Since everyone seems to be putting their 2 cents in, I figured why not?
Seems like a lot of people have some pretty major decisions to make. Good luck in whatever you choose. Personally, it's a decision I won't have to make until, let me see, somewhere around the year 2007 (for those of us who chose to go to flight school and tack another five years onto our CG commitment).
Do I know if I want to spend 20 years in the CG? I don't know. Am falling behind? No. Am I progressing toward the "end goal"? I'd like to think so. It's probably the same situation for those attending PG school thru the CG. Am I setting myself up for my dream job? I'm doing my best. Will my dream job of working for the airlines be realized? Time will tell. Will another pilot's dream of buying a decommissioned buoy tender and converting it into his private yacht be realized? Probably not. Sorry Jared.
I guess my point is to make the best decision for you. Staying in the Coast Guard despite not being sure if I'll be wearing the uniform in 2017 is the right decision for me. I hope this conversation starts up again in another five years.
In the words of Dave Schell, "I am but a simple Coast Guard co-pilot, your civilian world frightens and confuses me..."
If you any of you are ever in the Cape Cod area, please stop by the Air Station, Tim Pasek or I would be more than happy to show you around.