What habits (good OR bad) have you kept after leaving the military?

Ben Jefferson

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I know there are things I still do that others in the family find a bit odd, but perfectly normal to me!

1. I shower in 1/4 the time of anyone else because the time I was deployed with the canoe club!

2. I still wear my hair short.

3. I still eat fast unless I make an effort not to.

4. I am told I am always trying to be the "Alpha" dog.

5. I still fold clothes and clean firearms fanatically!

This came up because we have some company in and when I got out of the shower they all remarked that I was not in there long enough to get clean. Sure was!
 
Is the shower and eating thing strictly a military trait?

I was not in the military, but my showers are eight minutes from washing hair to rinsing off and my wife has reached over the table to grab my hand and say, "Slow down."

What else are you doing in the shower to take that long? 8 mins is a very long shower.
 
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I'm including taking off my clothes, toweling off, etc. You know, just like sex.
I’m usually in and out and drying off in 4 min or less.

I don’t usually have remorse for people.
Still keep my hair short
I’m paranoid as hell in crowded areas and always watching everything.
Swear like a mofo
 
Heavy attention to detail & lack of empathy come to mind.
In the absence of leadership, I tend to take charge.

Definitely this. Zero tolerance for bullshit, either.

I still fold my drawers & meticulously fold & hang everything else. When we travel, I have to pack the missus' suitcase since I can fold & pack everything so neatly, it comes out wrinkle free.

I won't enter the woods without clean, dry socks, drawers & shit tickets in ziplock bags in my day pack.

I can't speak without swearing & can still drink about anyone who was never a paratrooper under the table.

Past that, I think I escaped relatively unscathed ;)
 
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Uncovering as soon as I pass through the hatch. Drives me crazy to go into a restaurant and see grown men sitting there with their caps on.

I'm sure there are other habits I've carried over, but since they are now ingrained in what I do I can't really separate them out from mil service.
 
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Is the shower and eating thing strictly a military trait?

I was not in the military, but my showers are eight minutes from washing hair to rinsing off and my wife has reached over the table to grab my hand and say, "Slow down."

I don't think so, was never in the military, however after 23 years in public safety, I have to make a concerted effort to eat slowly.

Can be showered, dressed, out the door with fresh brewed coffee in under 15 minutes. I don't think it's only a military thing, more so being in a field, whatever it maybe where you might not get a chance to eat or finish your meal.

I keep my hair short as well because I don't want to deal with it while I'm working.

Being on time is a pet peeve, if I'm supposed to be there at 0900, then I am in my seat at 0845.

Can't stand unpolished boots. Even though I wear Solomons at work now, I've still figured out how to polish them so they don't look nasty.

No matter what uniform you wear you need to look squared away, garbage man or general....
 
I don't think so, was never in the military, however after 23 years in public safety, I have to make a concerted effort to eat slowly.

Can be showered, dressed, out the door with fresh brewed coffee in under 15 minutes. I don't think it's only a military thing, more so being in a field, whatever it maybe where you might not get a chance to eat or finish your meal.

I keep my hair short as well because I don't want to deal with it while I'm working.

Being on time is a pet peeve, if I'm supposed to be there at 0900, then I am in my seat at 0845.

Can't stand unpolished boots. Even though I wear Solomons at work now, I've still figured out how to polish them so they don't look nasty.

No matter what uniform you wear you need to look squared away, garbage man or general....

Thanks for doing your thing brother!
 
I think this a much more forgiving crowd for non-conformist views than many might find Millie!
And I thank my lucky stars daily that I managed to fetch up here a couple years ago!

I'm the black sheep of my near and extended family and it's a tough crowd, so I'm grateful to have found this bunch! Acceptance and kinship.....yummy! Not a lot of people I know "get" me, but a lot here do! LOL.
 
Never go outside without a hat. Never wear one inside. Short hair. Little discipline things, like turning off lights every time I leave a room. Hang up clothes as soon as you take them off, except have a pair of pants by the bedside in case the collision alarm or fire alarm goes off.
 
The primary thing I’ve retained has actually become my “trademark”.

You know how throughout your day people will politely and off-handedly say “hi, how are you?” They don’t actually care how you’re doing, it’s just an automatic greeting.

My response is always a clear, assertive, “Outstanding!”

It catches a lot of people off guard and usually results in a genuine interaction.

That came from a DI during basic training and has stuck with me more than any other habit.
 
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The primary thing I’ve retained has actually become my “trademark”.

You know how throughout your day people will politely and off-handedly say “hi, how are you?” They don’t actually care how you’re doing, it’s just an automatic greeting.

My response is always a clear, assertive, “Outstanding!”

It catches a lot of People off guard and usually results in a genuine interaction.

That came from a DI during basic training and has stuck with me more than any other habit.

I look forward to meeting you...
 
Wow, lots of military people here...thank you all for your service, present and former.
 

Uniform2.jpg
 
Good eye. I didn't catch that at first.
You need your eyes re-calibrated...:D

Getting up early...I am up between 04-05 everyday, even after a late whisky laced evening, just can't sleep in...have to be up well before BMNT to get ready for stand to, when the french & indians attack.

Y'all nailed most everything else. I still work on Bragg everyday and many things most of us once knew as "standards" are gone, especially individual discipline.

Been up earlier than usual today,03, sitting here watching Where Eagles Dare and now I really want to get me one of those reproduction MP40s that GSG makes, just for giggles...

[mod edit for language - tim]
 
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And trimming loose threads

Oh, yeah! Irish Pennants.

Our Bishop was making his annual visit last Sunday. As the procession lined up to enter the church I was out in the vestibule and saw an string hanging loose on the Bishop's hat tails (or whatever that thing is called). Couldn't resist pulling out my nail clippers and clipping it off. I thought his assistant was going to have a fit.
 
Oh, yeah! Irish Pennants.

Our Bishop was making his annual visit last Sunday. As the procession lined up to enter the church I was out in the vestibule and saw an string hanging loose on the Bishop's hat tails (or whatever that thing is called). Couldn't resist pulling out my nail clippers and clipping it off. I thought his assistant was going to have a fit.


That is just classic jarhead!

You'll probably be too stupid to lay down when you die too!
Oh, yeah! Irish Pennants.

Our Bishop was making his annual visit last Sunday. As the procession lined up to enter the church I was out in the vestibule and saw an string hanging loose on the Bishop's hat tails (or whatever that thing is called). Couldn't resist pulling out my nail clippers and clipping it off. I thought his assistant was going to have a fit.
 
Definitely this. Zero tolerance for bullshit, either.

I still fold my drawers & meticulously fold & hang everything else. When we travel, I have to pack the missus' suitcase since I can fold & pack everything so neatly, it comes out wrinkle free.

I won't enter the woods without clean, dry socks, drawers & shit tickets in ziplock bags in my day pack.

I can't speak without swearing & can still drink about anyone who was never a paratrooper under the table.

Past that, I think I escaped relatively unscathed ;)

Airborne. Pishaw. There's a reason it's called "drinking like a sailor" and "cursing like a sailor." Never heard "drinking like a paratrooper." ;)

5 minutes early is on time; on time is late.

I still make my bed (no 45-degree corners, 6-inch fold, etc, but it's made, and it's neat).

I make PACE plan for everything.

Gig line

I can consume a 5-course meal in about 3 minutes. Not strictly military; being a paramedic and RN is very bad for this, too....
 
I didn't have the sense to serve when I was young enough, but my dad was stationed in Germany in the 60's pre-Vietnam. Decades later he still got up before dawn, kept his hair short, his tools clean, and barked at me for failing to remove my hat when I came indoors.
 
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