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Posted on Jan 10, 2024
As a veteran do you prefer to be a "quiet professional" or "outspoken patriot"?
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I have come to learn, from many men and women better than I, that there is cause to be both. As society ebbs and flows around us it takes maturity to navigate which situation calls for what. Lately, I have had many tell me not to be so reluctant in public to speak out, that the "quiet professional" is sometimes damaging as it leaves the very important voice of veterans absent in the conversation.
Personaly, I prefer to try and exercise the former more than the latter, given that in the civilian sector I believe humility should precede anything I say about the military. However, I'm also very aggressive and candid. So I'm probably perceived more often as the outspoken patriot, especially given my sense of humor. Around the office one day, people divvied up the staff for fun to see who would win in a war against each other. They deemed that the decisive element was me. They told me it was because "You're always talking about violence and destroying things. You're probably the only one that actually knows warfare." Hooray! I'm making a difference!
Personaly, I prefer to try and exercise the former more than the latter, given that in the civilian sector I believe humility should precede anything I say about the military. However, I'm also very aggressive and candid. So I'm probably perceived more often as the outspoken patriot, especially given my sense of humor. Around the office one day, people divvied up the staff for fun to see who would win in a war against each other. They deemed that the decisive element was me. They told me it was because "You're always talking about violence and destroying things. You're probably the only one that actually knows warfare." Hooray! I'm making a difference!
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Edited 4 mo ago
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 43
Typically, I am quiet about my military experience in the manner that I do not loudly advertise it. Yea, I wear the occasional cover that depicts Army Veteran (or something along those lines). I'll wear unit shirts out in public. But that's about it. Now, if someone comes and askes me about my service, I don't shy away from telling folks about my experience, as POG as my experience may be.
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SSG Gregg Mourizen
i learned the hard way, there are some groups, you just don't talk to about the military. I did once at work and later got counseled by my supervisor..." we are proud of your service, but some people are concerned that you may have pointed a weapon at someone, with the intent of using it..." Seriously. this was because of a response I made to the inevitable "did you ever kill anyone?" question. My answer "No, came close once." followed with questions on what happened.
I should have filed a hostile work environment claim, because then they continued to keep harassing me on the subject, until I finally decided to quit.
I should have filed a hostile work environment claim, because then they continued to keep harassing me on the subject, until I finally decided to quit.
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SSG Gregg Mourizen
They kept trying to get me to echo their political beliefs.
They didn't like my responses to their politically motivated questions.
They didn't like my responses to their politically motivated questions.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
The civilian Police Department I became a member of was 95% armed Forces Veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam so We had not attitudes against Veterans in our workplace. Our Police uniforms and standards or appearance where military, spit shined shows, no beards, strict standards on haircuts and mustaches which most didn't even have. On our uniforms if it wasn't issued it wasn't worn and everything including patch for instance were 1/2 inch down from the shoulder seam and only on the left side. The town population itself was mostly conservative Republicans.
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1LT (Join to see), I will have to agree with SSgt Christophe Murphy I prefer the quiet professional. There is a time and place to leverage any experience as relevant (including military). My service does not mean myself, nor my opinion on most matters, are more important than any other citizen. To your point, sure in relevant discourse, veteran and service member input is valuable, but in run of the mill stuff, the distinction of veteran is irrelevant. Just out of curiosity, in your view, what subjects is veteran specific input being left out of the conversation?
I do not like putting people into buckets, and I don't like it done to me. There is tons of connotation that surrounds being a veteran and it includes those perceptions formed from the behavior of people other than myself. I would rather not be stereotyped. My service is a component of, but not my whole identity.
"Outspoken Patriots" tend to belong to the same crowd as the "Thank me for my service" proponents and, from what I have seen, they don't bring good credit upon themselves or the military with what they say or do. You can be a patriot without qualifying that you are a veteran and a patriot.
I think there is a difference between those who share their experience in the military as any would share past employment experiences in a reasonable manner, those that simply wear military related identifiers, and those who start a conversation with, "I am a veteran" to establish relevancy or authority. "Outspoken Patriot" doesn't quite establish that difference.
I do not like putting people into buckets, and I don't like it done to me. There is tons of connotation that surrounds being a veteran and it includes those perceptions formed from the behavior of people other than myself. I would rather not be stereotyped. My service is a component of, but not my whole identity.
"Outspoken Patriots" tend to belong to the same crowd as the "Thank me for my service" proponents and, from what I have seen, they don't bring good credit upon themselves or the military with what they say or do. You can be a patriot without qualifying that you are a veteran and a patriot.
I think there is a difference between those who share their experience in the military as any would share past employment experiences in a reasonable manner, those that simply wear military related identifiers, and those who start a conversation with, "I am a veteran" to establish relevancy or authority. "Outspoken Patriot" doesn't quite establish that difference.
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Suspended Profile
I very much appreciate your post. All of it, but the ‘thank me for my service’ part resonates. I feared I might be the only one who has issues with it. This might not be what you mean, but for me my thoughts flow like this when someone hits me with it:
(What I’m thinking…)
- Control yourself, Kevin.
- There are so many people who should be thanked before me - police, firefighters, EMTSs, nurses, schoolteachers, people helping the homeless and the elderly, basically everyone working for low pay to help others, and my wife for putting up with me. A list so long you should never get to me.
- I didn’t ask for thanks. I’m not mad you said it, but what exactly are you thanking me for? Whatever I did when I was in, it wasn’t to be thanked for doing it.
- You do know your taxes cover my monthly retirement and disability checks, right?
(What I say…)
Thank you sir/ma’am, I appreciate it. Have a great day.
(What I’m thinking…)
- Control yourself, Kevin.
- There are so many people who should be thanked before me - police, firefighters, EMTSs, nurses, schoolteachers, people helping the homeless and the elderly, basically everyone working for low pay to help others, and my wife for putting up with me. A list so long you should never get to me.
- I didn’t ask for thanks. I’m not mad you said it, but what exactly are you thanking me for? Whatever I did when I was in, it wasn’t to be thanked for doing it.
- You do know your taxes cover my monthly retirement and disability checks, right?
(What I say…)
Thank you sir/ma’am, I appreciate it. Have a great day.
CSM William Everroad
Col Kevin Darnell - I share the same thoughts. That's why the crowd of our fellow veterans that seek that type of recognition out, or pearl-clutch anytime a veteran isn't consulted for a random issue or "but the veterans!" scapegoating irk me so much.
Take your discharged, grunt-style wearing, 20 sticker clad butt back to fort living room and enjoy not having to listen to safety briefings.
Take your discharged, grunt-style wearing, 20 sticker clad butt back to fort living room and enjoy not having to listen to safety briefings.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
I usually when thanked will simply say, "Thank You for thanking Me. " If the person is an armed Forces Veteran then an actual conversation about thing military may actually go on.
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1LT (Join to see)
Doh! I forgot about all the Colonels and generals out there sir! I imagine Verbose Commentator is a class taught at the Army War College as well?
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