What military stereotypes portrayed in the media or movies drive you crazy?

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:25:17 -0400

Everybody has seen sometimes humorous but often times annoying military stereotypes displayed ion the movies or media. Which ones have you yelling at the TV set?

One that really gets on my nerves is that all military members and their spouses are unfaithful during periods of separation. Makes us look like crap!

Response by LTC Gregory Bishop made Jun 20 at 2014 2:50 PM

LTC Gregory Bishop — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 14:50:52 -0400

I have a company that tries to fix this problem. Often more difficult to achieve authenticity than you may think. Some care enough to try, others don't care.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 20 at 2014 5:51 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:51:16 -0400

Suicidal/homicidal vet.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 20 at 2014 9:20 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:20:46 -0400

The useless, barracks lawyer, "I know every regulation by heart", politically motivated kind of guys - MAJ Powers (Heartbreak Ridge), CAPT Hanks (Men of Honor), ENS Taylor(Under Siege)

Along with the Maggots (The Dirty Dozen), CPT Sobels (Band Of Brothers) and CPT Maitlands (Kelly's Heroes) of the world.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 20 at 2014 9:28 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:28:02 -0400

Rambo shooting a M-60 Machine Gun with one hand!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 20 at 2014 9:34 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:34:56 -0400

The person who NEVER has to stop and reload because they apparently have a "virtual" magazine/ammo belt.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2014 10:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:35:25 -0400

Top 3

1- We're all crazy, unstable, and unfit to interact with society.

2 - LACK OF DISCIPLINE: We wear our uniforms all jacked up, don't shave, don't cut our hair, we are womanizer/ (or manizer for men??) we are alcoholics, we are fat/unfit, we beat our spouses, we are racist, we are homophobic, we are illiterate

3 - Dangerous with Guns

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made Jun 21 at 2014 12:02 AM

MSgt Lancia Stewart — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 00:02:27 -0400

How everyone thinks the NSA has assassin spies. TRUST ME. Not true even in the remotest sense.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2014 9:42 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:42:57 -0400

Every one of them (unless based on actual events) are Officer ranks. i mean really? C'mon!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2014 10:47 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 10:47:38 -0400

How about the fact that they always highlight the big action scene but never the hours of MDMP that goes into it? Obviously that would be pretty boring stuff for Hollywood but just seeing an actual staff meeting without Officers jumping across the table at each other while planning an operation would be more accurate. Not every single thing we do is life or death. Hey there is a routine convoy going to the same place, on the same, day, along the same route again. Oh look it made it safely. Good plan guys! Way to go. Thanks S-2 for getting us that route report. Thanks EOD for clearing the route. Thanks Civ Affairs for winning the hearts and minds. Nothing ever like that. It always has to be portrayed as bad.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jun 21 at 2014 10:55 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 10:55:54 -0400

Unrealistic and historically inaccurate movies in general. Several examples in the late 1970s and 1980s (Rambo, Missing in Action) with unlimited clips, mortars rounds within 5 ft with no effect, firing a SAM through a windshield to hit a helicopter, general indiscipline, criminality, etc). With that said, there were some great movies in the 1950s (Tora, Tora, Tora; Midway, The Longest Day, Run Silent Run Deep) as well as the late 1990s/2000s (Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, U571, The Great Raid). Keep in mind that historically accurate does not mean true to history. A made up movie set in WWII, for example, can still replicate the uniform, weapons, material, and effects in a historically accurate manner. The reason this is a pet peeve for me is that many civilians with no clue at all about the military, watch a movie and form their impressions of the military based on the movie even if the movie is unrealistic and historically inaccurate.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2014 3:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 15:45:19 -0400

I absolutely hate whenever I see a soldier on TV. Why? Because 9 out of 10 times whether it be ACUs or Dress Blues, there is something wrong with their uniform. It drives me nuts!!!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2014 8:17 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 20:17:04 -0400

As an educator, the issue I find with parents and students is that they believe that the military is like basic training everyday.....all that lower enlisted get is screamed at 24/7, or that it is a constant firefight and their loved one will come home tweaked or in a box. The shame is that there are few movies which correctly demonstrate the way of life of the US Military. This is one of the reasons recruiters have a difficult time convincing parents of high school students that a life of service would be a honorable choice.

Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Apr 17 at 2015 10:35 PM

1SG Charles Hunter — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:35:59 -0400

The portrayal of military veterans as schizophrenics suffering from debilitating PTSD. Yest, PTSD exists, in varying degrees of severity, but few veterans are so afflicted that they can't function in society.

Despite the different attitude of the public toward veterans of recent conflicts (versus the public's treatment of Vietnam returnees), the media and Hollywood still portray combat veterans as drug crazed baby killers and dysfunctional zombies.

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Sep 5 at 2016 8:59 AM

SGT Alicia Brenneis — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:59:24 -0400

If there's a female in the group, she always has to pee leaving without telling anyone where she's going, leaves her weapon behind and ends up having to be rescued.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 5:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 17:46:09 -0400

When John Kerry suggested troops were lazy, uneducated, and stupid.

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2016 9:07 AM

CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 09:07:57 -0400

niggers?

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Oct 13 at 2016 9:57 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 09:57:46 -0400

I have to laugh sometimes looking at actors trying to act like soldiers and don't know how to properly wear the uniform to represent the military in a respectful way.

Response by CPL Sarah Verity made Dec 15 at 2019 9:30 PM

CPL Sarah Verity — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 21:30:01 -0500

The myth that only men have received the medal of honor.