why is it that everyone i meet who has been in the army / navy / royal marines is a bit "off kilter?"

Question

is it the job that makes them oddor does the job attract odd personalities? or a bit of both?

Answer 1

In my experience, the army creates a different set of values. it instils fierce team spirit, and strong national pride. When they get out, it's difficult for them because they are used to having their lives ordered, and working in a tight cohesive unit.
In the real world you have to think for yourself more, and if you work with people, there is more backstabbing and less face to face resolution of problems. Because these values are different, they can become suspicious of everyone very quickly.
I see this in a friend of mine.

Answer 2

Yes, there is a bit of chicken and egg here. The job does attract a lot of defaulters, ie people who don't know what else to do, maybe have had difficult upbringings, feel inadequate, can't see themselves as working with other people in a cooperative way. For whatever reason, they seem a little aggressive and anti-social. They need an outlet for their aggression. The armed forces, particularly the army, reinforces this macho attitude. It is needed in their role as combatants, but in civvy street they can come across as anti-social macho aggressive knowalls. Why are squaddies always about 5'9" or less.

Answer 3

I was in the RAF and my husband is still in - most ex service have a weird sense of humour, a bit sick at times, and we usually just get on with life and tend not to be so bothered about things going wrong as we are all so used to just having to put with crap. Forces people also live in an environment where there are few older people, and tend to stick together. I love forces humour, and can usually tell if someone has been in the forces.

Answer 4

Well, now. Let's see. Normal people don't carry guns, dress in keeping with a culture basically dedicated to killing other people, ( Effectively ) nor train the mind to move in a group with the single purpose of effectively killing a similar or larger group of people with much the same mindset.

I know. It's the military. A necessary arm in an evil world. But let's don't forget what goes on in those blessed little minds, shall we?

Answer 5

Funny how most of the Officers don't seem a bit ' off kilter ' when they leave the services.

Answer 6

If thry weren't off kilter, they would probably still be in the services. Only the weird ones get kicked out.

Answer 7

It's a bit of both. They like their life in the service. When you get out people suck and only think of themselves. They have no respect for themselves or others. Ironically these are the people you signed up to save. Makes you sick. It goes away.....to some degree.

Answer 8

i have pondered this question many,many times. i can only offer you my opinion and that is those people who are a little "power crazy" are already of a mentality that is to say pushy. in some instances this becomes an obsession with them. the feeling of authority satisyfies some deeper drive that even they,themselves do not know or understand. it is, to me evident in most police officers, non commisioned and commisioned military officers. many schoolteachers, and even librarians in a public library have it in them in a big way. i think that people who are inclined to a regimented life are more or less all that always in my opinion agreat number of those people who strive for authority are at heart cowards. you will never see them exert any force unless they have instant backup readily avalible. this is only opinion, but i have tried to observed people as they really are and not what they pretend to be. there is an native american proverb that goes like this, if you want to know a man, look at his hands his face is his favorite lie.. iwould say your navigation is dead center. good luck

Answer 9

Not sure that it's everyone, but it is true that people who are/have been in the forces seem to have a different approach to things. They often see things in "black & white" and are less likely to compromise. I think some have difficulty adjusting to civilian life, particularly if they seen active service.

Answer 10

it's because they all secretly have AK's and cases of hand grenades stashed in their lofts for when the russians invade on the 5th of november. I spend every bombfire night in the loft with the night vision goggles on waiting for a commie to stand on the pungee spikes on the landing. INCOMING... V.C... V.C....


CHARLIE IN THE TREES... SNIPER ON THE RIDGE LINE...