Can you spot a veteran in a crowd?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 18:34:40 -0500

I've seen the bikers with their vests and cool collection of military patches,

I've seen the Marines with their flags, and bumper stickers.

I've seen the fresh haircuts and USMC tee-shirts in downtown Oceanside.

What I'm talking about is a crowd of people, with no one wearing anything military related, can you pick a veteran out of a crowd? This could easily go sideways with responses, but if you want to interject with a funny story or example I'm cool with that. Jump in the pit...tell us how you label someone as a Vet.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 6:38 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 18:38:27 -0500

Besides, patriotic clothing, and bumper sticker, it is the closely cropped hair and military jargon as well as the arms littered with military type tatoos, and on the more professional types, military rings, military tie tacks, military jewelry, lapel pins, neatness in appearance.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 27 at 2014 8:20 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:20:27 -0500

Tactical pants/shorts, "operator hat", polo shirt and Oakleys....

Response by TSgt Kristin Parsons made Dec 27 at 2014 8:42 PM

TSgt Kristin Parsons — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:42:10 -0500

Couples who walk in step without giving it a second thought...my husband and I catch ourselves doing that a lot and one of us 'change step' just so it's not so obvious. You can laugh but you know you do it too, lol

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Dec 27 at 2014 8:56 PM

1SG Cameron M. Wesson — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:56:06 -0500

I have a hard time spotting a vet that is going "black" until the lingo comes out. It is almost impossible, in my opinion, for a vet not to use some terms... However, short hair is not always a for sure either!

Me and a good friend... A retired CSM... Are having lunch at a "motorcycle enthusiast" joint near Lawrance, KS after a ride. We were coming out and there was a group of "vets" with flags on the cycles and so I asked were they coming from a ceremony... Thinking they might be patriot guard riders... And they looked at me kind of funny but didn't say anything. I asked again thinking they didn't hear me and then said that it night be a good idea to replace a couple of flags before next ride as they were getting cruddy.

And then things got interesting...

One of the riders said "FO" to which JD and I did an immediate left flank march and closed in on the offender. In the same voice at the same time JD and I said, "what did you say troop?". The recognition in their eyes were almost instantaneous as they realized they made a mistake. I continued with, " I know you just didn't tell two brothers and former SNCOs to FO!". five of the seven damn near went to "at ease" and the offender quickly apoligized. JD then spoke to them that all I was trying to do was take care of the flags that we'd spent our youth defending... And they should too and maintain their bearing.

We parted on good terms... However... They had no clue we were Vets... Much less retired. I'm also sure they thought before they spoke again when talking "unidentified"

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 9:13 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:13:44 -0500

Tacti-cool anything...

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 9:10 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:10:30 -0500

Big Watch, Big Knife, Big Truck

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 27 at 2014 11:30 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 23:30:43 -0500

Yes, usually, it's in the bearing, and alertness.

Response by SPC Billie Burgess made Dec 28 at 2014 1:40 AM

SPC Billie Burgess — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 01:40:41 -0500

It's fairly easy, the way they walk can always peg a person their arms swing with opposite foot coming forward. They are very aware of what/who is around them and in some cases you can see it in their eyes.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 8:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 20:39:24 -0500

I had a guy ask me if I was a vet as I walked into a factory for work. I asked him why he asked, and he told me, he'd watched me walk across the parking lot, and he was a Marine.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 9:39 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 21:39:09 -0500

People can always spot me as a veteran because I have military-themed half sleeves on both forearms (including one with my Submarine Dolphins). Apparently when I'm wearing long sleeves, they can still tell because of how I carry myself... I wasn't really aware of it until someone I worked with pointed it out.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Dec 29 at 2014 2:17 AM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 02:17:25 -0500

Military bearing stays with a person. I can tell sometimes by the way a person carries themself.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Dec 29 at 2014 10:32 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 10:32:31 -0500

The short answer is 'Yes'. Can I pull every soldier or veteran out of the crowd, no, but there is normally signs of their service.

Response by Sgt Samantha Jee made Dec 29 at 2014 12:07 PM

Sgt Samantha Jee — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 12:07:02 -0500

Yes and no. The people who look like they're having issues in a larger crowd, or may not be as talkative to everyone. Other than that, the people who are more attentive to their surroundings stand out to me.