As a veteran do you prefer to be a "quiet professional" or "outspoken patriot"?

For me it's all about time and place. I consider myself a patriot and am very proud of my service. But with that said sometimes the time and place isn't appropriate for flag waving and you just need to sit on it and chill out. Some people try way to hard trying to be what I call a Professional Veteran when half the time they were that terminal Lance that hated every day they were in and were a hassle to work with.

I am currently working in a defense related industry, and am lucky to be surrounded by many like minded individuals, Prior service/retirees are highly sought after in this industry. I also work in a corporate America environment where "inclusion" has become the norm when hiring practices are involved. (This is not going to be a political speech). I have been working here 22 + years and have seen a significant change in what are considered to be acceptable behaviors. When I started this job, right out of the military, we were able to talk "there I was" stories during lunch in the facility cafeteria. We could be outspoken about our military history. But, over the years, we have seen many individuals get counseled over there conversations that were overheard by "them" (being the people of the NON-Veteran variety).. They did not like the talk of violence and graphic discussions. Even though they were considered very mild by our standards. As of today, I prefer the quiet humble approach, while at work or out in public, this is mostly to prevent myself from becoming a YOUTUBE/TIK TOK video from some peace loving commie type.

I will give a hats off to all of you outspoken types who love that confrontation and will stand behind you if ever needed though.

I find it important to be a little of both, it depends on the situation and or the circumstances plus conversation. I have been there done that and have a silent respect about it, However there are times when you need to let your hair down and just have some humorous patriotic fun.

Am I loud and proud of what I accomplished, you damn right! I wear clothing and hats that have military themes. I was in the active Army for 20+years and I am very proud of that. If it offends you then stay away from me. Other than my clothing and manners/way of addressing people I do not broadcast the fact until I hear someone speaking about the military in a bad way or attempting to pass themselves off as a veteran or suspected stolen valor. I will not stay quiet about my service and will always defend my brothers and sisters in arms.

I find that it is important to speak when necessary. Think before you speak. Also, when it comes to opinion, the only person who cares about my opinion is myself. So for me I stick to facts and details.

I agree with both. I don’t need my veteran status to make up my whole identity.

I like to think of myself as the former the majority of the time, but have become the latter on occasion. I will answer a direct question about my time in uniform, but only tell them the funny stuff. It's too hard to explain the bad things. The most I've ever said was the following: "We have seen and done things that no rational human being should ever see or do."

When on active duty, I preferred to be the former, when I was retired, the latter.

I am A PUFL member of the American Legion and a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America I participate in our activities. I wear hats with indicators of my retirement from the Airforce and affiliations to the groups in public on occasion I wear coats that indicate the same. I fly the flag on my house and a small veteran flag. I will discuss my experiences when asked.

Absolutely both...what irks me is the "quiet professionals" we used to be was just that...you served, you did what was ordered, then you retired and that was that. Now a day every person who enters special forces is already working on their book, their movie deal, their expose...cashing in on what they did in uniform...basically just a media whore in the making. I was not in special forces, just a boomer squid.