Posted on May 12, 2019
How does one respond when people denounce your service?
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How does one respond to a statement of people denouncing your service with you never deployed, you've never seen combat, and also the fabled, you're in the National Guard; you're just a weekend warrior. I have a friend that constantly talks crap about it, his brothers in the navy, he isn't in the military.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 22
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Doesn't sound like much of a friend. Let him know that he can come back and talk shit after he raises his right hand and completes IET.
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I wouldn't care. There is someone always bigger and badder. I heard it both ways. When I was on the Guard some would say remakes because I was ranger qualifed. At the end of the day you can choose how you respond. I just wouldn't care.
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Since he's not in the military, tell him "Until you put on the uniform, you have no standing to judge anyone who has."
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LTC Kevin B.
SPC (Join to see) - Then tell him "Better a weekend warrior than a smack-talking civilian."
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC Kevin B. - That's a retweet and a half. I'm all the time talking about going active due to horrible home life since I've came back. Thought things would be better as time went by, but I went NG for Tuition and home life is bad since I drive an hour to class and an hour home, and family is another issue. Maybe he's caught up on my non-military distaste of the NG and tried to insult me by it?
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LTC Kevin B.
SPC (Join to see) - Who knows about his motivation. I wouldn't worry about his issues. You should respect your service, in whatever form it happens to take (now or in the future). And, ignore what a civilian has to say about a calling they're apparently too chicken to undertake. The next time he says something, just reply "Buk, buk, buk....buk-KAH."
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Just laugh with him and agree. Eventually he will stop when he sees you don’t really care what his opinion is. Being passive about it is the best route.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Wrong button. Meant enter, not post..
Options:
A) Give as good as you get
B) Avoid friend if you can't take the insults
C) Talk to friend about the insults
D) Suck it up, take it, and know that he is probably jealous
E) do nothing and die a little bit inside each time he insults you
Listed in order of recommendation
Options:
A) Give as good as you get
B) Avoid friend if you can't take the insults
C) Talk to friend about the insults
D) Suck it up, take it, and know that he is probably jealous
E) do nothing and die a little bit inside each time he insults you
Listed in order of recommendation
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SPC (Join to see)
I typically do D. Its just been a whole year since I graduated ait which he thought I'd quit at basic. Anytime we argue he just jumps on board and goes straight to me being a guardsman, doesnt matter what we were talking about. It's just tiring, like the straw that breaks the camels back. I don't want to end up snapping on the guy about how crap we both know his life is.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SPC (Join to see) That doesn't sound much like a friend...
But, if you want to keep him around, try stopping by the recruiters office and picking up enlistment paperwork. Next time your friend come by, offer him a chance to prove he is better than you by joining the "real Army.". When he declines, give him NG enlistment paperwork and offer him the chance to prove he is AS good as you. When he declines that too, tell him "Good. Now that we have settled the fact that even this weekend warrior has more balls than you, we can STFU about it for the future."
But, if you want to keep him around, try stopping by the recruiters office and picking up enlistment paperwork. Next time your friend come by, offer him a chance to prove he is better than you by joining the "real Army.". When he declines, give him NG enlistment paperwork and offer him the chance to prove he is AS good as you. When he declines that too, tell him "Good. Now that we have settled the fact that even this weekend warrior has more balls than you, we can STFU about it for the future."
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SPC (Join to see)
We live three hours from one another, both of us are full time college students but then again I did miss a year of college for the 8 and a half months of training I had to go through between Benning and Gordon. The nearest recruiting center is an hour away. That is a pretty ballsy move on my end, but the amount of gas and time needed to make the trips is non-realistic. I wish I had the cash and time to do this though!
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Generally I ignore it. If it becomes harassment, I have a polite conversation. Much of the time, once they better understand, they have a better attitude. After that,if it rises to the level of mockery, I calmly and assertively pull them aside and kick their ass.It has been my experience, the few times that has happened, they begin to understand we are soldiers whether or not we wear the uniform daily. But, most people are reasonable.
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What anyone's opinion of you is just that, their opinion, don't let it bother you, you and we know the truth.
So why waste your time thinking about it, go on and continue what you're doing and stand proud of your service, regardless of what anyone thinks about you.
Personal quotes of others aren't the way to get things done, it's your values in life that do.
I was a Cop for 21 years, and got called many a names by the public, PIG was a big one, and I always turned around and let the person(s) that call me PIG, that it sanded for, "People-In Forcing- Good".
Returning from overseas in Jan 1974, I was met by a crowd of people as I exited the San Francisco airport, they SPIT on my uniform, called me Murderer and Baby Killer, but I held my head high and latter cleaned my uniform.
So, as you ask, "How to respond", don't, it's your world and they just live in it.
So why waste your time thinking about it, go on and continue what you're doing and stand proud of your service, regardless of what anyone thinks about you.
Personal quotes of others aren't the way to get things done, it's your values in life that do.
I was a Cop for 21 years, and got called many a names by the public, PIG was a big one, and I always turned around and let the person(s) that call me PIG, that it sanded for, "People-In Forcing- Good".
Returning from overseas in Jan 1974, I was met by a crowd of people as I exited the San Francisco airport, they SPIT on my uniform, called me Murderer and Baby Killer, but I held my head high and latter cleaned my uniform.
So, as you ask, "How to respond", don't, it's your world and they just live in it.
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You took an Oath and wear our Country’s uniform with the expectation when called upon to protect and defend,those that denounce you do not and will never know that honor,feel sorry for them,as a seventy three year old Vietnam Vet I do ,and thank you for your Service Brother.
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