Ryan Day kind of celebrates Veterans
OT: is that what he meant to say?
- Thread starter Zenophile
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You missed the rest of it - "otherwise he would have enlisted." A nice thought.
I've been out for over 10 years now. It's only been within the last few years that I've felt comfortable mentioning my veteran status in everyday conversation. The reason being is because I despised listening to the "almost joined" stories from people who I knew would have failed miserably in the military.
Thank you for your service and sacrifices. Especially so close to 11/11.
While true, some of the worst, most unintelligent creatures I've ever had the misfortune to know are in the military. As a 25 year old enlisted guy with a college degree, sharing a barracks room with 18 year olds who have never been outside of their own county let alone state is a very particular kind of torture. Still, they did raise their hand, and that is worth something.....
It's the main reason I refused to give up on any students when I was an instructor. If you were able to slog through the ******** that was the recruiting process, deal with the organized chaos that it basic training, and come out the otherside with most of your mental health intact, that's already more than most civilians will ever know. Than you spend anywhere between 4-20 years in a job that you just can't quit when you have a series of bad days and you end up with one of the single most unique experiences you'll ever have.
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I don’t think I’ve heard the “almost joined” from the general populous and I’ve been out since ‘87. I have heard it from politicians which is very annoying.
A big change since I’ve been out is being thanked for my service when someone learns you’re a vet. That became common in the 2000s, I guess following the Gulf Wars and 9/11. Before that I never heard it. Given some of our military actions are not popular with everyone, I’m glad we’re beyond taking it out on veterans as was somewhat common in the Vietnam era.
At my last job, I had one individual in particular who loved to talk about he “almost took” an appointment to Annapolis. He’d bring it up on a fairly regular basis. I’ve heard it from time to time since, but it’s not as common an occurrence.
Being thanked is still a little odd for me. I joined because it was a good job that would train me in a brand new skill and had amazing benefits. I didn’t join out of a sense of overwhelming patriotism. I did try to clever when I was younger and said things like “you paid me, no need to thank me”. Now I just say “you’re welcome” and keep it moving.
@Twisted I served...11B1P...91-94' then went to PSU.
I just got recertified for Jump status last week...I am jumping Normandy next June for the 80th--C17 over the channel into Normandy 400 of us!
I was around a bunch of ex Veterans during my week training--it was great to be around such good people and not the atypical corporate folks I deal with and the neighbors where I live lol---nite and day.
Everyone should serve--even if 2 years guarding a Gate---you learn a lot! Our country would come together too!
I just got recertified for Jump status last week...I am jumping Normandy next June for the 80th--C17 over the channel into Normandy 400 of us!
I was around a bunch of ex Veterans during my week training--it was great to be around such good people and not the atypical corporate folks I deal with and the neighbors where I live lol---nite and day.
Everyone should serve--even if 2 years guarding a Gate---you learn a lot! Our country would come together too!
Yes and other countries. It really would help this country greatly. Lot of perspective and respect would come from everyone. Plenty of jobs that dont require working with weapons....plenty---showing up on time--have a purpose and mission, respect for yourself and others..lot of life skills that are missing greatly in our society.
OK - I am going to disagree with your premise that joining the military creates an improvement to society, because the skills you mention should be in place before anyone is old enough to join the military. But, have at it.
Just to clarify the purpose of the initial post: though the phrases are somewhat similar, there is a fairly critical difference between the meaning of the phrase “Having served,” and the meaning of “Having served time.”
In his televised ESPN interview, Day uses the latter when I suspect what he meant was the former.
Take from it what you will.
I added the bold quotation marks.
Well, sure. But how often do you see this happening nowadays? (I try not to play “back in the old days.”) What “skills” does the average high-school graduate have these days? With the advent of AI, what “skills” will the average high-school graduate of five years and more down the road have? I can agree that the military shouldn’t be the de facto technical school of last resort, but I am glad it’s there.
All good thoughts, and I respect your opinion. But, the flip side is - why do you expect the military to suddenly make these people a boon to society. Perhaps they are respectful of their superiors (because they have to be), but to each other, and to those outside the miltary- are they defintitely going be respectful and all the other things that the previous poster determined to be good qualities? So, after a two year stint (as mentioned in his post) - then what?
The military is part of the fabric of our society and as such, suffers from the same problems as the rest of society- everthing from petty crime to serious criminal acts (and everything in between). Unless the military completely changes it's culture where it is exempt from the ills of society - spending two years there will not, in the long run, make any significant improvement to our society. Believing it will is simply a false belief.
Now that I'm older I think mandatory service for young people is a great idea.
100% agree with you--but very few parents or mentors are teaching the right skills and other soft skills to kids these days. Very few--and there are certain confidence aspects that are built from these experiences.
I think a basic foundation of being a good citizen would come from the experience not for all but majority. After 2 yrs you choose to re-enlist or go to college a little more prepared and mature, or get a job.
The military does have its issues today as it isn't like it used to be in the 90's when discipline and structure was at an all time high---too mnay moms wrote letters to their politicians to lighten it up. There are certain deterrence's that are in place which would make the experience valuable...
I do see your points but its better than what we have---perhaps the shooting in Chicago and crime in other cities would decrease--those kids would have a different path.
In general I see society as 80% normal 10% highly talented 10% really bad people....nothing will be perfect but I think improvements would happen all around.
I’ve gone the opposite way. No because of any animus towards the current generation (of which I have 4 members) but because military life simply isn’t for everyone the same way that college isn’t for everyone.
Plus the crop of leadership I saw coming to power when I separated scared the living hell out of me.
Well, you would know more than I. I just think a lot of these kids are practically begging for a kick in the rear.
Seriously? You bring up Chicago?
OK - 60% of mass shootings are committed by white men, and over 1/3 of them have military experience..... So I still stand by my statement....forcing people to join the military would not really benefit society....
I’ll be honest, I was worse than most of the kids I meet today.
. They have a different mentality than I do about most things. I don’t think it makes them lazy, I just think that they value different things than I did at their age and do now.
I’ll be honest, I was worse than most of the kids I meet today.
The thing about that that I don't dig is that I had different ideas and values too and I had to put my head down and conform and work my butt off or I'd go hungry. I'm only in my 40s. What makes these kids entitled to change everything when we weren't allowed to?
I'm not that bitter or anything about this topic. I at least own a home and have no material needs that are not being met. And my hair is down past my shoulders and no one complains about it.
Since 76% of Americans are white, that is a great ratio!Seriously? You bring up Chicago?
OK - 60% of mass shootings are committed by white men, and over 1/3 of them have military experience..... So I still stand by my statement....forcing people to join the military would not really benefit society....
There youe are! I saw you were posting here, and I figured this would ring your dinner bell.
I didnt bring up mass shootings---especially since my family was part of a well known one. I used Chicago as an example that young people are not using their time wisely and are not exactly being good citizens in their neighborhoods--helping forest fires or helping build a bridge as examples would be a great use of time---would also create team work and pride of self etc...Seriously? You bring up Chicago?
OK - 60% of mass shootings are committed by white men, and over 1/3 of them have military experience..... So I still stand by my statement....forcing people to join the military would not really benefit society....
You are correct standards have come down and its not the same as the 90's.
It’s a nice idea but once you go ‘mandatory’ you start to water down the true strength of our military which is that it’s an all volunteer force. Having served in a NATO environment the difference between all volunteer and not can be staggering (in terms or standards, professionalism, etc.). I was also stationed in Germany with German troops and most DGAF about patriotism, etc.
Some sort of compulsory civic service would help I think - especially if you can match someone’s with their interests. Just not sure how to do it…
They have the stomach to withstand the pain that I didn’t have at their age.
At least that’s how I see it.
Sure, but less at stake for national park or FEMA volunteers than a stint in the military. If you’re only in it because you have to be, mistakes are easier to make.
All good---I dont like to fence with people on line---especially fellow alumnus. Appreciate your empathy.
Disagree in principle - FEMA volunteers or national park volunteers still have something at stake within the context of their service. If they fail to perform then it is watered down within the context of that service. But, it's still watered down.
It depends. Are you dealing with live ammunition, coordinates of troops, responsible for supplies or calling in air strikes? Or making sure the coffee is hot in the DFAC (also supremely important to be honest)? Certainly watered down performance will hinder any effort but again, we talking about handing out bottled water and stacking sandbags or making sure someone’s gas mask won’t malfunction?
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