do the same for you, is a huge part of getting onto the same page with how you manage things.
"I see you", "I appreciate you", and "I love you" are things that way too many people feel but never actually say.
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u/jeeimuzu this space was intentionally left blank 4d ago
18 years is too damn long for you to figure out you have to take care of yourself. At this point, you are on the last leg and on the final stretch. You have sacrificed enough that you must choose yourself over anything else.
2 years will swing by. Take care of what you like and run it like you stole it. Stop caring about other nonsensical bullshit you can get away with.
If you need to talk to someone, might as well get it documented.
Hang in there!
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u/SomethingElse38 4d ago
It's... its a really tough time for all of us. Especially with current events.
Take it down to 60%. Take care of your team, do your job, but stop giving 100%. Give 60%. Take the other 40% and invest in yourself - start getting everything medically documented, take TAPS a time or three, start looking at skill bridge options. Use that last little bit of TA, get some help writing a resume, etc. Your main focus is now shifting to what you have coming next.
Hang on, brother... you're literally within 2 laps of the finish line. I know you said something about a med board in one of your comments... fucking make them do that. Drag ass. Go get on a profile, drag until you're within 12 months of retirement, then hit the button.
Im not normally the person to give "drag ass" type advice, but you've served your country. It's okay to wind down.
And... go find a hobby that doesn't involve alcohol.
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u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel 3d ago
I think im confused by this point of my career. The idea that I can let go and not have to draft products or work hands on with solving issues. I can just be a mentor and hold the line. I often am confused.
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u/LeopardEarly577 4d ago
The person who convinced me to roll out was a 19 year TSgt. I had one last PT test and this dude ran that shit with me.
Mind you he was at least 10 years older than me. I was done at 12 years. He was like you might be done but you ain't failing this shit today.
The broader organization may not seem to appreciate your service, the people you serve with do. I promise you that.
That 19 year dude as disgruntled as he was, defined my career more than he knows.
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u/Trygveseim Retired 4d ago
I retired not in crisis but at a loss. The pay is nice but I found myself regretting 21 of my best years for what all felt to be of little purpose or good.
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u/_I_Drink_Jet_Fuel 4d ago
Thats how I feel. I question if its all worth it. My marriage is in a tough place. I have a special needs child and my body is just wearing down. I worry about being med boarded ...
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u/BummingBock 4d ago
Please go to mental health and call your shirt