From Wayne: Add to that your veteran benefits of free college and medical and it is worth quite a bit more. We had a park maintenance foreman that retired from the US Coast Guard, and NY FD then started a 3rd career in the park service. Here is how; serve 4 years active duty in any military service then join the reserve, Become a fireman and serve enough time for a pension, 20 or 25 years depending on requirements at the time, then retire form the military reserve and take any civil service job and serve 20 years. That would put one at about 65 years of age with 4 pensions, free medical and free college. Oh yeah, as a veteran you get hiring preference in civil service jobs.