What is something that you wish that more people understood about the military?

The first thing I wish they would understand is: Not all military members are in combat positions! Too often I see civilians assuming that because they wore the uniform they're killers or combat operators.

Then I would like them to understand that there are jobs in the military that require special training and circumstances giving you experience that far exceeds civilian training.

I would also like people to know that some of us join the military for reasons that can't be easily explained - how do you tell a random stranger that you joined because you experienced terrorism regularly and know what it's like to not have the rights they take for granted? They don't understand that living overseas means living by host nation laws, not US laws.

Lastly, I would like them to understand that just because you're an NCO or enlisted doesn't mean you're uneducated - some of us hold multiple degrees and chose the position or job they had because of a desire to be or do something that can't be done as an officer. For example, There are no military officers in the Fire Department.

That it is something everyone should experience. A side from serving your country, you come out with training, a brotherhood, organization, life and leadership skills. You are educated and have the opportunities to further educate. Striving for excellence and to be the best becomes your standard.

To Millenials who think serving is all about Killing. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It's about being part of something bigger than yourself. It's about serving something bigger than yourself. It's about protecting those, who cannot protect themselves.

That we a tight knit bunch that looks out for each other.

That we have Social Security and Medicare deducted from our pay!

That we do this to serve our country I gladly gave up alot for 19 yrs to defend my country. Even though I left the service with bad knees,ptsd,trouble sleeping , depression and some other stuff if I had to do it again I wouldn't hesitate for one second.

It doesn't matter so much now in my life, but when I first got out, I wish the civilian world had understood the responsibility and the difficulty of the associated tasks that I had handled during some of my time in the Army, even as a lowly E-5. I honestly felt like I was being talked-down to by people who had no clue.

At this stage, I'm not currently looking to do management, (I like being an "individual contributor"), but when I first got out, I could have performed management and leadership much better than twits that were appointed over me by corporate nincompoops. The business world puts way, way too much faith in college degrees. I most fully realized this after finally getting a degree. What I learned in college is a joke in comparison to what I learned in the Army.

I would want everyone to truly understand what emotions we get going on deployment and how some changes are inevitable. Also the brotherhood that is formed with a bunch of people from all walks of life.

The pain of being deployed and leaving one's loved ones behind, not knowing if you will return home above ambient temperature, and the joy of a reunion. As they often say in Hawaii: 'eh, no can!'

That military leadership experience IS a transferable skill to supervisory and management positions in civilian occupations.