Do you let people know that you have been deployed?

I have no issue with answering the question of if if I served. I simply avoid any sort of specificity. The people who need to know the specifics already know them.

I don't bother Gunny. Most people don't ask and I don't tell. If they've deployed, they understand, if they haven't they can't really imagine the experience and are usually too self-absorbed to care. One of the downsides to a professional force of arms is that you have an experience that only about 7% of the population has ever experienced and can relate to. Nobody wants to ask the guy at the sausage factory how it is made or what his experience was like. They just want to know the sausage is available. Same same for "freedom" or whatever it was we accomplished over there.

I keep it to myself It was my journey not theirs, and unless
It is with brothers in arms it's not open for discussion.

I avoid talking about Military stuff in the Civilian work place as most do not understand and there is too much explaining necessary.

It really should not have any bearing on your Civilian Job SPC Michael Stanko

Now the last Civilian Job I had new I was leaving because of a pending deployment with the National Guard. They did not want me to leave and the Senior Managers were trying to talk me out of it. Of course that did not happen.

Another problem with talking about stuff in the work place is that they ask some wild questions. Some of which can be inappropriate.

The best way to answer is to say, "I did what was asked of me." or something to that effect.

I'm very rarely asked. Most know I'm retired and it's in the past.

It's a combo between need to know and what I want to tell them based on the situation I find myself in. Sometimes it's OK to share an experience with friends or family...

I don't talk about it unless asked. If I am with other prior or current service members, especially those who I know have deployed, and even more so those who have been in actual combat, then I will definitely be more open - possibly even discussing specific details without going into anything classified. It has to do with knowing that they've been through some of what I've been through... Not even my wife knows as much about my combat experiences as some of my military friends do.

You'll know what I want you to know when I want you to know it.

I love it when people do not know me - then they start talking about the military and blah, blah, blah then I just mention that I was in go from there.

I tend to only speak on experiences if asked.