How much does being in the Military change a person?

Question

Not just physically, but your whole personality. I have heard of, and know people who go to boot camp and AIT, and come back very different, some in a not so pleasant way. I'm leaving in a few months for Navy boot camp, and am just curious about changes I can expect. Thank you.

Answer 1

Sense of pride, discipline and selflessness should develop if you are success full.

Answer 2

i think alot of it has to do with what kind of person you are too...i grew up in a military family so respect and listening was drilled into me 24/7...i went into the navy and felt as if my respect and committment was at the highest because of the way i was raised..i actually did very well in boot camp, maybe my run time wasnt perfect but my RDC's saw something in me and by graduation, i had won an award which was only given out to 2 sailors in the whole division...

on the other hand, i had this friend from high school who dropped out, start making and selling drugs, living on the street, the whole nine yards...he finally came back home and begged his dad to help him, his father told him the only way that he could possibly help him, was to join the military....he went off into the Navy and has been in since 1998 and is making a career of it and is very highly decorated...so, the navy turned his life around...

i am currently out of the navy and some of the things i learned while enlisted are still with me today...small things though...i say yes ma'am and sir...i fold my clothes the way that they taught us in boot camp, mostly due to saving space and my husband hates this but i have a strict schedule for everything...

my husband has been in for 10 years, he was a mama's boy and they did everything for him...so when he joined the navy, he got a huge wake up call, he had to learn to take care of himself and become part of a team..however, when he comes home from deployment, he throws all his crap on the floor of the house and leaves it there until i either put it away or his next deployment comes up...i wish the military would break him of that habit

you will come out of the navy whether it be 4 years or 20 years, with alot of respect, being a team player and the respect of others, even people you have never met

Answer 3

Depends on the person, and how strong their inner beliefs are.
The military will make the naive, innocent and weak alittle stronger, more assertive and firm in what they believe in..thats just a matter of growing up andmaturing after youve pushed yourself farther than you have.

Now, understand theres a difference between being brash and been arrogant.
Ever saw a few jarheads acting the fools because they think they're the biggest Sh** to hit the world? thats arrogant. If youre smart enough to know no one really likes arrogant, then thats half the battle right there. They might have proved themselves on the battlefield somehow, but common sense says they dont have to act that way accept on the battlefield. You want to be tough, but you dont have to be an A**hole. Know the difference youll be okay.
What about those kids who lived through a deployment never having fired a round or made any contact save the ducking whenever a mortar round came their way, yet they come back the same or worse then the jarheads that were in the front lines.
Theyre perpetrating, and they have a need to make themselves seem bigger then they are. Get the feel of where Im going?

Your own personality and values of being humble or not will only get stronger as you test them. Hopefully your Faith gets stronger and you can rationalize what life as a soldier forces you into, and you can make sense out of it once its all said and done. You do that now going into battle - pray for strength, guidance, and realize someone has to fight this fight, and every man should bear arms for his country, then youre better off then most the kjnucklheads Ive come across in the army who have no real clue why theyre fighting. Theyre just there, paycheck or education money, and theyre at the mercy of the situations that wil come at them.
Understand why youre going, prepare yourself for what might happen if you get deployed, and if you can find a way to teach yourself its better you kill that bastard with a weapon who will kil you and the guys around you - and its something you ahve to do for everyone around you -- well then youll be much better off than alot of guys who are over there and dont have a fricken clue.

Dont know if that helps much, but be brash. Know what youre capable of and walk tall and confident without anything to prove to anyone. Youre a man doing his part for this country, because thats what a man has to do.

Make it back and everything else this world throws at you will be a piece of cake.

Being in the Navy you might not ever have to worry about witnessing the front line effects of how the human body is so very fragile. So, know youll only change for the worst, if thats what was in your heart to begin with. Chances are you will change into a more confident BRASH person if you have a strong mind, good heart and solid Faith going into your training.

So good luck, take it one day at a time, one command at a time - and youll do just fine.
Its not like youll have to march 26 miles with 80 pounds on your back or anything -- its the navy. :)

Take care .. good luck . get through it safe.

Airborne!

Answer 4

Dude, prepare yourself for the hardest time you ever experienced. In boot camp, they will turn jerks into real men in no time. What they do in boot camp, is like hell. You have to wake up very early in the morning, begin a morning run and start training. Any wrong mistakes and they will make you suffer by doing countless push-ups. You get the drill. They will wake you up without warning, and carry out surprise inspections to see what you are hiding. Boot camp, is tough. The people who were able to survive boot camp had the guts to hit it head on.

Answer 5

I had a friend who got post traumatic stress after joining the navy. He didn't even serve during a war. I worked for several Vetereans administration hospitals. they're mostly psych hospital. There is a small chance the military will sharpen your mind and make you succesful. All though I see alot more druggies, vegies and tons of guys with a chip on their shoulder.

Answer 6

some people do. The Marines did not replace me in my opinion. I grew as someone, yet my personality is an similar. i don't believe of personality ever adjustments except something medical takes position. besides the undeniable fact that, rigidity will reason someone to act diverse. perhaps that is the stress of dishonest, or perhaps he is going by a problematical time. perhaps he stopped being concerned, perhaps he desires to be cared for. Time remote from you should honestly be taking a toll on him. Ask him what's inaccurate, then be quiet (that is major). he will inform you except he needs to avert punishment. the protection force does not replace peoples' personalities. It makes them more suitable. in case you want him for the sweet issues he did, you've gotten to ask your self if it replaced into infatuation, which compared to love, fades over the years. Did you marry instantly? The honeymoon may nicely be over. Do you want him for the sweet issues he did for you, or do you want him for who he's?

Answer 7

The only thing it ultimatley does is make you use to waking up early and perhaps being more productive.

Answer 8

sense of humor is the first thing to go
heterosexuality often follows

Answer 9

You'll be more prideful of your country, and be much more serious than you were before you went in.

At least thats my take on it

Answer 10

self-disapline and a lot of confidence