How do you feel about this article? Veterans And Pro Athletes face similar challenges returning to normal life.

2015-12-15T11:13:54-05:00

I've never looked at athletes being compared to the military when transitioning from their sporting or military careers. I can see the reasoning behind this, but I don't think it's much different than a career civilian job when that person retires. After I retired, I sat around the house thinking about what do I do now. All of my friends were working or busy with their families lives. It took a while and I began reaching out to find something to keep me busy, and that I enjoyed doing. I think retiring from a lifelong career affects us in the same way as an athlete retiring. What do you think Rally Point community?

The Link:
http://taskandpurpose.com/veterans-and-pro-athletes-face-similar-challenges-returning-to-normal-life/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tp-today
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Many service members and athletes find that their careers become their identities. Once it come times to transition, however, the return to normal, daily life can seem impossible.

The drive that stems from teamwork in both the military and in sports is one that is not understood by most.

“When they go to war or when they do exercises, they work as a team,” former NHL player Clint Malarchuk said in an interview with Task & Purpose earlier this year. “With that team you develop that camaraderie. We’re all the same that way. I think that’s what you develop in a team atmosphere, both in sports and in the military, so there are a lot of parallels.”

Veterans And Pro Athletes Face Similar Challenges Returning To Normal Life

Veterans and professional athletes share a lot of common ground when it comes to transitioning.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 15 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-12-15T11:17:48-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I concur that in many respects veterans and pro athletes face similar challenges returning to normal life.
The significant difference is that since the late 1970's or so pro-athletes have had many advocates looking out for them and vast amounts of resources dedicated to helping them and protecting future athletes rom experiencing similar injuries.
After WWII the sheer number of wounded, sick and injured military personnel created a burden which took on national proportions. While slow to take on the entire load the VA has helped many veterans. However since it is a federal agency it must follow federal rules - therefor agent orange illnesses and gulf war syndrome illnesses took much longer than it should.
Thankfully veterans are now honored in many cases which is similar to the way successful pro athletes are respected. I hope this trend will continue.
Many pro athletes retire with significant portfolios which tend to be much larger than the retirement assets military retirees leave the service with. Those of us who invest wisely over the long hall end up much netter financial shape than those who don't. That being said it is never to late to do something fro your future as long as you are breathing.

Response by SGT Chris Hill made Dec 15 at 2015 11:31 AM

2015-12-15T11:31:45-05:00

Yes, it must be difficult to leave your previous professional athletic career with deep pockets. In all seriousness, this article is crap. Although yes, athletes can receive major injuries, is nothing of the same compared to combat related injuries. The military is a major change in lifestyle, and transitioning back to civilian life differs for everyone, and in my own opinion, the more years you serve, the more difficult it could be to transition completely. NFL, NHL, NBA, etc, you're leaving with plenty of money, no combat related PTSD, college degree, fans/supporters, fame, the list could go on.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-12-15T11:52:03-05:00

Sure, identical, with the vast amounts paid for work and endorsements.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-12-15T12:18:07-05:00

Veterans and Pro Atheletes....Hahahaha! Pro Atheletes have no idea! Ok... Veterans have to find a job so they can support their families, with job skills that are often not compatible with the civilian workforce so they have to settle with a lower paying job. Pro Atheletes on the otherhand never, NEVER have to worry about money again, since they are waaaaayyy overpaid for ..... playing a sport? Comparing a Veteran and a Pro Athelete in any context is like comparing apples and telephones. No sense can be made from the comparison!

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Dec 15 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-12-15T12:18:48-05:00

Bull shit I saw

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Dec 15 at 2015 12:30 PM

2015-12-15T12:30:01-05:00

Wait, are we now supposed to feel bad for the professional athletes? Whatever...

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Dec 15 at 2015 12:40 PM

2015-12-15T12:40:47-05:00

If it's based on a pride thing maybe. I don't see it too many other ways. They stay in the game long enough and save money they can "retire" while still in their early 30's. I don't know of any troop who can do that without being injured or winning the lotto. Most at this time in their careers are at the pinnacle of their lives professionally and personally. Wear on the body might be the same, but looking at some of my Airborne brothers and see how their backs, knee's, shoulders...virtually every part of their bodies are beat into their next lifetime, and they have to work with it now in this one...they really don't compare. We don't have personal trainers who monitor everything from calorie intake to how much effort we exert on tasks. Closest thing I've seen is the remedial PT dude who's there to make you better by smoking the living hell out of you, or 1SG who's monitoring whether or not he wants to put his size 15 in your rear end or give you a pat on the back for a good job.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 15 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-12-15T12:43:46-05:00

Really we having this comparison?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 15 at 2015 1:17 PM

2015-12-15T13:17:40-05:00

Sometimes we are solemn due to dreams unfulfilled, and we must find a way to find peace, or we die bitter and old.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-12-15T13:23:08-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I guess everybody will follow the line that they are full of money and we are not but, the comparison doesn't mention finances at all. I think we should read objectively and see if there's a true comparative, I think there is. But for those that will think just in the athletes money, do a quick search on bankruptcy in retirees pro-athletes and you may find some interesting numbers. Back to the point, I think the article goes to the point of the lifestyle change and I didn't see it as an "insult" but a fair comparison.
Just my .02 cents.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Dec 15 at 2015 3:13 PM

2015-12-15T15:13:45-05:00

The only difference is the size of the paychecks.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 15 at 2015 8:21 PM

2015-12-15T20:21:24-05:00

A lot of athletes after they retire though walk into some type of coaching or sports analyst position. Not a lot of demand for that with us veterans.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made Dec 18 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-12-18T10:08:25-05:00

One important thing to remember is that most professional athletes returning to a "normal" life are doing so with a substantial amount of money, likely in the millions while a veteran is more likely to be doing it with little to no money. That makes a huge difference.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Jun 27 at 2016 5:34 AM

2016-06-27T05:34:09-04:00

I've used the similarities between the two professions when talking to my Soldiers about preparing for life after the Army. There are significant points of similarity. First, the Army is a profession that you can't do into your 50s. Lawyers, doctors and accountants are in their prime earning then. Secondly, if you retire as a senior NCO or officer, you had significant authority and scope, and your work has serious implications both to the security of the Nation and the welfare of your subordinates. And of course, you're treated well, you're "important" within your profession, your opinions matter and are made reality by other groups of highly motivated professionals.

But that all ends sometime, usually in your late 30s or early 40s, and our bodies, due to combinations of age, use and abuse, don't function as they used to. And we then have to find something to do with the rest of our lives.

See, it's not the money that pro athletes earn that is the most salient psychological factor: people who make a lot of money, usually spend a lot of money. I'm an SFC and I (obviously) spend more money than I did as Private. The most significant psychological factor is that even if you invested wisely and don't have to work, people need to feel relevant, and THAT is the most salient psychological factor, and for both service members and pro athletes, that can be extraordinarily difficult.

Response by SSgt Gilbert Sandoval made Sep 15 at 2022 4:15 PM

2022-09-15T16:15:35-04:00

Not to appear sarcastic, but let me ask how many of them had to face the prospect of death or injury while on patrol? Can we compare the money they are paid to an infantryman?
Or got to hear, "Your o.k. I got your six." Or upon returning home got the comments (very disgusting),I got from the good people in the San Francisco airport?
Or possibly going through a year of chemotherapy due to Agent Orange. We won't bother with P.T.S.D., depression and the high suicide rate of veterans.
I should have such a life as they do.