What do you think the biggest misconception about the military?

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:08:00 -0400

I'm a recruiter and I hear a lot of things from parents, like how we don't do anything but fight wars. And I disagree with that statement. What misconceptions do you hear?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 13 at 2014 12:10 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:10:02 -0400

That we are unthinking, unfeeling robots. That we joined up because we had no other options in life. Or that we are mercenaries, only in it for the paycheck.

Response by PO1 John Y. made Jun 13 at 2014 12:40 PM

PO1 John Y. — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:40:54 -0400

I was a career recruiter for 14 out of my 20 years. I don't think you want me to fill this with ALL the misconceptions I ran into. However, let me expand the audience from parents of potential enlistees to the job market. In my job searches of the past, I have run into a stigmatism among civilian hiring managers and recruiters. That stigmatism is very similar to what you are running into PO1 Wood. It seemed no matter how transferrable my skills were or the fact I handled a weapon only 3 times in my military career, I felt I was being constantly viewed as someone holding a weapon waiting to go to war.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2014 1:52 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:52:58 -0400

Having been a recruiter for the last 8 years I've heard a lot. One of my favorites is a lot of folks seem to think that we do nothing but soldier on 24/7. They all seemed really surprised that I had a life outside of duty hours.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 13 at 2014 2:29 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 14:29:06 -0400

I was going to say that people think we are stupid and uneducated, but then I reread the title and saw the grammar involved.

As for a serious answer, I feel that people think we are gun loving, war promoting, morons. I try to see myself as a peaceful, intelligent person and I frankly do not like weapons very much. At the same time however, I am quite a deadly person if I choose to be.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 11:26 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:26:27 -0400

Here recruiting in rural east Texas we get a lot of I don't want my boy/girl working for Obama, or my son or daughter is too smart for the military (I'm a nuke) and their kid has a 48QT. By in large the biggest misconception about the Navy out there is that we never see land.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 11:40 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:40:43 -0400

Curious, how much has the legalization of recreational marijuana had an affect on your recruiting efforts in CO?

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Sep 24 at 2014 1:25 AM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:25:43 -0400

The misconception that we make "a lot" of money.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Sep 24 at 2014 4:53 AM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 04:53:16 -0400

It is surprising, how many people think that most every person in the military, does nothing but 'Grunt" work. I've had people ask me where I stash my rifle when I'm out in public. I usually stand there for a moment, trying to think of a reply that won't include a snort-laugh, then I try my best to explain that, even as a Marine, I don't actually carry a rifle all that much unless I'm out of country in a war zone, but all sorts of people see us living lives like "The Expendables" instead of the real version where lots of us are clerks, drivers, metal-smiths, welders and cooks. It just doesn't fit their narrow little view of what is on the other side of those gates, you know?
If they would just open up their minds a bit, and understand that there are LOTS of fields in the military, that, once a person leaves the uniform, translate into good solid career choices like A&P, Welding, Engineering...and yea, even truck driving.
I always felt as if I learned a lot of self-disipline, and self respect by choosing the military, and how is that a bad thing? Don't people want their children to grow up to be responsible, self-supporting adults?