What is the biggest military myth that people have that you want to dispel?

2017-09-08T12:13:38-04:00

I have been in the Army Reserves since 2009. I meet a lot of people who think that the Reserves is nothing more than a group of people who get paid to goof off for one weekend a month and that we aren't real Soldiers. What they don't know is that the Reserves is filled with hardworking Soldiers who accomplish amazing things for their unit, the Army, and the United States. This made me wonder, what myths or opinions have you heard about the military that you wish you could dispel?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 12:45 PM

2017-09-08T12:45:46-04:00

MSG Private RallyPoint Member During my civilian career, I worked with Reserve and National Guard men and women. They were all top notch. When I served, I came into contact with protestors that knew nothing about the war, but they were against it, and therefore, they were against service men and women. In college, I came into contact with folks that disliked me because I had served. I had one classmate tell me that I did not look or act like a monster, because her friends said that we were all monsters that wanted to kill people. I do not associate with folks that hate the military. I know a lot of folks that respect service men and women for the tough job they perform in serving our country.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 12:52 PM

2017-09-08T12:52:41-04:00

Idk but is seems to me that people automatically assume that you are a veteran and they jump thru hoops to say " thank you for your service" as they don't know that sometimes soldier is wearing the uniform even before they go to BCT.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 8 at 2017 1:23 PM

2017-09-08T13:23:06-04:00

Some people hold pilots, military or civilian, in awe somehow believing that they have skills and abilities beyond ordinary humans. Although this may have been more common in previous decades of the 20th century, I stilll find it occasionally today.

Let me dispel some myths:
-Myth: Pilots have physical capabilities such as hand-eye coordination greater than most people. Truth: Not much. Pilots do have good hand-eye-brain coordination, but many professional athletes are way better.
-Myth: Pilots possess a level of self confidence that makes them charismatic to most and insufferable to some. Truth: Pilots do have a level of self confidence greater than some people and even some Service Members. It's required to put your body into a machine that flies at over 1,000 mph and then go pick a fight with another person in a similar machine. On the other hand, there are pilots whose jobs aren't very different from a bus driver. Confidence level is probably the same as most Combat Arms people.
-Myth: Pilots attract members of the opposite sex just by wearing their wings. Truth: Pilot's wings do not add to sexual prowess despite what the pilots themselves may say. (This is also true for jump wings, Ranger and SF Tabs, and CIB.)
-Myth: It requires an engineering degree to understand aircraft and to be a pilot. Truth: It is possible to teach a person who has a High School education and has never driven a car in his home country to fly a jet airplane. I've done it.
-Myth: pilots have an easy job. The computers and autopilot do all the work. The pilot just sits in the cockpit, puts his feet up, and flirts with the flight attendant. Truth: flying a transport aircraft isn't as physically demanding as it was in the days of flying "the Hump" or the Berlin Airlift. Pilots need to be trained and ready to take over if the automated systems fail. They also need to closely monitor the automated systems flying the aircraft to immediately detect any deviation or malfunction before it becomes a disaster. Fighter pilots have to withstand more G-forces than their WW I or II counterparts. Aircraft can be built that exceed the human capability to endure G-forces. Being a fighter pilot is still physically demanding.
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Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 8 at 2017 2:13 PM

2017-09-08T14:13:34-04:00

I don't really much care what myths civilians hold, but I do get a little incensed when I see members from other services say something to the effect of "The Navy is just REMF's" or "You guys never have to face danger", etc. And that happens quite a bit. They speak from a position of not knowing jack shit about the things Sailors face at sea, even in non-combat situations. Anyone that thinks Sailors aren't warfighters needs to pick up a history book. Or even a newspaper, recently.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 8 at 2017 2:45 PM

2017-09-08T14:45:18-04:00

a huge myth would be that all military enlisted are stupid and can't make a living in the civilian world when in fact a strong percentage has at least a Associate degree or a BA degree while a few others have masters and PHD degrees

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Sep 8 at 2017 3:32 PM

2017-09-08T15:32:42-04:00

They do not test drugs and vaccinations on service members.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 4:49 PM

2017-09-08T16:49:54-04:00

Most people think we get brainwashed in boot camp. Others think our entire time in the service is a Full Metal Jacket-like experience. Both are obviously incorrect.

The other thing that bugs me more is that people assume I know exactly what's going on in North Korea or elsewhere. Or that I know what we need to do there. As if I get briefed by the President on this stuff. I don't even watch the news so they probably know more than me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 9:41 PM

2017-09-08T21:41:57-04:00

That Carlos Hathcock was the most successful sniper of the Vietnam War (he wasn't, it was actually an Army sniper named Adelbert Waldron III) and that Audie Murphy is the most highly decorated service member for valor ever. There is lots of debate about what constitutes "most highly decorated for valor" but COL Bob Howard (nominated for the MoH 3 times and awarded at least one of every valor award), or the double MoH recipients are usually at the top of the list.

A .50 cal bullet cannot kill you if it passes close to you because of the "vacuum" caused by the bullet passing through the air collapsing, yes you can legally shoot at someone with a.50 even without using the "excuse" "I wasn't shooting at a person, I was shooting at the LCE he was wearing" without worrying about the Geneva Convention.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2017 2:11 AM

2017-09-09T02:11:00-04:00

Starting with many people in the DoD militaries, including copious numbers of them on RP, my answer to the question would the myth that the USCG is not a military service. It's more like a very stupid and very bad...bad joke.

Response by CPO Andrea Kohler made Sep 10 at 2017 6:07 PM

2017-09-10T18:07:28-04:00

bust the myth that all women in the military are lesbians!

Response by SFC Oddie Brown made Sep 10 at 2017 6:39 PM

2017-09-10T18:39:09-04:00

That when you join the army they put all the stupid people in infantry. I am field artillery myself but being an ex recruiter, going infantry used to be one of the hardest fields to get into. Those grunts have to deal with a lot of high tech equipment, think on their feet and make snap decisions that can save or cost lives. If it was easy anybody could do it. Hats off to my army ground pounders.

Response by SSgt James Connolly made Sep 10 at 2017 7:37 PM

2017-09-10T19:37:17-04:00

Well son if people would only look back at the 80s when all this shit started in the S,W. part of our global conflicts,there were proobably more reserves who got divororest ( SP) then regulars. you people were deploying more than the regs.

Response by SGT Beau Thomas made Sep 10 at 2017 9:53 PM

2017-09-10T21:53:08-04:00

One myth that amazed me because a lot of civilians and service members believe is that .50 cal cannot be used against enemy personnel because it is against the Geneva Conventions. That is about the dumbest myth I have ever heard, especially since the Geneva Conventions pertain the the treatment of sick, wounded and POW's.

Response by MAJ Haris Balcinovic made Sep 11 at 2017 2:28 PM

2017-09-11T14:28:21-04:00

MSG Private RallyPoint Member know the feeling very well :)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2017 1:04 AM

2017-09-12T01:04:03-04:00

The fact that some ignorant people think all soldiers carry weapons 24/7, whether deployed or at home.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2017 3:25 PM

2017-09-14T15:25:36-04:00

That sounds like what I hear with the National Guard. I actually had an active duty Air Force member tell me I was Fake Army.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 4 at 2019 3:17 PM

2019-11-04T15:17:34-05:00

Civilians who have no empathy and understanding of our sacrifices because they said it's our job or we signed up for it.

Response by SrA John Monette made Nov 5 at 2019 1:35 PM

2019-11-05T13:35:01-05:00

the biggest myth is that the USMC is the greatest. what a load of BS!!!!! everyone knows, but is afraid to admit, the USAF is the TOP DOG!!!!!

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Jun 5 at 2020 4:13 PM

2020-06-05T16:13:33-04:00

My second tour at Ft. Carson, my CWO4 handed me a request from NG in Sidney, NE they wanted a WO to come help with training on TPS-25 radar. Preparing for their qualifications, as a SGT who knew the operations side as well as the repair side he felt I could be a huge help to them. I spent one weekend every month for the winter driving up from Ft. Carson and enjoyed working with the NG troops and we got them through their training.

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Jun 7 at 2022 11:38 AM

2022-06-07T11:38:52-04:00

You are only a vet if you were in combat! Bull anyone who sign that check to inclue teir life is a vet. Period! Each job comes with its own risks. I've been on both sides, if supply didn't get me my amm, I would not behere. If the navy had not brought it from the states, suppy would not have it to give out. If office people weren't their no pay. All for one and one for all! Stay safe stay strong!