Truth You’ll Never Hear About Military and Civilian Life

3-1/2 minutes to read

Spending time with friends is really the best part of the holiday season. The one just past gave me many opportunities to catch up with those I hold most dear. I cherish these conversations because we can dig into meaningful issues and ideas. For me, that means gaining deeper insight into the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.

Misperceptions of Military and Civilian Life

I have written before about the gulf between civilians and service members. In addition to the how difficult this makes communicating, it has also caused misperceptions among both about the reality of their lives.

Civilians are surprised to learn only 8% to 11% of service members are trained for actual combat as opposed to a supporting role. I’m not downplaying the danger faced by others, such as logistics personnel who run convoys or medical personnel who may be shot at while rendering aid. But even when they are included, far less than a majority gets into situations where their lives are in danger.

Civilians think being in the military is exciting. While the thrill of flying off an aircraft carrier never gets old, other aspects become routine even if the first time gets your blood pumping. Similar to facing danger, excitement is a small part of military life.

On the other hand, most service members think civilians have it pretty easy, at least until reality hits them when they leave the military.

An Uncomfortable Truth

Military life leaves little room for ambiguity. Career paths are well defined. Training opportunities abound and are paid for by the military. Quality healthcare is available at no cost to active duty personnel and their family members. Housing is paid for and is of decent to superior quality. Every service member either has access to a mess hall where he gets free meals or receives a food allowance.

While mainstream news covers situations where service members or veterans are not well cared for, you hear nothing about how much support the military gives its people. The cost to train personnel, particularly specialists such as sailors on nuclear submarines ($1 million) or aircraft maintainers (tens of thousands minimum), is high. Such an investment must be protected.

So whether it’s family problems, substance abuse, or financial difficulties, every branch of the service has people dedicated to helping its members overcome such challenges. The navy goes to extraordinary lengths to prevent young sailors failing and having to bear the consequences.

Where in civilian life can you find a similar life? Careers paths are difficult to find and navigate. For the most part, you pay for your own training or borrow money to do so. Dealing with health insurance and medical care is one of the biggest challenges in civilian life. Few jobs include free housing and meals. Which companies offer the broad array of support services to help people overcome life’s most difficult challenges?

Reality is, civilian life is far more difficult than military life. Yet service members and civilians are convinced the opposite is true. Both groups do each other a disservice by failing to acknowledge this fact. By holding this belief, veterans enter civilian life with a false sense of the challenge. Unprepared, 44% find the transition difficult, almost double what veterans of previous wars found.

Civilians face a myriad of challenges that service members take for granted. Either because of misperception about military and civilian life, or not wanting to appear unsupportive, civilians do not acknowledge their lives are harder. Yet they are quick to thank veterans for their service. For the sake of transitioning veterans, it’s time for civilians to speak the truth and veterans to thank them for their honesty.

Why do you think this misperception exists?
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