Posted on May 11, 2018
What is the worst part about being a service member or veteran?
76.3K
1.97K
374
363
363
0
I know that we are (or should be) proud of our service. I, like many, believe that my experience in the military made me a better person and is definitely something that I am glad to say that I had the opportunity to be a part of. That being said, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Although there are various positives that go along with having served, the world is not perfect and because of this, there are always negatives that come along with things. What is the worst part about having served or presently serving in the United States military?
Experience
Military Career
Combat
Relationships
Resiliency
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 188
2
2
0
Me, Retired, Got hired by Ross Perot at Electronic Data Systems and changed uniform to suit and tie with clothing and dress rules, hair fules, just like the Army and went and computerized the Army on project VIABLE.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I miss serving my country. I no longer work for the Federal government but I meet my need to serve by donating my time and sometimes money to organizations whose cause serves the community.
I initially missed the self-healing paycheck and the benefits. When I worked for the city, the pay was lower but the my job satisfaction was high. I was serving the community as a Public Librarian. The benefits were no comparison to the ones I received in the military. This improved when I got a Civilian Federal job. Suddenly, my military time (I did not retire) counted for something through the Military Buy-Back program. The TSP, with matching contributions was available to me. Finally, it looked like I would be able to retire after 20 years of service anyway - which would not be the full 20 because with the Military Buy Back Program my years in the United States Army would count toward that retirement.
I've recently learned that Veterans can use the commissary. I know that this is only relevant if you live near a Military Installation. But it is still nice.
I missed the uniform at first because I had to learn how to dress in a civilian environment. But once I understood its just different variations of a neutral colored suit (skirt or pants), I was fine. Depending upon on where you work, you either wear the whole suit or just the suit without the jacket and maybe some more comfortable shoes. You can wear a pull-over sweater or a twinset instead of the button down shirt or blouse. There is more you can do but you have to be careful. You may be able to get away with t-shirts and jeans at work but it could hurt you professionally. Some work environments only require chinos and a polo shirt. Follow the dress code, if they have one. Hopefully, someone else with experience leaving the uniform and dressing for a civilian office can add.
I missed the PT too. But I ran track in high school before enlisting so I'm just weird like that. It was difficult for me because a knee injury kept me from running. So I learned to walk for my exercise. When I had a gym membership (when I could afford it), I would use the low-impact cardio machines. I particularly liked the bike and the elliptical machine.
I've been out now longer than I've been in so I've adjusted to (or can't remember) everything else I missed about the military.
I initially missed the self-healing paycheck and the benefits. When I worked for the city, the pay was lower but the my job satisfaction was high. I was serving the community as a Public Librarian. The benefits were no comparison to the ones I received in the military. This improved when I got a Civilian Federal job. Suddenly, my military time (I did not retire) counted for something through the Military Buy-Back program. The TSP, with matching contributions was available to me. Finally, it looked like I would be able to retire after 20 years of service anyway - which would not be the full 20 because with the Military Buy Back Program my years in the United States Army would count toward that retirement.
I've recently learned that Veterans can use the commissary. I know that this is only relevant if you live near a Military Installation. But it is still nice.
I missed the uniform at first because I had to learn how to dress in a civilian environment. But once I understood its just different variations of a neutral colored suit (skirt or pants), I was fine. Depending upon on where you work, you either wear the whole suit or just the suit without the jacket and maybe some more comfortable shoes. You can wear a pull-over sweater or a twinset instead of the button down shirt or blouse. There is more you can do but you have to be careful. You may be able to get away with t-shirts and jeans at work but it could hurt you professionally. Some work environments only require chinos and a polo shirt. Follow the dress code, if they have one. Hopefully, someone else with experience leaving the uniform and dressing for a civilian office can add.
I missed the PT too. But I ran track in high school before enlisting so I'm just weird like that. It was difficult for me because a knee injury kept me from running. So I learned to walk for my exercise. When I had a gym membership (when I could afford it), I would use the low-impact cardio machines. I particularly liked the bike and the elliptical machine.
I've been out now longer than I've been in so I've adjusted to (or can't remember) everything else I missed about the military.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
There is no worst part. I am a Nam vet 0311. We were shamed and humiliated for our service. To this day i still do not wear much stuff saying im a Marine. Im proud of what i did.10yrs in the Corps. So be proud but be humble.
(2)
(0)
Suspended Profile
Well.... Since being a Marine is about the only part of my life that I feel good about, I refuse to be humble about it. I wear something Marine Corps almost every day. And when I leave the house, I have multiple items on my person that say, Marine, (a cover, a challenge coin in my pocket, my wallet, and often a shirt). If civilians don't like it, well....to put it MILDLY!!!, I don't care.
Oh!!! My vehicle has Marine Corps decorations too....albeit, subtle decorations. Hell, even my driver's license has the Marine Corps seal on it, and says "veteran". NO ONE!!!!....is going to take away from me the one thing I have in my life that I feel good about, or tell me I can't display it with pride....least of all a civilian.
That being said, it really upsets me how our Vietnam veterans have been treated, and it always has, and my family and friends all feel the same. It's unconscionable how our Vietnam veterans have been treated!!!! Especially when they first arrived home!!! I've never been anyone important, so there has never been much I can do about it, but I do at least try to let Vietnam veterans know that I, for one, at least, support them, and that includes you. There aren't many people who actually CHOSE to be in Vietnam, (or anywhere else the military sends us, for that matter), and from my perspective, civilians need to be reminded of this as often as possible. They also need to be reminded as often as possible that they would not be able to enjoy the freedoms, liberties, and safety that they do, without us. Freedom is not free!!!!
Oh!!! My vehicle has Marine Corps decorations too....albeit, subtle decorations. Hell, even my driver's license has the Marine Corps seal on it, and says "veteran". NO ONE!!!!....is going to take away from me the one thing I have in my life that I feel good about, or tell me I can't display it with pride....least of all a civilian.
That being said, it really upsets me how our Vietnam veterans have been treated, and it always has, and my family and friends all feel the same. It's unconscionable how our Vietnam veterans have been treated!!!! Especially when they first arrived home!!! I've never been anyone important, so there has never been much I can do about it, but I do at least try to let Vietnam veterans know that I, for one, at least, support them, and that includes you. There aren't many people who actually CHOSE to be in Vietnam, (or anywhere else the military sends us, for that matter), and from my perspective, civilians need to be reminded of this as often as possible. They also need to be reminded as often as possible that they would not be able to enjoy the freedoms, liberties, and safety that they do, without us. Freedom is not free!!!!
2
2
0
Ok, so I was in the Navy and I have been out exatcly one year today. My military enlistment was not the typical one you read and see about going into combat, guns, tattoos and what not. I was attached to a F18 squadron and have a total of 22 months of sea time. Although I didn't have the "typical" career there are two things that I have noticed that have been hard on me and my family.
1. The fact that you are taught that you are apart of the greatest fighting force in the world and there is no better training available out in The civilian world and companies with hire you on the spot. Once you are out with all this "training" that you have acquired, unless you have se sort of supervisor/leadership role it is very hard to find a job.
More on that I people want to DM me.
2. Is also the fact that (in my case) the anger and bad habits you pick up when your in. Like I said I didn't have the stress from being boots on ground but being a final checker on a flight deck of a carrier for 12 hours a day is no walk In the park either. Basically what I'm getting at is having to adjust to a less stressful situation but your reaction to stress has not changed and you blow up over something small, that's what no one talks about.
1. The fact that you are taught that you are apart of the greatest fighting force in the world and there is no better training available out in The civilian world and companies with hire you on the spot. Once you are out with all this "training" that you have acquired, unless you have se sort of supervisor/leadership role it is very hard to find a job.
More on that I people want to DM me.
2. Is also the fact that (in my case) the anger and bad habits you pick up when your in. Like I said I didn't have the stress from being boots on ground but being a final checker on a flight deck of a carrier for 12 hours a day is no walk In the park either. Basically what I'm getting at is having to adjust to a less stressful situation but your reaction to stress has not changed and you blow up over something small, that's what no one talks about.
(2)
(0)
Suspended Profile
From what I've been told by active Marines, and active reserve Marines, is that these days, if you correct a subordinate and you're "not nice about it", you'll find yourself standing tall in front of the C.O. facing NJP, (aka: Captain's Mast, in the Navy). So...I would NOT fit in, in today's military because there were several occasions when I corrected a subordinate, and I was DEFINITELY NOT NICE ABOUT IT. However, in my own defense, said subordinates never made the same mistakes again. And I definitely had a temper after my term of service. Hell, even today, I don't have a whole hell of a lot of patience for stupidity....but I HAVE gained control of my temper, if for no other reason than to stay out of prison.
I shudder to think of what my Great Uncle would say about today's service members in general, and Marines specifically, (eg: he was a Marine in WW II who was an active participant in 5 different landings, (eg: serious, heavy combat), and was also one of the Marines involved in the "fighting withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir" in Korea, (again, serious, heavy combat)). He was also assigned to burial detail once, and he told me that, sometimes, all they had that was available to bury, was PARTS. He passed away just a few years ago, (at 94...I think), and from what I have been told by other family, is that he would sometimes wake up, SCREAMING, even into his 90's. Well...back in the early 2000's, we had a family picnic, and he and I were talking, and we had both recently seen a [then] new documentary on one of the learning channels called: "Making Marines". I asked him what he thought, and he said: "Those are the biggest bunch of pussies I've ever seen." So, again, that was about 20 years ago, so I shudder to think of what he would say about today's military.
What's my point of all of this????? Times have changed, and today's young people can't handle the kinds of stress that their predecessors were subjected to, or even being "yelled at" once they graduate boot camp....and civilians even more so. Prime example: The "sanctuaries" on college campuses these days where students go to "escape stress". No cursing, or yelling allowed in these "sanctuaries". And in my day, (in the early 90's), the scuttlebutt was that Army recruits were issued "stress cards" that they could wave to get a break, (or, "time out"), from the stress of boot camp. I have no idea if these "stress cards" really were, or are still, issued in Army boot camp. They might have just been an experiment. I haven't heard, or seen, anyone mention them in quite a long time.
I shudder to think of what my Great Uncle would say about today's service members in general, and Marines specifically, (eg: he was a Marine in WW II who was an active participant in 5 different landings, (eg: serious, heavy combat), and was also one of the Marines involved in the "fighting withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir" in Korea, (again, serious, heavy combat)). He was also assigned to burial detail once, and he told me that, sometimes, all they had that was available to bury, was PARTS. He passed away just a few years ago, (at 94...I think), and from what I have been told by other family, is that he would sometimes wake up, SCREAMING, even into his 90's. Well...back in the early 2000's, we had a family picnic, and he and I were talking, and we had both recently seen a [then] new documentary on one of the learning channels called: "Making Marines". I asked him what he thought, and he said: "Those are the biggest bunch of pussies I've ever seen." So, again, that was about 20 years ago, so I shudder to think of what he would say about today's military.
What's my point of all of this????? Times have changed, and today's young people can't handle the kinds of stress that their predecessors were subjected to, or even being "yelled at" once they graduate boot camp....and civilians even more so. Prime example: The "sanctuaries" on college campuses these days where students go to "escape stress". No cursing, or yelling allowed in these "sanctuaries". And in my day, (in the early 90's), the scuttlebutt was that Army recruits were issued "stress cards" that they could wave to get a break, (or, "time out"), from the stress of boot camp. I have no idea if these "stress cards" really were, or are still, issued in Army boot camp. They might have just been an experiment. I haven't heard, or seen, anyone mention them in quite a long time.
2
2
0
After 50 plus years of reflection it is hearing politicians and government employees tell you they care about the health and welfare of our military and veterans. Then ignore them with policies that insult your intelligence with bull sh(“t going nowhere solutions.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
There were times that I felt that I was an outsider looking in. For example, due to the pandemic, the gyms on Fort Hood were either closed, or the ones that are open were only for active duty.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
Knowing someone is making a wrong decision you disagree with, a double standard.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
The assumptions that are made: about beliefs or politics, anything that attempts to corral us all as being like-minded on all things.
In my experience, a lot of civilians want us to believe a certain way about topics they are interested in and if we don’t, somehow we are the disappointment, or a “disgrace to the Uniform”.
In my experience, a lot of civilians want us to believe a certain way about topics they are interested in and if we don’t, somehow we are the disappointment, or a “disgrace to the Uniform”.
(2)
(0)
CPT Angela Wilder
I hate 'wedge' issues or questions that force you into one camp or the other. Sometimes the answer is not black or white but grey.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
Family asking what is happening about shit I have do or do not know anything about. I had my mom ask me shit about what other branches are gonna do with Iran. As if I would fucking know
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
-
Ask questionGet expert advice and
tips for your questions. -
Post updatePost pictures, personal updates, plans, or anything you like!
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google