Recently I attended a two-person meeting, me being one and my Master Sergeant being the other. The subject of the meeting was the question of whether I would re-enlist for another four years in the military. I informed him that I most emphatically would not.

             My "cost of what I gave up when I made that choice" was the security of being a part of the United States Marine Corps. By security I mean that I, having been a member of the Corps for the last four years, knew that I would be fed on a daily basis in the mess hall, would be housed in a relatively nice shelter with only one roommate, would have clothing on my back (my uniform), would be treated relatively well and with respect by my peers, my colleagues and my superiors (as long as I did not break any Marine Corps rules or guidelines) and that I would continue to gain experience in a field that I wished to specialize in. .

             The Journal of Business Ethics had this to say about opportunity costs and how they effect our choices, "While these costs are difficult to determine with mathematical precision, they are nonetheless significant" (Primeaux 1997 pg 836).

             Instead of choosing that "next best alternative" I chose to not re-enlist and be in charge of my own life. I would have to provide all the above named items for myself, earned with my own blood, sweat and toil. However, the opportunity is there to far exceed what I would be able to earn in the service.

             I made this decision in a timely manner because opportunity cost can change with every day. For example, what if the government were to set to raise long-term pay and benefits for essential service members? That would change the opportunity cost on the upside.

             "Decision-making dilemmas can arise because errors may result either from deciding too soon or from delaying decisions too long" (Payne 1996, pg 131).

             I freely make that decision and give up the security I can have in the Marine Corps for the opportunity I can find in the "real" world.