Do you feel civilians view military members as superior or inferior members of society in general?

RallyPoint Team — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:58:43 -0400

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 23 at 2017 4:00 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:00:53 -0400

Should have had a 'neither' button. Some are superior, some are inferior, most are neither.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 4:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:03:19 -0400

There should've been both and neither as options. There are some that view us as superior. And then there are the halfwit twits that view us as inferior.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 4:19 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:19:51 -0400

I have had protestors tell me to repent for my sins, ask me how many babies had I killed, etc. I have talked to folks that disliked the military and veterans, while other have made it clear that they appreciate the military and veterans. There is a large segment of the population that know nothing about the military, and do not want to know.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 23 at 2017 4:55 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:55:41 -0400

If you asked me this question a decade or 2 ago, I would have said that public perception of the armed forces would view us as superior. But the public has become disillusioned with 2 decades of armed conflict. Not too many look upon us in a favorable light.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 5:00 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 17:00:37 -0400

I think it all depends on location in the continental United States. My observances show that often in the South, military members are seen as superior and are often placed on a pedestal, if they deserve it or not. Throughout much of the U.S., outside of the South, military members are often seen as inferior in groups and occasionally treated less then fairly. I think most U.S. citizens treat individual military members well and view them as equals until the service member proves otherwise. Of course, there are exceptions to all of my generalizations.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jun 23 at 2017 5:23 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 17:23:12 -0400

Mixed bag.

Some think members of the military are only there because they are too violent or stupid to make it in "the real world" (whatever the hell that means). Others think military members are like hard-charging movie hero ninjas, built like Schwarzenegger in his prime, kicking bad guys' asses like Chuck Norris, and all while accompanied by a frickin' cool soundtrack! "America, Fuck Yeah!"

Obviously most opinions fall somewhere in between.

For the most part, and survey on survey in recent years backs this, the public views the military very favorably. That doesn't necessarily mean "superior", but certainly favorably. I do think that's because the general public became introspective in the years after Vietnam and learned a few lessons regarding their own behavior and relationship with their military.

Among those lessons, to varying degrees of acceptance, the public understands that someone really does have to be ready and stand between them and the bad guys of the world. That service members are performing a tough job that requires great sacrifice with few, if any parallels found in the civilian world; the true definition of a "lifestyle" vs. a "job". And regardless of how civilians view a highly politicized contemporary conflict(s), they--the vast majority anyway--don't project irrational hatred onto those in uniform who have to fight today and be ready if they have to fight the next war tomorrow, which may well be THE next war for the survival of our way of life.

Not that one won't find on the fringes a mouth-foaming fruit loop or two hating our troops (antifa, Westbrook Baptist, I'm lookin' in your directions), but gone are the days when service members took it as a given they would be verbally attacked, spit on, physically attacked in public by the very citizenry they exist to defend, just for being military. And a good riddance to those bad times!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 6:00 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 18:00:03 -0400

I believe the public has mixed feelings - depending on their background (urban, rural, conservative, liberal, religious, atheist, etc - many other demographic factors) and depending on memorable news about the military. I see a lot of clapping and welcome home signs in airports for returning troops. But, I also hear a lot of troops bemoaning the unusually high op tempo, depredations in compensation and benefits (particularly retirement benefits), and the like - who would not advise their children to pursue military careers today. Some civilians and their families see the military as a way to earn education or other benefits that may move members from one socioeconomic class to another. But, the news (and lack thereof) re wounded, maimed, and killed take their toll. Movies about rmaking difficult decisions in the field re force protection vs killing civilians particularly young civilians - are disheartening. Stories about rendition, torture, mistreatment of prisoners justified because they are illegal combatants - and stories about military troops hiding atrocities (not necessarily true reports about actual atrocities) and engaging in espionage against our own national security interests and other malfeasance has taken its toll on public opinion. Stories about tortured souls (Rambo, PTSD, and the like) betrayed by their country - or forced to endure hardship because the VA doesn't care for them - damage public opinion. The increasing reliance on contractor numbers to augment troop ceilings hurts public support. What helps are human stories about kindness, decency, loyalty and doing the right thing under difficult conditions or in the face of adversity would help. For all of our investment in PAOs and the like - we do ourselves no favor by focusing solely on recruiting - instead of using communication methods and techniques to raise consciousness and improve public impressions of our military. The problem lays not in who we are or what we do - the problem lays in organizational systemic failure to communicate. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

Response by SPC Charles Isaac made Jun 23 at 2017 7:44 PM

SPC Charles Isaac — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 19:44:03 -0400

I was out in 86 and lived in California. Felt like most people thought inferior. Living in upper Midwest there is a certain amount of respect

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 8:24 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 20:24:37 -0400

It seems that much of the American public is hollowly/shallowly deferential to the military, but don't want to join or have their loved ones join.
Further, higher SES look down heavily on the military, and very few civilian leaders have any family representation in the military.
Overall, I am concerned by the widening gap between the average member of the public, and the average member of the military.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2017 10:36 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 10:36:46 -0400

I think it goes both ways. Many look down on the military even to the point of telling their kids that the military is where they will be if they don't apply themselves.

Others respect the military and are thankful for those who serve.

Response by PO2 Dave Johnson made Jun 26 at 2017 3:16 PM

PO2 Dave Johnson — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:16:08 -0400

Most respect vets now after desert storm younger kids and I mean 20 ish ask a lot of ? After they find out I'm a vet

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 5 at 2021 10:31 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 22:31:53 -0400

Thanks for sharing