Retired Vets, what did it teach you??

[spywizard]

So i was in 10 yrs and discharged on a medical Line of duty...

I was having this conversation with a friend of mine, and the one thing that i always take with me in business or anything else..

Capt to me and my Msgt Supervisor

He and i were in an argument and wanted me charged with refusing a direct order, I quoted the UCMJ and regulations that made the order illegal..

The commander heard us both out (we were security at a nuclear facility) and he said these words..

"Well, You can stand here and piss all over him and he can stand here and piss all over you, and in the end I'll be the one standing here pissing all over the both of you"

Point being you may be right, but a more tactical manner in which to work with people is a more expedient way in which to get what you want... and no one goes to jail at the same time.

There were many talents and skills those yrs taught me, but this was one that really stands out.

Share what you learned..

[Atomini]

Gosh, I don't even know where to start.

I've learned that sure, even though it is the military and we're all supposed to look after each others' backs and look out for one another, you've still got most people there who are still just out for themselves. Some even use the system itself to take advantage of others and make it higher off other's backs.

I kept seeing and having to go through situations in which too many people were sticking their hands in other people's pies.

I learned its better to work for other units and be attached to other units than work for/with my home unit. This is because I always felt like my superiors and others in my home unit never looked at anyone in terms of working 'with' them, but always as you working 'for' them (as though they own you). I always found that when attached to other units, or working for them on FTXs and such, they would always be extremely grateful for the job/support provided to them. Working with my home unit, I felt no gratification.

I learned about 'hurry up and wait', 'on the bus / off the bus', 'dog-****ing', and generally realizing the military is not the highly efficient well-lubed machine it is made out to be.

I could go on and on. Of course, this is from my perspective in the Canadian Army... but I figure a military is a military the world over - they all basically operate the same way.

[Times Roman]

(You knew this would call me out, right?)

6 years here...

I had a lot of disputes with my "superiors". For a while I was what you call a barracks lawyer, and helped out a few beat an article 15 (self included)

It's hard to quantify what I learned during those years, as much of it was simply me growing up (went in at 17).

I did learn that when it came to women, it is sometimes better to say "goodbye" when they ship you out, than to try and hang on to a relationship by getting married before it's time.

I also learned that when soldiers are far from home, and begin telling stories about prior accomplishments, or assets owned, much of what they tell you is BS, since they know up front you will not be able to verify. I was quite shocked by this one time. Buddy of mine i met in germany. we used to tell stories of our motorcycle adventures, and he always talked about his harley. in the world, he lived about 90 minutes from where i lived. After germany, we were both surprised to see each other back home, at our reserve duty station. After awhile, motorcycles came up again, and he siad his was down due to a cracked frame, and therefore it would be awhile before we could ride together. So i go home, and check with another buddy of mine, who happened to have a lot of harley parts lying around. he said he would give me a good condition used frame for only $100 (a steal back then). Excited, I call my army buddy telling him of his good fortune. he's like.... naw... i can't afford $100 right now. I'm like fuk that!! I'll pay the hundred for you and you can pay me back whenever..... naw he says... that wouldn't be right???

....bottom line is i believe the harley he claimed was his was actually his brothers and is why after talking about riding to gether all those months, we never did.

[Razor]

I learned hand to hand combat, how to disarm and enemy, weapons training, shooting, different missile systems, personal security, marksmanship coaching, mission accomplishment and how to kill

[ImBlue]

10 years out..
What I learned and what I use in today's day to day life with work..ummm
I trained people while I was in the military, I trained people to do not so nice things.. That all that they can rely on and what they have to fall back on if all else fails.. is their training.. it is you or them.. and you will walk away alive..

My mentality and to the point attitude lead me to train people in the civilian corporate world.. More technical and more closer and personal.. I drill into them repetitive steps over and over again until they have nightmares, until they can respond back to me in textbook format word for word.. Protocols, actions, case files, equipment set up, dismantling and resembling.. One goal... Your client.. Protect your client, be aware of your surroundings, investigate any possible dangers.. Report..
I sleep peacefully at night knowing I did all I can to ensure someone comes home safe..