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How did you feel about retiring from the military after 20 years of service?

Magical 20-year military journey: Retiring and ready for a new chapter

I enlisted thinking I would spend four years and bat my eyes and 20 years, three months, and a couple extra days later, I'm retiring. It was a magical experience. I absolutely wouldn't change one thing about it, but I got to tell you, 20 is plenty. I was excited to start the new chapter of my life. I retired in 2008 and again, 20 years and a couple extra months because of the surge, but I look back often and I've told a lot of people, anybody that's willing to listen, the military, the army was very, very good to me and I enjoyed the time in service. I hope I left it a little bit better, but it definitely lived up to its end of the bargain and it did for me far more than I could have imagined. But I was ready for a new chapter and it's one of those, I've always been one of the, once this chapter over, look forward, keep moving forward and look to the future. But when I think about the army, I do look back with great fondness and I'm glad they let me in.

I enlisted in the Army and after serving for 20 years 3 months, I retired in 2008. I enjoyed my time in service and it gave me far more than I could have imagined. I look back fondly on my time in the military and am grateful for the opportunity.

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Retiring from the military after 20 years of service was a remarkable experience for me. Initially, I enlisted with the intention of serving for only four years, but time flew by, and before I knew it, I had spent over two decades in the military. I wouldn't change a thing about my journey; it was truly magical.

However, I must say that after 20 years, I felt that it was enough. I was excited to embark on a new chapter in my life. My retirement took place in 2008, a few months longer than the standard 20 years due to the surge. Looking back, I often reflect on my time in service and express to anyone who will listen that the military, specifically the army, was incredibly good to me. It exceeded my expectations and provided me with more than I could have imagined.

While I was ready for a fresh start, I do hold great fondness for my time in the army. I hope that I made a positive impact during my service, and I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me. As someone who always looks forward and keeps moving, I cherish the memories and experiences from my military career while eagerly embracing the future.

Matt Eversmann answers your Military questions. See all the advice Matt Eversmann has and get answers to your own Military questions.

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First Sergeant Matt Eversmann is an American hero who embodies the importance of duty, courage, and selfless service in extraordinary circumstances. In 1993, Matt led a raid against an enemy militia in Mogadishu, Somalia. His inspiring story of survival was depicted in the film Black Hawk Down. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After his service, Matt drew from his military experience to teach the next generation of warriors. He worked at the Army War College, taught at Johns Hopkins University, and deployed to Iraq during The Surge. Matt has since used his experiences to show organizations how to build resilient teams. He has consulted in healthcare, non-profit, and data management. Matt recently returned from Afghanistan where he filmed a documentary for PBS. He has co-authored The Battle of Mogadishu and two New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson. Matt and his wife, Tori, run a consulting company and co-host a weekly podcast, The Veterans Nation.