What assumptions do civilians make about military experience?

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 15:41:20 -0400

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 10 at 2017 3:51 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 15:51:35 -0400

I once went for a job interview, first we spoke on the phone of course. When I showed up in person he said, "oh I thought you would be meaner and covered in tattoos"...

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jun 10 at 2017 5:34 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 17:34:06 -0400

Well it's been a long time ago and some of us were coming back from Vietnam ,I'll just leave it at that.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2017 6:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 18:39:30 -0400

That we're drones. I've been given instructions by management that didn't make sense, and turns out were wrong. So when I questioned it I was told, "You were in the Army, do whatever I say!" Then tried to explain their position like I would understand it better as a rank...

Others are people think that I've killed somebody or a common question is, "Do you enjoy killing people?"

So stuff like that.

Response by SrA Tony Schamberger made Jun 11 at 2017 3:11 AM

SrA Tony Schamberger — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 03:11:59 -0400

Generally speaking, the utter wrong idea. Being prior Air Force and no deployment. Though disabled, people assume we're all "messed up in the head with PTSD". It's a shame, I honestly feel there a distancing civilian establish since all they see are war movies... they think we all do that.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2017 5:37 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 17:37:57 -0400

Whenever I've received orders to a new ship, my friends and family seem to think I'll be underway the entire 3-4 year tour.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Jun 11 at 2017 10:23 PM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 22:23:45 -0400

You either have people thinking that you're going to be an outright hardcore jerk or the most respectful person they ever met. As such, they are either pleasantly surprised or highly disappointed. Very few have been exceptions to this rule in my experience.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2020 4:11 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 16:11:12 -0400

They assume we are all combat veterans and we know their relative/best friend who was also in the service.