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

This is going to sound kind of silly, but I really wish people would realize we don't all know each other. I am guard and it never fails for someone to ask if I know their friend or family because they are also in the guard in my state.

I left the service 45 years ago and my wife describes any gathering of "old soldiers" as brothers of a different mother. She gets it, not everyone else does.

The price we pay for service COL Mikel J. Burroughs; it's not aways a walk in the park!

That we were trained to help our state and country, that we were there to help them in times of need, and if need be defend our country.

What is something I wish more people understood about the military? Great Question Colonel. I wish people Really Understood what those that join the military sacrifice for them and our Country.

We all do not have PTSD, VD, or in a militia. Col Joseph Lenertz

I wish people understood that the military isn’t just made up of people who didn’t have another option in life. There are so many programs and professions we all go into! There are doctors, lawyers, nurses, technological specialists and so much more.

You're never going to be a civilian ever again. Sometimes I work with policemen and they can be cliquey to just like military people. Some think that military people for instance have no business helping to guard schools and the like from domestic terrorism. I would put up a highly trained, highly skilled, military veteran, against the best trained Leo's out there head to head, and they would be embarrassed. Many of us, even though we may have left the military life behind, doesn't mean we've abandoned our friends, our training, our continuing education and commitment to defending our Nation's Constitution which ALL of us swore an Oath to protect, defend, and preserve from ALL enemies foreign AND domestic. NONE OF US HAVE EVER BEEN RELIEVED OF THIS OATH! The things we were all taught will come flooding back when needed. They were drilled into each and every one of us that looked into the eyes of the dragon and have lived to talk about it. Civilians don't know real problems, struggles, stress, PTSD, loneliness, fear of being alone with your own thoughts. The biggest thing I hate is the one's that tritely say; "thank you for your service", to which I want to reply; "that's great and all now, but where were you 44 years ago when I came home to people spitting on me?" I would rather hear this from another veteran and they seem very pleased when I thank them for their service and welcome them home. Sorry, touchy subject for me.

Accountability. I despise people that are full of excuses or won't accept responsibility for something.
If you screwed it up. You screwed it up. Man up and own it.

That most soldiers do not lie