Posted on Jul 21, 2014
Combat vets how do you feel toward non-combat vets?
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I am a non-combat vet retired in 2004. Never deployed in the first Gulf war, Iraq or Afganistan. My Commander and my Cheif chose to leave me home to care for my wife. Not my choice but I appreciate what they did for us. She was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis in 2001 and breast cancer in 2003. All of my buddies have deployed and I miss that little connection they have when we all get together. So I wonder is there any animosity by combat vets toward non-combat vets. My buds say I'm one of them it doesn't matter. Don't get me wrong I am proud of my service and have a son serving now. Was just curious. Thank you for any feed back.
Combat
Military Life
Service
Duty
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 205
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Though frighteningly close on several occasions, I will always be a Cold Warrior.
I try to be careful to make that distinction because of the honor and respect and appreciation I feel to those, many close compatriots of mine, who did work in the HEAT.
Salute.
I never once felt an iota of disrespect toward me from any of them. They are better men than that.
I know they understood, I was ready to kill and die if necessary too.
I try to be careful to make that distinction because of the honor and respect and appreciation I feel to those, many close compatriots of mine, who did work in the HEAT.
Salute.
I never once felt an iota of disrespect toward me from any of them. They are better men than that.
I know they understood, I was ready to kill and die if necessary too.
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None at all. Logistics and other support stateside are more important than most realize
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I was never deployed. I would never want my term of service compared with anyone's who was deployed. Even if that person never left the FOB, they deserve more respect than I, who never left CONUS while in the service.
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I fly the mission today and nobody shoots at me. My buddy flies the same profile tomorrow and someone does. It's sort of random that way. Serving is serving -whether you're in combat or not is being at the right place at the right (wrong) time - putting on the uniform and taking the oath says you're willing to be in that line of fire, but it doesn't guarantee that you will be. I wouldn't think anything less of a veteran who didn't see combat vs. one who did.
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MSgt (Join to see) you have nothing the be ashamed of. You served honorably and just because you didn't deploy doesn't mean that you didn't do your job. What you did by taking care of your wife was something that was just as honorable as any deployment.
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IMHO One reason we have such a**-kicking forces in the field, is because of the a**-kicking guys backing them up! One mission - one team!
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Not from this combat vet. Every one helps the other. People in the rear support those up front. If there weren't people in the rear, we wouldn't have the supplies and information (and pay) that we need up front.
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Many people have gone down range and never fired a shot or been in a position to where a shot could've been fired at them. I actually saw people walking around in pressed uniforms. A patch, badge or ribbon does not make you a combat veteran. In most cases I feel a level of sympathy for those that have been in a combat arms job their entire career and never deployed. I know that there is a void that any true warrior feels must be filled. I know many that have played the system and dodged deployment time and time again. These are the types that want the benefits and they talk the talk. But, are not willing to walk the walk.
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What I learned as a wartime non-combat vet is it doesn't matter when or how you serve, a warrior is recognized by other warriors. Not only America appreciates your sacrifice, but any veteran will respect another no matter what the status, branch, or experience. We are all brothers and sisters who wore the uniform for our country, and we should be proud of that.
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Circumstances dictate in my opinion. A lot of people tend to jump to conclusions I think and assume that everyone that hasn't deployed has tried to dodge it for other than honorable reasons.
If there's a legitimate reason that someone hasn't, like in your case MSgt (Join to see) , that's one thing. All is forgiven because circumstances.
But if you're a deployment dodger or some cherry that's been in the military for less time than it takes me to wash the dishes, don't try to walk the walk and talk the talk that only someone who has deployed can.
If there's a legitimate reason that someone hasn't, like in your case MSgt (Join to see) , that's one thing. All is forgiven because circumstances.
But if you're a deployment dodger or some cherry that's been in the military for less time than it takes me to wash the dishes, don't try to walk the walk and talk the talk that only someone who has deployed can.
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