What do you miss most about serving your country?

SPC Charles Brown — Fri, 09 May 2014 22:09:08 -0400

This questions goes out to all of my fellow Vets and Retirees: What is it you miss most about serving your country? For me it was being able to walk amongst and rub shoulders with others who so willingly signed their names on the dotted line. That would be the worst thing about me being out of the Army.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made May 9 at 2014 11:19 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:19:35 -0400

I miss the people ,structure, sense of
Purpose

Response by SPC Jeff Selvek made May 9 at 2014 11:49 PM

SPC Jeff Selvek — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:49:13 -0400

I think the bond you develop with the people in your unit and the friendships that develop because you go through so much crap together and it starts out just in basic training or for the Marines boot camp.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 12:58 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 May 2014 00:58:03 -0400

It really is the camaraderie - the bonds we form can last lifetimes, and it's amazing to see people work together with a shared vision.

I miss it!

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made May 10 at 2014 8:28 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sat, 10 May 2014 08:28:19 -0400

Other than the Soldiers, of all ranks, and my tank, right now I am not missing too much lol. Since I only retired back in October and am still close to Ft. Benning, I haven't gone through "withdrawals" that bad yet, guess I would have to move further away to fully feel it.

Response by SPC James Oakes made Aug 10 at 2014 8:31 PM

SPC James Oakes — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 20:31:19 -0400

When I was in OSUT, I managed to sustain a pretty serious injury - a fracture in my femur. I was sent home for 30 days convalescent leave and told to think about whether I wanted to stay in. Basically, if they wrote fracture on my medical record, I was going to be chaptered out. If they put severe stress fracture, I'd be sent to rehab and get to stay in. They put me on a bus from Benning to Indianapolis. PV2 basic trainee in class A's and a cue ball haircut, on crutches with two duffle bags - one on front and one on my back. I could barely walk and was facing a 30 hour bus ride.

Somewhere around Knoxville, a bunch of Army NCOs got on the bus. I'd given up my seat for an elderly woman and was standing in the aisle. They spotted me, asked me what my situation was and within a few minutes had gotten me a seat and were taking care of me. At some point an older guy came back and sat down next to me - he turned our to be a Vietnam era Infantry Lieutenant. We talked for like 3 hours.

So I guess I miss the brotherhood. The total acceptance of someone just because they're Army. That situation where age, race, and MOS don't matter. It's just Army.

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Aug 13 at 2014 12:43 PM

SGT Frank Leonardo — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 12:43:24 -0400

I miss how people no matter race religion or gender could get alone and make things happen. I also miss saluting the flag 2 times a day.

Response by SSgt Tim Meuret made Oct 12 at 2014 12:44 PM

SSgt Tim Meuret — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 12:44:28 -0400

A sense of contribution. Civilian life can never give me that level of "making a difference" on a global scale. My duties made a difference to world peace every day. My impact in civilian life does not reach much outside my community.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 1:02 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 01:02:27 -0500

I know it's late but, better late than never. What I missed the most is the commaraderie of the other members of your Unit, Platoon, Company etc. Iv'e been retired now for 21 years next month and when I see the active duty members in uniform, I think back 42 years ago when I first volunteer first my Country, my Corps, and my God.

Semper Fi Mac',

James K. CWO3, USMC, (Ret)

Response by SrA Andrea West made Dec 22 at 2014 1:31 AM

SrA Andrea West — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 01:31:52 -0500

I miss being able to go almost anywhere in the world and find somebody, or a group of somebodies, wearing the same uniform as me. It was a great way to explore the world.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Dec 22 at 2014 2:08 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 02:08:33 -0500

Brotherhood and camaraderie. Knowing that the people to my left and right have more or less the same training and values as me, knowing that we're connected by more than most people will ever be even if we don't know each other well.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Dec 22 at 2014 8:46 AM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:46:25 -0500

SPC Charles Brown I miss the other service members, the camaraderie we shared, the focus, the mission(s), the sense of accomplishment. Feeling like I was a part of something bigger than just me and while only one small piece a part of keeping our great nation protected from evil.

In the civilian world many talk about Espirit de Corps and unit integrity, but few truly seem to understand the roots of the concept. We, as service members, accepted the protection of our nation as our calling and as such placed our lives in the hands of the person to the right or the left of us. We live and serve by a code which includes honor, integrity, and selfless service.

I miss being a part of that, but mostly, I miss my brothers and sisters in arms. RP is my service member world, so thank you to RP for helping to fill that void.

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Feb 17 at 2015 7:56 AM

SPC Neil Hood — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 07:56:50 -0500

Friendships shared when experiencing the same thing every day. As a student now I miss seeing the guys and going through our rituals. I don't think I will ever find something that genuine or that close.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 17 at 2015 8:00 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:28 -0500

The people. Hands down the people.

Everyone you met "wanted" to be there at one at one point. No one was really just plugging away "for a paycheck." Sure people had become disenchanted, or it wasn't quite what they expected, but it was on a different level than what I've experienced on the civilian side.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 21 at 2015 7:44 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:44:52 -0400

So Rallypoint can help with missing your battle buddies.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made May 21 at 2015 7:55 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:55:29 -0400

Camaraderie and the unspoken knowledge that the person wearing a US military uniform would have your back, even if you didn't have any idea who they were.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 21 at 2015 8:00 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:00:20 -0400

The people. Without a doubt.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made May 21 at 2015 8:07 PM

CPO Joseph Grant — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:07:01 -0400

I've found most of my old shipmates on or through Facebook. I miss two things equally; performing missions "Vital to National Security" while forward deployed and the people. I know as soon as I see someone who's Submarine Qualified that we have an instant bond and that I can trust him with my life

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 21 at 2015 8:14 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:14:56 -0400

Structure, mission accomplishment, people and well just about everything.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 8:30 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:30:06 -0400

To be honest I dread that day. I love serving this great nation and I know I will miss serving it dearly when I am done. I often try to get my father in law involved in my military events. He is a retired marine and I know he misses it. When he comes to a military event he really enjoys himself.

Response by CPL Hayward Johnson made May 21 at 2015 10:44 PM

CPL Hayward Johnson — Thu, 21 May 2015 22:44:58 -0400

I miss my brothers as well. The true friendship/battle buddies who felt the same. I dont speak much of my stories to my 2 friends because 1 never been in and the other has serve ptsd...so thats the extent of my friendahips outside in the civilian world. Besides people i met on here. I can go on for days bro this would make for a loooonng read but i will stop here.

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made May 21 at 2015 11:16 PM

SGT Anthony Rossi — Thu, 21 May 2015 23:16:23 -0400

Marching soldiers and calling Cadence. My poor son said all of his childhood songs are his Dads cadences!!!!

Response by SGT Lawrence Corser made May 22 at 2015 4:22 PM

SGT Lawrence Corser — Fri, 22 May 2015 16:22:06 -0400

Brotherhood. the least: the eff eff games caused by senior leadership

Response by SFC Joseph James made May 22 at 2015 4:41 PM

SFC Joseph James — Fri, 22 May 2015 16:41:02 -0400

Hmm I miss kicking but and eating cheese, and I was all out of cheese! That and serving with my true brothers and sisters!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 30 at 2015 1:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 30 May 2015 13:02:16 -0400

I liked to see the smiles and watch the laughter of the soldiers because morale is high.

Response by CPO Anthony Picciano made Dec 1 at 2015 11:51 PM

CPO Anthony Picciano — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:51:32 -0500

THE ADVENTURE! I had some of the coolest jobs during my service time. I was on the ship that was the first and last ship to port visit the USSR before the wall came down. That was sin no way the best adventure. I have pages and pages of cool wild shit I did during the time I served. I was like this jobs a blast still miss the getting ready for or writing op orders.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 4 at 2015 2:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 14:24:09 -0500

Four tanks defending a mile front. Telling the platoon that is TRP 1,2,3 which establishes the fire pattern. Then we back down until the tanks are hidden, and we start scanning our TRPs.