What do you think the biggest misconception about the military?

Here recruiting in rural east Texas we get a lot of I don't want my boy/girl working for Obama, or my son or daughter is too smart for the military (I'm a nuke) and their kid has a 48QT. By in large the biggest misconception about the Navy out there is that we never see land.

That we are unthinking, unfeeling robots. That we joined up because we had no other options in life. Or that we are mercenaries, only in it for the paycheck.

It is surprising, how many people think that most every person in the military, does nothing but 'Grunt" work. I've had people ask me where I stash my rifle when I'm out in public. I usually stand there for a moment, trying to think of a reply that won't include a snort-laugh, then I try my best to explain that, even as a Marine, I don't actually carry a rifle all that much unless I'm out of country in a war zone, but all sorts of people see us living lives like "The Expendables" instead of the real version where lots of us are clerks, drivers, metal-smiths, welders and cooks. It just doesn't fit their narrow little view of what is on the other side of those gates, you know?
If they would just open up their minds a bit, and understand that there are LOTS of fields in the military, that, once a person leaves the uniform, translate into good solid career choices like A&P, Welding, Engineering...and yea, even truck driving.
I always felt as if I learned a lot of self-disipline, and self respect by choosing the military, and how is that a bad thing? Don't people want their children to grow up to be responsible, self-supporting adults?