What do you absolutely miss about being in the military for those who have departed active duty?

TSgt Joe C. — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:08:12 -0400

I'm sure the powers to be will convert this to something else...but whatever. God forbid, I come up with something similar!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 12:08 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:08:45 -0400

Military camaraderie is in a category all its own. I've worked in civilian law enforcement all my adult life, and I am very active with my high school grad class. Stil, none of the social fraternity engendered by those two environments compares to that of the military brotherhood. Not for me, at least.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 12:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:09:36 -0400

Where, oh where, to start the list....

Response by SGT David T. made Apr 28 at 2017 12:11 PM

SGT David T. — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:11:43 -0400

Nothing. That time has passed.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Apr 28 at 2017 12:20 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:20:34 -0400

Camaraderie by far the most.
Teamwork, instead of "TeImwork".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 12:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:24:01 -0400

Discipline, structure, unity, uniformity, pride, self respect, integrity and the thing I miss the most! Family!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 12:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:25:31 -0400

The rush that you get during some activities and situations.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Apr 28 at 2017 12:29 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:29:03 -0400

I really miss playing dress up, preparing my Dress Blues for functions and going to Military Balls and watching the wife's trying to fit in dresses that they will never fit into again, it's such a joke, but the best when someone wear the wrong shit on there uniform and we all pick it out. SHOW AND TELL!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 28 at 2017 12:41 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:41:26 -0400

Don't have enough time for lunch to put down what I miss the most, other than the camaraderie and working with the great equipment.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 12:56 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:56:05 -0400

The sense of purpose and mission end state. I miss planning projects, missions, Supporting and being part of the worlds greatest war fighting machine ever. The CA/HA side of my communities mission, as we Build Schools, roads, water Wells and other civil engineering projects that help win the harts and mind and shaping the future Battle space in our favor. The smiles in the villages of the children we helped and built a new paly ground for these children. Also being part of Disaster Recovery teams and helping country's and communities at their lowest time in their lives, they smile when they see for the most part and then you deal with the rest. Then all the mission stuff I miss helping and leading troops, and team work that comes with all the above.

MISSION AND PURPOSE. THE TEAM WORK..

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 1:10 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:10:50 -0400

Not a damn thing.

Oh wait. Free transportation to awesome travel destinations such as Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Australia. Other than that, my previous answer still applies. ;)

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Apr 28 at 2017 1:13 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:13:46 -0400

TSgt Joe C. the intensity!

Response by PO2 Willis Linn made Apr 28 at 2017 1:19 PM

PO2 Willis Linn — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:19:20 -0400

I miss the military family and being around people with related work fields to job talk and share stories with.

Response by MSG Andrew White made Apr 28 at 2017 1:28 PM

MSG Andrew White — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:28:27 -0400

OLD FRIENDS!!! BUT REALLY THE CHEESEBURGERS AND FRIES!!!!!

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Apr 28 at 2017 1:44 PM

PO1 Michael Fullmer — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:44:53 -0400

Having been Navy, I miss the port visits overseas and interaction with members of the other navies, i.e. 3 NATO deployments.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 28 at 2017 1:45 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:45:56 -0400

Others have said it so I'll just pile on: Camaraderie. I spent most of my working life as an entrepreneur or consultant, rarely hanging around any one place more than a few months. It worked for me and I earned a substantial living (at least in my last working decade). Still, I miss being a part of the military family (even if I was the black sheep)

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 28 at 2017 1:48 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:48:05 -0400

I miss the people I served with primarily TSgt Joe C. the missions we performed and the places I trained, deployed to and were stationed at.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Apr 28 at 2017 2:16 PM

SFC Dennis A. — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:16:32 -0400

The camaraderie, Teamwork and knowing that when the chips are down a total stranger (another service member) will have your back.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Apr 28 at 2017 2:21 PM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:21:34 -0400

Being topside on a submarine.

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Apr 28 at 2017 2:45 PM

SSgt Boyd Welch — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:45:33 -0400

I miss the common mission, camaraderie, and the professionalism of people who did their job and did it well.

Response by SFC James Pribish made Apr 28 at 2017 3:36 PM

SFC James Pribish — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:36:05 -0400

Friendship that's about it

Response by SFC James Pribish made Apr 28 at 2017 3:38 PM

SFC James Pribish — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:38:56 -0400

If I was healthy, always thought I'll be one of those 80-year-olds running marathons heart disease can't do it no more

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 4:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:42:41 -0400

I miss the people I served with, I miss morning chow in the southern bases, nothing better than a southern breakfast to get you started, I miss being part of the big picture and my little piece of that

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 29 at 2017 12:25 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 00:25:00 -0400

My Morning Paper, In My Case that was the CIA, DIA, NSA Daily Intelligence Brief. Listening into Telephone Calls. Food (Navy Chow is Pretty Good). Fresh Baked Goods (Night Baker would give me Fresh Out of the Oven for the Sports Scores which I gladly gave him before the Capt). Waking Up in Different Ports, Going to Sleep with the sound of the Bow Plowing thru the water. Playing with the Most Expensive Antennas ever made.

Response by PO1 Shannon Drosdak made Apr 29 at 2017 12:48 AM

PO1 Shannon Drosdak — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 00:48:13 -0400

The connection, friends I had and made. Whether it be out floating thousands of miles from family or in a hot dirty desert I felt connected to everyone around me. Although our stories were different we all shared the same yearnings for home and our loved ones. We found support without even saying how we felt. We all knew. It was a silent bond of understanding

Response by SSG Donald "Don" Lloyd made Apr 29 at 2017 12:12 PM

SSG Donald "Don" Lloyd — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 12:12:08 -0400

A real sense of purpose, the camaraderie, and the pride in belonging.

Response by Cpl Lawrence Lavictoire made Apr 29 at 2017 3:59 PM

Cpl Lawrence Lavictoire — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 15:59:23 -0400

I will be very honest with no joke intended: Shit-on-a-shingle! I really enjoyed it, an to this day I still
can't make it like the good old days.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 30 at 2017 12:28 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 12:28:37 -0400

Absolute focus on the mission. When flying, detailed planning and professional execution ensured we completed the mission successfully and safely. All other issues and cares were set aside for those few hours Once back on the ground with mission complete in our logs, the pressures of family, staff work, etc., fell back in on us. It's why pilots love to fly and hate the Air Force.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 30 at 2017 6:27 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 18:27:49 -0400

I miss the uniform. My current uniform is jeans and a tshirt. I'm not complaining, but whenever I put on my military uniform, I always felt sexy. The amount of attention I put to my uniform. The way it was tailored to my body. Every time I wore it my self esteem would be through the roof because I just knew I looked good.

Response by SP5 Jeannie Carle made May 2 at 2017 5:49 PM

SP5 Jeannie Carle — Tue, 02 May 2017 17:49:12 -0400

I miss the "job security" - the PT (yes I do) - the comaraderie - the people - doing a job I dearly loved doing and was damn fine at. I've been out a very long time, and absolutely nothing compares - I just simply don't fit out here.

Response by SGT Jeff Shipp made May 3 at 2017 7:19 PM

SGT Jeff Shipp — Wed, 03 May 2017 19:19:30 -0400

I was a wrench in the Army (63T). A magority of the time I was assigned to the recovery team. I miss seeing how bad the DAT'S and Scouts could bury an M1 and M3. I literally got paid to play in the mud. Bahahaha. Miss the guys too. Look back now and it was a great place to grow up. Stay safe all.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made May 4 at 2017 10:08 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 04 May 2017 10:08:38 -0400

For me and my family we miss the camaraderie and military family atmosphere. We really loved living on base. For us it was instant family and everybody was in the same boat. You met your neighbors, you rolled in on their lives and them on yours, kids were instant friends, neighborhood gatherings were the norm not the exception. I can't name more than two of my current neighbors. I don't miss the deployments as a whole but I miss the cohesiveness of deployments.

Response by SGT James Wilson made May 19 at 2017 7:11 PM

SGT James Wilson — Fri, 19 May 2017 19:11:30 -0400

Simply said I miss it all. The heat, the sweat, the cold, the field, the deployments, jumping from "perfectly good airplanes", the bond with the soldiers in your unit. But mostly I miss the structure. 99% of the time you knew where to be when to be there and what to wear or bring, the other 1% of the time that you didnt know was probably because you weren't paying attention. Outside is a giant cluster.