If you never served in the military, you ain't...

February 20, 2026, 08:46 PM

jimb888

quote:
Originally posted by sooma:

Yes, we should and will always give due respect to our service members.

I can agree with part of your post, not sure about other parts. I served. Then spent a short stint in the VA hospital, followed by 2 years of volenteering the same place followed by 2 years of paid work there. My dad served. My Grandfather served. I've served McDonalds french fries (before service when I was 14 no less -hamburgers for .15/cents, fries were .12/cents and coke was a dime). I've run my own (with a business partner) sucessful and profitable business. I've been blessed and had many great employees, in return, I tryed to be a better boss. I know I failed a few of my employees.(looking at you Bob when your wife passed from COPD and you lost your wife, your car, your house and part of your mind followed by your job)

Given how many differing opinions there are on stuff like this OP, I'll refrain from expressing my full view here. I want my service to be in the rearview mirror somewhere, and don't like it when anyone says "thank you for your service". It sounds trite and meaningless to me much like "how are you" when the person doesn't care: so I get part of what you're seemingly cranked about.
But I'd rather see us pull together as a country, and to be less decisive.

But that's me, after an exra glass of wine and skiing all day no less.

Tally ho and regards to all!

February 23, 2026, 01:02 PM

Pale Horse

quote:
Originally posted by FenderBender:
I've got a single question for all of the Vet's.

What's your opinion of your recruiter?

SSGT Michael Scott (yeah, Michael Scott

)

When I walked into the recruiters office on my 17th birthday I was about 40 pounds overweight enlist and about 50 over what I needed to be to confirm to standards. I’m sure they took one look at me and figured I’d never actually be a Marine. But instead of sending me down the hall or dismissing me SSGT Scott was honest and told me that I had a lot of work to do and that if I showed up the next day he’d start working out with me. I showed up and we went for a walk while he laid out how hard it was going to be but told me if I came back every day he’d be there to help me.

For 6 months I went to the office 6 days a week and a recruiter, usually Scott, went on a run with me. Then we’d go back to the office and do work out more. SSGT Scott came to my house and met my parents when I got close to making weight. He gave me a diet plan to follow and spent time with myself and others teaching us our general orders and chain of command and even one Saturday taking us to a local National Guard armory and teaching us how to field strip and clean a M16.

When I finally made weight and enlisted I went to the office every day after school and continued to work out with recruiters and other perspective recruits.

When I shipped off he wrote me a letter a week. One of the recruiters from the office stopped by my platoon while we were on the rifle range to check in on me, and finally on my graduation day both SSGT Scott and the Captain in charge of the office (I forget his name) attended my graduation.

I owe a lot to my recruiters. They not only never lied to me, they were absolutely instrumental in helping me realize my dream of becoming a Marine and celebrated my accomplishments along the way.

Personally, while I’m proud of my service it doesn’t define me. I’m proud of a lot of things in my life. I don’t ask for veterans discounts and I don’t stand up at a ballgame or concert when they ask veterans to stand and be recognized.

My service doesn’t make me better than anyone. But it for sure doesn’t make me worse.

February 23, 2026, 05:37 PM

Rey HRH

quote:
Originally posted by Pale Horse:

SSGT Michael Scott (yeah, Michael Scott )

When I walked into the recruiters office on my 17th birthday I was about 40 pounds overweight enlist and about 50 over what I needed to be to confirm to standards. I’m sure they took one look at me and figured I’d never actually be a Marine. But instead of sending me down the hall or dismissing me SSGT Scott was honest and told me that I had a lot of work to do and that if I showed up the next day he’d start working out with me. I showed up and we went for a walk while he laid out how hard it was going to be but told me if I came back every day he’d be there to help me.

For 6 months I went to the office 6 days a week and a recruiter, usually Scott, went on a run with me. Then we’d go back to the office and do work out more. SSGT Scott came to my house and met my parents when I got close to making weight. He gave me a diet plan to follow and spent time with myself and others teaching us our general orders and chain of command and even one Saturday taking us to a local National Guard armory and teaching us how to field strip and clean a M16.

When I finally made weight and enlisted I went to the office every day after school and continued to work out with recruiters and other perspective recruits.

When I shipped off he wrote me a letter a week. One of the recruiters from the office stopped by my platoon while we were on the rifle range to check in on me, and finally on my graduation day both SSGT Scott and the Captain in charge of the office (I forget his name) attended my graduation.

I owe a lot to my recruiters. They not only never lied to me, they were absolutely instrumental in helping me realize my dream of becoming a Marine and celebrated my accomplishments along the way.

Personally, while I’m proud of my service it doesn’t define me. I’m proud of a lot of things in my life. I don’t ask for veterans discounts and I don’t stand up at a ballgame or concert when they ask veterans to stand and be recognized.

My service doesn’t make me better than anyone. But it for sure doesn’t make me worse.

Wow. That's a person I can respect wholeheartedly. He didn't just look at you as a number; he invested a part of his life into you especially with the letters.

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.

February 23, 2026, 11:36 PM

FenderBender

quote:
Originally posted by Pale Horse:

My service doesn’t make me better than anyone.

Bullshit, it makes you better than you were. That's quite the story, thanks for sharing.

March 01, 2026, 09:44 AM

sigfreund

Lest anyone forget what being a member of the armed forces is ultimately about:

quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
First US casualties.

It’s not about how much we know about American history and institutions, it’s not about how hard it was or wasn’t to get to this country or become a citizen, it’s not about what a productive job we have, it’s not about how we support society in general, or any other “What a good boy am I” claims we can point to.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...35/m/9660088815/p/10