With what words do people respond when you tell them that you served in the military?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:28:22 -0400

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Sep 15 at 2015 4:39 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:39:55 -0400

Most often, "Thank you for your service"

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 4:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:44:49 -0400

Just the typical "Thank You for your service." and "Oh, what do you do?" I also get "Did you have to go over?"

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 15 at 2015 6:38 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:38:19 -0400

Thank you for your service"

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 15 at 2015 6:44 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:44:04 -0400

They usually say "Thanx for your service"...or "you look like an Ex Marine" and I have to correct them by saying "There are no ex Marines , once we are in we are in forever"

Response by SSG Robert Spina made Sep 15 at 2015 6:51 PM

SSG Robert Spina — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:51:19 -0400

MOST ARE POSITIVE I USUALLY GET A THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ALTHOUGH I AM SURE IF YOU ARE IN A AREA WERE THERE SRE ALOT OF LEFT WINGERS THE RESPONCE WOULDNT BE SO POSITIVE BE PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Sep 15 at 2015 7:44 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:44:15 -0400

So far all responses have been positive . The usual thank you for your service and welcome home ! Some will ask when and where I served . And I tell them I served in Vietnam in 1966-67 .

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Sep 15 at 2015 7:52 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:52:50 -0400

Words we Vietnam veterans didn't hear but hear now. These people who say thank you we're not alive then, it was our peers who never welcomed us home. Thanks to everyone who says, "Thank you for your service".

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Sep 15 at 2015 7:57 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:57:25 -0400

I was only in for three years so I didn't earn many medals ! But of the ones I did earn the one that means the most to me is the Combat Infantryman's Badge . Next would be The Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters . And of course my Jump Wings will always be one of my proudest medals ! It's funny because I didn't go in looking for medals but I came out with a few !

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Sep 15 at 2015 8:05 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:05:22 -0400

I don't miss it but I have to tell that when in combat it is quite a rush ! The action actually slowed down for me !

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 8:12 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:12:53 -0400

When in civvies, I typically get, "Seriously??" Mainly, because I dress like a girly-girl and seldom strike people as a "military chick". ((Their words, not mine.))

The less allusive and most welcoming is, "Thank you so much for all you do!" Or some variant of a grateful sentiment. :)

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 15 at 2015 8:51 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:51:59 -0400

I hear mostly "thank you"

Response by SSgt Ed Lewandowski made Sep 15 at 2015 10:53 PM

SSgt Ed Lewandowski — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:53:51 -0400

I get a lot of thank you

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 16 at 2015 12:58 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:58:50 -0400

These days it's the usual "Thank you for your service." When people like police and firefighters, and healthcare workers say it to me, I thank them back - they serve invaluable roles in our communities (and my brother is a very senior Captain/FF/Paramedic in his department)...

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Sep 16 at 2015 1:25 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:25:37 -0400

I usually say something along the lines of "in the Air Force". And the comments are usually, "what do you fly"

Depending on the person, I tell them, "I pilot the MHU-83"

Response by PFC Janelle Fletcher made Sep 17 at 2015 2:34 AM

PFC Janelle Fletcher — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 02:34:23 -0400

Depends on what they saw first. If it was one of my army vet shirts usually thank you for your service. But for some reason if they see my DV handicapped plate I get evil stares which usually launches some degrading conversation about my gender, age, or why am I using my husbands DV plate (who never served)

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Sep 17 at 2015 3:11 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 03:11:22 -0400

Being as I still serve most of the questions I get after telling people is, "What's your job?" Then once they find out I am weather it's usually followed up with, "Oh cool, what's the weather going to be like at [Insert Location] this weekend?"

Respectfully, I couldn't care less what the weather will be like there this weekend. I ain't at work so I ain't going to forecast for you.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 8:59 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 08:59:48 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins. Most ask when / where / what unit I served . . . what it was like . . . whether I have any residual difficulties arisIng out of my service connected experiences. When I open up about what I felt / how I coped on my own / and how professional counseling helped . . . current and prior service members open up about their own service connected difficulties. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 17 at 2015 9:08 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 09:08:45 -0400

Usually very pleasant and I get a hardy thank you. too which I usually response by saying thank you for picking up the Tab for my Adventures for 21 years.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Sep 17 at 2015 9:25 AM

SFC Stephen King — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 09:25:42 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins first question is long have you served I say 22 yrs and counting. Watching their reaction to my response is usually self explanatory

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Sep 17 at 2015 10:02 AM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:02:27 -0400

Usually they blink, then they slide their eyes towards my husband as if to make sure I'm not lying. My husband might wear his USMC cover... I'll wear a USMC tee shirt that says "Women Marines, fewer, prouder." and they STILL look at my husband and thank him for his service and not me... sorry, mini-rant here

Response by 1LT James Rosebrough made Oct 27 at 2021 1:35 PM

1LT James Rosebrough — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 13:35:37 -0400

Here in Indiana, I always get a thank you if I am wearing anything denoting my Vietnam service.