What aspect of military/veteran life do you wish civilians understood better?

2017-11-13T10:31:54-05:00

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Nov 13 at 2017 10:36 AM

2017-11-13T10:36:46-05:00

While in Viet Nam I was well aware of both Army and Marines with details to burn the human waste. i was Air Force, We had a better solution, We just flushed the toilet !

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Nov 13 at 2017 10:38 AM

2017-11-13T10:38:32-05:00

Now, that's one elegant smelling candles. Nothing to remind you or to illustrate what the scent of war smells like.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Nov 13 at 2017 10:39 AM

2017-11-13T10:39:24-05:00

Capt. I do wish that civilians understood the military member a little better and what drives us to sign our life away if necessary. And the understanding that we do not make enough Retirement pay to retire. I use to hear that all the time. .

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 11:05 AM

2017-11-13T11:05:08-05:00

Oh man...where do I begin this list?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 11:06 AM

2017-11-13T11:06:57-05:00

Capt Bob Abbott I have a very low tolerance for putting up with B.S. of any kind, and I can not stand small talk. Because of our experiences many of us are more serious about life, and will never be a good ole boy.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 12:00 PM

2017-11-13T12:00:42-05:00

Some times if not most times civilians don’t understand the weight some of us bare on our shoulders. Unless it’s spelled out by some news letter giving details of ones actual job and then the actual duties performed are two different areas. What your job says you did and what you actually did measures a person far greater then ones imagination.
Those with hidden talents were used and abused by the military. Civilians could never grasp why some of us live in solitude. They just say something stupid like hey at least you made it home a live!! Not realizing a lot of live with survivors guilt! Or wonder why after service we were shit bagged by the very country that that once praised us!
That’s what I wish they could see differently.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Nov 13 at 2017 12:17 PM

2017-11-13T12:17:40-05:00

I would like civilians to better understand that the military is a genuine 24/7/365 lifestyle (particularly for Active or the activated) that, while it may not define their personal being, does define their existence for a set period of their lives. And that this lifestyle is no mere "job" that ends as soon as you clock out at 5.

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 13 at 2017 12:29 PM

2017-11-13T12:29:49-05:00

Unless they served, there is no way for them to understand better. I think the real question we should be asking is what can we learn to understand civilians better? We have to adapt to living in their world and not the other way around. Sure, it would be great if they all understood but there is great deal that is ineffable about serving. So they can never truly understand unless they been there.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Nov 13 at 2017 12:38 PM

2017-11-13T12:38:42-05:00

Just how dangerous and deadly our jobs are. Everyone reads about high profile events like Battle of Mogadishu, Operation Red Wings, or the USS Cole bombing. They even read about the death tolls in Iraq and Afghanistan. But they never think about the everyday losses...the fires aboard ships, the aircraft malfunctions, training accidents, or medical issues that "normal" Americans don't worry about. We lose service members everyday and no one knows, don't care, or think it's "just part of our job."

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Nov 13 at 2017 1:27 PM

2017-11-13T13:27:21-05:00

The uncertainty.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Nov 13 at 2017 1:35 PM

2017-11-13T13:35:51-05:00

That wearing the uniform is an honor ,not the apparel of one who can't make it in the civilian world.(no matter what John Horseface Kerry says)

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Nov 13 at 2017 11:17 PM

2017-11-13T23:17:09-05:00

As someone who has done this particular duty more times than I care to remember, I found myself both bitter and highly amused by the whole flushing of the toilet comment. But then I have also spent time in a tent city with AF barracks on either side of us. Y’all were even nice enough to cool your beer on the windowsills. You cannot even be mad at folks over that one. Well at least not all these years later.

Response by PO3 Grant Skiles made Nov 14 at 2017 9:54 AM

2017-11-14T09:54:35-05:00

How much time away from home we are. Also when I was in the Navy a lack of communication home. Does not make for a healthy marriage.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Nov 14 at 2017 10:01 AM

2017-11-14T10:01:38-05:00

THE MEANING OF DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY

Response by SPC Diana D. made Nov 14 at 2017 10:02 AM

2017-11-14T10:02:53-05:00

Capt Bob Abbott I wish they would truly grasp the reality that we fought for their rights also. They seem to forget that someone had to die for them to have the rights they have now. They think that the soldiers that are overseas fighting want to be there and like they volunteered to be there. They don't understand that they really didn't have a choice.

Response by SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] made Nov 14 at 2017 11:43 AM

2017-11-14T11:43:14-05:00

They are some of us that have seen death up close . Not in a sterile environment where death is peaceful . Where death is not peaceful where the body try to stay alive . A shot take away the pain you want to leave this place where death is all around you . But he has a grip on your hand and will not let go . Time seem to move so slow you feel the hand relax slightly you look down the eyes are open and the body no longer control function of the body . Later in life a smell or a dream will reawaken that event in your life .This is what I want civilians to understand sign 40 yards

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 14 at 2017 1:05 PM

2017-11-14T13:05:09-05:00

All jobs are required to accomplish the mission.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 14 at 2017 1:05 PM

2017-11-14T13:05:31-05:00

Orders. Your really don't have an option. You do what your are legally ordered to do, when you are supposed to do it, and to the best of your ability. To fail to do so can result in jail time. This concept is completely foreign to people in the private sector. Most of them can tell the boss to "take this job and shove it" if they want. Odds are good it won't result in prosecution.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 14 at 2017 3:46 PM

2017-11-14T15:46:13-05:00

"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle."
Norman Schwarzkopf

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Nov 14 at 2017 5:04 PM

2017-11-14T17:04:48-05:00

Since getting out and working in a job that requires traveling and nights away from home it sometimes gets old listening to them complain about have to be away from their home and families for a night or two. They have no concept of be away from home and family months/years at a time. Not that I wish it on anyone but they don't have a clue.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Nov 15 at 2017 8:09 AM

2017-11-15T08:09:57-05:00

Lol, what else are you supposed to do with it?

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Feb 9 at 2018 4:50 PM

2018-02-09T16:50:07-05:00

LOL now this is original - classic