Life after the Marine Corps?!?!

There are many variables in this equation, but it is a possibility that Adam may be out of the USMC by next year, 2013!

After 5 years you kind of get use to the life style- the moving every 3 years (which was every year the first 3 years he was in), the meeting new people, the units, the terminology, the UNIFORMS: ) If you have read my other blog post then you know I want(ed) to join the USMC, but with 2 babies and a husband who has a combat arms job…well it doesn’t seem feasible. I was so glad when the love of my life told me he decided against the army and enlisted in the USMC. I told him from the begging no matter what he decides, I will always be right beside him, supporting every decision. That held true then and it continues now and forever.

 Adam teeter totters every day with the choice to stay in. No joke every day it changes, some days he really enjoys it, others he hates it. I tried to tell him that is how every job is, but he is determined his dream job would be peachy everyday! Although he may never admit it, I think the separation of him and us really gets to him.

What will we do? Where will we live?
Of course I cant wait to get back to work. I cant really explain it, but growing up having my mom stay at home, I just feel the need to work. I have been debating getting my masters in family/marriage counseling, working with trouble teens, or teaching. But if Adam gets out next year, I am debating being a substitute teacher or working in a daycare, then going back to work full time once Caleb starts preschool.

Adam is weighing a bunch of different options- including but not limited to…. FBI, CIA, U.S. Marshals, changing branches, going to medical school, being a teacher and hoping to coach football. Ideally Adam wants to start his/ our business, but I don’t foresee that happening for a long time. This business I am talking about is- a microbrewery. Adam has only made 2 different kinds of beers and he really enjoys doing it. Ideally once he has perfected his beer and we have enough money saved, we are planning to buy a place (near Clemson of course), and have it a microbrewery and restaurant. This idea was suppose to take place after retiring from the Marines.

Of course depending what job Adam and I get will depend where we move. We dont really have a set place that we want to go, but he doesnt want to go up north and neither do I.

Ideally when Adam joined the USMC he wanted to see if it was a career he would enjoy. The first 2 years were good and once he was selected to be an officer, the future was bright with the potential of making the Marine Corps a career. However now Adam is not so sure this is what he wants to do. Plus the military as a whole is cutting back, which means less slots for the everyone, including officers. This year is a Big turning point. Adam is put on the Captain board this spring. IF he is selected, he has the choice to be on the career designation board. Then late in the fall, if he decides he does want to stay in AND is captain select he finds out if the USMC wants to keep him. So there are many ifs. But the biggest if is- if Adam wants to stay in, then the rest is not in our hands.

 Prayers are definitely welcome: )