How do you deal with the Military being your past life?

You are not alone brother!

It's been 11 years since I EAS'd out of the Marine Corps. Miss it like nothing else! Having a family now, I routinely discuss my time with them. My youngest, 6 y/o son, is all about everything Military. He lives off of WWII history books, military movies, etc. in addition to me passing my knowledge on to him, I joined the American Legion. If I need a Military rant or joke I head to the Post - nothing like a fellow Marine or other Vet to chat with! No matter what the age or era, I find a bond with all Veterans. My favorite is a 96 y/o Army WWII Vet - might be a 63year age difference but I can listen to his stories all night!

In the saddle for the last ride right now, trying to give back as much as I can everyday....I know without a doubt I am going to miss working with and for the best people our country has....the transition (after 30 years) is going to be a very tough one for me.

I joined the Air Force at age 17. The Air Force was my life for over 14 years. Do I regret not having the life I would have had? Perhaps on occasion. But, who knows what that life would have been? I have enjoyed the life I have had and it has been nearly 55 years since leaving home.

Well for a while I played contractor, but at some point I had to come home and face the music of having to find a real job. I missed the immersion of people who understood my past life and could relate.

What I did was find a organization to volunteer with. I chose USA Cares because they help vets and military with needs that they can't get some place else within 48 hours. It was my way of saying thank you and hanging with like minded people.

I miss it. I try to honor it by doing the right thing. I manage my company like I hope I would manage my platoon (if I stayed in long enough). I take care of my people, to the point that they call me drunk to drive them home. I had one get into a bad car accident and he called me before he called the police, his parents or girlfriend. I'm the first one in and the last one out, everyone knows that I can do their jobs, because I have done their jobs, and I don't ask them to do anything I can't out won't. I like to think it pays off, I haven't had any turn over in my full time positions in over two years.

go to the VFW and get liquored up....toast some rounds and take my ...............Medical Marijuana .........Hey.........I'm from Kolorado.....drinking Kolorado Kool aid ;)

It's definitely closing a door (unless you get hired at the post CIF LOL). I retired in 2012 and miss it a lot. I do kinda like the CoS's new "Soldier for Life" idea. Oh - Veteran Affairs takes GREAT CARE OF ME so I feel like I am still affiliated.

V/r

How do I deal with the military being my past life... you know, I have to say, its not my past. I was born in a family that had 'heads' not bathrooms. I knew what thirteen hundred was, and I took being called a Boot as a sign of that my Daddy loved me, and I remember many nights, curled up under a USMC blanket that was one of three we somehow ended up with after my dad left the Corps.

My children pretty much had the same sort of childhood, because, lets face it, we turn into the parents we had for the most part, and yes, our daughters loved the mall and all those lacey little girl things, but they learned hand to hand combat when their father was at a loss how to get them out to play.

A thousand times a day, something passes thru my brain t hat has its roots in Parris Island, or Camp Pendelton, or Great Lakes... or NAS Corpus Christi...or a dozen other bases. I sometimes make SOS for my husband on cold nights, and we love taking the AR15 out to the range now and then just to keep 'familar' with it. We are, and probably always will be, Marines inside. The outside is pudgy, the hair is turning gray, and its harder to get back up onto your feet after PT... and lets not forget those gunts, groans and muttered bad words as you hear those pops snaps and crackles when you get out the the bed each morning, but inside, we're still the same twenty somethings that somehow handled parenthood, a commitment to the Corps, and part time jobs to pay for the diapers and new cloths...

My answer is, I'm not military in my past life... the military, in one form or another, molded me, formed me, and set me on a path to digging in and hanging on in the worst of times, and some of the best. I'm always going to be military, in some form, so take heart SGT Adams, you are ALWAYS going to be military as well... if you're anything like us.

I am considerably older than you and the answer is definitely YES. Every time I see a military member on uniform I just wish I was in uniform standing beside him. i did not enlist, but I came to love it. Sure it had it's ups and downs, but I am a proud patriot and veteran. Miss it a lot!!!!