How long did it take for you to stop looking for your weapon every time you stood up after coming home?

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Wed, 11 May 2016 00:44:35 -0400

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 12:51 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 00:51:13 -0400

I never had a problem (though I did seem to check for my hidden holster while in Afghanistan in 2009) but while at CentCom in Qatar ,on a 3 day pass back in 2005, a guy was having a PTSD moment when he was in our bus telling us that he was having a panic attack because he did not have his M4 and his subconcious was looking for snipers on rooftops and he felt naked/panicked without a weapon! The picture here was of me going to chow on the air force bus line in Kirkuk, Iraq sometime in 2005.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made May 11 at 2016 12:59 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 11 May 2016 00:59:13 -0400

It took me about a year.

Response by SPC Brian Mason made May 11 at 2016 1:09 AM

SPC Brian Mason — Wed, 11 May 2016 01:09:52 -0400

Months. I didn't keep track, but I see nothing wrong with doing it. It got to where I would get worked up b/c I couldn't find 'it'. I'm a HCP holder so things are much better now. In places I can't carry, I have a knife and a bright flashlight.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 11 at 2016 1:10 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 11 May 2016 01:10:31 -0400

Haha yeah it took me a few weeks! Memories lol

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 1:16 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 01:16:36 -0400

SGT Jonathon Caldwell It is a funny feeling like you are exposed, and there is nothing you can do about it. I always felt better when I had Sergeant of the Guard or some other duty where I could carry a .45

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made May 11 at 2016 2:16 AM

SSgt David Tedrow — Wed, 11 May 2016 02:16:51 -0400

Got my CCW and became a cop.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 11 at 2016 6:30 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 11 May 2016 06:30:13 -0400

It's that mental image we have. We're still feeling the weight of the weapon, even though it's not there.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 8:24 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 08:24:30 -0400

Yeah easily weeks to a month, one of the strangest feelings I could imagine

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made May 11 at 2016 9:37 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Wed, 11 May 2016 09:37:41 -0400

A few weeks. I have been retired 4 1/2 years. A few months ago I was eating at a restaurant. Next to me sat 2 cops. After seeing their pistols I found myself checking my right hip for my pistol.
maybe it never goes away.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 9:39 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 09:39:40 -0400

More than a few nights waking up and freaking out cause my carbine wasn't "where I left it" LOL

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 9:55 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 09:55:06 -0400

Oddly enough, I didn't have that particular issue. I was constantly searching for my water bottle, though.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 11 at 2016 10:55 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Wed, 11 May 2016 10:55:07 -0400

I was lucky because I had transitional period after Vietnam 14 months training troops in AIT at Fort Polk plenty of weapons available

Response by SSgt Terry P. made May 11 at 2016 11:13 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Wed, 11 May 2016 11:13:34 -0400

SGT Jonathon Caldwell Someone set off a bunch of firecrackers one evening while i was reading ,my reaction was to jump up reaching for my weapon,this was ten years after i came back.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 12:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 12:39:06 -0400

I stopped looking for it on the plane ride home.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 6:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 18:38:19 -0400

took me a while every time i woke u[p was reaching for it about 3-6 months

Response by SGT David T. made May 12 at 2016 12:23 PM

SGT David T. — Thu, 12 May 2016 12:23:12 -0400

Never. I always knew right where it was lol

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 12 at 2016 10:11 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 12 May 2016 22:11:33 -0400

I have the opposite problem. My "Weapon" was a Teletype and Computer. What does everybody have in their house now? A computer. I get to mess with the same stuff I did for 21 years while wearing Navy Blue. Only difference it is not filled with Classifications and Code Words.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2016 10:18 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 22:18:29 -0400

To answer your meme I say, put them in your pockets!

Response by 1SG Reginald Puana made Jul 26 at 2016 10:55 AM

1SG Reginald Puana — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 10:55:43 -0400

About a month (3-4 weeks) to stop looking for my weapon...took about 6 months to stop having the "dream"