Asking former/retired Soldiers, Marines, and Navy and AF servicemen: How often do you dream that you are back in the Service again?

LTC Gregg Powell US Army Ret. — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:50:23 -0400

I retired 13 years ago. I find myself dreaming 3-4 times a week that I am back again, in uniform. I do not recall that being the case for the first few years I was out. Now though, I wake up and remember my dreams multiple times a week. I am just wondering how many others encounter this. Please opine.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2024 3:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:07:26 -0400

I'm still serving in the Reserves, but on occasion I do dream back to my deployments and Active Duty time. From my understanding, dreaming about events past can be a sign of feeling one has left things unresolved.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 18 at 2024 3:13 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:13:04 -0400

LTC Gregg Powell US Army Ret. After 21 Years of Being Underway and People Putting Plane Tickets in My Hand! I Thought I Wouldn't Say This! Hell Yes I Miss It Colonel! I Was a World Citizen, World Traveller, Spook Extraordinaire, Always in the Know! "Need to Know?" "I'm Handling Your Communications, You Best Tell Me What You're Doing" "Either Way I'll Know!".

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Jun 18 at 2024 4:09 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:09:18 -0400

I have had an entire career in the Army in my dreams over the last 18 years. I could write a book about it. The dream me knew I was retired in real life and in the dream, but I wasn't ready to let go yet. I would show up to Reserve drills or to an Active duty unit in my old uniform and be accepted. I was deployed for short periods of time many times. Finally my dream self was wondering why I was putting myself in danger when my family wouldn't get my SGLI if I was killed because I wasn't on any Active Duty rolls. My dream self finally managed to retire eventhough she/I wasn't officially on Active Duty. My dream self still has no idea how she/I got away with the stuff she/I did.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 18 at 2024 4:34 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:34:21 -0400

LTC Gregg Powell US Army Ret. Purchase of a Field Cap, size 7 & 5/8s helped a bit. Just it being on the shelf was solace. Besides, QM Sales / PX is / are always closed or out of stock! (If I have transport to get to that end of the post)!!

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 18 at 2024 4:58 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:58:57 -0400

Were any of those dreams/nightmares about a mechanized infantry battalion at Fort Stewart?!?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2024 7:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:23:16 -0400

LTC Gregg Powell US Army Ret. ..

revisit the times I call night terrors... and those who never made it back alive.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jun 18 at 2024 8:22 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 20:22:33 -0400

Never but I have an unfair advantage, I do the exact same job as I did AD except I choose how much/little I want to work. I receive my retirement pay, VA disability, and gross another $6K doing the same job. Army asked me to leave while in the middle of a pandemic, I was literally in the ICU with an intubated COVID patient when I got the email that I did not promote and that you will retire. I also can be recalled easier than most and the way they asked me to leave, they will have to force me back.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Jun 18 at 2024 8:23 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 20:23:05 -0400

In 2 years I was only home 30 days as I was in Basic, AIT or deployed. When I looked at it then, it didn't seem like a good way to serve as a father of a family of a wife and 2 kids. The only way I would have stayed in was if I were single. Today. as I look back, I think I made the right decision for my family. I have no regrets for having served, however

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 18 at 2024 8:48 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 20:48:25 -0400

Frequently

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jun 19 at 2024 2:16 AM

SPC James Neidig — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:16:37 -0400

I Miss The Camaraderie And Friendships, We All Had Each Other’s Six’s And You Were Never Alone In Good Times And Bad, One Big Family.
I Don’t Miss The Long Hours, Sleeping In My Truck Or On The Ground, Eating MREs And Being Away From My Family .
But I Wish I Hadn’t Got Hurt And Been Able To Stay In.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2024 3:07 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:07:38 -0400

I served four years and afterwards, I had frequent nightmares but have learned to manage them. I served 33 years on the Space Shuttle Program and have had dreams about the program and some of the folks that I worked with. Many of these dreams involved problems with an orbiter. After the loss of Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger, the program was shut down for a combined five years which was a dark period.

Response by LTC Ernest Edge made Jun 19 at 2024 6:18 PM

LTC Ernest Edge — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 18:18:48 -0400

I have been out of uniform for 15 years and still have dreams (at least weekly) that I am sill on active duty.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 19 at 2024 7:16 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:16:23 -0400

Nope. The military chapter was written and shut now that I am writing the next chapter.

Response by PO1 George Toft made Jun 20 at 2024 10:37 AM

PO1 George Toft — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 10:37:24 -0400

"Dreams" except they are mostly nightmares. About once/month or two.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jun 21 at 2024 11:06 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:06:24 -0400

Although I did put in 22 years in the Air Force I was also (including that time period) a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the USAF Auxiliary for over 40 years. Most of that i spent training CAP Cadets many of whom did enter the Air Force and did quite well there. I'm still very active in the local American Legion Post as a 6 term past Commander and many more as 1st Vice Commander. Before I entered the USAF I had also been a Cadet at Bordentown Military Institute and their Army ROTC program in Bordentown, NJ where I'm an Administrator on one of the two Facebook Pages they have and go to their reunions. I had to do everything all over again I'd still go Air Force.

Response by SFC Birk Ellis made Jun 21 at 2024 11:46 AM

SFC Birk Ellis — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:46:05 -0400

Been retired since December 2019, while I miss my Soldiers and fellow NCO's, the team work when things got tough, I do not wish/dream to reenter Active Duty. Every generation prior to the current generation says things like, "In my day" or "I cannot believe they are doing this" but I truly believe that the generation of today's military member, while certainly smarter, is not prepared, mentally, to fight and win the next war.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Jun 21 at 2024 10:36 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 22:36:54 -0400

I Don't Recall Ever Having Dreams, As Such, But I DO
Think About It Frequently. I Enlisted On My 17th Birthday,
Fresh Back From Living In Central America. I Served From 06/29/1961 - 06/10/65,
And Can Honestly Say "I'd Found A Home".. There Was But One Thing Preventing Me From Selecting The USAF As My Chosen Career ~ That $173.00 Per Month Pay Check. ..
Absolutely NOTHING Else...
Thank You, U.S.A.F. For Allowing Me To Serve My Country In The Best Possible Way ~
~ Happily & With Great Pride ~

Response by SFC William Linnell made Jun 23 at 2024 9:38 AM

SFC William Linnell — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 09:38:01 -0400

And roger, Sir. The first couple years of retirement I was able to "sleep in". I retired 12 years ago. Now my old Army routine has me awake again at 5am. Speaking of dreams, I had the frequently for a few years of being back in uniform. Being on post, knowing where my unit was but still couldn't find them. Then finding the building my stuff got moved to another building or room. Then doing the job and not putting up with the stupid shit, still getting paid but they didn't know I was retired. So, I confess that my mentality was What are they going to do to me? It was frustrating. LOL
But Yes, I miss being around like minded people, the support and just being a tanker again.

Response by 1LT Voyle Smith made Jun 23 at 2024 11:50 AM

1LT Voyle Smith — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 11:50:05 -0400

Not unusual. I left Vietnam 55 years ago but still revisit combat in my dreams. Not nightmares, just simple dreams.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jun 24 at 2024 6:51 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 06:51:37 -0400

More than I want, i have come up with a way that works for me, you have to pin point why it keeps happening, then I think you might be able to work it out. Good luck

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 24 at 2024 3:55 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:55:42 -0400

If your question concerns actual dreaming during sleep about being in the military, the Air Force in my case, then I say, no. Fortunately, I sleep soundly and rarely remember any dreams.

I do miss being in the Service sometimes. On patriotic occasions, I miss the fun and excitement of serving. For example I do miss flying when I go to an air show. But, it wears off soon as I recall all the not-so-pleasant parts of serving: family separation, long work hours, poor leaders, old equipment (as a pilot training instructor I flew aircraft that were older than my 2LT students). Also the "missing" has progressively become less intense as I've been retired longer and become older. I've progressed into the "did I look that young when I was a captain?" phase.

If this dreaming thing becomes a problem for you, I recommend you talk to a doctor and maybe undergo a sleep study. Could be a symptom of a physical problem.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2024 7:40 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:40:13 -0400

Probably monthly. Oftentimes its about about a goofy thing like I can't find part of my uniform.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2024 7:40 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:40:36 -0400

Probably monthly.

Response by Sgt Ed Flaherty made Jun 26 at 2024 7:58 PM

Sgt Ed Flaherty — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:58:48 -0400

I dream that I reenlisted and that I've served a 2nd tour in Vietnam. When I wake up, it seems real and I'm not sure that it was a dream. It seems so real and so detailed ... it is a re-occurring dream.

Response by CPO Sandra Smith made Jun 26 at 2024 9:11 PM

CPO Sandra Smith — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 21:11:08 -0400

It is probably the most frequent thing I dream about. I have been out since 1988 and when I dream it is as if I never left.

Response by PO3 Daniel Boyer made Jun 26 at 2024 11:16 PM

PO3 Daniel Boyer — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 23:16:36 -0400

Happens in cycles...maybe not for years...then, several times a night for weeks

Response by SSG Gary Merrick made Jun 27 at 2024 12:11 AM

SSG Gary Merrick — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:11:06 -0400

Every damn night, without fail. Whether I want to or not.

Response by PO1 Richard Lindsay made Jun 27 at 2024 1:37 AM

PO1 Richard Lindsay — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 01:37:36 -0400

I was in the Army and served in Viet Nam from 1970 to 1971 with the 25TH Infantry Division and also with the First Air Cav. After separating a started dreaming about still being in Viet Nam in a fire fight and running low on ammo! Then in 1980 I enlisted in the Navy and retired in 1999. A few years after retiring I started dreaming about still being in the Navy. My dreams are crazy with Army and Navy being mixed up! I mostly dream about the Army! I hope that's normal?

Response by PO2 Holli Engard made Jun 27 at 2024 3:43 AM

PO2 Holli Engard — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 03:43:02 -0400

After 20 plus years of being separated from the service, I still dream several times a month of my service to our country. I have found volunteering with Team Rubicon has fulfilled the comradery and service I miss so much.

Response by Sgt Earl Farley made Jun 27 at 2024 8:35 AM

Sgt Earl Farley — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:35:05 -0400

I was medically retired in 1989 after13 years of treasured service. I loved what I did, and the people I was honored to be around. I think about those people all the time and hope they are all doing well. Semper Fi

Response by Sgt John Slevin made Jun 27 at 2024 10:00 AM

Sgt John Slevin — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 10:00:51 -0400

I find myself dreaming of being back in the Corps...but there is always some sort of problem. Missing belt, missing cover, being lost on base, reporting to incorrect command. Very disturbing as it makes no sense.

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2024 11:15 AM

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:15:48 -0400

I’d say I dream I’m back in 1-2x week. In the dream, I know that I’m out of the service and I don’t understand what exactly is happening. I sometimes feel lost and unprepared. But I’m always willing to be there. I’m glad you asked the question!

Response by CW3 Brian Beyer made Jun 27 at 2024 1:01 PM

CW3 Brian Beyer — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:01:20 -0400

All the time I have military related dreams about being in uniform or called out of retirement.

Response by PO1 Richard Grant made Jun 30 at 2024 5:33 PM

PO1 Richard Grant — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 17:33:08 -0400

I have never left the service in my mind. I often dream I am still in and when I wake and realize I am not I become sad. I also miss my old shipmates.