With less then 10% of the population of the USA currently in the military and a diminishing number of veterens from WWII, Korea and even Vietnam there is a need to understand how the different world operates. There are some things about the military world that those in the military would love for the civilian world to know. There are many things that Hollywood quite frankly gets wrong.

1)Much of what Hollywood has portrayed is wrong. There is much mundane hard work in the life of the military. A member of the USAF who helps direct air strikes from the ground laughed when I made the quip fanfare for the common man is not playing from hidden speakers on base. A Blackhawk crew chief added there is a whole lot of hard work. There is drudgery there can be a whole lot of hard work.

2)The fictional portrayal of a fighter pilot is off. F-22 pilot, F-16, F-15 pilot imagine often a Volvo station wagon and a person you would consider perfectly cast as an accountant or other notoriously boring profession. Many fighter pilots like being at the their best they like the challenge. The competitive nature of a fighter pilot has an off switch and the technical demands of the job means a physically conditioned often super Geek.

3)The best war stories are told not by those who do not consider themselves as the definition of hero. An A-10 pilot related the tale of a mid air refueling. The sense of humor about the airplane and situation of going full power and not being able to make contact with the refueling boom because the Wart hog was not moving fast enough. Guys who can laugh at themselves laugh at situations are loved by people they work with.

4)Those members of outfits who can make a joke at their own expense are often truly the best at what they do. The pilot who can mock his or her mistake, the infantry man or security police person who talks about missing an easy shot has often done stuff that others would have deemed impossible they know it others know it the job got done so who outside from those whose lives were saved need to know.

5)Hollywood goes by appearances there are many people in military outfits who male and female who are the fiercest in combat most crack shots most cool under fire that would look whimps. These people on the streets could ruin a mugger’s day. They know what they are about in a life and death situation. They know they can handle themelves. Why advertise? They do not talk big they do not brag they simply when they have to DO! These individuals are not hunks or athletic hotties but they have simply done.

6)What impresses the military world is very different if they see an employee who does a disgusting job well, with pride and with zeal a Burger joint employee who cleans the parking turning a parking lot that looked like a dump into a spotless master piece. Sergants and former sergants who witnessed the event will crack a smile that employee gets the job done.

7)Special Forces raids in reality do not go like Hollywood portrayals. The SEAL Teams, the Rangers the recon when conducting a raid do not want to be noticed till the bad guys start dieing things get blown up and if they can get the heck out of their covered by booms and the resulting mass of confusion unnoticed undetected all the better. There were some SEALs in Vietnam that killed have a VC unit by going into a pup tent Slicing the throat of one occupant. Their presence was not known till the morning after.

8)Just because SF is involved does not mean it will work. When a deep raid or SF operation goes wrong it goes wrong big time. The heros involved often die horrible deaths, technology is not always perfect and the little things bite operations in the butt. Its often the tiniest of detail that can turn a slick plan into a living nightmare.

9)What impresses military members from civilians would shock people. A group enlisted people go to a fast food place and notice an employee cleaing up the parking lot that looks like a dump by the time their meal ends a sergant looks and sees the lot cleaned up look nice. “Someone here has the their stuff together” a disgusting job done well done with zeal will impress a hardened combat vet. The person who did it will earn respect. The combat vet would like to have a beer with the guy who cleaned up the lot instead the person who drove up in a Porshe 944 and left a Burger wrapper on the lot.

10) A person in uniform passes a polling place election day with a long line and later hears the words thank you……more often then not their will be pride and the words thank you by a person I voted are sweet as honey to the ear an nourishing as a good stew to the soul. A combat vet beholding the scene and hears the words thank you to another member of the military “Thank you for voting”. That unknown combat vet will take the compliment to the uniformed military member to him or herself. The presence of a long line for that vet will also be considered job satisfaction. The wait not an annoyance for the combat vet but rather vindication!  Those in the military appreciate those civilians who volunteer their time to youth organizations, a beach clean up, a charitable organization aiding those less fortunate. Thank you for maintaining an America worth fighting for!

11)A worker shows up to a company breakfast with a package of Carnation instant breakfast a Marine No Longer in Uniform, a former Army ranger, a former Navy chief all ask when did you serve. A loud signal indicating a military background was sent. The Black coffee stereotype is over used. The John Wayne movie Green Berets where the odd ball character lived soft the reality is the books of those who flew for the Green Berets and worked with SOG all highlight how living well was a goal when not fighting. Being tough for tough sake is considered almost funny. This not to say there are guys and gals who do prefer black coffee but resourcefulness in pursuit of creature comforts and enjoying creature comforts is a military thing. That worker who brought a packet of Carnation Instant breakfast to the company breakfast was not dubbed soft by former military but rather smart and cool.

12) Finally Radney Foster’s Angel Flight (link has an advertisement proceeds of the airing of the add go to military families)  as it speaks of love and loyalty of flight and fellow members of the military is one of the best war on terror songs. Buy a download of the song help those families of those who gave it all.

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