[Sequoyah101]

I’m told only about 2% of the population are in the military or a military associated family.

Most people I encounter have no idea what it involves, how long the hours are, how demanding it can be or much of anything else about it.

[OttawaFreeper]

But at about this time last year, the Media Wing of the Party of Government was giving wall to wall coverage of Khan.

[Tennessee Nana]

possibly...

When I was in during Nam about 10% of the population were veterans...

its got to be a lot lower now...

[redcatcherb412]

I’m told only about 2% of the population are in the military or a military associated family.

I had a squad Sgt. that was killed in the same firefight I was wounded during Tet '68. It always troubled me that when they were able to get the KIA/WIA out after about 8 hours that they loaded us up on troop slicks not medivac ships and I got the poncho they drug me out on dumped on top of his body on the floor of the slick and I never forgot the ride to 93rd evac hospital face to face with the sarge. Years later on my brigade message board was a post from a guy looking for anything about his older brother. All he had was a telegraph from the Army stating his brother was killed by shrapnel from hostile fire and the province. He was beside himself 35 years after his brother was killed trying to get any information. Long story short, I explained how I knew his brother, how he served with me, how he died and the fact he had someone with him that knew him on his last Air Mobile mission off the battlefield. It's heartwrenching to know how little the families were told of their loved ones deaths and I was glad to lift some weight off the Sarges little brother. He asked for and I sent him battlefield photos from the brigade HQ as that battle was well chronicled along with a photo from the brigade HQ memorial hallway with his brothers name engraved so every man in the brigade today walking thru HQ sees his brothers name. The memory of that chopper ride staring into his once vibrant face now still and waxen stays with me today 49 years later. The family survivors of the fallen require closure that they rarely get.

[Seruzawa]

Most liberals I know think they are all stupid or brainwashed.

[Svartalfiar]

Most people I encounter have no idea what it involves, how long the hours are, how demanding it can be or much of anything else about it.

No joke. Telling some of my friends/extended family about it, they have no idea. I'm in a Guard unit, so we get paid a little better (daily rate), but even then. An E5 with 10 years in makes about $1500 for our 2-week annual training (brand new privates are right around half of these numbers). Just under $110 a day. You probably average a 10-12 hour day of stuff while you're there, though some days you'll go from 06 in the morning, until midnight or so. Maybe later if you're doing night ops or any training requiring darkness to conduct. A 17-18 hour day means you're getting paid the equivalent of about $6/hr. (That's $3/hr for the brand new privates.) As fun as it is, sometimes it rather sucks!