Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier. Is this true??

You keep certain habits. I'm still a fast eater, center my gig line, and still use 2 fingers to set the angle of my hat.

I am retired. While some of the things I learned in the service will forever be part of me, I no longer stand ready to fight and win wars. If called upon, I will do my best. But I am old, fat, and my bones creak. I still love my country. But am I ready to go defend her? Not so much.

The job of the Army is to fight and win our nation's wars. At this point, I would be ALMOST as much of a liability as a benefit. Can I realistically still call myself a Soldier? No.

Not at all. I'd argue that most who wear the uniform never become Soldiers. Merely servicemembers. Being a Soldier takes more than just signing a contract.

So many good comments that brought a feeling of "yeah--me, too" camaraderie and a smile to my face while reading through them. I got out at age 30 when my MOS was civilianized, and for the first 10 years, I didn't give it much thought. I was busy going to school and figuring out "life." But then 30 gave way to 40, which later gave way to 55, and in retrospect, I must say that it impacted me much more than I knew. In these ever changing times, when this country is starting to look unrecognizable from the country I so proudly served, it is with pride that I look back on my time as a Soldier. It was such a long time ago, but it shaped me, molded my character, and I have become one among many who would pick up a weapon again today, even at my age, and be willing to still lay it on the line for our Freedom today. When I hear the Star Spangled Banner, taps, God Bless the USA...it all comes rushing back.

I am part of an elite group of men and women who were willing to sacrifice for my country, and I feel it is disrespectful to trivialize that, as the rest of the civilian population likes to do. I think (if you didn't join with an ulterior goal to "change" or "challenge" things) that it says something about the person inside. About their heart. About their sense of loyalty, about their strength as a person, about their willingness to put others over themselves/selflessness, and their commitment, to each other, to the highest good, and about the love we have for this nation--a nation that the rest of the world seems eager to see torn apart.

While many in this nation like to paint veterans as crazed lunatics with guns, the truth is, we are the protectors, the defenders, the misunderstood and undervalued. The only ones who will ever truly "get" us...are our brothers. Yes, Once a Soldier, ALWAYS a Soldier.

When we hear the word soldier! We always refer to someone that's in the army....but from my personal experience I figured that The word soldier itself it's a title thats amended by many experiencestudents that we come across on a daily basis....
If you speak the truth! You're a soldier
If you provide for your family! You're a soldier.
It's all in the character of the person simultaneously with action done efficiently!

It might not be what I would have chosen, but for better or worse, there is no going back, once you think like a soldier, respond like a soldier, it is almost impossible not to. You can hide it, soldiers do, but you can't stop it.

Yes, we act different, normally more responsible, more mission driven- less likely to take excuses for failures, give a days pay for a days job, etc.

Yes, even though, I've been out just about forever, I still consider myself a soldier at heart, the military really will break down what you were...and build you into something more.
you'll find that you'll retain military habits for life.
I still wear my army ring everyday.
on memorial day, my family and I go to the memorial day parade while others are wearing marine, navy & army t-shirts...I proudly wear my battalion t-shirt...it's the only time I wear that.
meanwhile, back at the house...my flag flies proudly at half mast on that day.
There's not a day that I wouldn't pick up a rifle again in defense of the greatest country on earth...or for my brothers at arms.
when you take the oath & join...especially the infantry, you join the greatest fraternity on earth.
an enlistment may end...but an oath is forever.

The "military attitude" never leaves anybody who served with pride, regardless of their individual branch of service and MOS. Your BS Detector Skills are extremely powerful, and when somebody says some BS, you will roll your eyes in total disbelief, because your mouth wants to say something. There was a book in the 80's "Your Jump Boots or was it Your Parachute is Showing. It is about transition to the civilian life...you will never transit to it.

No, it is not necessarily true. There are people who join who never quit fit in, adapt, and for whom the life just isn't for them. Or they had their sights set on other goals to begin with (college money, for example) and the military is just a step in that path, a ticket to punch. They get their DD-214 and they check out, and if that is the case, everyone is better off.

It is unrealistic to expect everyone to have the same level of deep dedication, and you can't force it if it just isn't there.