[_tomasz]

These are all valid points everything you said resonates with me.

I was in the US Navy myself and have been out for 11 years during which time I've finished a Bachelors (thanks GI Bill), will be finishing a Masters here shortly (also in CS), and have been in tech the entire time. While the pay is great and intellectually fulfilling, a part of me certainly misses having contact with a broader cross-section of society and of doing things that give you purpose.

I've been considering returning to a National Guard unit especially as I was born under Soviet occupation and the current events of the world highlight the growing threat of certain nations deciding to invade Eastern Europe.

[schraeds]

A nation with a GDP smaller than California and a lot of wound licking to do from their most recent foray just to keep things in perspective.

[agapon]

And a lot of hate, and a lot of paranoia, and a lot chauvinism / imperialism, and lot of history of invading countries just because they can.

[throwawayafsp]

Your reasons for missing service and considering returning ring very true with me.

As someone who's been in tech for a decade now, the biggest obstacle to me is the 1-2 years of training and how that would affect my career and family. It seems harder for mid-career adults to enlist/commission once you're already in a career and trying to advance...

[jwithington]

Join the Navy reserves like me and find a unit that supports Sixth Fleet (Europe)! No need to go green (national guard).

[_tomasz]

hah, tempting but if I went back to the Navy reserves I'd try to go to dive school, but I'm well past the age for the Navy. For the Army and Air Force their max age is 39 waiverable so I have some time there though I'm too old to go pilot :(