JOINT BASE MYER–HENDERSON HALL, Va. — Former Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey confided to friends today that he is excited to begin his lifelong dream of selling military prints at the local post exchange, or PX, while he completes his 1,270 days of terminal leave.

“There are really only a few options we sergeants major have when we retire,” Dailey said as he rang up a customer. “While the officers we advise go on to become board members in the defense industry and groom themselves for sweet senior executive service jobs, most of us go on to work at range control, off-post car dealerships, and payday lenders. Only the cream of the crop gets to sell these sweet Dietz prints at the PX. I consider myself lucky.”

Dailey, who is retiring from the Army after more than 30 years as the Army’s senior enlisted soldier, said it does not bother him that his retirement pay is lower than a major’s with less experience and responsibility.