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Posted on Mar 11, 2016
What is something that you wish that more people understood about the military?
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RP Members, Connections, and Friends here is one of those questions that are still prevalent today that got lost in the black hole here on RallyPoint. I revived it for more RP Members to comment on.
Based on your Service Branch and your experience in the military what are some of the things you wished people understood about you as a person and what you experienced while being in the military?
Mine would be the Camaraderie you build as a Team or individually with those you have served with! Also, those you've lost along the path once traveled!
Don't Hold Back-Tell your Story RP Nation!
Based on your Service Branch and your experience in the military what are some of the things you wished people understood about you as a person and what you experienced while being in the military?
Mine would be the Camaraderie you build as a Team or individually with those you have served with! Also, those you've lost along the path once traveled!
Don't Hold Back-Tell your Story RP Nation!
Camaraderie
Military Life
Brotherhood
Friends
Knowledge
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 174
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I wish civilians would understand that we're an all-volunteer force.
I also wish that they understood that inter-service rivalry is generally good natured, and harmless, but most importantly, if you've never served, you don't get a vote.
I also wish that they understood that inter-service rivalry is generally good natured, and harmless, but most importantly, if you've never served, you don't get a vote.
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LTC Gene Moser
Sgt Chadwick Griffith - Starship Toopers - Robert A. Heinlein - Navy Academy grad. Good idea except - what do we do with all the recruits?
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SSG Jeffrey Monk
LTC Gene Moser - Sir like they did in the book. Whatever job they qualify for. Remember Federal Service consisted of more than just the Military. Personally I feel we could use a rebirth of FDR's WPA and CCC depression era programs.
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LTC Gene Moser
SSG Monk, I totally understand that - not sure how many times I've read Starship Troopers. Here's the deal - if you carefully read the book, most people don't volunteer. And lots get cut. Remember the guy who was going to be in government - until he hit SGT Zim? Note Johnny's father - he had to be in his late 40s or so when he volunteered - and that was only because of the death of this wife by the Bugs. Would that be the case with us? After all, last election some what - 30-40 % of the registered voters didn't. Another problem - The CCC built national parks with picks, shovels, and wheel barrows used by hundreds of men. Think we can replicate that? Let me cite you an example - not CCC - I'm a railroad buff. When I was a kid, most of the locomotives were steam. A freight train crew was at least five men - conductor, engineer, fireman and two brakemen. Now, no fireman. A section gang - the guys who maintained the track took up a small train and had some fifty men and maybe a few women in the kitchen - and that doesn't include those five men in charge of the train. Now? One sitting on a machine that looks like it is out of Star Wars. How about us? A WWII M4 Sherman had a crew of five - an M1 Abrams - three- right? I'd love it to be - but I'd bet that maybe half of my neighborhood will vote in 2020.
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SPC (Join to see)
SSG Jeffrey Monk - Hi Jeffrey. Your idea concerning resurrecting the WPA and other New Deal projects would cost money, and they'd be considered "social programs" or "socialism." So, they'd never "fly."
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I strongly dislike the response about how:
"I could never have joined the military- I am too independent and I would have spit in the face of a sergeant yelling in my face"
All I can think of these types is that they are extremely immature, frightened people full of false bravado. Frankly, I would not have WANTED to have served with such people. They are the kinds who would have haunted the smoke pit and were never to be found when the REAL rubber hit the road.
"I could never have joined the military- I am too independent and I would have spit in the face of a sergeant yelling in my face"
All I can think of these types is that they are extremely immature, frightened people full of false bravado. Frankly, I would not have WANTED to have served with such people. They are the kinds who would have haunted the smoke pit and were never to be found when the REAL rubber hit the road.
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GySgt Gregory Robeson
CW4 (Join to see) - That does and doesn't apply to the Marine Corps Sir. Those who earn the title are Marines first...then they do or have a specific job. So, it is important that they are a good fit for the Corps first. I know many good Marines who didn't really do well in the job they were assigned....but very FEW who were good at a job but were not also good Marines. Those who could do a job, but not handle or "fit" the Marine mold either got out on their own after their first tour, or were otherwise pushed out through poor performance reports. So, I'd have to say - it's not just a matter of completing the initial training. In the Corps, you have to BE a Marine to be successful.
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CW4 (Join to see)
GySgt Gregory Robeson - Sounds like a great way to hemorrhage talent, but when there aren't that many seats to fill, I guess that's not so much of a problem.
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GySgt Gregory Robeson
CW4 (Join to see) - I'm not sure I agree. Or put more succinctly, it's better to lose a person who might be the best at 1 thing....but terrible at all the rest. I'd rather have the jack of all trades who learns to nearly master a few things.
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MSgt Bobby Gene
Well, in the "good old days" they would have spit only once...with good teeth...and then, after a nice stint in Leavenworth for assault, with the bad conduct discharge, maybe they would be of a differing opinion, and afterwards, they could then continue their independent ways...
Just how it would have been in my day...or at least, I sure HOPE that would have been the way it would be.
Just how it would have been in my day...or at least, I sure HOPE that would have been the way it would be.
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That the military is not anything like the stories or jokes that are told about it.
Sadly, much of the mythology is propagated by service members themselves, telling stories to mystify and aggrandize themselves. One of my favorite examples of this are the stories told by sailors in earlier times, of battling ferocious monsters and meeting mythical creatures. My teachers used this "history" to demonstrate what ignorant and superstitious people they were whereas common sense told me they were only spinning yarns to impress the ladies and get laid.
Sadly, much of the mythology is propagated by service members themselves, telling stories to mystify and aggrandize themselves. One of my favorite examples of this are the stories told by sailors in earlier times, of battling ferocious monsters and meeting mythical creatures. My teachers used this "history" to demonstrate what ignorant and superstitious people they were whereas common sense told me they were only spinning yarns to impress the ladies and get laid.
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PO2 Jeff Klein
Oh yeah? Well there was this one sea serpent during a Class 25 Typhoon and...oh, point taken.
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People Just don't understand the bond. We know it, we feel it, we understand. I have tried to explain it countless times but it just doesn't click for them. I have friends that I have worked with for the last 24 years and they will never be as close as People that I served with. 99% of the population will never understand why we would run out in the middle of a shit storm to save some one we don't even know.
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SGT Philip Roncari
Very well said and just let me add it's been 50 years for me and I would do it all over again just to have the privilege of serving with the best people I've ever known
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CPL James S.
SGT Patrick Reno - Hoo-f*cking-rah!
I would still drop everything and walk butt-nekkid through a fire tornado if my old MSgt asked for help. Civilians just can't comprehend what it is like to literally put their lives in the hands of the person next to them.
I would still drop everything and walk butt-nekkid through a fire tornado if my old MSgt asked for help. Civilians just can't comprehend what it is like to literally put their lives in the hands of the person next to them.
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SPC Michael Terek
It's the greatest fraternity in the world!!! I've given up even trying to explain it. Not only am I closer to those I have served with, I am also closer to just about any random veteran I meet anywhere. (Even Marines) There is almost always an instant bond regardless of age, era or branch of service.
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There is a misconception that the only people who join are poor, stupid and don't have anything else going for them. This is also coupled with a perception that service members do not have to think and someone tells them what to do every second of the day....oblivious to the essential element to their premise that eventually someone, somewhere has to be thinking enough to tell someone what to do. Some of the smartest people I have ever met were in uniform. Specialists earning PhDs. Etc. the average person has never served a cause larger than their immediate family (if that) and see the teamwork and commitment to a service and a mission as mindless robots. It also defies sound bite worthy explanation.
Another misconception is we are all booze and drug addled, crazed and dysfunctional from our experience. Somehow broken beyond repair with no possible place in "their world", reserved to being pitied and living on the dole because they are ticking time bombs. There are certainly people who have given their all and not who they used to be, but the vast majority are no worse off than anyone else roaming the streets of America.
Another misconception is we are all booze and drug addled, crazed and dysfunctional from our experience. Somehow broken beyond repair with no possible place in "their world", reserved to being pitied and living on the dole because they are ticking time bombs. There are certainly people who have given their all and not who they used to be, but the vast majority are no worse off than anyone else roaming the streets of America.
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MAJ (Join to see)
This is thanks to liberal elites, who are sooo much smarter than real people. Service members and VETS are the REAL 1%! We still serve local, State, and Nation!
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MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
Amen Major. If you are going to bad mouth the Military, why no IBM. It is because you have no clue as to what either one does. The uniformed (stupid) are a moung . us
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SSG Keith Chavey
I must say that we are all individuals that chose to serve, we come from all forms of backgrounds (socio-economic,racial,religion) that chose to raise our right hand and make a very personal oath..to support and defend an ideal. The Constitution of the United States of America. Period! We are the only ones who actually promised our devotion with our very lives, that makes us unique mammals..
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That each serviceman and woman is both human and unique and we are not robots who kill with no remorse COL Mikel J. Burroughs
What do you think, if you have not yet responded to this question from 2016?
Sgt Arthur Caesarsra-john-monetteSGT Christopher CombsMAJ Raymond HaynesSFC Francisco RosarioCpl Douglas LovenSgt Daniel HobartSSG Martin ByrneSSG Ray AdkinsTeresa Badder1SG James MatthewsNicci EisenhauerLTC Stephan Porter1451179:SSgt Terry Jenkins]SPC Diana RodriguezLCpl Donald FaucettSPC Mark BrownCPT (Join to see)
What do you think, if you have not yet responded to this question from 2016?
Sgt Arthur Caesarsra-john-monetteSGT Christopher CombsMAJ Raymond HaynesSFC Francisco RosarioCpl Douglas LovenSgt Daniel HobartSSG Martin ByrneSSG Ray AdkinsTeresa Badder1SG James MatthewsNicci EisenhauerLTC Stephan Porter1451179:SSgt Terry Jenkins]SPC Diana RodriguezLCpl Donald FaucettSPC Mark BrownCPT (Join to see)
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LCpl Donald Faucett
The kill is without remorse. Better him than me. If it’s in your job description then be a barbaric savage killer. I’d say you have you pick of any Marine.
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LCpl Donald Faucett
LCpl Donald Faucett you don’t win wars by feeling sorry or remorseful. That may cause you to hesitate. They let you go shoot them so enjoy your job. Whistle while ya work.
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SFC Francisco Rosario
I would like for civilians to understand the lifestyle of the military service member. Many dont know what we do or how the job affects us.
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I would really appreciate it if people understood that your MOS is not all you did. With all of the positions available at company, battalion and brigade level, military police is not all I did. All of the leadership and supervisory positions and all of the additional duties that are tasked. When you speak about all of the different positions you held and all of the skills accumulated over a 25-year career and people are like "but I thought you were an MP".
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SPC Ted Ronayne You will. You will also be chief sweeping technician, master of pots, latrine cleanliness inspector, gate guard, access control point guard, fire guard, barracks guard, motor pool guard, ammo guard, roster maintainer, arms room inspector, paper pusher, paper advisor, marksman, physical fitness trainer, and probably a few more, just within your first couple years.
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SPC Ted Ronayne
SFC Casey O'Mally Excellent! And hopefully I get to go to the field a decent amount, too. :) If I'm in an s2 shop (which would have me doing all that haha) would I get to train with the cav scouts or grunts or artillery guys?
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SPC Ted Ronayne it depends on the unit. Finance units and maintenance units have S2s, as well. Even if you end up in a combat arms S2, most of the time when you go to the field, you will be going as an S2, operating in an analyst capacity. You'll be training WITH them, but not training LIKE them. Most of the time. There are always exceptions. Sorry to burst your bubble. If you want to go do combat arms stuff, you gotta go be a combat arms Soldier.
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SPC Ted Ronayne
SFC Casey O'Mally you're not bursting my bubble dont worry. Right now I'm amped to earn my place in the army and if that means scrubbing toilets I'll do it. I just want to know what to expect. Right now I'm in an Intel unit because I'm in the reserves. But I'm going to start gunning for active once I get my degree. Plus I'm a competitive guy, and if being competitive can help me be an "exception" then I'll do what I have to. ;)
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That we are a cross section of American society, not perfect, but most of us believe in what we have chosen to do.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SPC Douglas Bolton Sgt John H. TSgt Joe C. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt David L. SMSgt David A Asbury MSgt David Hoffman SGT (Join to see) LTC David Brown CPL Dave Hoover CMSgt (Join to see) SPC Mark Huddleston Maj Marty Hogan CPT Jack Durish CW5 Jack Cardwell Sgt Randy Wilber SCPO Morris Ramsey SP5 Mark Kuzinski
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SPC Douglas Bolton Sgt John H. TSgt Joe C. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt David L. SMSgt David A Asbury MSgt David Hoffman SGT (Join to see) LTC David Brown CPL Dave Hoover CMSgt (Join to see) SPC Mark Huddleston Maj Marty Hogan CPT Jack Durish CW5 Jack Cardwell Sgt Randy Wilber SCPO Morris Ramsey SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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SCPO Morris Ramsey
The military is truly a cross section of the country. Most of the time we get along very well. We have had our dark times, but we adapt and move forward.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LT Brad McInnis PO3 Bob McCord CW3 Dick McManus SGT John " Mac " McConnell CWO3 Dennis M. MSgt Stephen Council LTC Stephen Conway LTC Stephan PorterLTC Stephen C. LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SGT Jim Arnold Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SFC Francisco Rosario LTC (Join to see) SGT Mark Halmrast
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I have always been a serious individual. The military made me more so. Myself and other veterans have a zero or very low tolerance for petty B.S.
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Maj Marty Hogan
Sgt (Join to see) That spoke volumes to me. I am pretty direct and very literal in most things i do and my career has mirrored that. Zero tolerance is spot on
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SPC Denton McLaughlim
I was very chill, until I joined. I'm told by those close to me it changed me as a person, I dont have as much stupid humor anymore. (I have dark humor now, though.)
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Denton McLaughlim I think dark humor was definitely an acquired survival technique! lol SPC Denton McLaughlim
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Denton McLaughlim I think dark humor was definitely an acquired survival technique! lol SPC Denton McLaughlim
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That it more like regular job than being in prison. Some people think your whole identity is stripped and you live a structured and controlled life with 0 freedom like an inmate in the state pen.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SFC J Fullerton Maybe for the first 4 weeks of Basic Training, but then its all uphill from there - LOL!
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SGT Chester Beedle
It might have been more like that in our grandfather's time, but not today.
Well, exceptions to everything of course. National Guard units getting ready to deploy are often on lockdown for a couple months during training. People who weren't prior service asked me how I could do this full time. Had to explain the difference. Most of the active units did that for only a week before leaving.
Well, exceptions to everything of course. National Guard units getting ready to deploy are often on lockdown for a couple months during training. People who weren't prior service asked me how I could do this full time. Had to explain the difference. Most of the active units did that for only a week before leaving.
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