liminal_luke Posted Tuesday at 07:12 PM (edited) Did you learn any lessons from military service that you feel have been useful in civilian life? What do people who haven´t served tend to get wrong about the military? Any advice for us non-veterans? Edited Tuesday at 07:21 PM by liminal_luke 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 7 hours ago most of my 4 years in the military were during the Vietnam war era (but I remained stationed statewide) soon after I graduated from high school. I had a civilian like job which I liked and was pretty good at. (telecommunications which included being a telephone man which are mostly extinct now) The comradery among our guys was good, (there were no women in our unit) meeting new people, going to new places and learning new tasks was interesting and at times challenging to deal with. It was somewhat conflicting to me at times that we were under military rules while protecting civilian or democratically related freedoms, rules or laws.... As in civilian life with its whole gamut of human interactions (good and not so good) the military also has its whole gamut of things going on but with a command and rule structure from a 4 star general down to a new private that included orders being given and which must be followed or rather drastic consequences could follow! Also there are the dubious or dirty politicians and others deciding what would happen to and where our "boys" would be sent to carry out their political agendas which caused a lot of unnecessary suffering and deaths in war zones on all sides, along with riots taking place back in the states. (for example Kent state was a horrific one) As human beings there really is no free lunch for us; the saying, "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance" (thus certain sacrifices) has been proven though the ages and is universal, so if taken for granted it won't be there for those that come after us! There are many examples about what some people get wrong or do to our military forces, like them being dishonored, betrayed, misused, or being under very poor and insane like leadership !! . Alas as with all peoples whether military or not our better or worse angels may come into play. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liminal_luke Posted 6 hours ago Thanks @old3bob. Glad to hear your point of view. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
