Do you have a hard time talking to people outside of the military?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 14:43:02 -0500

There have been a lot of articles recently on the civilian/military divide, and that the two entities, especially after the two prolonged conflicts we have been serving in, have come at odds when it comes to understanding one another.

This morning, I read an article from the Business Insider on military phrases that are commonly used (http://www.businessinsider.com/military-phrases-2013-12).

As a Guard officer, I can't help but remember the times coming off an active duty period in which I almost blurted out a "Hooah" or "Roger that" instead of something that you would normally use in a conversation.

So, it got me thinking: do you have problems communicating in the civilian sector? If not, what are your tips to switch up the mindset?

31 Phrases That Only People In The Military Will Understand

We advise troops not to use them outside of the service.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2014 2:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 14:54:33 -0500

I think its actually a very common place problem and not just a military to civilian sector issue. Its all about habits and taking the time to understand, not just what you do, but how your responsibilities can be effectively communicated. We in the military are very used to our acronyms and turn of phrase. So are Law Enforcement Officials, Medical Professionals, and if anyone here has ever spoken to an IT professional...then we all understand that sense of loss when they try to describe what they do. I have found that the more I work on my resume, the better I have become at describing what I do in layman's terms. This has greatly improved my communication skills within my career field and the civilian companies that I work with. Additionally, I take lessons from Senior Leaders, look up GEN Vincent Brooks or GEN James Mattis...their interviews are a treasure trove of verbiage and techniques to effectively communicate with anyone. Thanks!

Response by SSG Matthew Thomas made Jan 2 at 2014 3:02 PM

SSG Matthew Thomas — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:02:08 -0500

I always say Standby instead of Hold on.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 2 at 2014 3:16 PM

CMC Robert Young — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:16:29 -0500

Sir, it's not just you!! I think we are all products of our environment regardless of our chosen profession. No matter what you do, you ultimately become one with the required verbiage to get the job done. That doesn't always translate well to other worlds.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Jan 2 at 2014 6:23 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 18:23:28 -0500

It takes some conscious effort, but I don't have much problem with it.

Communication requires that the message is not only delivered, but understood. Always acknowledge your audience and tailor your presentation to them. It's actually no different than dealing with troops from different backgrounds.

Response by SSgt Dan Moquin made Jan 2 at 2014 7:35 PM

SSgt Dan Moquin — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:35:25 -0500

Happens at the company I work for, the owner is getting ready to retire and turn it over to his son. The son has no clue about anything military, he hates it when someone comes in and fills out an application, with his military record on it, he has told me he hates that because he doesn't understand what people mean and how it could possibly help the country. He completely lost his mind when Bin Lauden was killed and they had to destroy the helicopter that crashed, all I heard from him was "What a f@@@@ng waste of my taxpayer dollars." I tried to explain to him the reasons why it was destroyed, but he just didn't get it, and just got more and more pissed off, like he had personally paid for the helicopter all buy himself.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2014 7:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:39:01 -0500

I just find it overall more difficult to talk to a civilian. Its not their fault, its just that our lifestyles are so much different. Unless they have been around the military at some point in their life they just dont understand what we go through/do on a daily basis

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2014 7:44 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:44:20 -0500

Not me. I tie them to the chairs and make them listen to Barry Manilow.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 19 at 2014 6:55 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 06:55:23 -0500

I saw this on another site this morning. I laughed and thought it would fit with this discussion. Enjoy!!!

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Apr 27 at 2014 12:41 PM

1SG Shane Hansen — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 12:41:31 -0400

I don't necessarily have a hard time communicating with civilians, I just have trouble relating to them. That makes it hard to carry on a conversation. I also find it extremely difficult to use first names, I have to force myself.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 9:38 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 21:38:44 -0400

I do also. I still use Roger that for just about everything.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 3:00 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 03:00:47 -0400

i cant say repeat, only say again

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2014 8:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 20:49:13 -0400

The only thing way that the military affects me in my civilian way of speaking is referring every single male and female as "sir" and "ma'am" respectively.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 1:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 01:55:00 -0400

I do. Thankfully there's a Navy guy and two Army guys that I work with so we tend to take breaks together and have military talks. There's an Army mom too and she kind of gets it, but not completely.. bless her heart, she tries though.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 5:41 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 05:41:46 -0400

I never had an issue with relating to civilians. Granted I had a lot civilian pilot friends and being that military pilots invade the airlines a lot of military aviator speak has found its way into that industry.

When I flew MQ-1 UAV's people were always intrigued with that. I would go into long conversations explaining to them that it was not a video game. I would try explain the job without going to operational details. Sometimes it was hard, they would ask very specific questions that I could not answer. After a while it would get annoying every time the word drone strike would show up in the news they would ask me if I was one that did it. I would have to say if was I couldn't tell you.

Other than that I believe relating to them was not too hard. Granted I am an Air Force pilot so I never saw the things that any ground guy saw.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 1 at 2014 9:40 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 21:40:46 -0400

It's all in the jargon. It's like a computer geek trying to talk to discuss the finer points of parallel processing to a roomful of brain surgeons or vice versa. You have to interpret your speak to their speak.

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Nov 27 at 2014 11:23 PM

PFC Zanie Young — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 23:23:49 -0500

As the saying goes "It's easy to get the man out the Army, but hard to get the Army out the man." I still say half that stuff and I've been out 23 years.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 27 at 2014 11:43 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 23:43:23 -0500

There are people outside of the military?...lol

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 22 at 2015 8:37 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 20:37:19 -0400

I am not changing for anyone but my wife.

Response by 1SG Eric Rice made Oct 24 at 2015 9:46 AM

1SG Eric Rice — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 09:46:58 -0400

I do not necessarily have a hard time with talking with civilians but I am definitely more conscious of what it is that I say. Sometimes I'll slip and say an acronym that gets confused looks but I suppose they take that risk when they want to converse with me.