Do you feel civilians view military members as superior or inferior members of society in general?

Thanks for sharing

I believe the public has mixed feelings - depending on their background (urban, rural, conservative, liberal, religious, atheist, etc - many other demographic factors) and depending on memorable news about the military. I see a lot of clapping and welcome home signs in airports for returning troops. But, I also hear a lot of troops bemoaning the unusually high op tempo, depredations in compensation and benefits (particularly retirement benefits), and the like - who would not advise their children to pursue military careers today. Some civilians and their families see the military as a way to earn education or other benefits that may move members from one socioeconomic class to another. But, the news (and lack thereof) re wounded, maimed, and killed take their toll. Movies about rmaking difficult decisions in the field re force protection vs killing civilians particularly young civilians - are disheartening. Stories about rendition, torture, mistreatment of prisoners justified because they are illegal combatants - and stories about military troops hiding atrocities (not necessarily true reports about actual atrocities) and engaging in espionage against our own national security interests and other malfeasance has taken its toll on public opinion. Stories about tortured souls (Rambo, PTSD, and the like) betrayed by their country - or forced to endure hardship because the VA doesn't care for them - damage public opinion. The increasing reliance on contractor numbers to augment troop ceilings hurts public support. What helps are human stories about kindness, decency, loyalty and doing the right thing under difficult conditions or in the face of adversity would help. For all of our investment in PAOs and the like - we do ourselves no favor by focusing solely on recruiting - instead of using communication methods and techniques to raise consciousness and improve public impressions of our military. The problem lays not in who we are or what we do - the problem lays in organizational systemic failure to communicate. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

Should have had a 'neither' button. Some are superior, some are inferior, most are neither.