How has a sense of humor helped you in your military career?

A wise man once said "you can't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive."

Humor is great for coping with some uncomfortable situations but can also be used to ill affect. Having a sense of humor and trying to make jokes about everything are two very different things that I've had a hard time explaining to others at times. I think it is most important to be able to laugh at ourselves when we mess something up (especially if it really is funny). This alleviates the tension and prevents those who were trying very hard NOT to laugh from feeling bad about it.

OMG, How has it not. It helps you communicate often mundane, over technical, redundant info to your SMs and helps you interact with anyone on any level. Throwing a tasteful cartoon into a PP presentation or telling a joke as part of a staff call brief just takes the edge off a bit - when and where appropriate of course. Being able to laugh with others makes you seem human. Being able to laugh at yourself shows that you are. Chow in the field during a rainstorm - even God has a sense of humor - and timing.

Still alive and not in Leavenworth, so...

Kept stress lower, and gave an outlet for pain. Otherwise there would've been a lot of throat punching going on.

A sense of humor helps in life in general. I think serving in the military has helped me realize that not everything is as bad as one might think when it first happens and there are bad days in the office and really bad days in the office. You just need to learn how to deal with them.

Actually it's part of the mix that helps keep the dragon in it's cage. My sense of humor grew more when I dealt with strife, nasty things in the badlands, etc. My boys grew up on it and they'd enjoy bringing a new friend to hang around on the front porch to get "processed". So I'd encourage everyone to enjoy looking for the funny sidebars in life. There's lots of studies out there that says laughter reduces stress hence adding time to your life. Funny thing. A number of these kids still call us Mom and Dad to this day.

Well, I'm still alive. Many others are also. Sounds like a positive to me.

Just a small taste of what I find funny.

Kept my sanity!

I would have been murdered or arrested if not for a sense of humor.