Posted on Mar 19, 2016
MSG Anthony DiFondi
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I retired from the Army with 24 years of service back in late 2011. In the last 3 years, I have had dreams that I had to go back in the Military and I am now unable to keep up with the young troops and all the changes to the equipment and gear. The dreams are unsettling and very real to me. I know they are not about having an unsettled life that needs structure again, as I have an excellent job and great post-military career. I am finally settled in one spot and am very happy, so it can’t be an unhappy thing. Anyone else have these dreams?
Posted in these groups: Retirement logo RetirementSleep Sleeping
Edited >1 y ago
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MSgt Darren VanDerwilt
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Every once in a while I'll have one. They're crazy, like dreams where you're out in public and completely nude. I live in Alalska, but my dreams have me working on the Nelis flightline. All the people I remember are there, glad to see me. The problem arises where I realize I'm sporting five days of not shaving.
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SGT Kristopher Lockrem
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It's funny you mention it, just had one last night, and I have been out since 2000. A lot of times, I dream that I have to go back through basic at 40 years old, and I end up getting pissed at some DI, and get kicked out. Last nights dream was all about BRM, and I couldn't qualify for the life of me.
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CPO David Baldwin
CPO David Baldwin
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Funny you should mention basic and 40 years old. I was assigned to train recruits at the ripe old age of 41. Our training required me to complete basic training twice to qualify.
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SFC Chem Bev Specialist
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Yes all the time, and if I watch a war flick IE Band of Brothers/The pacific it worse. glad to see I'm not alone.
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MAJ Hugh Blanchard
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My wife still has to wake me up sometimes at night because I'm dreaming and speaking in foreign languages again. I don't dream of being unable to keep up, but some of the dreams can be in really "kinetic" and violent situations, including dreams of parachuting a few times. Pretty entertaining stuff...
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SFC Rollie Hubbard
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The only dreams I had were after I retired and started driving tractor trailers usually after a long night driving and after I went to sleep really weird dreams. But nothing about being back in the army.
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PO1 Cliff Heath
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YES I DO MY FIRST HITCH I WAS AN ABH ON USS ENTERPRISE, WHEN I WENT BACK IN ON THE NAVET PROGRAM IN 84 I CROSSED RATES TO GMG AND WAS PLANKOWNER ON USS VINCENNES CG-49 AND MY LAST COMMAND WAS USS ELLIOT DD-967 A SPRU-CAN. AS ANYBODY WHO HAS SERVED ON A CARRIER CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE LONG LINES FOR ANY AND EVERY THING, HAVING TO ANCHOR OUT AND TAKE LIBERTY-BOATS INSTEAD OF TYING UP AT PIER. ANYWAY I AM ALWAYS HAVING A DREAM WHERE I AM ON A CARRIER USUALLY ENTERPRISE OR CARL VINSON. I KEEP TELLING EVERYBODY THAT AS A GMG I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE BUT ALL THEY SAY IS "OH WELL YOU'RE HERE NOW" NOT COMBAT FLASHBACK BUT STILL WAKES ME UP IN A SWEAT.
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SFC National Service Officer
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Have those dreams multiple times a week. Not quite sure what brings them on. Been retired for over 5 years now and have no real desire to return back to the green machine.
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SPC(P) Retired Police Captain/Division Commander
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Yes. I have been out of the Army for 21 years, but through those years I have had dreams at different times of being back in. Some of the dreams were good, some were as you described as being behind the 8 ball and thinking to myself "Why in the heck did you re-enlist again?". I just think that those memories come from years of service in the military that will forever be burned in our memories and will come up in dreams from time to time. As long as it is not PTSD related symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it. Friends I talk to have had the same dreams of being back in the military again, from Army Soldiers to Marines, to Air Force Airman and Navy Sailors. I think it is normal!
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MAJ Bill Darling
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I did frequently in the 90s. I was miserable at being stuck as an AG officer in nondeployable units and would literally dream of going back to my first unit (1-506th) in Korea. Even now I can admit it was, by far, the most fulfilling assignment in the Army.
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MSgt Raymond Stettner
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I retired from the Air Force in 1996. Now it's 2016 and I still have dreams/nightmares about some of my opps, Yet I have a stable job, been married to the same understanding woman of 39yrs. I am still stuck in 1978 and the debacle that was Johnstown. A counselor I was seeing told me it"s "normal" to relive any violent act in your past. Yep, that's true. Having helped returning vets in my town fro Iraq has helped me face my demons.
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