My sister does historical reenactments and recently started doing Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991) and I am wanting to get her a couple of Christmas gifts to help her campsite look more authentic. She has some Iraqi soda cans and money. What are some things you remember from service that passed the time? What are things that were just part of your every day life that you remember that would make it authentic?

Thank you!

I feel like I've had hearing loss for most of my life. For those of you who have never experienced hearing loss and tinnitus with it, it's hard to explain what it's like. And for those of us who have lived with it for years, I don't think we truly understand just how much we've lost. You get used to it. The constant ringing. Asking people to repeat themselves. Missing parts of conversations. Even trying to talk, sounding like a moron. Eventually, it just becomes normal. But what I didn't realize was how much of the world around me had gone silent.

This week, I received my first hearing aids through the VA. As my wife and I walked out of the building, I suddenly heard something that startled me so badly that I actually jumped. I turned to my wife and asked, "What was that?" She looked at me and said, "That was a bird tweeting." A bird. Just a little bird singing somewhere nearby. Something so ordinary that most people wouldn't even give it a second thought. And there I stood, a grown man, with tears running down my face. Because at that moment, I realized something. I hadn't even known what I was missing. I couldn't remember the last time I'd heard a bird sing. I thought I was just going to the VA to pick up some hearing aids. I didn't realize I was about to get a little piece of my world back.

But there's another part of this story I want to share, especially with my fellow veterans. This was the first time I'd allowed the VA to help me since leaving the United States Marine Corps in 1996. Thirty years. Thirty years of listening to horror stories, complaints, b***ing, and whining about the VA. And if I'm being fair, there was a good bit of stubborn pride mixed in there, too. All of it kept me from ever stepping foot inside a VA facility and asking for help. And you know what I discovered when I finally did? There are some absolutely awesome people working at the VA. People who genuinely care about the veterans they're helping. People who, from what I've seen, certainly aren't doing it for the money.

Are they overwhelmed? Absolutely. Does everything happen as quickly as we'd like? Nope. But think about it. There are only so many of them, and there are an awful lot of us. From the day I had my hearing test until the day I received my hearing aids, the process took approximately six months. Now, to some people, that might sound like a long time. And I'll admit, when you're waiting for something that could improve your quality of life, six months can seem like forever. But when you begin to understand everything involved in the process, you start to appreciate that there's a lot more going on than simply handing somebody a pair of hearing aids. And after experiencing the results firsthand, I can tell you it was worth the wait.

So here's what I'd like to say to my fellow veterans. If you've been putting off contacting the VA because of something you've heard, something someone told you, or because you're just too damn stubborn and proud to ask for help, like I was, please reconsider. Don't let somebody else's experience, opinion, or negativity make that decision for you. Go find out for yourself. I'm not saying the VA is perfect. I'm not saying everyone has had a wonderful experience. I'm sure there are legitimate complaints, and I'm not dismissing them. I'm simply saying that my experience was a good one, and I wish I'd given them a chance thirty years ago.

And to those who seem to do nothing but b***h and complain about everything, I've got one suggestion. How about, just once in a while, looking for something positive? Take a moment to appreciate what you have and the people who are trying to help you. Because sometimes the smallest things in life turn out to be the biggest blessings. For me, it was a bird. A little bird that probably had no idea it had just made a grown man cry. And my God, am I thankful.

Semper Fi. And thank each of you who work at the VA. I appreciate you!

I hope this is the right place to ask. How long does a dd214 discharge upgrade take? I got an email this past February saying that my submission was received the may before that (putting me at 17mo rn).
Does anyone have any guesses when I might hear from them?

Hey everyone,
This November will mark two years since I medically retired from the Army after six years of service, and I wanted to ask how everyone else has adjusted to civilian life.
To be completely honest, the transition has been a lot harder than I expected. I never wanted to leave the military in the first place, and I feel like that has made it even harder to move forward.
Since getting out, I’ve struggled to find a job where I genuinely feel like I belong. I’ve had a hard time staying in positions, and even though I managed to go back to school and earn my MBA, I still feel like I’m just winging life without any real direction.
On top of that, I’m still dealing with the conditions that led to my medical retirement, and I haven’t gotten nearly as much help as I probably should have.
I miss the structure, the sense of purpose, and honestly, the person I was when I was serving. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one who feels like they’re just going through the motions trying to figure out what comes next.

For those of you who have been out for a few years, how long did it take you to genuinely feel adjusted to civilian life?
Did you struggle with finding a career, losing your sense of purpose, or feeling like you didn’t belong anywhere?
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences, especially from those who were medically retired or separated before they were ready.
Thanks for reading.

I had a mri done in May. I totally forgot about it until a few days when I went to the va for a separate thing and they mentioned I had it done but no notes. When I look at my notes it says community care consult result and that it was “uploaded “ but I don’t see it anywhere. I blue button downloaded and everything but nothing. I just can see the actual images but no report. Anyone know where it may be? I’m anxious now because I’ve been having a pain for over a year and I’m hoping this 3rd party company had a good radiologist. It looks like I have a mass in my pelvis area but I don’t friggin know. Smh (SEND HELP!)

I served in the Marine Corps from 2017 to 2021. Though we weren't in any active deployments or combat zones, my 18 to 19 year old mind had already accepted death. I was reckless, I didn't care how I spent money, I didn't care what relationships I did or didn't have. This pretty much carries through until I was happily married and I started to care a little more. My Dad died 2 years ago and it made me REALLY think about mortality and keeping alive for my family. I personally could care less myself I was gone, and I don't mean that in a suicidal way. What I mean is, I'm indifferent about being here on this mortal plane, but know what would happen if my family had to deal with me being gone.

I had my first kid, and now I don't want to die. It's not a fear of death, it's not a fear of not doing certain things, and it's not a fear of unfinished business. It's that I want to stay alive as much as possible for my kids so that way we can grow, learn, and enjoy the little things in life together. I know that this responsibility lives on my wife and I's shoulders, but I want to be able to look at my kids one day and be proud of who they became because of their upbringing. I want to be there for major milestones in their life, like first cars, first homes, first kids, and so on.

I just was looking at my kid and pondering mortality of myself on his behalf and was curious if anyone else ran into this or a similar situation.

Hey ALCON,

I had a situation in the office. We have a coffee machine, it takes special kinds of pods, the expensive kind. Everybody got their own. So I decided to set the example and be generous and buy a couple boxes of those pods for the whole office. It was like $200. At first the coworkers were like “aww you don’t have to do that” Then One of the them made a snide remark saying “oh that military pension.” They know that I served previously for 8 years. Not the full 20. Do all civilians assume we all get pensions? If so, we have collectively let the entire world know of our benefits and pensions and monies and now we get snide and snarky remarks from coworker when we do kind gestures. I felt some type of way about this. I didn’t say anything cuz I didn’t want to defend myself. But I think in retrospect I should have joked that I get paid a lot, I don’t. They get paid more than me. What do y’all think? Should I leave it as is, or let the coworker know it wasn’t cool to blurb that out?

I've been waiting a year for a response from the NDRB to get my RE-4 changed. I see their last set of cases were in April and haven't gotten any responses by email or answer via phone when I try their number. I don't really care what the response is, but I want it just to put it behind me.

It was for a DV charge that got dropped, I've actually been working for the police department and got accepted into a police academy. Marines didn't care about any of it and gave me the boot. Thanks for any responses.

A rant about how I find life pointless these days. I’m not always suicidal but if something happens I’m ok with it, won’t fight it. I feel tired and things I used to enjoy, I no longer find enjoyment. Working out, training martial arts, traveling, eating food, or spending time with family. Everything feels like a chore. Most days I’m groggy from the meds. I can’t stop taking them because I have insomnia and can’t sleep without help.

I’m ranting so delete if I broke any rules. Just wanted to let it out since I have no one to talk to.

My wife is asing if i can find a professional to talk to how to cope with my symptoms. 100p&t

(Air Force Vet) For me, I did base honor guard so I miss doing that a lot… Very rewarding tour and changed my perspective on life. Also, I miss basic training.. it was a nice break. I wish I could go back and re-do it every time I need to escape.

Spent 10yrs in the military, transitioned to civilian life about 4 yrs ago. More pay, more time off, telworking. But man the daily grind wears me down. Maybe I shouldn't be complaining but Jesus

I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds this morning. I noticed the “General” in the episode had a bunch of Navy ribbons on his uniform. I realized I always check out a ribbon rack on an actor when I watch a show or movie. It seems like most of the time the ribbons are all wrong. Wrong order, wrong service, wrong everything. Same with uniforms in general.

Why can’t they get something so simple correct? 🤔

It made laugh. Does anyone else unconsciously do this? 😂

My aunt served in afghanistan (Kabul airport from the early 2000s to around 2014) and because she was icelandic (and icelanders tend to fit better in with eachother than the millitary,) the people working with them started referring to them as "the icelandic mafia".

I was wondering if someone who served could confirm this story and maybe a few others she told me, whether they remember hearing about it or not.

Let me start with this: I retired from the Navy after nearly 21 years. Been retired for about 2.5 years now. For the first year or so, I was determined not to be “that guy” who couldn’t let go, and the veteran in me would be all I ever was. I made a concerted effort to let go and move on. Other than the DV plate on my truck, if you don’t know me you might not guess I ever served.

But lately I have been noticing how “proud” people are of all of the various things they have done in their own lives, and it has made me question why I feel obligated to keep my service and vet status low-key, when a large number of people put their own accomplishments on display…

For example, colleges. You see people everywhere with alumni stickers on their cars, hoodies, hats, the list goes on and on…it’s not “taboo” in the slightest for someone’s identity to be totally resting on the college they went to as their foundation.

In fact, this very weekend, some of my in-laws all took a trip up to the college they attended, just for the homecoming. They haven’t attended that school in 20 years…but they again have it all over their cars, they wear alumni hoodies, and yep…go to homecoming. People I know were in fraternities in college, and they still wear the greeks on hoodies and tshirts, etc….

Okay, okay, you get the point…

Anyway, fast forward to today. I have started wearing a “Retired Navy” ballcap when I go to the VA for my appointments. Something about carrying on the “tradition” of pride that the old-timers have carried for so long hits my heart. So, I bought the ballcap from a retired vet at his kiosk stand at the VA hospital I go to, and started wearing it for my appointments.

After my appointment today, I decided I was going to stop for lunch. Not normally something I would do, but I did. Walked into the little sandwich place, and ran into a couple people I somewhat know. We ordered our food, and then decided to grab a table and eat there together.

Everything was fine for the most part…UNTIL…one of them looks at me dead in the eyes and said “you know, I didn’t take you for the type…”

Confused, I asked what he meant, and he continued with: “The type to flaunt the vet thing…I just thought you were going to have a life beyond that.”

I tried…I really tried to just let it roll off my shoulder.

At first I just mustered up a smile and said “I’m not defined by it, but I am proud of it.”

That should have been the end of that…but it wasn’t. He went a step further and said “you know in the real world, no one cares, right?”

THAT…is when I lost my ability to let it go. I set down my sandwich, looked him right in the eyes, gestured down at his Baylor University Alumni polo shirt and said “You know no one gives a damn that you went to Baylor over 20 years ago, right? How about your career? You know no one gives a damn that you work for some low-rate mortgage company, right? Are you proud of what you do? Does it define you? What have you done with your life that makes you hold your head up high, judging me for what I did with mine?”

He just looked at me…and I continued (paraphrasing because of heat of the moment): “You’re god damned right I am proud of every single F*CKING DAY of the 21 years I served. No, it doesn’t define me, but it sure as hell is what molded me Into who I am today, and I am tired of pretentious F*CKS like you pretending that ANYTHING you have done with your life matters, but what I did should be left behind like a story in the back of a book in some small-town library somewhere.

F*ck you and your judgement for what I did with my life. You, your Baylor shirt, and your judging f*cking face can kiss my ass when it comes to telling me who I am or who I can be, or what I can be proud of.

When you decide to do something with YOUR life beyond trying to impress your bosses by selling the highest rate mortgage to the lowest qualified buyer, then you can come talk to me. Until then, shut your mouth about me, the way I live my life, and what may or may not define who I am.”

With that, I turned to the other guy, shook his hand, stood up, and walked out.

I may have overreacted a bit…but honestly, I am tired of being judged for my license plate….judged for sea stories…judged the moment people find out I am a vet…judged for wearing vet related stuff (I literally have a hat, shoot me)…

No one is obligated to celebrate me or my service…but I will be damned if I ever again let them make me feel obligated to hide it.

F*ck ‘em

The part about being alone that is never really discussed; isn't always so much about not having people to go to in times of distress.

You can talk to the crisis line, you can talk to your brothers although ultimately at the end, its just talk. Nothing is actually solved

You can check in to in patient, sure get a week or two 'mental break' but the same variables that are causing the feelings of being alone, are still their waiting.

You can bend, you can break, you can become entirely forged by iron into a sword but a sword only has 1 purpose.

You can reforge that same sword into a shield but it is only as good as the person wielding said shield.

22 a day, isn't about not trying, its about trying so hard, every single day until you just wake up at 4am one day & realize, Im spinning wheels on asphalt & getting no traction & no matter how hard you fight for growth or change; its never really enough

I have brothers to talk too, they have their own distresses but would absolutely answer if I called. Again, It just doesn't produce a lasting affect.

Loneliness. That is the silent 22 killer.

I’m single with no dependents, and don’t own any property. Also on VA healthcare. The only deductible I have is my car insurance and it’s low. I am living off of less than $3,500 a month, and saving the rest of my income and VA checks.

Do you guys still think it’s recommended to have an emergency fund? I’d like to invest my E fund in the stock market, but I’m not sure if that’s wiss. Thoughts?

If you no longer have to work a job and are comfortably living off retirement/disability, where did you choose to retire?

I want to build a family in the country using the VA construction loan in an area that doesn’t receive snow. Texas is the most obvious answer but I want to know if there are any other places that check off many boxes for veterans.

The bear proof trash can conundrum is that parks try to make a bear proof trash can, but there's a huge overlap between the smartest bears and the dumbest humans. If they make the cans too bear proof, stupid people can't figure out how to use them. But if they make them too user friendly, smart bears get in them.

VA services sometimes are trying so hard to protect themselves from being utilized in situations and by people who don't deserve them, they become incredibly difficult to be utilized by the people who need them. For example, I need transportation to pick up my prosthetic device. My VA doesn't make these in house, they use a company that's 2 hours away. I have to go pick it up. I have struggled for weeks to get approved transportation. I keep getting denied because my appointment isn't for a VA facility, because I don't have a valid appointment scheduled in my record. Getting anyone to talk to me, and getting an opportunity to explain my situation has been almost impossible. Because you can only leave messages. I finally got frustrated and left a nasty voicemail saying someone better call me back. They did, only to tell me I need my doctor to submit a request for transportation. And I'm just so exasperated. They know prosthetic situations are different and will show up differently. I've had prosthetics leave notes on my record. Why do I have to do all this extra work just for a ride? I know this is disjointed, I'm just so frustrated

USMC- 200,000 (roughly, including reserves)

US Army- 25,000 rounding up. (11 Class-A, B, C).

Wasn't apart of either so have no bias.

However, was apart of Army Units and they walked everywhere.

Hello everyone I am currently in the Navy as an AWR (sensor operator/rescue swimmer) I separate from the navy in a year and some change. Curious if anyone knows of any jobs that I would be able to apply with using my experience and/or clearance (TS/SCI).

Air Force only please

When you officially move from TRDL to PRDL how did they send you your new retirement orders and did you need to re enroll in Tricare? I know we should get new IDs because the TRDL ones have expiration dates. Anyone who recently went through this change can you provide your experience ? What was all the steps you did? Just trying to get prepared. Looking for personal experiences not second hand or different branch. Thanks.