Expert: John L - 9/22/2008

Question
HI,
i have been in the army national guard for 9 years.
after my six years i re-enlisted for another 6. I took the 15,000  option but it was split over the 6..so 7500 up front and 7500 after 3 years.
my question is is it possible to not serve the second have of my re-enlistment. I dont want the money, i just want to get out, im not going to go awol or smoke weed. I have served 9 years and i am ready to move on. I only reenlisted in the first place so i could go on deployment.
what are my options anf how do i go about putting it in motion
thanks for any help guidance

Answer
Well, hard question.  There is no easy way out.  Only hard ways.  You could request a discharge, but would have to have good reasons, hardship is usually the main one.  Without sitting and talking with you, I would not know what to recommend, but there are some things I have dealt with and my recommendations to soldiers.  

1.  Take a break... request to go into the ING for personal reasons.  Make something up, make it sound good.  You can go into an inactive status for 1 year, then come back and serve the remainder of your contract.  School, taking care of family members, hectic civilian career, traveling abroad, etc are good ones.

2.  Change the path of your career.  Go in to a much needed MOS,  maybe a change of jobs will fire you back up.

Try to remember why you like serving and what has changed to make you want to get out.  Talk to a trusted NCO, who has been in forever and ask their opinion.  

Money should never be a reason  to stay and I like the honesty about not wanting the money.  You are due that second half now, 5k after taxes is not a bad amount to go on vacation (when was the last time you took a REAL vacation), or spoil yourself or your family a a little.

If I can be of any more help, let me know.

Good luck