I dunno, I've never dated one and for some reason they scare the shit outta me.

I have to admit that I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to people in the military. My mother's brother was in the US marines, and the stories he has told....yikes. I just think of them as trained killing machines.

So I guess this thread is about the misconceptions of army people (at least I hope there are misconceptions).

Anyone care to enlighten me a little?

The idea of dating one kinda creeps me out, despite having a lot of appreciation and respect for how they go to bat for their country. I think it's because from time to time you hear stories about military dudes flipping their lids and beating the shit out of people or killing them.

I'd go for a fireman though. Cops, dubious.

After the militairy man you could go for the construction worker.

armpit said:

The idea of dating one kinda creeps me out, despite having a lot of appreciation and respect for how they go to bat for their country. I think it's because from time to time you hear stories about military dudes flipping their lids and beating the shit out of people or killing them.

I'd go for a fireman though. Cops, dubious.

Yeah, maybe. Maybe part of me thinks guys that join just get off on being trained killers and having extreme power.

I don't think I would ever get involved with a cop either.

Hmmm.

The first is that we're all war mongers. When a person joins the military, often, they are doing it to further their education, leave their cities, or find a trade. The idea that they must defend the country or go to war is on the mind, but not a motivating factor.

It's a very diverse group of people, especially the Air Force (US Air Force), because multiple people from all walks of life are forced to rellocate and work with folks whose religions, politics, and social attitudes are different from their own. It forces you to at least get along with other types of people should you be resistent to it.

But, Air Force guys have always had an elitist attitude towards the army, navy and marines. We always assume that they're more-or-less trailer trash who coudln't get into college---nothing can be further from the truth, as I know some ex-Army folks who are liberal, intelligent, and pretty damned gay.

If anything, the risk for HIV infection would be lower, since they're tested every year, and HIV+, herpese (And some other diseases) , at least when I was in, meant you had to leave the force. This is USA military though. I don't know about Canada or other countries.

kewlschool said:

After the militairy man you could go for the construction worker.

The cowboy is the hottest dude in that pic.

What's the difference between the army and the marines?

JustErin said:

What's the difference between the army and the marines?

From a civilian point-of-view, if your'e dating one, an Army person may be a normal guy with a job that just happens to require him to wear battle-dress-uniforms. Dating a marine means you're dating someone who is definately 'in the life'. Marines will never lose touch with their friends. It's more like a brotherhood. That's not to say each service doesn't have that feel to it, but it's very intense with marines.

I would imagine marines are the best in bed.

JustErin said:

armpit said:

The idea of dating one kinda creeps me out, despite having a lot of appreciation and respect for how they go to bat for their country. I think it's because from time to time you hear stories about military dudes flipping their lids and beating the shit out of people or killing them.

I'd go for a fireman though. Cops, dubious.

Yeah, maybe. Maybe part of me thinks guys that join just get off on being trained killers and having extreme power.

I don't think I would ever get involved with a cop either.

Like imago, I was in the Air Force up until last April. We're fairly harmless. Most are, really. (At least in the US military). I joined for a house of my own. Many join for that, for college money, or just to leave whatever little Podunk town they live in. I think those that join to shoot, blow up, and kill sh*t are the minority. This isn't to say that those that join for other reasons don't take their job seriously. But they're not all foaming at the mouth waiting to drop missiles on people and shit.

Military dudes are just dudes.

imago said:

JustErin said:

What's the difference between the army and the marines?

From a civilian point-of-view, if your'e dating one, an Army person may be a normal guy with a job that just happens to require him to wear battle-dress-uniforms. Dating a marine means you're dating someone who is definately 'in the life'. Marines will never lose touch with their friends. It's more like a brotherhood. That's not to say each service doesn't have that feel to it, but it's very intense with marines.

I would imagine marines are the best in bed.

Marines are definitely more apt to choke the sh*t out of her.

Marines have longer training, Erin, to partly answer your question. They also sort of fall under the Navy for the most part. As far as infantry goes, they're the "big guns" of the military (not counting spec ops type shit like Army Rangers and Navy Seals). Not really sure how to exactly explain it.

I was confused when you mentioned this in that other thread, but now I get it. I'd say this...

People in the military are trained to defend themselves and their country, not to be violent for the sake of violence. For the most part, they are no more or less dark, evil, violent, etc. than the next person. There are of course a few of them who are a bit over the edge and enlisted because they get to shoot guns, act tough and possibly go to war. But really, not very many of them. A lot of them are just regular people who felt like they needed to do their part for their country, were following in a family tradition, needed the extra money for college, or just didn't know what to do with their lives. Quite often they are actually very intelligent, caring people. Violent, out of control people do not necessarily make the best soldiers. People who can think clearly in the worst imaginable situations and react to the training they've been provided are what they're looking for, even with the grunts.

On the personal side, I have family members (men and women) who have held various ranks in three branches of the US military. All but one of them has seen active duty and they are all normal, well adjusted people, even the ones who have terrible stories to tell. I've also had/have friends who have enlisted and all of them are as normal as the next person (I do have one friend who had a bad time of it in Afghanistan and he drinks too much now, but that's the worst). In every instance I would say that each of them shares something special with each other that nobody else will ever truly understand. For me, that doesn't make anything about their personality scary, it just adds something different, almost unique. I find that interesting and I respect what they've done immensely.

Of course, there are some loonies. There are some people who don't come back the same. There are some violent, power tripping assholes who enlist. But ya know, for me, they don't seem any different than the world at large.

imago said:

JustErin said:

What's the difference between the army and the marines?

From a civilian point-of-view, if your'e dating one, an Army person may be a normal guy with a job that just happens to require him to wear battle-dress-uniforms. Dating a marine means you're dating someone who is definately 'in the life'. Marines will never lose touch with their friends. It's more like a brotherhood. That's not to say each service doesn't have that feel to it, but it's very intense with marines.

I would imagine marines are the best in bed.

But what do they do? Like, I know navy is boat dudes, and air force well, that speaks for itself.

My uncle was visiting and was talking about what he had to go through in training...like being shipped out to some fucking remote wilderness and told he and his team had to survive 2 weeks on nothing - like nothing. He talked about waterboarding training and other crazy shit.

Maybe it's not like that now, he fought in vietnam...but I was mortified listening to him.

johnart said:

Military dudes are just dudes.

Profound.

Damn, a lot of people posted while I typed that... soooo, yeah. What they said.

JustErin said:

imago said:

From a civilian point-of-view, if your'e dating one, an Army person may be a normal guy with a job that just happens to require him to wear battle-dress-uniforms. Dating a marine means you're dating someone who is definately 'in the life'. Marines will never lose touch with their friends. It's more like a brotherhood. That's not to say each service doesn't have that feel to it, but it's very intense with marines.

I would imagine marines are the best in bed.

But what do they do? Like, I know navy is boat dudes, and air force well, that speaks for itself.

My uncle was visiting and was talking about what he had to go through in training...like being shipped out to some fucking remote wilderness and told he and his team had to survive 2 weeks on nothing - like nothing. He talked about waterboarding training and other crazy shit.

Maybe it's not like that now, he fought in vietnam...but I was mortified listening to him.

But how does any of that affect you dating them? See, I guess I'm still confused by all this.

FauxReal said:

imago said:

From a civilian point-of-view, if your'e dating one, an Army person may be a normal guy with a job that just happens to require him to wear battle-dress-uniforms. Dating a marine means you're dating someone who is definately 'in the life'. Marines will never lose touch with their friends. It's more like a brotherhood. That's not to say each service doesn't have that feel to it, but it's very intense with marines.

I would imagine marines are the best in bed.

Marines are definitely more apt to choke the sh*t out of her.

Marines have longer training, Erin, to partly answer your question. They also sort of fall under the Navy for the most part. As far as infantry goes, they're the "big guns" of the military (not counting spec ops type shit like Army Rangers and Navy Seals). Not really sure how to exactly explain it.

Ah, I see. My uncle was talking about training the SEALS so it makes sense that the marines work closely with the navy.

Cerebus said:

JustErin said:

But what do they do? Like, I know navy is boat dudes, and air force well, that speaks for itself.

My uncle was visiting and was talking about what he had to go through in training...like being shipped out to some fucking remote wilderness and told he and his team had to survive 2 weeks on nothing - like nothing. He talked about waterboarding training and other crazy shit.

Maybe it's not like that now, he fought in vietnam...but I was mortified listening to him.

But how does any of that affect you dating them? See, I guess I'm still confused by all this.

Because I just think going through that shit effects you deeply and not for the better.

JustErin said:

Cerebus said:

But how does any of that affect you dating them? See, I guess I'm still confused by all this.

Because I just think going through that shit effects you deeply and not for the better.

OK, that's what I thought for a minute, but I wasn't sure. In that case, what I said up above. Like I said, the best soldiers are the ones who are not affected by any of it deeply. Not the training, or the service, or the "action". Yes, a good number of them are affected by it in some way. But that doesn't necessarily turn them into violent, drooling monsters. In the case of two of my family members it actually mellowed them quite a bit.

Edit: ing, ed, it makes a difference.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:49pm]

Don't have numbers but I'd guess deployments and the abscence of your loved one for long periods is probably a more common relationship issue than post-traumatic stuff.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:59pm]

Cerebus said:

JustErin said:

Because I just think going through that shit effects you deeply and not for the better.

OK, that's what I thought for a minute, but I wasn't sure. In that case, what I said up above. Like I said, the best soldiers are the ones who are not affected by any of it deeply. Not the training, or the service, or the "action". Yes, a good number of them are affected by it in some way. But that doesn't necessarily turn them into violent, drooling monsters. In the case of two of my family members it actually mellowed them quite a bit.

Edit: ing, ed, it makes a difference.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:49pm]

I've met a few Canadian military dudes and they were all arrogant douchebags that didn't talk about their job, they bragged about it....know what I mean? And they were the kind of guys that would end up getting in some fight at a bar, you know being all tough and shit.

I like some arrogance and confidence in a guy, but nothing turns me off more than a violent guy...and that's exactly the type I think of when I think army dude. Like they can't control anger and just snap.

But yeah, that's why I said misconceptions.

johnart said:

Don't have numbers but I'd guess deployments and the abscence of your loved one for long periods is probably a more common relationship issue than post-traumatic stuff.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:59pm]

Yeah, for sure. I can't even imagine what it's like to be the ones back at home...waiting, hoping they come home safe. Awful.

That, and I probably could never be faithful in that situation.

JustErin said:

johnart said:

Don't have numbers but I'd guess deployments and the abscence of your loved one for long periods is probably a more common relationship issue than post-traumatic stuff.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:59pm]

Yeah, for sure. I can't even imagine what it's like to be the ones back at home...waiting, hoping they come home safe. Awful.

That, and I probably could never be faithful in that situation.

Yes. I meant waiting and hoping for their safe return. Just that.

So I guess that's it...thread's done.

I was wrong about them.

Should I change the subject now to get at least 50 views? I can't allow less than 50 views.

I need at least 50 views as validation.

JustErin said:

So I guess that's it...thread's done.

I was wrong about them.

Should I change the subject now to get at least 50 views? I can't allow less than 50 views.

I need at least 50 views as validation.

I got a decent sig line out of it, so it's not a total loss.

JustErin said:

Cerebus said:

OK, that's what I thought for a minute, but I wasn't sure. In that case, what I said up above. Like I said, the best soldiers are the ones who are not affected by any of it deeply. Not the training, or the service, or the "action". Yes, a good number of them are affected by it in some way. But that doesn't necessarily turn them into violent, drooling monsters. In the case of two of my family members it actually mellowed them quite a bit.

Edit: ing, ed, it makes a difference.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:49pm]

I've met a few Canadian military dudes and they were all arrogant douchebags that didn't talk about their job, they bragged about it....know what I mean? And they were the kind of guys that would end up getting in some fight at a bar, you know being all tough and shit.

I like some arrogance and confidence in a guy, but nothing turns me off more than a violent guy...and that's exactly the type I think of when I think army dude. Like they can't control anger and just snap.

But yeah, that's why I said misconceptions.

Hey, I could certainly be wrong. Its not like I've ever dated one of them or anything. I'm just going by my impressions of the people I've known who have actually gone PAST basic training, been stationed someplace, possibly even seen "action" and served out the term of their enlistment (although several reenlisted and a couple were lifers). Maybe that makes a difference.

I do know the type you're referring too, but I always assumed (dangerous, I know) that it was largely a stereotype. At the very least I think its only one type of enlisted person. As far as snapping, again, not controlling your anger is really not a good trait for someone who is being trained to take orders and call on their training in strenuous situations.

(As an aside, although the comment made me laugh, I would never punch you out. I've walked away from more than one woman who was punching and kicking me. Hitting a woman is never OK, and for me there is no "unless". But it would be better if you never kicked me in the balls. Just sayin'. )

JustErin said:

So I guess that's it...thread's done.

I was wrong about them.

Should I change the subject now to get at least 50 views? I can't allow less than 50 views.

I need at least 50 views as validation.

How many more views do you need? Its late, might have to wait until tomorrow.

Fauxie said:

JustErin said:

So I guess that's it...thread's done.

I was wrong about them.

Should I change the subject now to get at least 50 views? I can't allow less than 50 views.

I need at least 50 views as validation.

I got a decent sig line out of it, so it's not a total loss.

Kmph.

Fauxie said:

JustErin said:

So I guess that's it...thread's done.

I was wrong about them.

Should I change the subject now to get at least 50 views? I can't allow less than 50 views.

I need at least 50 views as validation.

I got a decent sig line out of it, so it's not a total loss.

I didn't know how else to say it....but in my mind it made perfect sense!

JustErin said:

Cerebus said:

OK, that's what I thought for a minute, but I wasn't sure. In that case, what I said up above. Like I said, the best soldiers are the ones who are not affected by any of it deeply. Not the training, or the service, or the "action". Yes, a good number of them are affected by it in some way. But that doesn't necessarily turn them into violent, drooling monsters. In the case of two of my family members it actually mellowed them quite a bit.

Edit: ing, ed, it makes a difference.

[Edited 8/14/11 21:49pm]

I've met a few Canadian military dudes and they were all arrogant douchebags that didn't talk about their job, they bragged about it....know what I mean? And they were the kind of guys that would end up getting in some fight at a bar, you know being all tough and shit.

I like some arrogance and confidence in a guy, but nothing turns me off more than a violent guy...and that's exactly the type I think of when I think army dude. Like they can't control anger and just snap.

But yeah, that's why I said misconceptions.

This is exactly what I think of when people mention army guys.