I love how people find it so easy to create their own back stories for people they scarcely know online. The fact of the matter is that once I determined that I had no desire to rise to a higher rank in my field I avoided the jobs I disliked that are generally required to get promoted and took on other jobs that are vital yet under-appreciated. I chose to retire when I did because I would rather have the stress of a diminished income than the stress of remaining in an occupation I have disliked for a long time (for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I would be back in Iraq again right now). I would have gotten out years ago if is wasn't for the stupid all-or-nothing twenty year retirement system.
And I think most here would agree that I'm not the military guy that makes a habit of telling bull**** stories.
"I would rather claim to be an uneducated man than be mal-educated and claim to be otherwise." - Wookie 03:16