What does your family (i.e. parents, siblings, spouse, and children) know about your service?

In my case very little,outside of some humorous incidents that took place in training and Vietnam,in the latter I only feel comfortable on sites as RP and my battalion web site or CIB association site mostly because I feel my memories would only be relevant to those who have served,

Pretty sure they don't like it. I didn't even get letters in basic, and I'm fairly certain I won't get packages or letters if deployed. I don't think they support the fact that my brother and I joined up. Outside of military stuff they're supportive and want to help it seems, but anything involving the military is, "Well you chose to join". I've discovered I have two families, my brothers and my civilian family. If I need to talk about Army stuff, I go to my battles. If I need to talk about other stuff I go to my family.

I had a Sergeant who said if Soldiers aren't bitching they're not having fun. It's kinda true when I think about it. When we get together to have some fun, we bitch about stuff. Things that happened in the field, or in my case basic stories. To my family it seems like we're complaining rather than telling a story that we're all getting a laugh out of. Sometimes a response is, "if you hate it so much why don't you get out?" Maybe there's a gap that I haven't been able to bridge, maybe it can't be bridged. They also surprise me at times when they talk about being proud, and then there's some bitterness to it for me because if they were so proud why can't they communicate?

Went on for a bit there, anyway I'm learning that there's other support channels besides traditional family. On top of that, my brother and I share even more now both having joined up. My sister-in-law is about to have my nephew. We're surrounded by friends who have or do serve if not in the military than in police or fire so I see good things down the road.

SGT Joseph Gunderson I come from a military family and thought that we had talked about everything but that all changed when my son got shipped to Iraq. My father, who was a veteran, did not serve in any conflicts, and I never served in any conflicts. Today's military is a totally different ballgame!!

Very little beyond basic info like I was in, deployed, etc. I don't generally discuss my service except with other vets. I have a hard time articulating it effectively so I just don't discuss it. With a vet I can say "well you were there so you know". Unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it) I cannot do that with the majority of my family. I am not uncomfortable with the idea of discussing it, I just can't seem to find the right words to describe it effectively.

I have written a book and they know that. But there are things which were left out and will stay that way. I never discuss with the wife, she wouldn't understand. I got my Brothers I discuss with.

My Dad was a WWII vet I regret I didn't "force" him to talk about it.

I have discussed my draft letter, physical and arrival at Ft Leonard Wood. The rest of my time I have not shared with my family.

Other than the fact that I'm a Marine, absolutely nothing. With ISIS putting out hitlists and targeting servicemembers families, I felt it best that they know as little as possible so they can't even mention something in passing that would put a target on their backs. I might have an insignificant job compared to some, but who knows if ISIS might see a value in it enough to target my family.

Not much, i think we all should share details with your family

Not much