One big decision

**angryarab** · 05-28-08, 08:22 AM

i dont get it how is that a sales pitch

anywayz im gonna go to school in san antonio and im tryin to get a gs job in homeland security.
ill only be a GS3 but i talked to a few ppl and they said somethin about them getting benifits. i wont be getting benifits since ill be in school, but im sure ur GS job willl have plenty of benifits so dont forget to incorperate that. another thing is dont just look at the money aspect. In a GS job ur most likely gonna be workin in an office. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but thats somethin i wouldnt like to do for the rest of my workin life thats y im in rotc. all im sayin is take in consideration if u like the job u have now.

Angryarab

**DJ Ms. White** · 05-28-08, 08:24 AM

Avoid Highland Park, land is expensive and the public schools are controlled by the parents to the extent that students who are juniors and seniors can't read college literature if it's too adult.

Plano still has a good school system, but it is going down the drain thanks to a bunch of bureaucratic bull going on right now. On the plus side though, your kid will be learning algebra by about the 4th grade and will likely be enrolled in PACE, Plano's gifted program. Plano also features 3 of the best orchestra programs in the state and nation as well as the International Baccalaureate Program at Plano East my alma mater. They generally hook top of the line teachers for that. For instance, my economics teacher was originally a chemist who did work for NASA, got bored, got a few econonics degrees, was one of the original VPs of the Room Store back when it had 3 stores, became a college professor, and then later came to teach in Plano after he retired. My sister's physics teacher was actually on the team at CERN that discovered quarks, and she left the year before I had physics to continue that research. Of course, I'm not trying to sell you on Plano or anything. :2

**ic0n** · 05-28-08, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by WorstPE

I got offered a GS-11 spot up here in Fort Worth. If you don't know what that is, it's a pay scale for DoD civilians working for the military (basicly). But the thing is, I'm an E-4 with one and a half years left in my enlistment.

So here is the big problem. I have never met a person in my career who is under 40 and a GS-11. In my career field you need to be smart, bright, and able to adapt to anything. But the biggest problem is, how much money is good to raise a family. I've been in the AF for 4 1/2 years. I've had a family now for 6 months and a marriage for two years. I'm pretty spoiled by the military. I don't have to pay for medical or dental. My family is taken care of too. I only pay about 15 bucks a month for my wife and daughter. I get paid to live off base and for my food.

But with my base pay and my housing. I roughly get 32,000 before taxes and that's just an E-4. Now if I take this job, I'll be making 58,800 the first year and 60,000 the second year. Now that sounds like good money for a 25 year old. But I'm not familier with Dallas Fort Worth area. Down in San Antonio, it's dirt cheap. But what's it like up here? Could I raise my family up here and get a nice three bedroom house and buy insurance for us?

This is a big choice and I just really wanted to rant. But if you can offer some advice, I'm all ears. Because I have about 30 days to make the choice.

Oh yeah, I can end my enlistment early, by applying for Palace Chase, but I'd have to serve the remainder of my first enlistment in the AFR or ANG and I'd have to pay back my 6,000 dollar bonus. So that's also a factor.

A few things I would consider -

Insurance - The military is pretty great with its health care, granted it might not always be the quickest system, but if you know how to work with it, its not bad at all. How much is that going to cost you and how does that factor into the equation with the difference in pay between what you make now and what you will be making.

Promotions - As was stated above are you locked in at that level for a certain period of time? The military has pretty regular and almost guaranteed promotions (at least it is in my branch).

Retirement - Is this a federal job or a contracted job? If its a federal job you can continue your retirement if not your going to have to increase what Roth IRA contributions you were making or start a new one if you didn't have a plan already (not that you have to use a Roth).

Military life - I don't know how it is for you guys with the 6 month deployments but being gone every other year for 12-15months at a time is very hard on a family. I'm sure even for 6 months it can be hard as well as being moved around the country every 3-5 years. If you do decide to stay, is this something that your family will tolerate?

As far as housing goes, the market is great right now for buyers. You would be able to get a pretty decent place as long as you can afford the taxes. We have a $1200 mortgage and a $404 property tax payment every month.

**WileECyte** · 05-28-08, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

Avoid Highland Park, land is expensive and the public schools are controlled by the parents to the extent that students who are juniors and seniors can't read college literature if it's too adult.

<snip>
Of course, I'm not trying to sell you on Plano or anything. :2

Plano and Highland Park are both a bit far of a commute to Fort Worth where his job would be... He's going to likely want something on the western side of the metroplex. Fort Worth, Benbrook, White Settlement, etc if the job is on the base.

**WorstPE** · 05-28-08, 10:46 AM

If I get out, I'll be going Palace Chase. It's pretty much saying that I'm going to serve the rest of my enlistment in the AFR or ANG. So I'll have Tricare (It sucks, but it's cheap). The Major was saying that if I took the job, he'll find a way for me to be a Reservist here under my current AFSC. So I'd be a doing my job now at my shop as a civilian and a military person.

I can always stay a Reservist too. So I'll be covered on healthcare for as long as I stay in.

As for the GS-11 spot. I won't be promoted to GS-12 for I don;t know how long. But I'd go up the steps every year or so. And that's a 2000 dollar raise each step. I'd also be incharge of the shop. Something I hadn't thought of doing for another, maybe, six years.

I also thought about the deployments. I won't have to up and leave my wife and kid for six months at a time, or maybe more. Unless my reserve unit gets tasks. But I don't think that will happen here (I just have a hunch on that).

I've been racking my brain for the past week with this. I still have a month left to think it over.

**JBMCW2010** · 05-28-08, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by angryarab

i dont get it how is that a sales pitch

anywayz im gonna go to school in san antonio and im tryin to get a gs job in homeland security.
ill only be a GS3 but i talked to a few ppl and they said somethin about them getting benifits. i wont be getting benifits since ill be in school, but im sure ur GS job willl have plenty of benifits so dont forget to incorperate that. another thing is dont just look at the money aspect. In a GS job ur most likely gonna be workin in an office. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but thats somethin i wouldnt like to do for the rest of my workin life thats y im in rotc. all im sayin is take in consideration if u like the job u have now.

Angryarab

that is a hell of a sales pitch. my mother has been teaching with a BA for 15 years + 5 years before she had a family and she makes just about 40k. Her house 3 bedrooms 1.5 bath split level cost her 350k in the Boston suburbs and that was oh 13 years ago...

Make all sorts of budgets is what I say worst. It is certainly not a decision to take lightly and I am glad that some folks here at TTP can aid you. Man maybe I should move myself to TX after school seems like housing isn't that expensive however I'd need to see the job market for computer guys...

**Consultant** · 05-28-08, 02:47 PM

PE, forgot to ask the most important question.....

What's your wife think?

**WorstPE** · 05-28-08, 03:59 PM

Well I just got back from the Reservist Recuiter. It sounds much better now. My biggest concern was health care. Being a GS slot, I'd be getting benifits so my family will be covered.

And my wife, she is split like I am. On one hand it's a BIG increase in pay. But at on the other we both wanted me to stay active. But talking to the recuiter, he filled me in on all the questions and more. Basicly I'll be getting the best of both worlds.

**Alundil** · 06-02-08, 02:21 PM

Worst - glad that you're getting a little more clarity on this from the recruiter (and from the folks here). At the end of the day this is all down to you and your wife and what yall think is best for the new(and growing family). With that said, I've been to the big D several times (have family there) and I like the city. And it does sound like this promotion would be a really nice notch in the career.

**WorstPE** · 06-03-08, 07:47 PM

Well, again, I got back with the recruiter. What a shame. He was trying to get me to go Reserve before I even got the job. I was making myself sick thinking about what if I go Reserve and not get the job? But I sat down with the Major and we talked things out. He told me to hold off going Palace Chase and get my application in so he can see me. Once that is done. He'll work on trying to pull me from the system and then I'll submit my Palace Chace information.