8 Things People get Wrong about the U.S. Military

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With drill sergeants that’ll make your back soak with sweat, tire you until you drop on your face, and then surgically remove any trace of dignity directly from your ears, army life often appears like hell through films. Yet, service in the barracks, the skies, open seas or where have you, can often differ quite dramatically in reality. Learn of the myths surrounding PTSD, enlistment, and watch the behind-the-scenes of actual U.S. military life.

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Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script: Natasha Martell
Narrator:

Chris Kane

Reisman, Miriam. “PTSD Treatment for Veterans : What’s Working, What’s New and What’s Next” Pharmacy and Therapeutics (Oct, 2016): pp. 623-627, 632-634.

United States government. “Join The Military.” Accessed August 5th, 2022. 

Fisher, Justin. “Military Myths: Joining the Military.” (February, 2021). mymilitarybenefits.

Air Force. “Meet Requirements: Excellence In All We Do.” Accessed August 5th, 2022. 

“FAQ: How hard is it to join?” Coast Guard. Accessed August 5th, 2022.

Norman, Sonya et al. “Research Findings on PTSD and Violence” PTSD: National Center for PTSD. Accessed August 5th, 2022.

DiRosa, Gia A. and Goodwin, Gerald F. “Moving Away From Hazing: The Example of Military Initial Entry Training.” Medicine and Society (Mar, 2014).

Army Maj. Alan Brown. “6 Reasons Military, Civilian Pay Don’t Line Up.” Accessed August 5th, 2022.

Indeed Editorial Team. “Jobs in the Military That Don’t Involve Combat” (Mar, 2021). Accessed August 5th, 2022.

New Team. “New Research Debunks Myths About Who Enlists and Why”. Accessed August 5th, 2022.

Carafano, James Jay. “Debunking the myth of the underprivileged soldier” (Nov, 2005). Accessed August 5th, 2022.

[glcol]

PTSD is more likely to cause the veteran to harm themselves than anyone else.

[PrinterWorks]

As a Marine with 7 years of service, I can say that hazing 100% exists and is an integral part of Marine Corps basic training. Full Metal Jacket was the most accurate representation, but it’s more than that. Also, you don’t shoot unless it’s to kill. Not to disarm, not to scare, but to kill. And if you’re with anyone that’s afraid to do so, you can’t trust them to have your back.

[frogglen]

I can confirm that drill sergeants constantly curse at trainees. The whole "drill sergeants can't swear at people anymore " myth is bogus


And I'm sorry SH. I think you guys make interesting content from time to time. But a lot of this video feels like propaganda.

Soldiers are underpaid. Especially non officers and anyone under E7. Which are the majority of troops.

*Enlisting IS easy* Just don't have a criminal record and don't do drugs, and you're automatically in unless you have medical condition. But a recruiter can get that waived.

[RS_JOLIO]

I will say... being enlisted in the Marines for 5 years was nothing to write home about, but having them pay for my $120, 000 degree with housing allowance while I worked full time (once out) was absolutely mint.

[HicSvntDracones]

I have PTSD, and it has nothing to do with violent outbursts... It is more along the lines of being unable to stop thinking about what you saw or what happened. You keep thinking about the event, and you eventually start living your life by avoiding anything that might remind you of what happened, to get it to stop replaying in your head, this can be at all different levels, from avoiding certain types of people, to avoiding groups, public transportation, or in some cases, avoiding people altogether. Violence can be a normal response to many stressful situations, but most people with PTSD aren't violent, if anything, most people go out of our way to avoid violence or confrontation. I guess the stereotype arises when people turn to drugs, and especially alcohol to help them stop thinking about what happened, and the alcohol is what causes the violent outbursts. The idea of someone mistaking you as some enemy and attacking you is a myth, at least, I've never met anyone like that or experienced anything like that, you don't have real flashbacks like hallucinations, you just can not stop thinking about what happened, why it happened, how you could have stopped it, and etc, like anyone in a traumatic event, issue is usually, it goes away after a bit, where in PTSD, you still keep dwelling on it years later.

[rudolphferdinand]

As a Vietnam veteran with PTSD, I can honestly say, you have your moments - this is a mental illness. But depending on what you experienced in a war, it can bring back certain events. Ten years of therapy in 1999 denied you don't have PTSD, but now, VA says chronic PTSD; I grew it over the last 23 years. I was awarded PTSD this month.

My grandson joined the Army at age 31. He did not need to do that, skilled in plumbing and heating making about $40 per hour with 10-12 years of experience. But my influence as a US Army veteran of 13 years only. 18X training.
Update: my grandson has completed jump school today next up 18x training SF.

[Courier-Six]

Served in the 101st airborne for 3 years. Yes, soldiers are underpaid and basically everyone that isn't an NCO or Officer lives below the poverty line Paycheck to Paycheck regardless of time in service. We had a Specialist named Kelly who was in for 20 years who had to deliver pizza's to make ends meet. Second, I can concur with the soldiers being from all walks of life. I actually served with the son of the CEO of KABAR who always got care packages from his family and gifted knives to guys on base regularly. He coulda taken a high salaried position in the company but wanted to serve and be independent of the family for a bit

[azj_]

" *GUUUMMMPP!!!* What's your sole purpose in this army?"
"To do whatever you tell me Drill Sergeant!"

*"God damn it Gump, you are goddamn genius!"*

[shastaham]

When I was drafted in 1964, my starting pay was $99 per month. When I got married later that year, my wife's allotment of $230 per month was more than twice my base pay. And, when I was injured in a role as support for a certain civilian agency violating the law in southeast Asia, I was called a liar and threatened with a court martial. I am proud of my service to my country, but being in the service Sucks.

[Co-kk]

I spent eight years in the army and served three tours in Iraq. I can absolutely say that I now own two houses and work for a defense contractor making good money; thanks to my time serving. The most underrated benefit is that you no longer have to make a downpayment on real estate to buy a house

[hugosinclair]

my great uncle served 2 tours in Vietnam as a medical huey pilot, he came back with PTSD and his episodes are usually panicking or scans the room, he only got violent once when a burglar triggered him when he pulled a knife on my great aunt, the guy is currently still recovering in the hospital 3 months later

[RealKorean]

As prior military, I can vouch not ALL military personnel see combat. Asvab is out of 100, Air force is minimum of 50

[MidWitPride]

7:35 This part about the Space Force being there for the aliens likely was a joke, but some people will take it as a fact, as all the other points in the video stayed factual.
Space Force has more to do with military satellites than aliens.

[YourLocalEnglishBloke]

Movie scene reference

0:00 - Forest Gump
0:45 - American Sniper
4:49 - Major Payne
5:03 - Forest Gump (Again)
5:27 - Full Metal Jacket (I think)
9:16 - Top Gun
(Might of missed a few movie references)

[SilverFang]

In the Navy, we actually do adhere to the "shoot to kill" mantra when out in open waters. The only time we do this is when we have a small vessel or ship approaching one of ours and the vessel is refusing to identify itself. Hence "Quick Draw" gets called when they get so close. Anyone who knows maritime rules knows if you ignore a war ships command to stay away, you will get blown out of the water. It happened a few times while I was deployed on the Stennis. Some pirates (I think) tried to approach us and got quickly dispatched.

[lucianoosorio]

“War is where the young and stupid are tricked by old and bitter into killing each other.” Niko Bellic

[Vasher-The-Destroyer]

Bro I've met people with PTSD
All from the military and they are probably the nicest and kindest people I've ever met

[wesch]

As a former service member in the US army. The pay is extremely low. Even considering room and board is paid for (if you live on post.) Everything else on or near post is more expensive. So when your net pay is only $1400 a month you still have to budget properly.

[jagaterbarn]

Saying the pay isn’t bad= 🧢

Saying people (Marines specifically) wouldn’t shoot to kill= 🧢

[jnavarro-]

As far as "shoot to kill" goes, we're trained to aim for center mass of the body. This lessens the change of missing.

However it's actually better to severely wound an enemy soldier than outright killing him. The reason being that now others (who could be fighting or otherwise engaged in some valuable task) have to care for and transport the injured soldier thereby using up resources and personnel.
As cold as it sounds a dead soldier becomes a supply problem.