What do you believe is responsible for the disconnect/lack of understanding between the general public and the military?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 16:00:31 -0500

Most people I encounter in the civilian world have no idea that the bulk of forces pulled out of Iraq a few years ago. They also have no idea things are still going on in Afghanistan and will be for the foreseeable future. It seems that none of them really understand our jobs, our purpose, and our responsibilities. Despite the fact that the country was wildly against the Vietnam War, the general public was still educated on the events taking place in Vietnam. Outside a lack of involvement from the vast majority of civilians, I don't know where we lost them when it comes to public awareness about the military. Does anyone believe they have an answer for this mystery?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 4:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 16:49:50 -0500

I believe a lot is because of the media

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 17 at 2014 5:43 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 17:43:59 -0500

The media is a major reason. I also have noticed that there are less "Base Open Houses" at the Air Force bases, not sure but I'm guessing it might be the lack of funds or maybe security concerns after 9-11. When I joined the Air Force in the 80s, I noticed that every Air Force installation would try to have at least one open house a year where the base was opened to the public and it gave us the opportunity to educate them on their military.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2014 2:31 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 02:31:19 -0500

Being from the Vietnam-era the qualms about the prosecution of the war is hotly debated. Civilians used to often say we military people are second-rate people and we are dumb. I like to tell them, "oh so you are a Meteorologist too?" I am met with derision but that is not my problem and we are second to none.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Jan 18 at 2014 8:07 AM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 08:07:12 -0500

I don't believe I have any answers for the vast divide between "Us" and "Them", and lately, I've felt its growing wider.

Having been raised by parents who were both Veterans, I always knew I would serve, because that was the example I had. Growing up, I soaked up the stories about the grandparents who served.

When you consider that something like 5% of Americans serve, and actually KNOW someone who has served, how can we expect 95% to understand what drives us to do what we do?

Sure, they say they support us, but its as if we are these human sized Pit Bulls, and they are the wary, nervous dog walkers, just trying to keep a leash on us until they decide to let us run, and once they snap those leashes, they simply expect us to do the job without realizing that 'the job' affects you in ways they just can't understand.

Quite frankly, I think we scare some people, because the country at large is nervous about sharing space with people who have some experience in war, and feel comfortable around weaponry. I spent an hour telling one woman that I drove trucks, and all she kept asking about was how many people I shot, and how could I do that as a mother. How do I explain to her that defending this country was the greatest gift I ever gave to my children? When you figure it out, let me know!

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Jan 18 at 2014 11:35 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 23:35:41 -0500

The lack of understanding comes from the fact that most people only know of the military from what they see in tv and movies. We have an overwhelming majority of the population that has never served and likely does not know anyone who has ever served in the military. How can the scarifice be shared if less than 1% of the people are bearing the sacrifice, and only about 8% of the population have served in some form?

Then when people do find themselves fortunate enough to meet a genuine veteran, their image and reactions are shaped by the misconceptions that are instilled by movies of a violent peson, who can't readjust to society, is likely suffering from PTSD, who does not value human life at all.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 27 at 2014 4:57 PM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:57:21 -0500

There are several obvious targets; the 'news' media key among them followed by any form of entertainment (movies, tv) which portrays the military in the most unrealistic terms. Add to this a shrinking military footprint (fewer bases in fewer places) and ever decreasing number of us who serve (less than 1/2 of one percent), and it becomes easy to see why the public has a such a skewed view of the military. Also consider the change in cultural values; we as a nation no longer value or esteem organizations which have as their primary missions to benefit or to improve or to preserve our way of life. Consider the police, school teachers, the military, or any other organization that exists to serve. Social scientists have been telling us for years that today's generations don't value association with traditional organizations particularly those viewed as authoritarian.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2014 2:46 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:46:17 -0400

It is a total lack of common reference. Even my wife, who has been my rock for the past seventeen years I've been in uniform, can't truly understand what we experience on deployments and in combat. That is why the VFW, American Legion, and, yes, even Rally Point are so popular. It's a place to go where the other person understands.

I once had an anti-war protester ask me why we don't just sit down and "talk things out with the Taliban and Al Qaeda." I asked her if she had ever traveled to the Middle East and she said she "couldn't possibly see how that would make any difference." I attempted to explain that the truly radical members of these groups (the ones causing the majority of the problems) considered an infidel like myself to be less than human and unworthy of sitting at the same table with them. She replied "that is the silliest thing I've ever heard! People are all the same!" See, no common frame of reference.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made May 11 at 2014 4:08 AM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Sun, 11 May 2014 04:08:18 -0400

I have to agree that the media plays a large part in this divide.
But I believe the that that people that have not served have no idea what's it like to be part of the bigger picture or just being part of something or anything.

Response by SFC Carlton Crider made Aug 27 at 2014 4:45 PM

SFC Carlton Crider — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 16:45:04 -0400

Well being retired and working in the civilian sector I noticed that people are not sitting around at home and waiting for news anymore. People are using the internet and search engines to find out information about the military, defense strategies and policies. People are not happy that we are trying to police the world and instead of blaming the politicians I think they blame the individuals in the military. I think that lots of civilian think that the military makes the decisions for the military to fight/deploy. Military decisions are figured to be more political than before and I think it is because information is more available then before.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2015 12:44 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:44:26 -0500

It's because it's not in the news anymore.

That, and the fact that so little of the population joins the military anymore that very few civilians even know someone in the service, especially if they don't live near a base.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 6:36 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 May 2015 18:36:53 -0400

It's not a mystery...it's the rise of a 24/7 news cycle, so instead of a few big stories, people are flooded every second of the day with what the Kardashians are doing, or what cute cat video is trending on Youtube, or what some small protest in a small town has to say.

Meanwhile, the military is becoming the smallest it has ever been. Fewer and fewer people are joining, and those who do are more and more coming from military families. There are many, many civilians who have never personally met someone in the military, and that number is only going to increase as more of our WWII and Korean War veterans pass away.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 11 at 2015 12:09 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Mon, 11 May 2015 12:09:05 -0400

The language

Response by Maj John Bell made May 7 at 2016 7:26 AM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 07 May 2016 07:26:28 -0400

I got hammered for answering a similar question before. But here goes. These are not facts, but generalizations I believe are largely but not entirely true.
1) People in the military tend to come from families that have a tradition of military service.
2) People that come from families without a tradition of military service formulate their opinions based on Hollywood caricatures of the military. They believe that 2000lb Bombs are "surgical" instruments and that any casualty was killed or injured on purpose, or could have been reasonably avoided with no impact on mission or loss of friendly forces.
3) People that come from families without a tradition of military service formulate their opinion of the chain of command based on Joe Sackodonutz opinion. Joe got a GOS/BCD/DD. But IT WASN"T HIS FAULT!. The chain of command was always out to get him. They were jealous of how smart he is.
4) Military directness, work ethic, and intolerance of extraneous BS makes many non-military employees uncomfortable.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2016 1:06 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 13:06:04 -0400

First off, in most cases it's the willingness to serve, but also I will say that today's society does a lot to minimize the duty and honor that serving your country brings. Today's youth are lazy, sit in front of the tv or other entertainment screen and zone the fuck out. This country has only flourished because of those who have defended it, and the way of easy living and self-absorption is going to kill this nation. Yes, military basic training is hard, difficult and dirty but it has many rewards.