What was the strangest question you were asked while wearing your uniform?

2015-08-23T23:15:08-04:00

While stationed at Fort Jackson, my aunt died so my wife and I decided to drive to Florida for her funeral. When I went to my closet, I realized that I did not have a suit other than my Class A, so I decided to go in uniform. After the service one of my ADULT cousins approached me and asked, "Are you in the military or something?" I seriously thought about replying, "No, I am a doorman in NYC!"

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 23 at 2015 11:16 PM

2015-08-23T23:16:26-04:00

CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner Is that a costume or a military uniform. I am like really...you ask that absurd question it was a German citizen.

Response by CDR Laurel Meadows made Aug 23 at 2015 11:17 PM

2015-08-23T23:17:22-04:00

I was on the ferry from Port Angeles to Vancouver Washington after a drill weekend and was in kahkis with pullover sweater. I was sitting in the cafeteria area and someone asked me where the restroom was. Good thing I had just walked by it!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 23 at 2015 11:17 PM

2015-08-23T23:17:27-04:00

I was asked if I as in the Navy while wearing an Air Force uniform

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2015 11:29 PM

2015-08-23T23:29:40-04:00

How about the many times, when attending a military ball or dining-out at a civilian hotel, do you get asked "Can you take my bags to my room please?"

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 24 at 2015 1:25 AM

2015-08-24T01:25:09-04:00

In the day when we had the wool Crackerjacks with the 13 button pants, we'd get asked how we peed. The standing joke was "size" determined how few buttons you'd have to pop to get the job done.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-08-24T09:49:33-04:00

Once....many moons ago....I was wearing my Army dress uniform and someone asked me if I was a Marine.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Aug 24 at 2015 11:49 AM

2015-08-24T11:49:28-04:00

During Fleet Week in San Francisco, was decked out in "Blue Delta's" for a dog & pony. Leaving the hotel lobby with my wife, I opened the door for her. Not to be rude, I continued to hold the door for a group coming out behind us. The last gentlemen in the group stopped and asked for directions to a good Italian restaurant. I recommended the "Stinking Rose," he pulled out his wallet and handed me a $5-spot. Later, he gave me an odd look as his group was seated right next to me & my bride for dinner. Hotel Concierge / U.S. Marine... yeah, I can see the similarities.

Response by LCDR Jamie Galus made Aug 24 at 2015 11:49 AM

2015-08-24T11:49:29-04:00

I was an Ensign wearing Service Dress Blues and a woman came up to me and asked, "What airline do you fly for?".

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 4:25 PM

2015-08-24T16:25:09-04:00

"Ever kill anyone?"

Not yet. Day's still young, though.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 4:14 PM

2016-02-27T16:14:05-05:00

"What's in those hills at fort hood?" I didn't say anything. She quickly says, "oh you would probably have to kill me afterwards!" I was like, this lady is crazy

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Feb 27 at 2016 4:20 PM

2016-02-27T16:20:23-05:00

I wore my Dress Blues a few times for the Marine Corps Birthday & went to one at the Sheraton Plaza in downtown Boston MA..& some guy in the lobby of the hotel yelled at me "Hey Sarge is it true chicks dig guys who wear Dress Blues"...And I said "Always"...

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 4:25 PM

2016-02-27T16:25:33-05:00

When someone i knew from high school saw me in my ASUs their response was "Oh my God your in the marines!" No im in the Army "Thats awesome, just...don't die"....

Response by SPC Devin Erick made Feb 27 at 2016 4:37 PM

2016-02-27T16:37:57-05:00

While on TDY I was in a nice hotel down in the front lobby eating. I was in my AUC's and this kid come up to me and asked me "Dude did you win the war?" this kids as like 11 or 12. didn't answer him.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 5:07 PM

2016-02-27T17:07:29-05:00

While wearing my ASU class b's ( army white shirt, blue trousers) I was asked by several people, including uniformed police officers, at my high schools homecoming game if I was in the airforce.

Response by SSG Carl Keene made Feb 28 at 2016 8:12 AM

2016-02-28T08:12:22-05:00

My son and I volunteered for Civil Air Patrol (CAP) after I retired. The CAP, being the auxiliary to the Air Force, wears Air Force Blues. We were in our blues a lot, as we did a lot of missions with the color guard. We would get the usual thank you’s and the like from civilians all the time, which by itself is funny enough considering my son was 12 and 13 at the time, I know young people fresh to the military look young but dang, he was a young looking 12. The looks on their faces as they tried to figure out whether he was in or not was fun to watch. Then throw in a 1st and 2nd LT in his forties, with this young "Airman", wearing a ribbon rack that was all Army, not including the DOD and Presidential awards, the confusion was complete as any Army or Air Force Veteran that had the curiosity of a cat would have a slew of questions about that alone, most just looked at us weird but wouldn't say anything. It embarrassed him, but I, being the sarcastic type, loved to play that game. "Are you Army of Air Fore? Yes, retired." That was my favorite.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2016 12:55 PM

2016-02-28T12:55:18-05:00

From one of my cousins:
"What Air Force are you in?" He's young, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and said, "U.S." And he goes, "But don't you live in England?" I told him, "Yes, that's where I'm stationed, we have bases all over the world," to which he THEN responded, "Oh wow, are we fighting England again!" Before I could explain to him any more, he buried his face in his cell phone and stopped paying attention to me.

And of course the ever present, "What do you fly?" Most of the time I respectfully correct them, but for one particularly obnoxious girl, I told her, "A Teknik Nova." She said that was cool....what is it?
I told her it's a five-wheeled self-contained battlespace, allowing me to move at amazing speeds and perform my duties at three times the efficiency of other similar equipment.
Yeah, it's a brand of office chair.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 15 at 2016 4:39 AM

2016-11-15T04:39:53-05:00

When In uniforms at Civilian events Teenagers used to How many People have you Killed...

Response by SGT Stephen Croushore made Jul 27 at 2017 5:03 PM

2017-07-27T17:03:53-04:00

Atlanta-Hartsfield. 1992. Was in Class A's after a Regimental Command Inspection, immediately flew home afterwards because we had signed out on block leave. You would think wearing an Army green Class A uniform with black beret and jump boots would give the impression that I'm not a baggage handler, but sure enough, was asked by clueless person where she could pick up her bags from "Flight xxx"

Response by PO2 Joseph Allen made Aug 2 at 2017 6:21 PM

2017-08-02T18:21:03-04:00

Are you an infantry man, I'm wearing a Navy uniform with wings.

Response by PO3 Thomas Socha made Aug 3 at 2017 11:57 AM

2017-08-03T11:57:06-04:00

While in Navy salt and pepper s was asked if I was a cop

Response by Capt Loren Morgan made Aug 3 at 2017 5:50 PM

2017-08-03T17:50:59-04:00

Stangest eas when I was boarding the greyhound bus and some kid thought I was the bus driver. Eanted to know when we were leaving

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 1:56 AM

2017-08-04T01:56:48-04:00

Are you a sergeant? In my navy dress blues

Response by MSgt Mike Ruikka made Aug 4 at 2017 10:07 PM

2017-08-04T22:07:18-04:00

I was in the Air Force, stationed in Utah. This was before the Air Force started wearing camouflage. My squadron already did. One day I had to go downtown to have it out with the phone company. I took a shortcut through the mall, wearing camouflage, and I heard a little boy say excitedly..."Mom! Look at the Army guy!"

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 11:35 PM

2017-08-04T23:35:12-04:00

When I was in the Navy, in summer whites, people would ask if I was in the Army.

Response by AN Christopher Crayne made Aug 5 at 2017 8:38 AM

2017-08-05T08:38:14-04:00

Fresh out of Navy boot camp and in my "cracker jacks" I went to Sea World. There I was promptly asked by an elderly woman if I was the Cracker Jack man. Laughing I smiled and said no, thinking she was joking. She just stared straight at me stone faced and said if I was not going to do my F*****g job to entertain her than the least I could do was tell her where the G-damn aquarium was located around here. She actually went on to threaten my job at Sea World as she swore I was one of the dressed up characters.

Response by Col Ian O'Connell made Aug 5 at 2017 10:01 AM

2017-08-05T10:01:07-04:00

Was a groomsman for a fellow 2nt Lt just after graduating fron Navigator School. The wedding was in Reno in a hotel and all the groomsmen were in mess dress (white jacket and black trousers at the time). While in the hall waiting for the ceremony to start, had a gentleman try to hand me his luggage to take to his room. So much for my ego.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Aug 5 at 2017 12:51 PM

2017-08-05T12:51:24-04:00

How about people that can't even tell something is a military uniform. I had one person ask when I was in an Air Force uniform if that was a Police uniform ?

Response by PO3 Donald Mooney made Aug 11 at 2017 11:48 AM

2017-08-11T11:48:07-04:00

While I was standing in line at the bus depot in my dress blues a little boy came up to me and asked if I was Cracker Jacks I wanted to bust out laughing but he was eating a box of cracker jacks so I ran with it, Yes son I am and are they tasty and good and did you like your prize he said " yes but mommy will not let me have my tattoo" So I told him it's ok here is a dollar I'll take your tattoo then he asked me to sign his box of cracker jacks so I did; he ran back to his mom and she looked over at me and smiled and lipped " Thank YOU" just thinking how kids are I know I made his day even better.

Response by PO3 Michael Blackwell Jr. made Aug 10 at 2018 2:30 AM

2018-08-10T02:30:57-04:00

I had a similar incident happen. I had already gotten out of the Navy and joined the Army NG. I came in a store in fatigues and somebody I knew was in there. Question was, “you in the military or you just like wearing that camo?”. Nope, wanted to blend in with the trees.

Response by SP5 Siegfried Schmid made Aug 19 at 2018 3:55 PM

2018-08-19T15:55:54-04:00

I was in Augsburg riding the streetcar taking German to my stepmom. Kakies with seven army shoulderpatch. Someone asked if that was the new nato uniform. They were used to swing 24 infantry there . I was visiting from Regensburg

Response by Cpl Ed Hines made Feb 14 at 2019 11:20 AM

2019-02-14T11:20:52-05:00

I was on campus at a particular university. I was wearing a grey t shirt with "USMC" in bold dark lettering on the front. Young lady with a serious face walked up and asked "What university is that?"

Response by Lt Col Bill Fletcher made Feb 15 at 2019 8:58 AM

2019-02-15T08:58:51-05:00

At a Wedding at West Point with my Army Classmates I was in the (old) White Mess Dress and folks thought I was a waiter, so I got them what they asked for. Afterward several apologized, but some still didn’t realize I was an Air Force Officer.

Response by WO1 Mike Dwyer made Feb 15 at 2019 10:05 PM

2019-02-15T22:05:55-05:00

After completing Army warrant officer training and getting my WO1 bars pinned on I had to fly back to northern Virginia. It was warm on the plane so I took my dress greens coat off and was wearing the long sleeve green shirt and tie with my WO1 shoulder marks on. The lady in the sear next to me asked, "Are you in the Navy?"

Response by HA Jace Gallagher made Feb 16 at 2019 1:33 AM

2019-02-16T01:33:25-05:00

I got asked once "how does it feel to kill and eat a baby?" I was a corpsman(medic) and never deployed lol

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2019 5:21 AM

2019-02-16T05:21:10-05:00

Every year in my town, people from all over the state come to our state park for a halloween thing we have. Least year, I went in my blue delta's. I couldn't tell you how many people said, "so are you a real soldier or just dressed up?" My response was always, "neither, but I am a real Marine." One person looked me up and dow multiple times and said it sure doesn't look real to me. I did everything in my power to not go off on that person, but I kept myself calm since I was in uniform.

Response by PO3 Donald Mooney made Feb 16 at 2019 7:42 AM

2019-02-16T07:42:41-05:00

lmao

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2019 10:43 AM

2019-02-16T10:43:05-05:00

Attended a college writing class at where the assignment was to write about a significant event in your life. I wrote of a night in Kandahar, where, during a rocket attack, three of our young female Soldiers saved the lives of nine Canadian civilian contractors. The "professor' screamed, "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! I want to hear about you raping women! I want to hear about you killing children! I want to hear about massive homophobia and rampant homosexuality in the foxholes! You know! I want to hear about what REALLY goes on in the army!"

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2019 7:39 PM

2019-02-16T19:39:45-05:00

Navy wearing type 3's. Are you in the Army? I literally have a tape on my uniform that says US Navy.

Response by PO2 Jimmy Bones made Feb 16 at 2019 9:06 PM

2019-02-16T21:06:30-05:00

Goodfellow AFB. CTI3 in my Johnny Cash with garrison cap. All the wee little USAF slick sleeves saluting this 19 year old ‘colonel’ because they had no idea what a crow looked like on a cover device.

Response by SPC Michael Dillon made Feb 16 at 2019 10:19 PM

2019-02-16T22:19:45-05:00

Oh your in the Army do you know (insert name)?

Response by PO1 Michael Bruner made Feb 17 at 2019 10:08 PM

2019-02-17T22:08:25-05:00

The most common one has been "Have you killed anyone?" Yeah, like the Navy's some kind assassin mill, cranking out stone cold killers.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2019 8:37 AM

2019-02-18T08:37:22-05:00

I was fresh out of boot camp wearing my NSU's in public like a dork and some kid asked if I was in the JROTC. I'm not proud of my response. A few years later I was wearing my blues after a funeral and a waitress asked if I was in the Village People.

Response by SrA Kevin Piatek made Feb 18 at 2019 8:56 AM

2019-02-18T08:56:27-05:00

I was in the Air Force first question what do you fly? Second question ever kill anybody? For the Second I always say yes death by powerpoint.

Response by SFC Tim Mosher made Feb 18 at 2019 1:29 PM

2019-02-18T13:29:03-05:00

So you know my cousin? He's in the Army too.

Response by LTC Kevin Eppens made Feb 18 at 2019 6:53 PM

2019-02-18T18:53:52-05:00

While on temporary duty in Moscow, an elderly Russian, after seeing the American flag on my shoulder, exclaimed, "My God, have we lost the war already?"

Response by LCDR William Breyfogle made Feb 19 at 2019 10:06 PM

2019-02-19T22:06:28-05:00

Even though I spent 37+ years in the Navy, I still love to go to sea on cruise ships with my bride. Since many cruise lines still host "formal nights," I usually wear my mess dress white or blue dinner jacket. (It saves me from having to rent a tux.) The downside is that literally hundreds of my fellow passengers mistake me for the head waiter and ask me to bring them drinks.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 10 at 2019 5:39 AM

2019-03-10T05:39:07-04:00

"I know the U.S. A is for United States of America, but what does RMY stand for?" She was pointing at my U.S. ARMY tape on my ACUs. To this day I still don't know if she was that good of a joker or that dumb.

Response by CAPT Patrick Mulcahy made Mar 17 at 2019 2:20 AM

2019-03-17T02:20:34-04:00

I was flying to Pensacola in uniform to begin teaching OCS and the lady next to me said, "Oh, your in the Navy - do you know my brother?" I was about to tell her that there are about 600,000 in the Navy at any one time but said, "Maybe - what's his name?"

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Mar 18 at 2019 12:49 AM

2019-03-18T00:49:10-04:00

Are you in junior ROTC...lol

Response by Cpl Geoff Smith made Mar 18 at 2019 5:35 PM

2019-03-18T17:35:47-04:00

Was asked one time by a kid if I was in the Boy Scouts.

Response by SGT Beth Day made Mar 23 at 2019 3:28 PM

2019-03-23T15:28:49-04:00

Rather a long time ago, I was on a small National Guard convoy. Maybe 20 of us or so, headed to Camp Ripley I think. Anyway we stopped for lunch at a roadside restaurant in some small place. I was the only female soldier in the group, and of course we were all in BDUs. I went to the restroom and I guess my boots were visible under the stall door because this woman comes in and starts shrieking there was a man in the restroom! So I open the door, she takes one quick look and dashes out. A minute or two later she comes back with the manager, still screaming. He comes in, sees me and tries to tell the woman I was indeed, female. She then goes off again it was impossible because everyone knows there are no women soldiers. By this time I was cracking up laughing, and I remember telling her there had been women in the military for decades and, in fact, my grandmother wore combat boots. Still don't think she was entirely convinced, but I wasn't going to prove it to her either. It was pretty funny and the manager tried to comp me for my meal, but the commander said no, because it was paid for by the military. But he did insist on giving us a couple cases of soda which was very nice of him.

Response by SSgt Russell Stevens made Mar 25 at 2019 7:06 PM

2019-03-25T19:06:46-04:00

The strangest question I ever had on my uniform was a few days before my ETS. The squadron commander wanted an open ranks in service dress for the entire squadron. He got around to me and noticed I was wearing more awards than he had and I was also wearing two specialty badges. He asked the first sergeant if I was authorized all those awards. The first sergeant consulted the awards rip he had for all members of the squadron and said "Yes Sir!" At that point this colonel started swearing about an enlisted having more awards than he had. That was when I started my opinion that an officer who needed to hold an open ranks in service dress is an officer who has no leadership skills.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2019 1:30 PM

2019-03-30T13:30:44-04:00

I am an Intel analyst. Guy was talking to me and asked if I asked me if I had ever come across information indicating Hitler was still alive. He said he would understand if I couldn't talk about it. He was dead serious. I told him no.

Response by SGT Quentin Moore made Apr 7 at 2019 9:46 PM

2019-04-07T21:46:43-04:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2019 10:23 AM

2019-04-08T10:23:50-04:00

Not in uniform, but I was helping a friend move once. His mom showed up and found out that I had been in the Air Force. She asked me what those white lines were behind airplanes flying really high. I told her that jet fuel burning in the engines produced carbon dioxide and water, and that at that altitude, the water would quickly condense into water vapor or even ice crystals due to the frigid ambient temperature. She told me, "I don't believe you," then proceeded to try to give me a lecture on chemtrails.

Response by SGT Steven Johnson made Apr 8 at 2019 2:14 PM

2019-04-08T14:14:28-04:00

At Logan International Airport in my dress blues: A woman asked me where my McDonalds was located in the airport. I told her where it was. Seemed easier than correcting her.

Response by Col Jonathan Brazee made Apr 8 at 2019 8:08 PM

2019-04-08T20:08:22-04:00

Not really a question, but I had taken a hop to Australia in the late 70's. I needed to do my laundry, and all I had to wear while doing them were my Charlies. So, I put them on and put all my clothes in the laundromat machine. WHile waiting and when I stpped outside to get something to drink, I had no fewer than three people thank me for saving them in WWII. I said, "Thank you?" seeing as I was a 21-year-old punk. A little later, some older Australians grabbed me, kidnapped me to a veterans club, and made me eat and drink with them all night before they deposited me back at my hotel sometime the next morning.

Response by SGT Daniel Myers made Apr 8 at 2019 11:17 PM

2019-04-08T23:17:32-04:00

I still answer people like that. If they're too stupid to see the obvious when it's blaring in their faces, they should be forbidden from reproducing.

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Apr 9 at 2019 9:48 AM

2019-04-09T09:48:08-04:00

Old post but I'll bite...
Was going through old school airport security at Newark after completing Air Base Ground Defense School in my full Dress Blues as a slick sleeve. First time going home so I wanted to show off for the parents. The guy manning the metal detector looked me up and down then said..."You do know you don't jump out of this aircraft?"

Response by CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2019 12:59 AM

2019-04-10T00:59:28-04:00

Coming back from Operations Iraqi Freedom for the 3rd time and another Veteran asked, "Was it worth it?"

Response by Capt James Skaggs made Apr 10 at 2019 8:01 PM

2019-04-10T20:01:58-04:00

How many babies have you killed? At the time I was in ROTC third year.

Response by SPC Joyce Eikenberry made Apr 10 at 2019 10:10 PM

2019-04-10T22:10:38-04:00

Unprintable. Had to do with my service cover. You know, the little WAC cap with the seam in the middle?

Response by 1SG John Highfill made Apr 11 at 2019 8:20 PM

2019-04-11T20:20:35-04:00

Strangest question “have you ever killed anybody and have you ever seen anybody died “ answer yes and you’ll never forget it it will haunt you the rest of your life

Response by SGT Mark Anderson made Apr 13 at 2019 2:40 AM

2019-04-13T02:40:46-04:00

In 1969, while wearing my Class A, a college student asked me if I was in the "Flying Army". Puzzled, I asked her if she meant the Air Force...and she said "Yes!"

Response by SSgt Lawrence Gordon made Apr 13 at 2019 3:20 PM

2019-04-13T15:20:23-04:00

While waiting for a bus a lady asked me "When is the next bus to St. Louis?" I told her of course that I was in the Air Force. She was upset she asked and I laughed.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 4:28 PM

2019-04-13T16:28:16-04:00

I was at Maguire AFB NJ with my family on our way to Germany December ‘69 an AF 2Lt asked me what Army Warrant Officers do?
I said our main job was to teach 2Lts not to ask dumb questions and to be sure their fly was zipped. Then I said LT would you step out from behind the counter soo I could check your zipper is all the way up? I think he’s still hi zipper

Response by PO2 Ken Derickson made Apr 14 at 2019 4:39 PM

2019-04-14T16:39:46-04:00

"How do you take a leak in those pants?" Navy blues and whites back then had no zipper and you had to undo thirteen buttons.

Response by CPT Wallace Ward made Apr 14 at 2019 7:23 PM

2019-04-14T19:23:52-04:00

I was at a wedding in New Orleans wearing my mess dress uniform and while I was waiting in the lobby for someon and family walks up to me and the father says “Can you please get a cab for me and my family?”

I said “why can’t you get your own cab? “. He said “You are the door man and I am paying your salary while I am a guest at this hotel and I want to talk to the manager”

I said “You can talk to God if you want but you need to get your own damned cab”
The wife started getting nasty at this point on how I was ruimimg their vacation.

Finally I told them “I am not a door man. I am a Captain in the United States Army and this is my Mess Dress uniform that I am wearing to a wedding today”

They then apologized and I said have a nice vacation. But they were stunned and said they did not know the Army had a uniform like that. That’s it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2019 9:29 PM

2019-04-14T21:29:50-04:00

Do you know my cousin Eddie? he is station in Korea or something.

Response by MSG Charles Turner made Apr 14 at 2019 10:53 PM

2019-04-14T22:53:40-04:00

Would have been a GREAT Reply... and immediately after state "Here is your sign".

As far as the strangest question I was asked ..... There were many strange ones along with a few stupid ones.

Response by CWO3 Dave Alcantara made Apr 14 at 2019 11:28 PM

2019-04-14T23:28:29-04:00

I attended QM ‘A’ School at Naval Training Center Orlando in the 70’s.

There were maybe 60 Coast Guardsman total there for training.

We were all junior enlisted E-2 or E-3. While in uniform wearing a garrison cap the Navy guys couldn’t figure out our rank and we would be saluted by most enlisted because of the crossed anchors on our cap devices.

After one of my classmates had a fit of laughter after the CMC of the Training Center saluted him, we were instructed by the school chief to no longer wear our garrison caps and shift to combination covers.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Apr 15 at 2019 12:35 AM

2019-04-15T00:35:54-04:00

How many women have slept with in uniform. My reply was well did take my uniform off for those nooners. My reply was I have lost count

Response by MAJ Doug Mattox made Apr 15 at 2019 8:55 AM

2019-04-15T08:55:08-04:00

I was in a restaurant in civilian clothes when my Captain walked in wearing his class As. He came to my table and he sat down and we began discussing an upcoming exercise when a lady came to the table and asked him what time did the bus come by. It took us a second to realize she thought he was a bus driver.
Coming home from a field exercise I called my wife to let her know I was on my way to the house. She knew I did not like to stop at a store while in uniform but insisted that I stop and get a gallon of milk. I ran inside just to get the milk to minimize the time I would be in the store in uniform. As I was grabbing the milk a young kid who could not have been older than 5 years old came up to me and told me he wanted to be a soldier like me. He then asked, "Aren't soldiers suppose to have shiny boots? Yours are muddy.

Response by CPT Helen Day made Apr 16 at 2019 9:38 AM

2019-04-16T09:38:00-04:00

In the 70’s, when I was AD enlisted, I was asked more than once, “Only dikes and whores enlist in the Army, which are you?”

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2019 11:12 PM

2019-04-16T23:12:04-04:00

During a black-tie affair in San Francisco, I attended an event with my wife. Still on active duty, I was wearing Navy dinner dress blues. One woman looked closely at the miniature medals on my chest, then asked if they were antiques. I smiled and said no, but they will be someday.

Response by PO3 Brad Phillips made Apr 17 at 2019 9:59 AM

2019-04-17T09:59:57-04:00

In my dress blues doing recruiting duty. Student, do you have to know how to swim in the Navy. Me, well if your ship sinks and you can't get to a life raft, it might be helpful. Lol

Response by PO3 Chris Stone made Apr 19 at 2019 2:47 AM

2019-04-19T02:47:56-04:00

While wearing my Navy dress uniform, I was asked: " Are you in the Navy?"

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 19 at 2019 5:36 PM

2019-04-19T17:36:48-04:00

OK, gotta admin, that's funny....

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2019 6:34 AM

2019-04-22T06:34:58-04:00

Two questions come to mind. Remember I am a Navy Corpsman.
1. Early in my second year, age 19, I am in an ICU getting an orientation, and a Navy nurse comes up to me and says "I know you have catheterized men, do you think you are ready to catheterize a female?" [little did she know I had never even seen a vagina or female urethra though I had studied pictures] - but I followed along and she supervised me in inserting a catheter into a very old woman
2. Someone when I was back in the US soon after Vietnam asked me "Killed any babies?"
Inside me I boiled with anger and humiliation - wish I could have said, No but I checked one out in an Intensive Care Unit in Vietnam.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2019 3:14 AM

2019-04-23T03:14:40-04:00

Some civilian lady at the PX: Aren't you hot in that uniform?
Me: Hell ya I am.
I was in my full on Class A's with beret in the mid-summer Texas heat at good ol' Fort Hood. I was sweating like a dog. I could feel the sweat going down my legs. You could see everyone's sweat on their collars when I went to formation in the motorpool. Yes, Class A inspection at the motorpool.

When they ask me "what is ______ military branch like?" or "If I join the____ what should I expect"?
I reply, you''ll be the laughing stock of the military armed forces, if it was other than Army, of course.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2019 12:51 AM

2019-04-25T00:51:09-04:00

I was at a store checkout and the cashier asked me if I was a veteran.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2019 7:01 PM

2019-04-28T19:01:44-04:00

“Are you all in the Boy Scouts?”

Runner Up:
“You fellas up here to build the wall?"
(Near Gagetown, New Brunswick)

Response by COL Victor Hagan made Apr 29 at 2019 12:01 AM

2019-04-29T00:01:34-04:00

A few years ago, I was asked to present a group of STEM students with certificates of achievement for winning a science fair. When an older woman in her 80s asked me if she could she rub my ribbons. I just smiled and allowed her to rub my ribbon set.

Response by SGT Kevin Dorsey made Apr 29 at 2019 3:52 AM

2019-04-29T03:52:59-04:00

How many babies have you murdered?
Responded; I haven't had any abortions.

Response by SGT Chris Christian made May 2 at 2019 12:44 PM

2019-05-02T12:44:40-04:00

In 1971, at the San Francisco Airport I'm returning from Okinawa where I was stationed with the Army Security Agency. We had a distinctive shoulder patch that showed an eagle clutching a lightening bolt on a blue shield. A n Army major walks up and says, I believe you're out of uniform sergeant, I don't recognize that shoulder patch." Told him, "It's Army Security Agency, sir." He couldn't move away from me fast enough.

Response by MSgt William Clark made May 29 at 2019 10:24 AM

2019-05-29T10:24:53-04:00

While working in Indian Springs AF, NV (now Creech AFB), a couple asked if I was Army (BDUs clearly said Air Force) and if I was allowed to tell them where Area 51 was.

Response by SFC William White made Jun 9 at 2019 6:40 PM

2019-06-09T18:40:44-04:00

"How long have you been a Boy Scout leader?", I was once asked. I replied, "Actually, I was thrown out of the Boy Scouts, but the Army felt sorry for me and gave me a job." His response was, "Wow".

Response by MAJ Norm Michaels made Jun 9 at 2019 9:25 PM

2019-06-09T21:25:16-04:00

In 1971, I wore my Kakis to my brother’s wedding. I was a SP4 in the 82nd Airborne Division at the time. At the reception, the new Father-in-Law asked me how long I had been an EAGLE SCOUT. I did not wear any class A or B uniforms in public until I wore recognizable Sergeant stripes. Of course, my MOS made me a SP5. I begged my First Sergeant to make me an Acting Sergeant. I still have those orders making me, a SP5, an Acting Sergeant. I was at Camp Casey in those days, and they wouldn’t even let a SP5 in the NCO Club. Corporals = yes.

Response by 1SG Don Jones made Jun 12 at 2019 3:36 PM

2019-06-12T15:36:40-04:00

As a USAR officer I was asked if I if I had someone's welfare check. They thought I was the mailman. Another time someone thought I was a bus driver.

Response by Joe Pentecost made Jun 12 at 2019 8:53 PM

2019-06-12T20:53:22-04:00

Was in the base exchange at Randolph AFB a few years ago. The sales clerk was talking to a Navy officer who was wearing their version of the ACU. I didn't hear her question, but the officer told her that the uniform was for "shark camo".

Response by CW2 Tj Herrlich made Jun 19 at 2019 12:25 PM

2019-06-19T12:25:52-04:00

NYC doormen make more money.

Response by Maj Maria Avellaneda made Jun 19 at 2019 11:35 PM

2019-06-19T23:35:31-04:00

This is not strange but funny As an Air Force person I was often asked if I flew? My answer: When I Go Home!

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Aug 16 at 2020 6:53 PM

2020-08-16T18:53:49-04:00

What is it like to kill someone? Wanted to say fun fun fun! I stead I said, "join and hope you never have too"!

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Aug 16 at 2020 8:27 PM

2020-08-16T20:27:48-04:00

One of the oddest requests made of me while in uniform was by a female drill sergeant in AIT at Fort Sill. She asked me if she could inspect my weapon. I gave her the confused dog look because at the time, I wasn't holding an M16 or a rubber ducky. At parade rest, I respectfully told her that I couldn't given her a weapon that I wasn't holding. BOY, I set myself up for THAT one because the next thing she said was "take one of your hands and grab your wang because that's the weapon I want to inspect." Extremely taken aback but with all of the military bearing I could retrieve, I said "I can't let you inspect my sword, drill sergeant. Not while I'm still IET." She caught up to me after I graduated, though.

Response by SSG Randy Talbot made Aug 17 at 2020 12:04 AM

2020-08-17T00:04:59-04:00

The funniest happened while I was a Department of the Army civilian mobilized to Kuwait in 2003. We wore the same brown/green cameos as others. One day a couple of friends and I were walking out of the dining facility. We wore " black hats " as Logistic Area Representatives. So these two privates come up to us, not sure weather to salute or not, and asked if we could help him out. Having all been former NCOs, we said of course, how can we help. So the private says I see some of you guys walking around here in army uniforms with DA civilian where we have US Army. What dies DA stand for? So we told him it stood for Department of the Army and he said, "oh, good. You see our 1SG is always calling us dumb asses and we were confused by your uniforms."

Response by CPO Clifford Henry made Aug 25 at 2021 1:21 PM

2021-08-25T13:21:51-04:00

Coast Guard, stationed in New York at the time. "So you're like Baywatch, right? That's got to be so cool!" Lol I wish!

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Aug 26 at 2021 8:03 AM

2021-08-26T08:03:35-04:00

"Haven't seen you for a while. Been on vacation?" Asked by an acquaintance when I got back from Vietnam.