I was active duty for 8 years. Got out went to school and worked 3 jobs to keep the family afloat. Finally got a decent job in the federal government. They buy back my military service towards a federal retirement. It's a good deal and I'm excited. I'll be making more money than I've ever done in my life. Maybe at 35 I'll finally be able to get ahead.
I just got my earnings statement from those 8 years. It shows every cent the Gov ever gave me, Active duty, multiple deployments, BAH, all of it. less than 200k earned in those 8 years. I had to spend 8 years providing for a family of 4 on less than 25k a year average. WTF. I don't know how I survived.