Posted on Jan 8, 2017
Should the military teach or recruit for more resilient people, or what breaks its personnel?
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I joined a facebook group that purports to assist veterans (you ask a question, we all answer)...what I find troubling is how much assistance veterans need. From the way it reads, the military is going to break your mind, break your body, ruin you financially, destroy your marriage, you will lose all of your friends...oh, and you will not be able to get a job. And then the VA...how can we improve
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Disabled Veterans
Retirement
Homeless
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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The military, as with anything else, is what you make of it. I have been happily married to the same wonderful man for 30+ years, true, nobody will become a millionaire in the military, but IMO, honor is priceless. For every vet who has "failed" there are several more who have "succeeded." As with the civilian sector, there are just as many support groups etc. It is the person, not the profession IMO
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
MSG (Join to see) - ok, financial ruin, loss of friends, marital hardships, all go with any type of profession. It depends on the resiliency of the person, not on the career chosen. If the marriage is bad, it will be bad whether they are military, burger flippers, executives, whatever. For every "con" there are several "pros"
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GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston
In the corp from the 40's,50's married 65 yrs same woman I chose the corp for my career
and enjoyed ever minute of it.from P.I., to the 2nd,1st,3rd, 5th mars from the so.pac. to korea....
and enjoyed ever minute of it.from P.I., to the 2nd,1st,3rd, 5th mars from the so.pac. to korea....
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CW2 Jacob Bender
Boy howdy, Gunny. If you want to be a millionaire, you have to take the additional step of working for Blackwater.
Oops...I mean...Academi Group. Imagine my embarassment.
Oops...I mean...Academi Group. Imagine my embarassment.
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The military, or at least the Corps I enlisted in, taught us that the mind and body can handle so much more than we as an individual, thought possible. We endure, we overcome, we adapt. The military doesn't break you. Experiences may try, however that's why we have the family of fellow veterans. Life is what you make of it, and how you handle your stressors is your choice. We are here for each other. Our family!
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After 15 years (and counting) of service I feel better than ever in several respects. I'm mentally stronger and more resilient than ever. Has the Army left my body a little worse for wear? Perhaps, but all of my old high school buddies have at least 30 pounds on my and look at least 5 years older. I'm not rich, but financially I'm not hurting either. Maintaining friendships can be hard with constant moves, but on the other hand I have network of friends all over the country (probably the world for that matter). I did have some trouble finding a job when I got out but part of that fell on me because I wanted to change career fields. This time around I'm working in a career field that I should definitely be able to continue with after I leave the service for good. What's my point? There are some great "self help" groups out there, but some are just pity parties. I'm not saying military life is all peaches and cream, but I can honestly say it has helped me, as well as scores of my buddies, build a better life than they ever would have had without it.
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CPT (Join to see)
Fair question. I was prior enlisted for 14 plus years. I just commissioned in August. I'm not the world's oldest LT, but it sure feels like it most days.
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CW2 Jacob Bender
No I think I've actually met the world's oldest LT - he was 64 (ER doctor with an age waiver).
Plus my roommate at WOCS was a CSM.
Plus my roommate at WOCS was a CSM.
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