Posted on Aug 12, 2014
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Had dinner last night with someone doing an independent research project looking at Veterans the organizations that try to help support them.
During our conversation, we got talking about the gaps that separate Veterans from each other. Gender, age, and Branch of Service were at the top of the list but then so was evidence of a divide between those that only served in Iraq and those that only served in Afghanistan.
While I think those of us that served in the most recent wars can agree that the two AOs differ but should that difference create a gap? Do you see a gap between those that served in one of the AOs and not the other? What other gaps do you see between Veterans of any era? Do you see a way to bridge the gaps if there are any?
During our conversation, we got talking about the gaps that separate Veterans from each other. Gender, age, and Branch of Service were at the top of the list but then so was evidence of a divide between those that only served in Iraq and those that only served in Afghanistan.
While I think those of us that served in the most recent wars can agree that the two AOs differ but should that difference create a gap? Do you see a gap between those that served in one of the AOs and not the other? What other gaps do you see between Veterans of any era? Do you see a way to bridge the gaps if there are any?
Afghanistan
Deployment
Iraq
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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I don't think there is a "gap". What you see between OIF and OEF is what you saw between PTO and ETO vets from WW2. Their personal experiences with tactics, lifestyle and such were different because each theater was unique, but they all saw themselves as WW2 vets who were fighting against a different faces of a common enemy. There may be the game of "you think you had it hard..." one up-manship, but that is usually in good fun. I don't see myself as solely an OIF vet as being any different than someone solely an OEF vet. We are all GWOT vets.
It would be better to ask if there was a "gap" between OIF/OEF vets and Desert Storm vets, or Balkans vets.
It would be better to ask if there was a "gap" between OIF/OEF vets and Desert Storm vets, or Balkans vets.
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I've heard arguments between soldiers about this.
For example, one soldier thinks the other had it easier.
OIF Soldier thinks OEF Soldier doesn't "know what hot feels like" and recent OEF Soldier thinks OIF Soldier needs to "get over it".
I've also seen disagreements over training because one was used to the urban battlefield in Iraq and the other was used to the rural battlefield of the Stan.
I see the rift as no different from every other rift we have in the military. Marines vs. Army, combat arms vs. support, men vs. women and so on. The gap is there in some ways but at the end of the day, we all know we're in that small, exclusive group of Americans who served their country.
For example, one soldier thinks the other had it easier.
OIF Soldier thinks OEF Soldier doesn't "know what hot feels like" and recent OEF Soldier thinks OIF Soldier needs to "get over it".
I've also seen disagreements over training because one was used to the urban battlefield in Iraq and the other was used to the rural battlefield of the Stan.
I see the rift as no different from every other rift we have in the military. Marines vs. Army, combat arms vs. support, men vs. women and so on. The gap is there in some ways but at the end of the day, we all know we're in that small, exclusive group of Americans who served their country.
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SGT Ben Keen
Great response! I think you are right, at the end of the day we are all part of a small, exclusive set of Americans and hopefully that bond can overcome any gap we might see.
Looking forward to seeing you at RPx in a few days as well SSG V. Michelle Woods!
Looking forward to seeing you at RPx in a few days as well SSG V. Michelle Woods!
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I can only speak from personal experience here, but like most recent vets and active duty, I have numerous friends that have served in one, or both theaters. I have never noticed anything but shared experiences between us.
I have never heard, seen or read any sort of "one up" issues or stories about how one was worse over the other (well any more than the standard one-up that is universal even between Soldiers who deployed together in separate platoons etc).
I think the back to back deployments, and similar threats faced have actually fostered more of a supportive relationship between vets from each, rather than a competitive one. That is my experience at least.
I have never heard, seen or read any sort of "one up" issues or stories about how one was worse over the other (well any more than the standard one-up that is universal even between Soldiers who deployed together in separate platoons etc).
I think the back to back deployments, and similar threats faced have actually fostered more of a supportive relationship between vets from each, rather than a competitive one. That is my experience at least.
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SGT Ben Keen
Great points SGT Chris Birkinbine!
I'm really interested in what the RallyPoint community has to say about this.
I agree that we share a lot of the same things but just curious to see why some say there are divides like this among us.
I'm really interested in what the RallyPoint community has to say about this.
I agree that we share a lot of the same things but just curious to see why some say there are divides like this among us.
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I agree with SGT Chris Birkinbine . I've not experienced, or even heard of any talk of a divide between vets of one, the other, or both theaters. If anything, serving in either theater creates a bond of common experience (even if in another AO).
I hope that this is a common feeling and that there isn't a divide. That kind of thinking was what our brothers and sisters in Vietnam experienced (from Veterans of previous wars) and I believe that, for the most part, we have evolved beyond that outdated thinking.
I hope that this is a common feeling and that there isn't a divide. That kind of thinking was what our brothers and sisters in Vietnam experienced (from Veterans of previous wars) and I believe that, for the most part, we have evolved beyond that outdated thinking.
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I served in both OIF and OEF. I didn't feel like there was any difference in attitude towards one another. It is all GWOT and there are quite a few SMs who did serve in both. The only people who may have a perceived "gap" are those who had the "special" mess halls and never had to wear body armor on a daily basis, for example BIAP.
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Served in both, Problem solved...staying solved. Giddy up. Honestly who cares brothers and sisters died in both. We went to both to do our duty for our country. And if you didn't and you still served then you served your country well too. I see not gap or issue with OIF/OEF/None.
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It's like that saying "All wars are different, all wars are the same." We are all united, but we automatically find our specific subset. First by branch, then by theatre, then by specialty, then by skill level, etc, etc. We can all feel comfortable drinking in te same bar, but in no time we will find out which table to sit at to feel the most comfortable.
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I think there is more of a gap between those that truly experienced "the suck" in the earlier days of both campaigns/the ones still experiencing "the suck" in outposts, compared to some of us that arrived in either country after there was more infrastructure in place, like wi-fi, phones, and decent CHUs.
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I never went to Iraq, but did 2 in Afghanistan. From what I heard, Iraq has some real dangerous and real messed up places.... but they had more amenities then we did. (Pool's, Wifi, fast food etc...)
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CPT (Join to see)
I was in Iraq in 2005-2006. We didn't have that stuff where I was, but they had all that good stuff at the big bases. I was on a big base in A'stan and felt guilty for having Wifi
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