Posted on Nov 1, 2016
In what ways did your personal values change after you left the military? Specifically, how did your priorities change to reflect values?
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After I left the military, the values they had given me didn't necessarily align with my personal values. Selfless sacrifice, for example, wasn't quite as important as finding personal meaning and prioritizing my family. What ways have your values changed since you left?
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 31
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So maybe I wasn't totally clear with the question. Generally, values are unchanging or very rarely change. But separating from the military puts you in a completely different context. "Respect" is a commonly held value in the military, particularly respect for rank and self-respect. But it's manifested differently in the civilian world. So how did your values manifest differently in the civilian world? How do you express your values differently?
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SSG Patrick Michael
I think LTC Shuttleworth may have summed it up for me. The values haven't changed, but priorities have maybe realigned themselves. In the Army, it was definitely mission first and my soldiers before me or my family. When war came, I had the satisfaction that my efforts were justified, created loyalty and trust, and may have saved lives. No one will die today if I go home and give more time to my family or myself. Though I may have fraternized off duty with senior NCOs, officers, and Warrants from my first days as a PFC at my first duty station, when on duty, in uniform, or in public, protocol was adhered to at all times. While I try to show that same respect toward my superiors today, at times, especially in my role as union steward, I may upend that superior/subordinate relationship on the job as circumstances dictate. Also, I can say that my political and societal inclinations, while maybe alway a little different than the average service member, have definitely been tempered by life's lessons. There's less black and white, and a lot more gray area to consider as I live my life, and I tend to be more reflective.
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My Values haven't changed The Army reinforced and strengthened them. What did change was me personally. I was timid and extremely shy. I was afraid to make a decision for fear of making a mistake. The Army taught me very early on (starting in Boot camp) to overcome those fears.
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My moral compass was shot. When Saigon fell my faith in America was destroyed. I hated our Govt. In 1980 I went forward in a little church in Iowa but it didn't help what I later learned to be PTS. When Regan invaded Granada my views on Govt. changed. My moral compass started to come back. But my love for my brothers and sisters in uniform never changed.
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One of my mottoes when I was in was "If you cut me, I'll bleed Army blood. I am here for you 24/7." Now that I am out, "I am here for you, weekdays from 9 to 5." Sad really.
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I may be an odd man out here, as I was a draftee (1969) with only 2 years of service. But being in the Army changed my life for the better. While my personal values remained essentially the same, the concepts of espirit de corps, teamwork and leadership had a positive influence on me in my post Army life. As the years passed I became very grateful to have been part of such an undertaking.
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My personal values increased by a strong work ethnics to excel in any work task that I were assigned. Next my eyes were open to the truths of the real world system. Being truthful have no place on this earth, that society today would rather hear a lie then the truth, to expose the truth you are taking your life into your own hand. People and Governments hate being told the truth upon. I don't have a Top Secret Clearance to where I must lie about everything when it comes to wrongdoings, by the Government or anyone else. One thing I will do is tell the truth if you ask me, if you don't want to know don't ask if you can't handle the truth. The Righteousness of God I will be until the day I die.
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It's hard to say... I doubt that MY values ever "changed" so much as they have "evolved" in some respects. But mostly I seem to think that it is my environment that is really continuing to change as time goes on. And in many ways I feel as though I am "fighting the system" more these days as well. I am just a "traditionalist" drifting into a more ruined world. Then again, perhaps I am just seeing things clearer (or am I going blind, I am not entirely sure which it is) as time goes on. Civilian life and work was a real shocker to me. I think I held true to myself, but it didn't make things any easier at all (profit motive vs. service motive conflicts and all that).
Mostly all I can say is I managed to "survive" to retire fully at 52; now I do what I want, when I want (as long as the money is there) and I generally don't give a diddly what anyone else thinks about it.
Mostly all I can say is I managed to "survive" to retire fully at 52; now I do what I want, when I want (as long as the money is there) and I generally don't give a diddly what anyone else thinks about it.
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Mine never changed. I have the same values before I went in, during, and after. Priorities have changed, but not my values.
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look out for myself because 25th inf div didn't lookout for me when i was there.
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Well for me, the mission always came first. I've skipped chow and worked long hours for so long to ensure mission readiness. Now that I work a regular job with no overtime, I can take a step back and let my Marines handle the most important tasks and advise them on things they are unsure of. I actually go take chow. I'm home more often to be with my family. Not sure if those are really values, but that's how I've changed since leaving the Corps.
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