What do you tell civilians about your military career?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:32:49 -0500

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Jan 20 at 2016 5:59 PM

SSG Leo Bell — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:59:59 -0500

Depending on what you job was and where you went you can tell them some of it but not all. Cilivians do not like hearing about stuff that goes on in deployments, they don't need to know about the gory stuff and some of them are not interested in it at all even a regular job. I was at work one night and I was talking to this man, we started talking about the military and he tells me he wouldn't serve in the military to protect this country that gives him the freedom to do want he wants and to say what he wants. Then he tells me his is a conteintous objector (sp I know) and it took everything in me not to cuss him out. He said to me people who serve are crazy. I lost it.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Jan 20 at 2016 9:30 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:30:17 -0500

Unless they ask I tell them nothing. Even if they ask I usually don't tell them much.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 9:45 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:45:22 -0500

I do not tell civilians about my military career unless they ask. Most of the time, they do not ask.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 20 at 2016 10:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:05:52 -0500

It depends how much they give a damn.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 20 at 2016 11:12 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 23:12:17 -0500

Nothing.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jan 21 at 2016 12:01 AM

SFC William Farrell — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 00:01:47 -0500

I tell them I was a highly trained killer! :-)

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 21 at 2016 12:13 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 00:13:17 -0500

It was the best time of my life.

Response by SGT James Rosier made Jan 21 at 2016 1:41 AM

SGT James Rosier — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 01:41:17 -0500

I tell them about the amazing times I had sitting around. Or that one time over seas I was uh... sitting around. Then that one time on guard duty we, well sat around. It was so exciting. That's all they need to know.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jan 21 at 2016 2:13 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 02:13:53 -0500

When i am asked i say I had a heckuva a lot of fun and the time went by very fast.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Jan 21 at 2016 4:48 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 04:48:57 -0500

People I've dealt with usually know I'm retired military. If I'm in a discussion that leads me to a point of reference that about my service I bring it up. Sometimes its pretty funny because I more or less was just listening to a discussion about traffic jams and out of the blue (and probably just to be a smart ass) this guy asks me in a snotty tone " Well have you ever been in a Taxi Cab in Tokyo?" I was able to look him straight in the eye and say "Yep".
I walked off to do something afterwards and about a week later someone who was there said that my response just flabbergasted everyone there. I guess they thought I was some rube who never left the County I was raised.

Response by Sgt Patrick Carron made Jan 21 at 2016 7:43 AM

Sgt Patrick Carron — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 07:43:07 -0500

I don't volunteer information about my time in and what I did. But if people ask questions (within reason), then I am open to talking about my experiences. It's not that I am not proud of my service, I just don't feel the need to put it all out there like that.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2016 8:44 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 08:44:35 -0500

It depends on the civilian and their reason for asking. If it is someone with an agenda or being a douche, I just start making stuff up. Is it "stolen valor" when you make stuff up just to give some bleeding heart liberal a stroke?

Response by SPC Dee Bartlett made Jan 21 at 2016 9:12 AM

SPC Dee Bartlett — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:12:20 -0500

I tell them I loved it. I tell them when it was awesome, it was great and when it sucked, it was hell in slow motion. I tell that for me and where I was coming from, the paradigm shift that occurred before , during and after serving was critical for my continued success as a thriving and contributing member of this community.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2016 10:18 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 10:18:55 -0500

Hi, SPC Higgins.
It was one of the best times of my life. I was honored to serve, and I would do it again instantly.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Jan 21 at 2016 3:25 PM

SFC Thomas Howes — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 15:25:33 -0500

Not much

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2016 1:23 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 13:23:17 -0500

I don't like to divulge things about my military career to many people especially civilians. In my experience it leads to questions that either I don't like to answer or would not answer which usually leaves me being the rude guy who doesn't get along well with others...