Posted on Nov 17, 2013

Disrespect of Civilians and Veterans by Service members

SGT Chris Birkinbine

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I have seen a lot of posts about the disrespect towards Veterans and those currently serving by Civilians. My question is what about disrespect towards civilians ( and sometimes even veterans) by active duty service members. Luckily I have not witnessed a lot towards Veterans, but I have seen quite a bit towards civilians. I think the lack of understanding of the military life entails, and what can and often does happen during deployments can cause a bit of cynicism and even resentment in the military population. Do you think this is ok, deserved, justifiable? How do you stop it? Should it be stopped? CAN it be stopped? Have you never witnessed what I am talking about and think I am full of it?

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Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 17

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SGT David Franson

Posted >1 y ago

as a veteran when I came back from viet nam I reall got shun and was hard to find a job or even make new friends

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SSG Trevor S.

10 y

David,
Unfortunately there are many facing the same situation today. It was wrong then, and it is wrong now.

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SSG Mark Ives

9 y

I joined in '78 and negative feelings towards soldiers was still evident. I was at JFK airport in '78 in my greens on my way over to Germany and some of the looks I got from people was repulsive. Problem is that many of those people who gave me those looks have grandkids in the service & have the yellow ribbons on their vehicles. Hypocrites?! Maybe, times change, hopefully people do too!

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Capt Jeff S.

9 y

I joined in Feb '79 and the feeling of hostility toward the military was still strong. Vietnam was still fresh in people's minds. Basically the attitude was that the military was not a "real" job and that anyone with any brains would go on to college and get their education so they could make real money doing real work -- as opposed to running around the woods playing soldier...

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CPT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I would just like to say I really think that those in the Army Civilian Corps should really be grateful they can get away with so much. I can't help to wonder how must of them are still employed. I have had so many issues with them that were bad they make me really question the whole system. Fort Benning is the worst. I have never been so disrespected in my life. The last thing I need is a civilian telling me that I don't know what I am talking about when I am actually a soldier and know their job better than them. I am getting all fired up now. I hate benning.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

Couldn't agree with you more Eric. The civilians I've had to deal with at Benning are horribly incompetent and at best act like dealing with a soldier is the worst thing in their life.

Honestly, I have no idea how some of them are still employed, if someone at my civilian job (private sector) had that same sort of inefficiency they would be fired immediately.

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SSG Trevor S.

10 y

Is this a school area mentality? Some people can get jaded after seeing so many people filter through the same processes over and over, while they do their job without rotating out. This can cause them to see a huge variety of situations and develop the attitude that they have "seen it all". It might be a good policy to rotate civilian personnel to other jobs to break them out of their comfort zone.

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SSG Mike Angelo

10 y

2Lts Eric and Robert. Off topic...One of the best kept secrets about Ft. Benning lies over the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama side.

Civilian managed by retired NCOs... Visiting the US Army recreation outpost there may provide some enlightenment and well deserve RnR.

Place marks the Trail of Tears where Native Americans thought that was the promised land, yet they were disappointed that their journey to Florida was not over. Many died there.

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SFC James Baber

Posted >1 y ago

There is always going to be people that disrespect others at some time or another, but it is a small percentage when it comes to the overall population on any military installation and the surrounding communities.

With said, the best thing that anyone could or can do is attempt to de-escalate any confrontation or situation, and avoid making it worse by being confrontational with the person who is aggressive in the situation. Sometimes if may be deserved, but in most cases disrespect to anyone, whether it be SM, veteran or civilian should never be acceptable or condoned.

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Disrespect of Civilians and Veterans by Service members

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