Pros
Job satisfaction from knowing one is doing one's part for national security and defense. The pay is good enough and payments are highly reliable. There is job stability no matter where you are assigned. There are frequent opportunities for travel around the country and around the world which I thought was mostly positive. However, as children grew and voice their desire to stay put in school systems, it became somewhat less of a positive. Lastly, there is also the good feeling of belonging to a worldwide brotherhood/sisterhood and USO at every major airport and American Legion Posts almost everywhere one finds oneself in this world.
Cons
The institutions of our military are rigid, perhaps out of necessity. There are many unspoken rules that a newbie simply won't know how to take advantage of/stay a healthy distance away from. The rules and regulations are available for a person to learn but how is a person suppose to know what rules and regulations apply? During times of war, I have had frequent opportunities for deployment into hostile areas. I enjoyed supporting the institution and my uniformed brothers/sisters in the defense departments but sorely missed my kids. This Bush administration has just about exhausted our people and used up all of our treasures. Seeing young men maimed and killed for no long term national gains was a definite downer. This is why I retired.
