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

I recently transitioned to AGR in the reserve after 13 years in the Regular Army. This means living away from a traditional military community, although NS Great Lakes is nearby. Our babysitter was shocked when she saw me in civilian clothes because she didn't think I was allowed to take my uniform off. Classic!

We can’t just call out of work

It’s become very common to have close friends relationships,as a complete family.

That you cannot claim the service of your family member.

It's great that your cousin, uncle, grandma served, but that doesn't mean YOU know anything about what it is like to be in.

A trained military person will immediately act on a situation and correct it while the civilian community holds a four hour meeting to come up with a solution before they act on it. In the end, the military man/woman will come up with a better solution more often.

Almost always it has been that officer/enlisted, regular/reserve/national guard, Army/Navy/Marine/Air Force, black/white/Indian/hispanic, even draftee/volunteer, we are all on the same team and bleed the same color blood.

When not in uniform and introduced to someone who will ask what I do, of course I answer that I am in the AF. Their next question always is "are you a pilot?" Instead of "what do you do? It's always the pilot question.

That the Army isn't Basic Training. Too many have this idea that the Army is all Basic Training, that a bunch of trainees are only there to be told what to do and cannot think for themselves.

Though we volunteer to go, there is much sacrifice by everyone involved. Spouses and children left at home while the soldier is away. Just for starters. Always tough. Though very rewarding.

Wow! Great question! I can feel the catharsis welling up inside of me! Through my career in education (teacher and school district administrator) I interact with a LOT of people who have a wide variety of opinions about military personnel. When I tell them I served there is sort of a hesitation, and then usually a "Thank you for your service," which I appreciate. But after that it's a bit awkward. I can see the wheels turning - "Is this guy a baby-killer?" OK, probably an over exaggeration, but I usually go into medic mode (I started out as a combat medic in the Mech. Inf.), saying how I got in to "patch 'em up and not shoot 'em up." Which is kind of a betrayal. My first gig I was taught by a great 'Nam vet platoon sergeant, double EFMB, who told me, "Son, until somebody gets hurt, you're an 11-B." I trained as an infantryman with an aid bag. I learned almost every squad and crew served weapon before I even went to Basic (delayed entry program). I could shoot 'm up AND patch 'em up by the time I was through! I wish I could educate civilians that we are people too, just like them, who may have had some emotionally significant experiences in uniform. Everybody experiences fear, apprehension, anxiety and trauma at some point in their lives, but that doesn't mean we are violent people, especially in a civilian setting. I think there are some movies out there that play up the deranged vet too much. But, that's just me. Thanks for asking! Hooah!