Does anyone else have a sort of "post service rebellion" going on?

SGT John Rauch — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:42:37 -0400

Since my ETS, I have had sort of a rebellious streak I guess you could say, for example, I intentionally walk around with my hands in my pockets or wear a hat inside. I shave religiously once a year now, whether I need it or not. does anybody else know what Im talking about? if so what do you do?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2015 12:46 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:46:44 -0400

I wouldn't say I'm rebellious but I do wear my hat inside.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Mar 28 at 2015 12:49 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:49:54 -0400

I did that. Beard, tongue pierced and a bunch of other stuff. I very intentionally undid certain mannerisms and behavioral expectations. I still won't wear a hat inside though. haha

I'm over it and kind of miss it all now.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Mar 28 at 2015 12:53 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:53:04 -0400

well .. until I just recently the American Legion Honor Guard, I didn't own a pair of shoes that could be shined.

I still can't walk around with my hands in my pockets and I avoid walking on the grass like a plague!

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 28 at 2015 12:55 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:55:08 -0400

Not so sure I'm buying that rebellious reasoning SGT John Rauch. I am sure your hands are in your pocket simply retrieving your keys. And as far as the hat goes, your authorized to do so while you are armed so not a big deal, no loss of discipline on your part.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Mar 28 at 2015 1:21 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:21:08 -0400

I don't know if it's post service rebellion or if I was generally able to suppress my initial response to "Because I said so" , while I was in, but that concept gives me some major issues post service.
Now, "Because I'm paying you to provide a service whose terms include that action" isn't exactly the same thing, thank God.

Response by SGT Patrick Soule made Mar 28 at 2015 2:13 PM

SGT Patrick Soule — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 14:13:17 -0400

I am not comfortable walking or standing with my hands in my pockets. One, it feels unnatural. Second, I am armed all my waking hours and can not justify, to myself, the extra time getting a hand out of a pocket.

After I left the service, I was in a profession that did not allow beards and I could only grow a dirt patch moustache so I did neither. Later, as a business owner, I grew my beard and once it got past the itchy phase, using beard oil to keep it soft, I liked it.
Now, in the Ebola era (we are not being told all about this being brought into our Country, thanks to the useful idiots in the media) and with unfettered access to our country by illegals who are bringing diseases back that we had eradicated, I keep shaved. In the event those items, or similar, come to town and the need for protection arrises, I would be uncomfortable, but covered. Paranoid? I don't think so, wary and able to protect myself, yes... with out help from our federal government.

I have never understood the peircing thing, I was raised that only women got pericings and even then, it was only one per ear. However, I did get a HUGE tattoo while in the service, but even then, it was placed so that as long as I was in any required uniform, it was not visable.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Apr 8 at 2015 7:18 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 19:18:02 -0400

Not sure if I'd call it rebellion, exactly, but I usually grow a beard in the winter...and when I owned my own business, I went about 3 years without putting on a pair of pants that went past my knees or a shirt that had buttons.