ever since i got out of the air force (4 year active with 4 years inactive post service) i find it hard to 'get over it all'. i'm very defensive about my service and find myself falling into the stereotype of a 'bitter veteran'. its hard and annoying to deal with civilians, and i miss my military life, but i do not want to go back to it because i want to settle down in one town. did you have this problem after you seperated?
2007-12-17 17:44:33 · 8 answers · asked by Natural Mom 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I'm not a bitter veteran, even though I retired from the Navy over 25 years ago. But, I have never "integrated". To be blunt, in these times most civilians make me ill. So, my contacts with them are minimal at best. I have had a bellyful of those who do not know one thing about the congressional authority which committed us to offensive military operations in Iraq. I get nauseous with the "9-11 truth" clowns whose vitriolic hatred of George Walker Bush has led them into an alternative universe inhabited by folks wearing tin-foil hats. And the members of the "Petey Patriot Platoon" who came out of the woodwork after the attack on America to start waving and wearing flags don't enjoy a lot of my respect either. For I know that most of them would not have given a member of the armed forces the time of day on September 10,2001. The "Bleeding Heart Brigade" who agonize over every military death are passing strange as well. I can't recall any display of anguish by them over the 7,500 who died on active duty during the eight years of the previous administration.
Take it from me. It is hard dealing with civilians. The only solace I can offer you is that you remained true to your oath to support and defend the Constitution. Not the civilians who make both of our stomachs turn.
2007-12-17 17:58:42 · answer #1 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I returned from Viet Nam in 1967, but I never came home. I never reintegrated into American society. I remembered it as it was before I left and disappointed on return. So 40 years later, I'm still not back. I will not conform to what American Society is now. I do things mostly as I want and try to return things as they should have been. It's not just civilians either it is a very big segment of society. Not the majority, but it is the ones you see and meet. The better citizens are hunkered down in their homes avoiding things just like you and I.
2007-12-17 18:00:25 · answer #2 · answered by genghis1947 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Nope, 5 mins after I finished my out processing, I was a civilian again, lock stock and barrel.
I had no problems what so ever.
Maybe that was because I didn't live on base the last 15 months, and didn't hang around with many military people during that time.
Plus I had a plan, and knew exactly what i was gonna do and when I was gonna do it.
I had already been accepted at my University, before I was discharged.
I have found, most of the bitter veterans, are those who just ets'ed with no plan, no job lined up before hand.
And tried to wing it, after they got back home.
And then didn't know what they wanted to do.
2007-12-18 01:37:23 · answer #3 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If they are not legally separated then they are legally married until one or both files for a divorce and it goes through. It could be that his spouse has a medical condition and he is trying to keep her healthcare for her. I have known a couple of civilian couples who have done this. The soldier could be charged with adultery but the spouse would have to be the person who is does this and if she is happy with the arrangement, then there is not much anyone else can or should do about it. If you are the person he is living with, you have to come to terms with this. You should not try to force him to divorce his wife. He has to want to do this. If you are not happy with this, then it is time for you to move on. By the way, if he joined in 1998 and has been married for over 10 years now, she is entitled to half of his pension even if he divorces.
2016-03-16 02:19:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am still not integrated, and in some ways don't want to be (you can reference desertviking's post on that one)... I took a job as a Dept. of the Army civilian, though, so am still more or less involved.
2007-12-17 22:52:21 · answer #5 · answered by MP_doc 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Who wants to integrate into civilian life? I retired from the Army and am proud of my service. I miss the service and wish I could have stayed in for life. The civilian life has too many rules and regulations.
2007-12-17 20:27:05 · answer #6 · answered by Balasubas 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I loved the corp but I loved the challenge of the civilian world. It is just a new type of battlefield to deal with.
Improvise, adapt and overcome.
You can do it without a uniform.
2007-12-17 17:59:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yeah...I left and went to college. I dropped out after two semesters to come back and have been doing it ever since. I don't know how you get it out of your system. I don't know what I'll do with myself when I retire.
2007-12-17 17:57:15 · answer #8 · answered by G.I. Reaux 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have integrated - but still do not have much respect for the people I spent 26 years protecting.
2007-12-18 01:41:12 · answer #9 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋