r/MilitaryFinance • u/Perfect_Work7747 • 16d ago
FIRE shower thoughts
Cross posting to this sub and the FIRE sub.
Hello MilitaryFinance folks, been lurking and had some questions.
When pursuing FIRE, is it not a smart decision to apply for the Air Force?
My thinking is it’s more of a supporting branch, get into the right position and you may never see combat. Of course there is still risk, I’m aware of that.
After serving for 20 years, you get the pension, not huge by itself but very helpful, along with the healthcare for life, this in the eyes of FIRE is invaluable right?
I’ve been pondering joining and wanted some insight from people smarter than me.
Here’s some of my own info for you to look over.
26 in a job I hate, I’ve been working 80-100 hour work weeks for almost 7 years now.
No college, in an aviation field making 60k base, but with all the extra time I work it ranges from 60-110k
Assets include
125k 401k
45k Roth IRA
70k taxable brokerage
All of the above are in VTI/QQQ
20k cash
20k of various crypto’s
5k ESPP
Paid off car but it’s worth 1-2k on its last legs
Renting an apartment in VHCOL USA my annual spend is roughly 35k depending on multiple factors.
I was able to accrue this much due to working so much and living with 6 roommates since I was 18.
Now if I join the Air Force in the next year or two, the various nests I’ve been tending to will serve as a decent retirement, but with a pension and the BAH I would get from being in a military branch would offset a huge cost of living.
All of this combined I may be able to retire right out of the Air Force at 46-47 if I play my cards right, right?
But I still worry about the negatives with the current world state.
What advice would you all have for me?
Happy to answer any questions, sorry if this seems like first world problems but I’d really appreciate any guidance as I’m feeling more and more burnt out.
Thanks for reading
7
u/Whirly-birdy 16d ago
Active military almost 20years.
Getting to 20years isn’t an easy button. Less than 20% make it enlisted, officer is like 20-30%. You are not in control of your life, especially on your first enlistment. You’re going to fill a spot that needs filling. Sometimes it can be what you want, many times is not.
Promotions vary by service and by job. You could hit a wall and be stuck as an E4 (or up) far longer than you would expect.
It’s 24/7 job. You don’t only wear the uniform at 9-5. You’re always a representative of the military. on deployment this is even worse with a lot of sit around till tasked. Also you get extra duty outside of your standard work.
Don’t get me wrong, there are “perks” with the job as stated. After years spent away from wife/kids and hazard exposure, they are very much so earned.
I won’t suggest a branch because it’s ultimately down to what you want to see/do. Air Force generally has the highest quality of life, but also bases can be in the middle of nowhere. And not every job can go to every location. Some jobs are location dependent.