Posted on May 27, 2015
How do you respond when civilians question you about your military service and don't like your answer
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In May and June each year, people who don't usually talk about the military seem more interested. Personally I enlisted at the end of the Vietnam War hoping to be sent over; but, additional Combat Engineers weren't needed at that point. Throughout my career I submitted periodic requests for assignments - 1st one to Germany an a young Infantry officer during the cold war was the only request that was agreed to by the Army. Later on I realized I was going to be serving primarily to meet Army requirements - if my desires matched great if not I learned to live with it and do the best i could in every assignment to meet the requirements of those over me and train and protect those serving alongside and serving under me.
SFC Mark Merino, Capt (Join to see), MSG (Join to see), SFC Jason Bautista,CPT Bruce Beattie, CPT (Join to see), SFC Ron Chelsy, MSG Tom Earley, Capt Christian D. Orr, SSG VNicia Young, [~459598-cpl-jay-freeman], SFC (Join to see), PFC Chris Hemingway, MSG Wade Huffman, SGT Felicia King, SPC Nate Lamphier, LTC Bink Romanick, SSG Paul Setterholm, CW5 Charlie Poulton
SFC Mark Merino, Capt (Join to see), MSG (Join to see), SFC Jason Bautista,CPT Bruce Beattie, CPT (Join to see), SFC Ron Chelsy, MSG Tom Earley, Capt Christian D. Orr, SSG VNicia Young, [~459598-cpl-jay-freeman], SFC (Join to see), PFC Chris Hemingway, MSG Wade Huffman, SGT Felicia King, SPC Nate Lamphier, LTC Bink Romanick, SSG Paul Setterholm, CW5 Charlie Poulton
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 35
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LTC Stephen F.
Well LCpl Mark Lefler so far you are first one to admit you don't care. By the way that is a great profile picture of you with a child.
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LCpl Mark Lefler
Thank you ,its an old picture for sure, but i like it. In saying I don't care I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but really I just don't think the opinion of some stranger about my service really matters. Even other vets or service members really do not have the right to question my service unless I blatantly lie about it. They weren't there going through it with me, only my ex wife did.
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I always swore my first assignment got some personnel specialist in trouble. I first asked to be assigned to Sacramento Army Depot in my home town. I knew I didn't have a snowball's chance in Hell for that assignment. My second choice was Germany, I was of German ancestry, I took German in high school, and because I was of German extraction and spoke the language, common rumor was that it was SOP to deny the assignment on that premise alone.
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LTC Stephen F.
MSG John Wirts, I am glad to learn that you were initially assigned to your first preference. I am also glad that you were able to go to Germany a couple of assignments later. I hope that was a great tour.
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MSG John Wirts
Ltc Stephen Ford, I think you misunderstood my post. I did not get my first choice, I did get my second choice. That turned out great for me better then if I had gotten my first choice.
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LTC Stephen F.
Well, MSG John Wirts, thanks for correcting my misunderstanding. I am glad that the military assignment system worked out an assignment that turned out much better than expected. It is interesting how that happens.
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If they have a geniune interest in my response I will make an exception and try to explain things to them. If they don't then they are not worth my time to do so and I end the conversation. Unless they served or grew up on a base they'll never really understand.
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LTC Stephen F.
SFC Anthony Scionti, you bring up a sad point. It is sad that many in this nation seem to avoid any interest in the military unless they are close to somebody who served.
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Most civilians don't talk to me, I was tolled I give off a "F*ck OFF Vibe". But if someone does talk to me I explain it and if they don't like what they hear, I then ask them to plz tell me how it works with all there years of experience working with the military. I then tell them to do me a favor and go play on the highway or jump off a cliff. Scouts Out
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks SPC Christian Ziegler, that "F*ck OFF Vibe" sounds kind of like the Force in the Star Wars franchise. I used to think of it as a trilogy but now it 2 trilogies and counting.
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LTC Stephen F.
SPC Mark Beard, I am impressed that you carry a copy of your DD 214. How do you keep it so that it doesn't get destroyed. Paper in my pockets does not last very long - same goes for paper in my wallet.
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I have never really been asked though my response if someone did ask me about it would be, "I'm in the Air Force. I forecast the weather." After that nothing they can say will really get any more info because that is literally my job. I forecast. Our pilots and the Army's need to know what the weather is going to be so they don't fly into a storm (or do if they are the Hurricane Hunters.......or crazy). Otherwise I have done nothing particularly exciting. If they look down on me for it then that's just like, their opinion man. Nothing I can do about it, well truthfully anyway.
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LTC Stephen F.
A1C Matthew Knight, while your duty may not seem to be exiting, weather forecasting is critical to many military operations. You play a critical role in bringing the fight to the enemies of this nation and training those who will fight in the future.
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I always tell them, that I was assigned to a Missile unit as a Missile Tracking Radar Operator. If they inquire further, I try to explain as best as I can. Not too many tend to ask.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks SPC Johnny Velazquez, PhD. Dr. Strangelove is my all time favorite Cold War movie. Your military function played a critical if usually unseen part in that movie. In that scenario if the Soviets used more people in your role versus the Doomsday machine, the world would have been saved.
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To start with I am a candid person, no sugar coating, not giving a crap about hurt feelings, so you can imagine how this goes with civilians. If they are curious enough to ask than I will tell them how it is and not what they want to hear. Usually this ends the conversation and I get to walk away happy.
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LTC Stephen F.
SFC (Join to see), sounds like you are brutally honest which is so much better than those who say whatever people want to hear and lie to get what they want.
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I would of course do my best to remain respectful, but also try to shed some light on the process and help them to achieve some higher level of understanding
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Usually. They ask a question and don't like the answer that is their problem.
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