What Things Were Difficult to Communicate to Family and Friends About Your Military Service? Login & Share to Win!

There are so many things about military life, camaraderie, and the overall experience that only those who have shared the experience can understand. You try to explain feelings or things to civilians, but they just do not have the background or mindset to truly understand. For example, my son and I have always had a very close relationship and thoroughly enjoyed doing things together and I thought that our relationship was great, But, after he spent a summer at ROTC camp, with full military Basic training, A whole new level of understanding opened between us. Today, 45 years later, we are still best friends.

The knowing someone always had my back.

Fortunately, my Dad was a WW2 veteran, and my wife was in the Army same time I was. It was easy to communicate to my family, but friends who have never served are a different story. I'm certain they don't believe half of my "no sh## there we were" stories, even though they're all true. They also have a hard time understanding that shared hardships or crappy situations build cameraderie, and bring out some of the best humor in everyone there.

Let us all take a moment to say a prayer for all those who die today 20 years ago , and thank them for what they did and tried to do. I worked in construction and after 9/11 you would think they would make stairways stronger and have helo access to roof tops but they didn’ t change anything like that . Hi rises cover the roof top with antenna because they can sell that access , the safety cost money not make any , can we learn from our mistakes?
Any way thank all of the ones who lost someone and god bless the U S A

I was in the infantry in Vietnam so there wasn't much that I could talk about. I was wounded in combat in Vietnam so I always answered questions about what happened when asked.

None, now not that they could understand everything but it wasn't hard to communicate about the military, some things people can only understand when they experience them themselves.

Nothing, my dad was a career officer! I told him what was going on, he gave the info to those I loved . Great job sir!

going back to the original question and just before.... joining up. What they do not understand is why you felt compelled to join a volunteer arrmy to begin iwth!!

The odd ball working hours and TDYs. Also the different uniforms and when they could be worn.

With all of the opportunities that were available why did I sign up to jump out of airplanes…