Coping with our Military In Transition

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 13:23:36 -0500

My entire military career has been served with a Nation at war. As we draw down in theater, as people enter and leave the service, the ratio of non-patchers with patchers will increase.

Though I do not have an issue with it personally, I am concerned that at some point the patchers vs non-patchers will split into camps and that there might be a superiority complex that develops with those that have deployed on many various levels. I had seen this play out in the Pentagon (and they mostly fixed it) and I have seen this in line units to a lesser degree.

Any suggestions on how to address at the Soldier/Leadership levels to avoid this from becoming systemic? Anyone else see this mindset leeching into our Soldiers or am I just overly paranoid?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 1:40 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 13:40:33 -0500

I have seen it, MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, and leadership can certainly play a role in putting the kibosh on that thinking. On the individual level, I never had a combat patch, but I didn't allow that to define me or my service. I soldiered on, did my best, and tried to prove myself every day, on every task. I think "being all you can be" - with or without a patch - is the best way to answer a superiority complex based on deployments.