What is one way you believe veterans are misunderstood? How can greater understanding be fostered between veterans and the general public?

SSG Shavonde Chase — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 19:11:18 -0500

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2016 7:20 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 19:20:20 -0500

SSG Shavonde Chase Some civilians think that the military is all about killing and bullying others. This is not true. We join the military to serve and defend our country. If public schools regularly invited military men and women and veterans to address their classes, that could help. Men and women of the military and veterans have a lot of important life lessons that they could share.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 20 at 2016 7:33 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 19:33:10 -0500

the Civilians have no idea what is involved in military service... In many cases not many want to or even care to Know or change...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2016 9:10 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 21:10:50 -0500

Some (if not most) people think all Veterans have killed someone since most (if not all) of us has been asked that time honored question of "Did you ever kill anyone?"

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Nov 21 at 2016 5:53 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 05:53:26 -0500

Unfortunately one very important way people learn of the military is through negative accounts and reports in the media about everything from the shocking number of suicides, murders, crimes committed by SM/vets etc; the prevalence of traumatic injuries, stories about gunships destroying hospitals, etc, the public is in large part set up and conditioned to garner a negative impression of us. Hard to suggest a way to overcome this.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 21 at 2016 6:52 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 06:52:38 -0500

Well the simple answer is that we're all over medicated PTSD ticking time bombs waiting to go off. The general misconception is that we all come home from the horrors of war so badly scarred that we're not fit to be around the general public.

Honestly, I don't think understanding is possible. People are way too political these days and will cling to the most uninformed opinions possible. I'm not even a grunt, I'm an admin Marine, but I've been called baby-killer more times than I can count.

The general public is going to react to us one of three ways.

Support the Troops
Complete Indifference
Hate us

I find it easier living in a military community because people are accustomed to the sacrifices and the mission at hand.