Posted on Dec 24, 2015

What is the worst question a civilian can ask you after a deployment?

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I will be using this information in a speech I am preparing about the dumbest questions to ask a Veteran. Please share any information that could be pertinent, stories, answers, and tactics employed to dodge these questions.

Posted in these groups: Air combat art 0134

Combat

Civilians

Posted 9 y ago

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Did you ever go over there?

Have you killed anybody?

Did a lot of your friends die?

Is war really like it is in the movies?

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Responses: 26

SGM Eric Lobsinger

Posted 9 y ago

I believe you have to take these questions as an opportunity. The truth is, you get many of what we consider to be "dumb" questions for a reason - because they truly don't know what it means to a Soldier, his/her family, and to a community. It is our job to educate them and to build a bond with them. Without their support, there would be no Army. Just a thought but something to consider.

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PO1 Brian Austin

9 y

Very good point. Many are just uninformed and ignorant about the military and yes, some questions can be irritating. I try to enlighten and educate them.

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SP5 Joel O'Brien

9 y

It seems at times to me many folks think if you're "in the Army', you are infantry. Well, not everyone in the Air Force flies. On the occasion, I let inquiring minds know there is a military version of just about every civilian job.

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SSG Warren Swan

Posted 9 y ago

This one pisses me off to no end...."have you killed anyone". I try hard to hold myself together when it comes out, and I answer with the answer my 1SG told me from C 1/5 FA, "NO, and walk away. It's not COD folks, and there's no respawn when things go wrong.

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SSG Warren Swan

>1 y

LTC (Join to see) - No Sir, it's not about being in my shoes, you just gave me some heavy thinking. Sometimes I'm not the smartest and get fixated in a certain way. Then there are folks like you who come along and give you some knowledge nuggets that make you think about what it is you were upset about, or is there another way? You gave me another way. So Sir thank you. Sometimes it's the small things that have the most impact.

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