Many videos that I’ve seen where people talk about what it is like to join the military go over how they systematically break you down and rebuild your mindset so that you think of your unit or fellow soldiers first.
Did you feel different after you went through training?
Was it an emotional process?
What are some myths about serving that most civilians get wrong?
Yea I felt different but not for the reasons people think.
For most people (especially us older vets who went in before the DoD started cleaning up Basic Training), Basic Training is the most difficult thing you did in your life up until that point. You are isolated from your family and friends, stripped of your personal belongings, told where to be, where and when to sleep, what and how much time youll take to eat, and overall working with a whole bunch of goofies from around the World to make it through...on top of moderate to extreme physical exercise and most likely sleep deprivation.
So yea for the first few weeks/months after basic ending you might come out a litttle "blued up" as we call it in the USAF...which basically means youre drinking the patriotism kool aid..
Me personally, I was little blued up when i graduated BMT. I was eager to serve and contribute to something.
Overtime it usually dulls as you become jaded to the overall monotony and BS of your job. With that said, I personally had a dramatic positive shift in my confidence, resourcefulness and ability to think fast and critically, skills that have served me well 12 years alter after enlisting and commissioning.
Id say the biggest myth everyone gets wrong is thinking the military is nothing but getting yelled at to do menial, degrading tasks with no questioning. While the military is extremely hierachal, its no different than any other job. THe Workers (enlisted) do the work and are subject matter experts, The management (officers) plans, organizes, trains and equips.. That simple.
. It just depends on the person I guess. I never really bought in to all that BS.
