Average income for a civilian eight years after high school graduation –– $42,000.

Total compensation for a staff sergeant with eight years time in service and no dependants –– $52,244.

Attending the right decision and career decision briefings –– priceless.

Making the right decision in which way to go is important. Because the Department of Labor Web says a high school graduate, four years after graduation -- and without a college degree -- earns an average $30,430 per year.

“Before the briefing, I was 60 percent sure I wanted to reenlist. But after the briefing, I would take that up to 90 percent that I’d reenlist,” said Staff Sgt. Kristi Soltis, a 96th Air Base Wing chaplain assistant. She’s due to separate in January 2007.

So the briefings provide invaluable information to first-term and second-term Airmen, as they decide whether or not to make the Air Force a career. Briefings are scheduled approximately 12 months before an Airman’s date of separation. First sergeants or the commander’s support staff notify Airmen of this four-hour briefing date and informs them that spouses are welcome to attend.

The briefings are mandatory for first-term and second-term Airmen that enable troops to make educated and informed decisions that affect their whole family, said Col. Edmond B. Keith, 96th Air Base Wing commander.

“It’s not just the career advisor’s responsibility to help retain troops. We have them for about four hours,” said Senior Master Sgt. James Stadler, 96th Mission Support Squadron career assistance advisor.

Airmen may decide to separate for something as simple not getting an assignment.

During the briefings, the career advisor lists the top five reasons Airmen decide to separate or decide to stay in the Air Force. Ironically, in the right decision briefing, the top two reasons in each category are exactly the same.

The number one reason is education. The number two reason is family.

In the career decision briefing, the top five reasons are basically the same, too, just in a different order. Benefits, as a reason to stay in and separate, were listed in all areas.

“Supervisors need to understand that the inability to use benefits may be forcing some of our troops out of the Air Force,” Sergeant Stadler said.

“Currently, I’m thinking about reenlisting because I like my job, I like what I do and the military has some good benefits,” Sergeant Soltis said. “Every time I change duty stations, the next station is better than the last.

“As long as that continues,” she said, “I’m happy with that.”