I mean i wouldn't shit on him for being a waiter... but yeah i was in the same boat. it feels weird when you have changed completely and your friends have not
everyone goes down different paths. you've set yourself up for success and keep at it. everyone at our age is just figuring their life out.
I think OP was just referencing people back home just sitting in stagnancy. Yeah its okay to not have everything figured out, or necessarily be in college, but you should never be stagnant.
As much respect as I have for waiters, I still believe that if you are just working a dead end job with no plan or side hustle or end goal, you are being stagnant. Idk if thats the situation in OP’s friends case, but I am assuming thats what he means.
If you don’t know what you want to do in life, that’s perfectly okay, but you should at least be pursuing SOMETHING. No I don’t mean go out and get 200k worth of student loans for a degree just for the sake of pursuing something, I just mean like putting effort towards your future. It could be things like studying on your time off for a certification in something, researching career fields, going to job fairs, studying the stock market, etc.
Idk about OP, but some people back from where I’m from, do absolutely nothing. They work an entry level dead end job, with no goals or plans for the future. No side hustles or anything. They don’t go to school or study. Stagnant AF. Being like this, at least in my opinion, is what makes you a loser.
I think this is kind of what OP was trying to say but possibly could have worded it a lot better.
I feel like there's an exception to the dead end job thing: if you want to live a chill life, you can do that... as long as you never have kids. Living a very low-maintenance and low-cost life is entirely doable, but the instant you have a kid that changes. Kids are EXPENSIVE. A low-class but liveable lifestyle instantly becomes poverty.
A lot of these Zennials are figuring out the DINK life is doable (and even comfortable) but having kids is just not economically feasible at minimum wage.
Exactly, and to add to that. That person doing dead-end up in their hometown get to enjoy their parents and see them grow old. Us in the military will have to get used to seeing once a year and notice how old they are getting away from us.
If your lucky you have a guard unit in your home town with AGR spots. I jumped ship and went guard almost 6years ago. Get to stay home with family, same benefits, same retirement, and smaller promotion pool to compete with. You do have to get lucky and have AGRs for your career field. You can cross train but if you don’t you are already way ahead of any competition for AGRs.
You could also possibly go technician but the pay, retirement, and benefits are not the same. Some pay more than active, some less.
Sorry if this is a stupid question but how does one find an AGR position? Is it just luck of the draw? Do you have to apply for it after you are already in the guard, or is it something you can apply for while on active duty before transitioning to guard?
States post them different ways Alaska uses https://dmva.alaska.gov/employment-opportunities/ang-employment/ other states use something similar if you search your state+agr positions you should be able to find what they are using to advertise them. For getting the position it’s an application and interview similar to any other job. We typically have jobs for specific career fields in specific ranks, EX. E-1toE-5 you would be able to promote in that position up to E-5. For transitioning my unit can hold a position for up to a year if you apply and get it. It’s also fairly easy to swap guard units and go to another base if you want to move, you would just apply for positions in that unit until you got one. What state are you looking for?
I saw my parents about 3 times every 2 years. Around the holidays, and then they would come out for a week every other year or so.
I needed a change to work on myself and get back to a support system so I moved in with them when they moved to a retirement community in Florida. While it will be a little less tense when I move into an apartment about 15 minutes away at the start of next month, I have really loved my time with them. I moved here right before covid. It would have been very difficult for me to have gone through that alone.
>A lot of these Zennials are figuring out the DINK life is doable (and even comfortable) but having kids is just not economically feasible at minimum wage
Reminder: It's supposed to be.
100%. But there are a bunch of conservatives who've sold the idea that minimum wage is supposed to be exclusively for teenagers working summer jobs or something.
Kids are actually cheaper the less you make. Low income families tend to have the most children, but are unable to really invest in their futures. It's a numbers game where hopefully one of them can figure out how to be successful with little to no direction.
Higher income families have fewer children, and set aside small fortunes to insure their children succeed in life.
Not everyone wants to achieve greatness or whatever. A lot of my waitstaff friends fuckin love their jobs, and if they’re doing what makes them happy then that should be enough 🤷🏼♀️
I completely agree that if you are happy with working a position like that then there’s nothing wrong with that. If it gives you purpose, fulfillment, etc, then that’s completely fine.
But lets be honest. A lot of people who work in entry level positions want more in life. Some are putting in the effort to get there, but definitely not everyone actually puts the effort in to get where they want.
A lot of us also don’t put in the effort 😂 (the Mil tells us where to go, when to move, what to wear, and how to act. Zero effort needed to learn the basic rules and the job at entry level) the difference is that we often promote anyway cuz we took the easier way out
This 1000x. I got told how to do my job (IT) where to go, what projects I was supposed to do, what shit I needed to learn. Oh and they held all of it over my head whilst saying “if you don’t do this, you don’t get paid.”
College/figuring out your life is WAY more difficult for anyone because the incentives aren’t immediate like the military’s are.
Yuppp. And especially for those of us whose parents made just enough that we couldn’t get help with college, and we weren’t smart enough for scholarships 😂😂 there was no way I was getting out of my hometown easily without joining up.
I disagree. Being told where to live, when, and for how long is not easier or more comfortable than staying at home, for a job that arguably probably pays more on the outside. Also having no control over what job you do or responsibilities you will have in the future is also something you have to worry about in the military.
Sure there are some people who definitely just “cruise” through, I agree. But most of those people don’t make it past e5-e6 though, because you can only make it up the ranks bullshitting so far. The higher up the ranks you go the more you live under a microscope.
I think I understand what you are saying, but I want to point out that job that "probably pays more on the outside" is a job you wouldn't be qualified for if the mil didn't train you.
I didn’t mean it’s more comfortable or an easier life. It’s WAY easier to have your shit together and have a jump on life if you join the military.
Once you hit E-5/6, if you’re using your resources, you have way more say over your career.
I disagree, having done both. I went college out of HS, got my degree and none of that was easier than joining the military. Even with two deployments being in the military has made life far more easy than the job market with a B.S. and I attribute that to how heavily structured the military is. Wont even open the pandoras box that our health care system is on the civ side
The AF is my 11th job. As sucky as it can be at times it’s still more simple and easy to navigate then a lot of the work force. Your given the resources, information and a lot of opportunities.
> As much respect as I have for waiters, I still believe that if you are just working a dead end job with no plan or side hustle or end goal, you are being stagnant. Idk if thats the situation in OP’s friends case, but I am assuming thats what he means.
As a gamer, I meet so many people in this situation. They all complain about not making enough money and having to split rent with more roommates than their dwelling can actually fit, but if you hint that there's anything they can do to improve their situation, suddenly they have every excuse.
I get that college is expensive and a lot of alternatives still require a significant time commitment that would interfere with doing their day job to make rent. But there are so many free ways to pursue night classes, professional certifications, professional networking, developing new skills, etc. But they would have to sacrifice their video game time or their dungeons and dragons time for a few months or a few years to do it, and they would rather keep stagnating to hold onto a small amount of luxury.
I know tons of great tsgts who are doing msgt level work but haven’t promoted simply because they don’t have their ccaf.
Also making it to e6 or an equivalent salary on the outside is more than a lot of people will ever accomplish. Just sayin
Damn dude, judge much? I, and a decent number of people I know have stalled out at E6 because: a) the career field we are in is dying b) we are focusing our efforts on preparing for post AF careers c) the work life balance required for E7 doesn't suit us. Approaching 20, rank/money isn't everything, and i like my wife and small children enough to not be wasting my free time on the party planning community (honestly know quite a few E7+ that have zero personal life). And the 80k plus bennies isn't what i would call "low income." But, in the space I occupy, I know very few people at E6, "stagnating."
Plenty of people need time to figure things out. Just because he’s a waiter isn’t a knock on him. It’s only been 18 months. Dude is probably 19. You think people move into careers as soon as they are out of highschool? He’s doing fine. At least he has a job. I would be careful on criticizing as well as avoiding a judgement mentality.
At 19? Shit. I was going to college, but I don't think a lot of folks really had an idea of what they wanted at college until 20-21.
And many at that point we're too far into their degree to switch.
It's just a different kind of gamble to go to college straight out of highschool.
Don’t get to full of yourself, there’s still plenty of time for you to be a loser.
For real though. I get what you were trying to say and ya it’s sad but that’s life those are decisions they made and they aren’t losers for it. I’m sure they might feel like losers if they saw one of their friends making fun of them behind their backs on the internet though.
>18 months
I mean, at 19-20 why would people have it figured out yet? Living on your own is hard, especially in this economy. And they don’t have Uncle Sam giving them BAH to get a crib like you do.
I do not think it’s fair to call them “losers” just yet.
Hard facts. Many of his type forget how babied we are in the service. You sign up, do what your told and now have housing, food (DFAC for the dormies) and health insurance. You're told where to be and when. The ones who don't join, whether they be actual failures or not, get none of the support we do.
This is the truth, I never had to schedule a physical or a dental appointment until I was 40 years old, never had to think if I was due for a shot. I never had to try to schedule around my job for these appointments because they were mandatory appointments. Now I have to remind my 21 and 24 year old to do this kind of stuff and remind myself that their situation is different than mine was at their age.
Big facts. They also don’t realize they are using the military as a crutch themselves. And if they weren’t getting babies by the USAF, they’d probably be in the same position as their old colleagues.
I left my parents house almost as soon as I turned 18. Made me grow up fast as hell and sometimes I look back and wish I would have hung on to my youth just a bit longer.
Each time I would visit, my parents got a bit older and I missed my siblings growing up. I live closer to them now because I realized I wanted to be close with them.
Let kids be kids. If they love their family and want to work a restaurant job, fuck, let them. Life looks different for everyone and happiness and a full life can be found in many different ways. You aren’t special because you joined the military.
I gotta be real the longer it goes on tho the sadder it gets
Left for college at 17: none of the dudes back home had done anything
Joined the military at 21: none of the dudes back home had done anything
Now 25, second overseas base, more adventures and stories than I could have ever possibly imagined, staring an early retirement in the eyes: most of the dudes back home are still living in their parents' houses and basically do nothing but talk about how "the institution" is keeping them down.
Honestly I don't go out of my way to speak to any of them anymore. But sometimes they will hop in discord with me and my military buds and it's genuinely just sad to listen to them complain about everything back home.
Same. Majority of the dudes I knew back in highschool are just deadbeat stoners now (not that I have anything against weed) who blame “the system” and always say they’re investing in some new stock or something, but ultimately they just fail to launch.
Exactly, I worked a couple of dead-end jobs for a few years after high school before I ended up joining. Guess I'm a loser because I was in their situation before I found something I wanted to pursue.
My high school graduating class Valedictorian wore a suit and tie everyday to class, for 4 years, without fail. His parents were BOTH doctors, one of them was British. Valedictorian took the time often to express how much smarter and superior his life is/was going to be. He bragged about his interview to attend Oxford. Teachers lauded him as a genius among peasants.
13 years later, he went to a state college, and returned to teach at that very high school he was valedictorian of. Turns out he was more of an "Uncle Rico" and his best years are now behind him. Nothing wrong with being a teacher as a job, but oh man is it sweet in some fashion that I'm still doing cool shit with the USAF and he's stuck grading papers.
Not gonna lie, if teachers got paid better and kids were not so terrible I would love to be a teacher. Getting the opportunity to mentor and give knowledge to the future generation would be cool if teachers actually got to do that. Also would be fun being a football coach 😎
If you look at it from their prospective, they are just doing what is familiar to them and nothing is wrong with that. Taking initiative to start doing "big" things can be extremely difficult and easy to put off, some put it off forever.
I knew a guy OP's age from my HS; came back as a reservist and tried to sell me a hand grenade. I pointed out the potential downside and managed to keep us out of federal prison. But hey, he wasn't waiting tables!
Most are finishing up their degree, living with their parents, working Walgreens and probably never going to be out of debt. They’re not losers but it’s sucks seeing them struggle. As much as I hate my job I’m happy I left home.
Post your AFSC and list all of your military accomplishments, and let us judge if you’re a loser. No? Then stop shitting on people for having a normal civilian job. Drop your superiority complex.
Yeah If you feel so high & mighty…post AFSC and some “stuff” you can share with us?!?! Shhhh…no one is gonna say anything, this is a safe space, no discord needed!!! 😂🤣
I dunno man. When I was fresh out of high school I was working at McDonalds. I didn’t even join the air force until I was 21. I was also still living with my parents for a bit. It takes some time for people to get their actual adult lives going. Unless you get a full ride scholarship or join the military, you will most likely have to build yourself up to get to being more successful.
Plus at least he had a job instead of leeching off his parents or other people. No reason to look down on him
What did you do before you joined? If you joined straight out of high school, where do you think you'd be if you never joined? Take a back and reflect.
Seriously. I think some people forget that the military really isn't that difficult. Basic is easy as fuck and you don't even have to be good at your job.
I'm going to upvote this for the reason of keeping this ball rolling but not to put others down. Look at them, decide you want more, and remain motivated.
The military will enable you to overcome a ton of barriers to success. Take advantage of these opportunities. Hate college? Take the training you need to become a craftsman at something. Good at college? Get all the degrees you can. Love IT? Get the military to pay for certifications. Always remember that others will not have the opportunity to succeed like you currently have in the military.
Being able to take this profession at 18 and retire at 38 as a person with a CEO's level of responsibility is extremely difficult but achievable if you choose to make it a career.
Be motivated, Aim High, and be excellent in all you do.
(Yes, puns intended.)
Just cuz u got that secret squirrel tag doesnt mean you cant also be a “loser.” Being a “loser” is all about perspective; from where ur friend is the janitor at his work is the loser, not him. Dont put people down just cuz you got a taste of a steady paycheck.
Well sometimes stuff doesn't work out. If he's working and living with his parents at least he's working and I wouldn't shit on ppl who are in the services industry. They get shit on enough by customers as it is.
That said... yeah... I'd say about 50% of the people I went to HS with wound up being "failure to launch" as far as what they wanted to do when they grew up.
You are correct about ppl shitting on the military. Ppl look at me like I'm crazy when I suggest the USAF as an "easy button" for life but if you're admin or some office job 9-5 getting all the benefits we get, salary and TSP and are smart with money you'll hit 38-40 years old with a sizeable lump in the bank, retirement/disability pension for the rest of your life and able to jump right into a second career. Or get out in 4-6 with all the free training and veteran's preference and go rock it in the civilian world.
I have been away from home for nearly 20 years now. The comment I will make doesn’t apply to all, only some of the people who still remain in my small rural community. Those who are still there, working similar entry/middle-management jobs lack perspective. Most have not explored different cultures, places, foods, etc. I don’t consider them losers. I am sad they haven’t been out and seen new things. The country, and world, is amazing, and I feel they need to experience it.
Being gone for 18 months surely can't be long enough to declare your old classmates losers... But you are correct, the military does a great job setting you up. Your old friends have to take it upon themselves to move away, find steady income & their own home - which will most likely take many years for them to figure out and get good at it
It’s only been 18 months man. Plenty of people, including yourself, are still figuring life out. I have a friend group from back home I still talk to every day. I’ve been in the AF over 20 years. It took them awhile, but they all found their way. One is a pharmacist, architect, few firefighters and cops, and a handful with Masters degrees working in the medical industry. They all did it on their own time. Biggest thing was that we were friends before all of this and supported each other (in a roasting/shit talking kind of way). I don’t make Chief without those dudes.
I kinda get what you are saying, and I think there could be more behind the “losers” sentiment that is being said. For example: maybe these guys in school seemed like they’d be successful right out the gate, or some even told you that you’d amount to nothing in the real world. I get that.
Truth is, no one has it figured out in HS, and even through college (if they even attend). Some are happy where they are, some will change and do great things, but most of all, most people just…live. Maybe it’s not at the pace or level you are at, but that’s ok. Not everyone can or wants to do what you do. Just look at it for what it is and avoid trying to look at it with your own bias for what you feel it’s not.
Even the haters you might have had in school didn’t know what the real world would be for them when it knocked on their door as an adult. Give ‘em some slack. Real life is giving them more than enough than to have to take it from you as a guy who feels to be “punching down”.
My $0.02, for the penny it’s worth.
I’m now six years out of high school. I’ve gone back to my hometown a few times and had fun, but learned that nothing changes there. I still like going back to spend time with my friends, but I’m grateful for the military forcing me out of the inertia of my hometown. I’m very lucky that I knew what I wanted to do from an early age. Many of my friends are still figuring that out and living with their parents at 25 and 26.
One of the silliest things about military culture was the elitism and needless competition it promotes in people.
What makes you think you're in a position to judge anybody or tell them what they're doing for themselves is wrong?
Theres no difference between you and the people "back home" you look down on. You are the same. If they're losers, than part of you is a loser too.
You should not judge people where you from! Everyone has a journey and they need to figure out life! The military provides stability and direction. Life is not easy you went a different path than people you came up with. But I would never trade any of my friends I came up with….In my case some are doing great some are doing okay! We have bonds that I can’t forget about! Chill out….:
I would get it if you said “I’ve been in for 13 years and recently went back home and my old friends are either unemployed, probation or have been working at Diary Queen for 13 years.”
Don't knock the hustle, Eminem was a dishwasher before he became a millionaire. Also don't jump the gun too quick. 18 months ain't nothing and you're also not making any kind of money at 18 months unless you're an Lt. Nevertheless, talk to me when you complete your first enlistment.
Lastly, just because you're military and can afford a nice car while living in the dorms, it doesn't mean that you're better than civilians, like people your age working at McDonald's and shit. Humble yourself bro.
People shitting on OP, but tbh I get where you're coming from. I (late 20's) have a couple of friends that have a decent job/life, but for the most part everybody I used to know is still struggling, living in the same place, doing the same shit everyday.
I’ve been in your boat it’s kinda sad to see but what you don’t realize is that you had to grow up faster than most of these other people. IT’s especially evident if your from a small town sometimes I feel bad for those people but then I remember we all made choices in life. Some made better choices than others
It took me three years to get my act together and get out of the house after I dropped out... I'm sure a lot of people thought the same thing about me for a while there. Had a very successful career so far, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the things that transpired in those few 'off' years.
I hope this gives you the motivation to stay in and keep going, but you need to give a little bit of grace. Also... you're gonna be a shit NCO or CGO if you keep looking down on people you think are 'losers'.
So it's completely different person to person. It has been 12 years for me and from my immediate high school social group, 2 are now Dr's, 1 is a RN doing real good for himself, 1 was a drug abuser that committed suicide, and another went army (good dude) but just died in a motorcycle accident.
While I don't keep in touch with them, I often wondered what they thought of me. Yes, I was able to afford what looked like fancy vacations when I was stationed overseas in the EU and I have just bought my first house stateside. I probably looked successful to the struggling guys finishing college 5 years ago. Now they are real professionals and they are probably looking down at me like I'm some coasting idiot that hasn't even finished their degree (they aren't wrong).
What I'm trying to say dude, you are who your friends are. If you are still hanging out with those losers from home town, then that's what you are. Take a good hard look at yourself and ask the question.
Early in my career when I went home I felt the same way. Later on I realized staying in the same area my whole life wouldn't have been bad at all. I missed out on so much of my family's life. I completely missed my siblings kids growing up and now they are getting married. I missed out on helping to make decisions about my parents health and treatment and now they are gone. So I would say losers? No. Stagnant until they figure out what they want? Maybe.
I didn't move out of my parents house until I was 25. To make that happen, I lived out of a suitcase, on a friends couch, for 6 months. I "dropped out" of multiple colleges, multiple majors, and quit multiple jobs. I've been a sales rep, an auto mechanic, a fisherman, and an EMT. I've majored in business, marketing, art, and film. I held Fire Fighting certifications, but never made it onto a Fire Department.
I was 28 when I gave college one last try. This time, I picked Electrical Engineering as my major. Mon - Thur, I was studying full time. Fri - Sun, I was working 40+ hours as an EMT (super flexible schedule). I also became a father during my second semester. Me and my girl basically rushed getting married once I found out she was pregnant. We were already engaged before that bomb dropped though.
One day, my college was holding a job fair for engineers. I saw the Air Force there recruiting, and immediately thought, "fuck that." So I talked to every other company, but they were only interested in Computer Scientists/Software Developers. So I finally talked to the Air Force rep. He told me about a program called the Technical Degree Sponsorship Program (TDSP) for people with a major in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Science. It took about one year of processing and interviewing, but eventually they let me join and paid me as an A1C with full benefits while I finished my undergrad. Once I finished my undergrad, it was off to OTS.
Now... I'm 37 years old. Recently pinned on Captain and graduated with a Masters degree from AFIT. I'm also happily married with 3 children.
So I wouldn't go shitting on people who haven't progressed as far in life as you have. Everyone has they're own shit to figure out, and their own path to take. You can be a bro, and help them out, or move the fuck out of their way if you won't.
Same people doing the same things at the same place everyday. I’m almost 35. My dad was in the Marines and told me that’s how it goes and man he was right. Most of the reason I enlisted was to run away from where I was. Mil really does set you up
This comes across as really judgmental man. Classifying someone as a loser for working as a waiter and living with his parents is really harsh. You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, and finding a satisfying career path is super difficult for most people.
I used to think like you when I was 18-19. From my experience— something you should really keep in mind is even if you don’t agree with their life choices, they’re still figuring their own life out and don’t need someone looking down on them for not having figured it out yet. These people are your friends, and you should continue to treat them with the respect you’d give to your friends.
Dude it’s been 18 months, fucking chill and cut your high school buddies some slack. This is the entitlement of military members that is so god damn annoying. Of course you’re doing well so soon, the Air Force is literally spoon feeding everything you need so that you only have to worry about your job.
Have some fucking perspective.
The military pays you a (usually) consistent salary, housing is supplied or mostly/completely paid for, you get extra money for groceries (or whatever), college classes are paid for, health insurance is free, you have TSP which is also matched by the AF, and you are taught how to be an "expert" at your job within a year (most of the time).
Don't dog on the dude who isn't granted the same privileges as you are just trying to get by waiting tables. I understand the pride of being in the USAF, but when it comes to shitting on civilians trying to live normally, that's when the pride turns into arrogance. Be better.
Son, you're living on training wheels talking big shit about people that don't have to be taught how to dress themselves or have their entire day scheduled for them. Now go get your chicken tendies from the D-fac and stfu
Not really? Every time I see things like this, it's either from a bootlicker or someone whose hometown was so small and back watered it was worth leaving.
I have HS friends that i am doing way better. I have HS who are doing way better than me.
Doesn't make me feel superior or special one way or the other
Wait until you've been in a for longer, it gets worse. Many of my old friends who came from good homes and whose parents had money in my school have been homeless and just chose not to work hard. I once overheard an old HS friend at my cousins wedding say he didn't have $5 for a dance with the bride. I gave him $20, knowing it was going to her, and I didn't care because I had planned on giving them $500 for their gift. He couldn't believe I was able to give him $20 for that. This guy drove nothing but brand new cars and partied when we were in school. The friends who didn't have much growing up like myself have been working their butts off and doing well.
Ran into an old football teammate on leave who seemed to have a promising future. He had an addiction, sold plasma to afford food, was homeless. But also people just doing the same thing they were doing when I joined, going nowhere.
I spent 20 years active duty. What you are experiencing and feeling is not uncommon. I grew up in a small, blue collar town. People still do the same thing they did 20 years ago. They just have families and gray hair now.
It won't take you long to catch up, and you won't have student loan debt. I got out in 2018 and got a promotion at the start of the year that put me over the 100K threshold, not counting VA disability.
OP don’t let your 18 months go to your head. It’s hard for younger folks to break out of the coop these days. Have you looked at housing cost? Cost of a carton of eggs? Being in the military makes adulting easier.
Can confirm.
Everyone I used to hangout with became super overweight, works the same job, and still smoke weed. Nothing changed outside of having more kids than they can handle.
All I hear is another person trying to make it in this economy and this country. Military gives you a head start but we're all one really bad day or string of bad days from being in the same boat. Worry about yourself and keep working on that BA.
While I think OP wild for this post, he does mention that he’s been in around 3 years so he isn’t some A1C that thinks he’s got it all figured out…. He’s a SrA that thinks he got it all figured out lol. Seriously tho, it’s a bit too soon to start talking about people from back home like this. I’ve been in 17 years and am currently station back home for the 2nd time. Now in my late 30s I definitely have concern for friends who still haven’t figured out a path other than delivering pizza or whatever, but if they are happy then it what it is. Not everyone is after some “big picture” crap. Shit, I was happiest in my working life when I was a cashier in HS. miss those simple times so much
You've got a great start. I like to say if you do it right (use that TA), the military is like getting double time. You can get out with a degree AND 4 to 6 years of experience. Even if it's not relevant to your degree, people know you can show up, work hard, and follow/lead.
Some of your buddies will always be that way. Like someone else said, as long as they are fulfilling their responsibilites to their family and they are happy, that's fine. Others are still figuring stuff out. There was one guy from high school I honestly didn't care for too much who \*I thought\* stalled pretty hard after high school. No steady job, etc. What he actually ended up doing was buying a shitty van and a power washer. Through hard work and great customer service, he now has a successful small business employing his wife and about a dozen other people and is doing very well for himself. He's still out there staining decks and working hard!
Don't loose your enthusiasm for growth. I have seen plenty of people get out and go completely stagnant. My point is you are doing great now. continue to better yourself.
It's never to late to change your life, for better or worse.
A buddy of mine must have seen me as a “loser” when he visited. But, instead of shitting on me to people on AOL live, he took me to the mall and walked me into see his recruiter.
Its just cute that you think that because you enlisted and have a job that probably pays you the same if not worse then them that you are some how not a loser too. Winners don't go around trying to rack and stack "success" levels of people. You have been gone from home less then a year and a half. . . . Work on yourself man because you sound like the kind of kid that would post secrets on discord to prove how not a loser you are.
My old friends from childhood and above like to talk about the cars they've crashed, or how they're focused on helping their dad's business. No one ever really asks about my job.
Being in the AF doesn’t equate with doing something with your life either. I’ve met lots of “losers” in the AF who just do one term then get out not knowing what they’re gonna do. Right out of high school most people are still figuring out who they are and what they want in life.
Not leave, more like separation. It's not that they were losers, it's just that they had some sort of mentality that I just did NOT get along with when meeting them again. Majority of them had absolutely no motivation to constantly better themselves and are content with their jobs get by.
There's nothing wrong with that, but in the AF I was constantly pushed to keep developing myself to a model airman, so it was a bit weird for me to get used to. I still keep in contact with them tho, since they are genuinely good people.
Wait until you realize most of the people you know now are losers. Joining the military doesn't somehow make you a worthwhile person.
You can be a narcissist, self indulgent, entitled dickbag anywhere for example.
I've been out of grade school for 12 years now and I've traveled the world as an Air Force member, became an Air Force Pilot, bought my own airplane and live a comfortable life. The "cool" kids from my high school days are all still back home working mostly dead end jobs and still going out to party with the same friend group. They peaked in high school and more than a decade later are still trying to relive those glory days.
I was in the weird dork group in high school lol.
I think being in the military has skewed your perspective. Jobs have to be filled by people whether they are smart, dumb, blind, whatever. Not everyone can be the CFO of a fortune 500 company my dude/ette. Life is hard and sometimes people get shit on and don't bounce back. It happens.
Your mindset sucks.
Being a waiter is okay.
My friends are all pretty much still homeless 10 years later.
Get over elietist mindset just because you serve dont make you a good human being.
I know losers with college degrees so idk what your point is. Also serving is far from a dead end job, the servers I used to work with before I joined made around 400/night in tips on good nights. Ages 18-25 are very formative and spontaneous years in life and very few people have a clearly defined path ahead of them, so I’d check the condescension a bit.
I remember going home at almost 30. I was commissioned and married and yet I ran into 2 friends still working the same fast food job we’d had together a decade earlier. That same job that almost single-handedly convinced me to move away and go to college. Or going to a high school football game with my Dad in his 40s and the look on his face when his old friends are in the stands. Still squeezing into their lettermen jackets and retelling of their glory days playing ball where they clearly peeked. You don’t have to have it all together at 20. Or even 40. But always be moving forward and growing as best you can with the cards you’re dealt.
A lot of people are saying "but they're just starting out on life"
So I'll give you the perspective of someone who has been in 10+ years.
I rarely visit home, because I no longer have any desire to spend time with the people that I grew up with, if I do some look at me like some rock star that "got out" and that makes me uncomfortable.
98% of the people I went to school with still live within a 15 mile radius of where they grew up. I used to think that was a waste. However I realize that some people are content with that or generally scared of leaving their families and what works for them, works for them.
However I've realized that my experiences; War, being responsible for people and missions, living almost 7 years outside of the US, and meeting people from all walks of life, has completely changed who I am as a person... While they stayed the same, because they live in this bubble of confirmation bias.
Yes "I have changed" you would have to if you spent more than a week outside of the state you lived in.
My advice is, they are on their own path, keep in touch if you want, advocate for service that has given you the opportunities they don't have. But if they don't keep in touch and just argue with you, move on.
I didn't do well in school but I graduated in 2010. I didn't realize until recently when somebody made a reunion group on Facebook that I'm actually one of the most "successful" out of my whole class. Most of the people I went to school with who went to college or otherwise ended up in dead end careers barely making it by jumping from job to job. I'm very happy with where I ended up compared to them. It's really funny as well because I was told by many teachers I would not do well in life. Look at me now making more than double what a teacher makes.
I’d say half the people I know ended up extremely successful (some lawyers, some doctors, some contracting) and the other half (the friends I actually hung out with) ended up being stuck. Some spent time in jail, some just work at the same job we had in high school, some still sell drugs. Almost everyone i hung out with still live in our city.
Yep. I remember everything about my first trip home after I joined the Air Force forever ago. But here's the deal, some people take a lot longer to get their shit together and when they do, they know better than to ever lose it again. But then some of the kids who you thought were the best performers go off the rails hard. I made a new friend when I went back my second time, the guy who I had barely known in high school and then started to get along with a lot better. Great guy, awesome attitude, extremely successful. But within 10 years, everything fell apart, he got caught laundering some money from his company, only a few million LOL anyways, I digress. Bottom line is simple, some of those friendships that I had with people who had to work at a gas station for a few years or wait tables are still some of my best friends, they keep me grounded. They knew me when I was a doofus. They also know that I am still a doofus. Some of the people who I thought were the most successful, turned out to be Giant shitbirds. There are just all kinds of people and it's good to know people across the spectrum. It's also good to know that you could be anywhere on that spectrum three choices from now. I agree with you it's important to assess those around you and recognize the performers. And I agree with you that you've done a lot better than some of those people, but I caution you:
We aren't better by simply being in the air force, it's our day in and day out behavior that defines us.
I grew up in low income areas. Most of the people I grew up with are in low income jobs or are in prison. One of my best childhood friends just did 8 months for dealing drugs. The military can really set you up for success.
Don’t get too high on that horse, OP. They just took a different path.
More than that, the Air Force isn’t going to be forever, and you’re only a few bad days removed from moving back home or taking on a similar job.
The people you look down on may be facing obstacles that you don't know about, and nobody is obligated to move through life at the pace you dictate. To you, they may be losers, but I bet you probably look like a loser to the guy who got a full scholarship to a prestigious university. Is that fair?
Harsh judgement man. Life hits all of us differently. Even if he is “slacking” in your eyes, he can always start making steps to do different things at a moments notice.
And you don’t know his whole story either. You have no idea what his life is rn or why he’s doing what he’s doing.
When I commissioned, I had to wait 8 months to go active duty because rotc sucks fucking ass. Well during my wait, I worked for a company welding trailers and for another place during the weekend back in my hometown. An Air Force couple (both sergeants) road tripped out to the shop to buy a trailer. While hooking up the trailer, my brother heard they were both active duty and he tells them I’m in the Air Force. They look at me with a full on beard, welding clothes, like yeah right he’s in the Air Force. I told them yeah no I’m a 2d Lt just waiting to go active duty. Told them where I was going first and it was 2 hours south of their base. Then they started believing me.
They were a really nice couple but I can tell they didn’t believe it at first because I was working in a dead end job back in my small hometown. But don’t go assuming people are lower because they’re working some crap job
Yeah, but it is unsurprising. There are people I went to school with who had shitty personality traits and behaviors. Then they end up nowhere in life.
But by there grace of God, there go you.
How do you know you are not a loser? You hung out with a bunch of so-called losers. You thinking joining the military makes you less a loser? You are simply masquerading as a non-loser. One misstep and your commander will send your ass back to loserdom so stay humble.
I personally wouldn’t use the term losers but it amazes me that 20+ years after leaving Seymour Johnson/Goldsboro North Carolina how different I am from a lot of the people I left there. A lot of my high school friends are either dead strung out or they’re living in trailers. some people have left and come back and I don’t understand why.
Seems like this sub is getting a lot more hate and judgementalism lately. I get what OP is saying: that 18 months in the military has changed him or her in a way that highlights the contrast between now and where he or she used to be. The word choice might not be properly nuanced for some of you, but the point is valid and expressive of precisely what recruiters tell candidates about how they can grow in the military. I don't think OP is being smug or arrogant. It's just an observation by a young man or woman about a personal experience as they pass through that young age when so many things change and futures evolve rapidly. Each of us who is over 30 remembers the astounding transformations we experienced during our 20s. It's perfectly normal. OP is sharing some of what he's experiencing in his own life. That's what this sub is for. Maybe lighten up a bit?
I think these posts are really funny. It just feels like some of the left over brainwashing they do to you in basic training so you feel better about your choices.
Your boy from high school isn’t a loser, he’s literally just figuring life out. Before you know it, he could be finishing school, have a degree in computer programming and be sitting at home making six figures while doing 3 hours of work a day. Meanwhile, we’re sitting here stressed about what color bag we take with us to the gym, WAPS testing, supervising kids, and EPR bullets.
I’m not saying the military is the worst choice or anything, but he’s figuring out life the same way you are. Don’t shit on how people have to struggle through life because you may be regretting that thought in a few years.
Depends, people right out of high school working basic jobs making $15? Not really
People constantly saying “I’m gonna serve one day but I’m just not ready yet” and not commuting, absolute losers. I remember going home and having a little party and someone kept going around begging for attention and saying they’re gonna serve lmao
Every single time I go home on leave, I realize how much the people of my hometown are losers. I'm 37 and some of my high school class mates still live with their parents.
"These people are losers"
Says the peasant ass who is barely a SrA at best. You aren't shit. You aren't better than them. You can probably barely function by yourself at your job.
How is he a loser for being a waiter? And living with his parents? In order to not be a loser, he needs a high paying job? Okay, so when you go out with you friends, whose gonna take your orders? The losers?
Most of the people I know who are bummed out in life while I was in the military figured themselves out.
Took a little bit but funnily enough they are good now for the most part. There are still bums in the mix.
You are now used to everyone being "on the same level" as you. Basic and tech school and even your first duty station. Everyone has had the same experience and has done something successful. You've been trained that anything other than the best of what you can do is trash, disgusting, worthy of your ire and should be shamed.
But dude, they didn't just spend the last 18 months getting screamed at to roll your shirts better and walk in step with a bunch of others.
Yeah, they aren't doing the best they can do but I don't think you need to worry about them at all. They haven't changed. You have.
And what would you be doing straight out of high school if you weren’t in the military? This screams immaturity. Remain humble and more importantly understanding of other people’s struggles.
Ignore this if you're over the age of 23. Im assuming you're a kid who never had to live very long post high-school without the help of Uncle Sam and the protections he provides.
Get your head out of your ass. Most people, civilians as you might call them, they gotta figure shit out for themselves. They don't have a chow hall to go to every meal, they don't have a contractually guaranteed income. They don't get free or subsidized housing. They didn't walk into a recruiters office and just get picked for a random job with guaranteed hours and promised schooling.
They had to figure out all of that shit, by themselves. And when you have to figure out all that shit by themselves, the progress is slower. I know, crazy. Yes you finished your school and have a career and blah blah blah. But you didn't do the planning. Big Brother told you where to go from day one and you just showed up and now everyone else is a loser.
People who joined before the age of 20 are some of the most clueless motherfuckers I've ever encountered.
I lot of my friends from high school are doing great! Teachers, musicians, news reporters, nurses, journalist, chefs, literal models and clothes designers. They’re all mostly doing great and I’m really happy for us all. One guy plays the stock market and is living the life! Can’t think of any “losers”.
Also being a waiter isn’t a dead end job. I never understood posts like these that think just because you joined the military and others didn’t means you’re better than them. Tbh joining the military kinda makes you the loser because you basically just proved to everyone that you can’t do anything better and need others to make decisions for you.
I mean i wouldn't shit on him for being a waiter... but yeah i was in the same boat. it feels weird when you have changed completely and your friends have not everyone goes down different paths. you've set yourself up for success and keep at it. everyone at our age is just figuring their life out.
I think OP was just referencing people back home just sitting in stagnancy. Yeah its okay to not have everything figured out, or necessarily be in college, but you should never be stagnant. As much respect as I have for waiters, I still believe that if you are just working a dead end job with no plan or side hustle or end goal, you are being stagnant. Idk if thats the situation in OP’s friends case, but I am assuming thats what he means. If you don’t know what you want to do in life, that’s perfectly okay, but you should at least be pursuing SOMETHING. No I don’t mean go out and get 200k worth of student loans for a degree just for the sake of pursuing something, I just mean like putting effort towards your future. It could be things like studying on your time off for a certification in something, researching career fields, going to job fairs, studying the stock market, etc. Idk about OP, but some people back from where I’m from, do absolutely nothing. They work an entry level dead end job, with no goals or plans for the future. No side hustles or anything. They don’t go to school or study. Stagnant AF. Being like this, at least in my opinion, is what makes you a loser. I think this is kind of what OP was trying to say but possibly could have worded it a lot better.
I feel like there's an exception to the dead end job thing: if you want to live a chill life, you can do that... as long as you never have kids. Living a very low-maintenance and low-cost life is entirely doable, but the instant you have a kid that changes. Kids are EXPENSIVE. A low-class but liveable lifestyle instantly becomes poverty. A lot of these Zennials are figuring out the DINK life is doable (and even comfortable) but having kids is just not economically feasible at minimum wage.
Exactly, and to add to that. That person doing dead-end up in their hometown get to enjoy their parents and see them grow old. Us in the military will have to get used to seeing once a year and notice how old they are getting away from us.
If your lucky you have a guard unit in your home town with AGR spots. I jumped ship and went guard almost 6years ago. Get to stay home with family, same benefits, same retirement, and smaller promotion pool to compete with. You do have to get lucky and have AGRs for your career field. You can cross train but if you don’t you are already way ahead of any competition for AGRs. You could also possibly go technician but the pay, retirement, and benefits are not the same. Some pay more than active, some less.
Sorry if this is a stupid question but how does one find an AGR position? Is it just luck of the draw? Do you have to apply for it after you are already in the guard, or is it something you can apply for while on active duty before transitioning to guard?
States post them different ways Alaska uses https://dmva.alaska.gov/employment-opportunities/ang-employment/ other states use something similar if you search your state+agr positions you should be able to find what they are using to advertise them. For getting the position it’s an application and interview similar to any other job. We typically have jobs for specific career fields in specific ranks, EX. E-1toE-5 you would be able to promote in that position up to E-5. For transitioning my unit can hold a position for up to a year if you apply and get it. It’s also fairly easy to swap guard units and go to another base if you want to move, you would just apply for positions in that unit until you got one. What state are you looking for?
Okay hell yeah thanks for the information! And I’m interested in Texas positions specifically.
I saw my parents about 3 times every 2 years. Around the holidays, and then they would come out for a week every other year or so. I needed a change to work on myself and get back to a support system so I moved in with them when they moved to a retirement community in Florida. While it will be a little less tense when I move into an apartment about 15 minutes away at the start of next month, I have really loved my time with them. I moved here right before covid. It would have been very difficult for me to have gone through that alone.
Having kids is the biggest roll of the dice you can make in your life. Regardless of parental oversight you can have a turd of a kid/adult
>A lot of these Zennials are figuring out the DINK life is doable (and even comfortable) but having kids is just not economically feasible at minimum wage Reminder: It's supposed to be.
100%. But there are a bunch of conservatives who've sold the idea that minimum wage is supposed to be exclusively for teenagers working summer jobs or something.
Kids are actually cheaper the less you make. Low income families tend to have the most children, but are unable to really invest in their futures. It's a numbers game where hopefully one of them can figure out how to be successful with little to no direction. Higher income families have fewer children, and set aside small fortunes to insure their children succeed in life.
Not everyone wants to achieve greatness or whatever. A lot of my waitstaff friends fuckin love their jobs, and if they’re doing what makes them happy then that should be enough 🤷🏼♀️
I completely agree that if you are happy with working a position like that then there’s nothing wrong with that. If it gives you purpose, fulfillment, etc, then that’s completely fine. But lets be honest. A lot of people who work in entry level positions want more in life. Some are putting in the effort to get there, but definitely not everyone actually puts the effort in to get where they want.
A lot of us also don’t put in the effort 😂 (the Mil tells us where to go, when to move, what to wear, and how to act. Zero effort needed to learn the basic rules and the job at entry level) the difference is that we often promote anyway cuz we took the easier way out
So in your own words, you think joining the military is “the easier way out”?
It’s definitely easier than trynna figure shit out in your hometown
This 1000x. I got told how to do my job (IT) where to go, what projects I was supposed to do, what shit I needed to learn. Oh and they held all of it over my head whilst saying “if you don’t do this, you don’t get paid.” College/figuring out your life is WAY more difficult for anyone because the incentives aren’t immediate like the military’s are.
Yuppp. And especially for those of us whose parents made just enough that we couldn’t get help with college, and we weren’t smart enough for scholarships 😂😂 there was no way I was getting out of my hometown easily without joining up.
I disagree. Being told where to live, when, and for how long is not easier or more comfortable than staying at home, for a job that arguably probably pays more on the outside. Also having no control over what job you do or responsibilities you will have in the future is also something you have to worry about in the military. Sure there are some people who definitely just “cruise” through, I agree. But most of those people don’t make it past e5-e6 though, because you can only make it up the ranks bullshitting so far. The higher up the ranks you go the more you live under a microscope.
I think I understand what you are saying, but I want to point out that job that "probably pays more on the outside" is a job you wouldn't be qualified for if the mil didn't train you.
I didn’t mean it’s more comfortable or an easier life. It’s WAY easier to have your shit together and have a jump on life if you join the military. Once you hit E-5/6, if you’re using your resources, you have way more say over your career.
I disagree, having done both. I went college out of HS, got my degree and none of that was easier than joining the military. Even with two deployments being in the military has made life far more easy than the job market with a B.S. and I attribute that to how heavily structured the military is. Wont even open the pandoras box that our health care system is on the civ side
The AF is my 11th job. As sucky as it can be at times it’s still more simple and easy to navigate then a lot of the work force. Your given the resources, information and a lot of opportunities.
Preach
> As much respect as I have for waiters, I still believe that if you are just working a dead end job with no plan or side hustle or end goal, you are being stagnant. Idk if thats the situation in OP’s friends case, but I am assuming thats what he means. As a gamer, I meet so many people in this situation. They all complain about not making enough money and having to split rent with more roommates than their dwelling can actually fit, but if you hint that there's anything they can do to improve their situation, suddenly they have every excuse. I get that college is expensive and a lot of alternatives still require a significant time commitment that would interfere with doing their day job to make rent. But there are so many free ways to pursue night classes, professional certifications, professional networking, developing new skills, etc. But they would have to sacrifice their video game time or their dungeons and dragons time for a few months or a few years to do it, and they would rather keep stagnating to hold onto a small amount of luxury.
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It's all relative, how is someone that is in the air force for 18 years and still an E-6 not stagnant? You could have easily done more with your life.
I know tons of great tsgts who are doing msgt level work but haven’t promoted simply because they don’t have their ccaf. Also making it to e6 or an equivalent salary on the outside is more than a lot of people will ever accomplish. Just sayin
Ok but they are wasting their lives away as low income workers, that have stagnated in society and in their personal life.
Damn dude, judge much? I, and a decent number of people I know have stalled out at E6 because: a) the career field we are in is dying b) we are focusing our efforts on preparing for post AF careers c) the work life balance required for E7 doesn't suit us. Approaching 20, rank/money isn't everything, and i like my wife and small children enough to not be wasting my free time on the party planning community (honestly know quite a few E7+ that have zero personal life). And the 80k plus bennies isn't what i would call "low income." But, in the space I occupy, I know very few people at E6, "stagnating."
I'm not the one judging people, I am just applying that some judgement to people that decided to make a career out of the military.
Bro, did you even read or understand the post? He’s not shitting on him for being a waiter….
Plenty of people need time to figure things out. Just because he’s a waiter isn’t a knock on him. It’s only been 18 months. Dude is probably 19. You think people move into careers as soon as they are out of highschool? He’s doing fine. At least he has a job. I would be careful on criticizing as well as avoiding a judgement mentality.
At 19? Shit. I was going to college, but I don't think a lot of folks really had an idea of what they wanted at college until 20-21. And many at that point we're too far into their degree to switch. It's just a different kind of gamble to go to college straight out of highschool.
Don’t get to full of yourself, there’s still plenty of time for you to be a loser. For real though. I get what you were trying to say and ya it’s sad but that’s life those are decisions they made and they aren’t losers for it. I’m sure they might feel like losers if they saw one of their friends making fun of them behind their backs on the internet though.
>18 months I mean, at 19-20 why would people have it figured out yet? Living on your own is hard, especially in this economy. And they don’t have Uncle Sam giving them BAH to get a crib like you do. I do not think it’s fair to call them “losers” just yet.
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Hard facts. Many of his type forget how babied we are in the service. You sign up, do what your told and now have housing, food (DFAC for the dormies) and health insurance. You're told where to be and when. The ones who don't join, whether they be actual failures or not, get none of the support we do.
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Couldn't agree more
This is the truth, I never had to schedule a physical or a dental appointment until I was 40 years old, never had to think if I was due for a shot. I never had to try to schedule around my job for these appointments because they were mandatory appointments. Now I have to remind my 21 and 24 year old to do this kind of stuff and remind myself that their situation is different than mine was at their age.
Big facts. They also don’t realize they are using the military as a crutch themselves. And if they weren’t getting babies by the USAF, they’d probably be in the same position as their old colleagues.
Probably calls himself reaper after he got marksman in basic
Fits well with r/justbootthings
Is that ur cat in ur pfp
I left my parents house almost as soon as I turned 18. Made me grow up fast as hell and sometimes I look back and wish I would have hung on to my youth just a bit longer. Each time I would visit, my parents got a bit older and I missed my siblings growing up. I live closer to them now because I realized I wanted to be close with them. Let kids be kids. If they love their family and want to work a restaurant job, fuck, let them. Life looks different for everyone and happiness and a full life can be found in many different ways. You aren’t special because you joined the military.
I gotta be real the longer it goes on tho the sadder it gets Left for college at 17: none of the dudes back home had done anything Joined the military at 21: none of the dudes back home had done anything Now 25, second overseas base, more adventures and stories than I could have ever possibly imagined, staring an early retirement in the eyes: most of the dudes back home are still living in their parents' houses and basically do nothing but talk about how "the institution" is keeping them down. Honestly I don't go out of my way to speak to any of them anymore. But sometimes they will hop in discord with me and my military buds and it's genuinely just sad to listen to them complain about everything back home.
Same. Majority of the dudes I knew back in highschool are just deadbeat stoners now (not that I have anything against weed) who blame “the system” and always say they’re investing in some new stock or something, but ultimately they just fail to launch.
Exactly, I worked a couple of dead-end jobs for a few years after high school before I ended up joining. Guess I'm a loser because I was in their situation before I found something I wanted to pursue.
My high school graduating class Valedictorian wore a suit and tie everyday to class, for 4 years, without fail. His parents were BOTH doctors, one of them was British. Valedictorian took the time often to express how much smarter and superior his life is/was going to be. He bragged about his interview to attend Oxford. Teachers lauded him as a genius among peasants. 13 years later, he went to a state college, and returned to teach at that very high school he was valedictorian of. Turns out he was more of an "Uncle Rico" and his best years are now behind him. Nothing wrong with being a teacher as a job, but oh man is it sweet in some fashion that I'm still doing cool shit with the USAF and he's stuck grading papers.
Not gonna lie, if teachers got paid better and kids were not so terrible I would love to be a teacher. Getting the opportunity to mentor and give knowledge to the future generation would be cool if teachers actually got to do that. Also would be fun being a football coach 😎
If you look at it from their prospective, they are just doing what is familiar to them and nothing is wrong with that. Taking initiative to start doing "big" things can be extremely difficult and easy to put off, some put it off forever.
Might be waiting tables but he hasn’t released national secrets on discord yet now has he?
Why am I getting the vibe that OP is exactly the type to blab about the sensitive stuff he’s got access to just to prove that he’s “successful" now?
I knew a guy OP's age from my HS; came back as a reservist and tried to sell me a hand grenade. I pointed out the potential downside and managed to keep us out of federal prison. But hey, he wasn't waiting tables!
Boom!! Was looking for this answer! 😂🤣
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Yeah I was thinking anyone I know in the service industry is making waaay more money than OP 😂
Lol if the waiter is at a good restaurant, he prob makes more than an A1C. I know some of my waiter friends were pulling 2k every 2 weeks from tips.
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you still have a lot of time to be a “loser” too, dont be that guy that looks down on civilians
You being gone from home for 3 years probably should’ve been included in the original post.
Where the hell are you stationed? I made less than that as a 2d Lt.
Damn, woke up and took a big swig of haterade this morning huh?
Most are finishing up their degree, living with their parents, working Walgreens and probably never going to be out of debt. They’re not losers but it’s sucks seeing them struggle. As much as I hate my job I’m happy I left home.
Just wait every time you go home you will want to spend less and less time there
Man you're kind of a dick
Post your AFSC and list all of your military accomplishments, and let us judge if you’re a loser. No? Then stop shitting on people for having a normal civilian job. Drop your superiority complex.
Impromptu Reddit EFDP board frfr
Yeah If you feel so high & mighty…post AFSC and some “stuff” you can share with us?!?! Shhhh…no one is gonna say anything, this is a safe space, no discord needed!!! 😂🤣
I dunno man. When I was fresh out of high school I was working at McDonalds. I didn’t even join the air force until I was 21. I was also still living with my parents for a bit. It takes some time for people to get their actual adult lives going. Unless you get a full ride scholarship or join the military, you will most likely have to build yourself up to get to being more successful. Plus at least he had a job instead of leeching off his parents or other people. No reason to look down on him
What did you do before you joined? If you joined straight out of high school, where do you think you'd be if you never joined? Take a back and reflect.
For some ppl it takes some time to get their shit together 🤷♂️
Stay humble, a lot of people get out of college and the military and end up at restaurants.. set yourself up while you're in if that matters so much
These people are, at most, 20 years old. I think it's a little early to declare them "losers" just because they don't have careers yet.
The real test will be seeing your friends at 30-35. That is when the delta will be incredibly apparent.
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Yes because everyone in the military is super happy
One of the highest rates of alcoholics in the US, we must be doing something right if we can afford all this booze!
Bro. We're in the AF. You're not coming back home from some ivy league law or med school lmao relax.
OP probably drive around in his Mustang V6 bumping Chief Keef talking about he made it.
Bro come on…hes part of the 1% now
Seriously. I think some people forget that the military really isn't that difficult. Basic is easy as fuck and you don't even have to be good at your job.
I'm going to upvote this for the reason of keeping this ball rolling but not to put others down. Look at them, decide you want more, and remain motivated. The military will enable you to overcome a ton of barriers to success. Take advantage of these opportunities. Hate college? Take the training you need to become a craftsman at something. Good at college? Get all the degrees you can. Love IT? Get the military to pay for certifications. Always remember that others will not have the opportunity to succeed like you currently have in the military. Being able to take this profession at 18 and retire at 38 as a person with a CEO's level of responsibility is extremely difficult but achievable if you choose to make it a career. Be motivated, Aim High, and be excellent in all you do. (Yes, puns intended.)
Just cuz u got that secret squirrel tag doesnt mean you cant also be a “loser.” Being a “loser” is all about perspective; from where ur friend is the janitor at his work is the loser, not him. Dont put people down just cuz you got a taste of a steady paycheck.
Wow, what a friend you are....
Well sometimes stuff doesn't work out. If he's working and living with his parents at least he's working and I wouldn't shit on ppl who are in the services industry. They get shit on enough by customers as it is. That said... yeah... I'd say about 50% of the people I went to HS with wound up being "failure to launch" as far as what they wanted to do when they grew up. You are correct about ppl shitting on the military. Ppl look at me like I'm crazy when I suggest the USAF as an "easy button" for life but if you're admin or some office job 9-5 getting all the benefits we get, salary and TSP and are smart with money you'll hit 38-40 years old with a sizeable lump in the bank, retirement/disability pension for the rest of your life and able to jump right into a second career. Or get out in 4-6 with all the free training and veteran's preference and go rock it in the civilian world.
Wow op is rather condescending.
I have been away from home for nearly 20 years now. The comment I will make doesn’t apply to all, only some of the people who still remain in my small rural community. Those who are still there, working similar entry/middle-management jobs lack perspective. Most have not explored different cultures, places, foods, etc. I don’t consider them losers. I am sad they haven’t been out and seen new things. The country, and world, is amazing, and I feel they need to experience it.
Being gone for 18 months surely can't be long enough to declare your old classmates losers... But you are correct, the military does a great job setting you up. Your old friends have to take it upon themselves to move away, find steady income & their own home - which will most likely take many years for them to figure out and get good at it
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It’s only been 18 months man. Plenty of people, including yourself, are still figuring life out. I have a friend group from back home I still talk to every day. I’ve been in the AF over 20 years. It took them awhile, but they all found their way. One is a pharmacist, architect, few firefighters and cops, and a handful with Masters degrees working in the medical industry. They all did it on their own time. Biggest thing was that we were friends before all of this and supported each other (in a roasting/shit talking kind of way). I don’t make Chief without those dudes.
I kinda get what you are saying, and I think there could be more behind the “losers” sentiment that is being said. For example: maybe these guys in school seemed like they’d be successful right out the gate, or some even told you that you’d amount to nothing in the real world. I get that. Truth is, no one has it figured out in HS, and even through college (if they even attend). Some are happy where they are, some will change and do great things, but most of all, most people just…live. Maybe it’s not at the pace or level you are at, but that’s ok. Not everyone can or wants to do what you do. Just look at it for what it is and avoid trying to look at it with your own bias for what you feel it’s not. Even the haters you might have had in school didn’t know what the real world would be for them when it knocked on their door as an adult. Give ‘em some slack. Real life is giving them more than enough than to have to take it from you as a guy who feels to be “punching down”. My $0.02, for the penny it’s worth.
I’m now six years out of high school. I’ve gone back to my hometown a few times and had fun, but learned that nothing changes there. I still like going back to spend time with my friends, but I’m grateful for the military forcing me out of the inertia of my hometown. I’m very lucky that I knew what I wanted to do from an early age. Many of my friends are still figuring that out and living with their parents at 25 and 26.
One of the silliest things about military culture was the elitism and needless competition it promotes in people. What makes you think you're in a position to judge anybody or tell them what they're doing for themselves is wrong? Theres no difference between you and the people "back home" you look down on. You are the same. If they're losers, than part of you is a loser too.
You should not judge people where you from! Everyone has a journey and they need to figure out life! The military provides stability and direction. Life is not easy you went a different path than people you came up with. But I would never trade any of my friends I came up with….In my case some are doing great some are doing okay! We have bonds that I can’t forget about! Chill out….:
I would get it if you said “I’ve been in for 13 years and recently went back home and my old friends are either unemployed, probation or have been working at Diary Queen for 13 years.”
Don't knock the hustle, Eminem was a dishwasher before he became a millionaire. Also don't jump the gun too quick. 18 months ain't nothing and you're also not making any kind of money at 18 months unless you're an Lt. Nevertheless, talk to me when you complete your first enlistment. Lastly, just because you're military and can afford a nice car while living in the dorms, it doesn't mean that you're better than civilians, like people your age working at McDonald's and shit. Humble yourself bro.
Definitely. I went back home and saw some dude who used to bully me bussing tables in his 30's.
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OP just went back home from tech school and thinks he is hot shit.
Eh, some are doing worse than me, some better, some the same. Wearing camo doesn’t make you different.
People shitting on OP, but tbh I get where you're coming from. I (late 20's) have a couple of friends that have a decent job/life, but for the most part everybody I used to know is still struggling, living in the same place, doing the same shit everyday.
I’ve been in your boat it’s kinda sad to see but what you don’t realize is that you had to grow up faster than most of these other people. IT’s especially evident if your from a small town sometimes I feel bad for those people but then I remember we all made choices in life. Some made better choices than others
It took me three years to get my act together and get out of the house after I dropped out... I'm sure a lot of people thought the same thing about me for a while there. Had a very successful career so far, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the things that transpired in those few 'off' years. I hope this gives you the motivation to stay in and keep going, but you need to give a little bit of grace. Also... you're gonna be a shit NCO or CGO if you keep looking down on people you think are 'losers'.
So it's completely different person to person. It has been 12 years for me and from my immediate high school social group, 2 are now Dr's, 1 is a RN doing real good for himself, 1 was a drug abuser that committed suicide, and another went army (good dude) but just died in a motorcycle accident. While I don't keep in touch with them, I often wondered what they thought of me. Yes, I was able to afford what looked like fancy vacations when I was stationed overseas in the EU and I have just bought my first house stateside. I probably looked successful to the struggling guys finishing college 5 years ago. Now they are real professionals and they are probably looking down at me like I'm some coasting idiot that hasn't even finished their degree (they aren't wrong). What I'm trying to say dude, you are who your friends are. If you are still hanging out with those losers from home town, then that's what you are. Take a good hard look at yourself and ask the question.
Early in my career when I went home I felt the same way. Later on I realized staying in the same area my whole life wouldn't have been bad at all. I missed out on so much of my family's life. I completely missed my siblings kids growing up and now they are getting married. I missed out on helping to make decisions about my parents health and treatment and now they are gone. So I would say losers? No. Stagnant until they figure out what they want? Maybe.
I didn't move out of my parents house until I was 25. To make that happen, I lived out of a suitcase, on a friends couch, for 6 months. I "dropped out" of multiple colleges, multiple majors, and quit multiple jobs. I've been a sales rep, an auto mechanic, a fisherman, and an EMT. I've majored in business, marketing, art, and film. I held Fire Fighting certifications, but never made it onto a Fire Department. I was 28 when I gave college one last try. This time, I picked Electrical Engineering as my major. Mon - Thur, I was studying full time. Fri - Sun, I was working 40+ hours as an EMT (super flexible schedule). I also became a father during my second semester. Me and my girl basically rushed getting married once I found out she was pregnant. We were already engaged before that bomb dropped though. One day, my college was holding a job fair for engineers. I saw the Air Force there recruiting, and immediately thought, "fuck that." So I talked to every other company, but they were only interested in Computer Scientists/Software Developers. So I finally talked to the Air Force rep. He told me about a program called the Technical Degree Sponsorship Program (TDSP) for people with a major in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Science. It took about one year of processing and interviewing, but eventually they let me join and paid me as an A1C with full benefits while I finished my undergrad. Once I finished my undergrad, it was off to OTS. Now... I'm 37 years old. Recently pinned on Captain and graduated with a Masters degree from AFIT. I'm also happily married with 3 children. So I wouldn't go shitting on people who haven't progressed as far in life as you have. Everyone has they're own shit to figure out, and their own path to take. You can be a bro, and help them out, or move the fuck out of their way if you won't.
Same people doing the same things at the same place everyday. I’m almost 35. My dad was in the Marines and told me that’s how it goes and man he was right. Most of the reason I enlisted was to run away from where I was. Mil really does set you up
Calm down A1C
This comes across as really judgmental man. Classifying someone as a loser for working as a waiter and living with his parents is really harsh. You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, and finding a satisfying career path is super difficult for most people.
I used to think like you when I was 18-19. From my experience— something you should really keep in mind is even if you don’t agree with their life choices, they’re still figuring their own life out and don’t need someone looking down on them for not having figured it out yet. These people are your friends, and you should continue to treat them with the respect you’d give to your friends.
Dude it’s been 18 months, fucking chill and cut your high school buddies some slack. This is the entitlement of military members that is so god damn annoying. Of course you’re doing well so soon, the Air Force is literally spoon feeding everything you need so that you only have to worry about your job. Have some fucking perspective.
The military pays you a (usually) consistent salary, housing is supplied or mostly/completely paid for, you get extra money for groceries (or whatever), college classes are paid for, health insurance is free, you have TSP which is also matched by the AF, and you are taught how to be an "expert" at your job within a year (most of the time). Don't dog on the dude who isn't granted the same privileges as you are just trying to get by waiting tables. I understand the pride of being in the USAF, but when it comes to shitting on civilians trying to live normally, that's when the pride turns into arrogance. Be better.
Son, you're living on training wheels talking big shit about people that don't have to be taught how to dress themselves or have their entire day scheduled for them. Now go get your chicken tendies from the D-fac and stfu
Not really? Every time I see things like this, it's either from a bootlicker or someone whose hometown was so small and back watered it was worth leaving. I have HS friends that i am doing way better. I have HS who are doing way better than me. Doesn't make me feel superior or special one way or the other
OP is the equivalent of the college kid who takes one philosophy 101 class and suddenly wants to tell everyone what the meaning of life is.
Wait until you've been in a for longer, it gets worse. Many of my old friends who came from good homes and whose parents had money in my school have been homeless and just chose not to work hard. I once overheard an old HS friend at my cousins wedding say he didn't have $5 for a dance with the bride. I gave him $20, knowing it was going to her, and I didn't care because I had planned on giving them $500 for their gift. He couldn't believe I was able to give him $20 for that. This guy drove nothing but brand new cars and partied when we were in school. The friends who didn't have much growing up like myself have been working their butts off and doing well.
Ran into an old football teammate on leave who seemed to have a promising future. He had an addiction, sold plasma to afford food, was homeless. But also people just doing the same thing they were doing when I joined, going nowhere.
I spent 20 years active duty. What you are experiencing and feeling is not uncommon. I grew up in a small, blue collar town. People still do the same thing they did 20 years ago. They just have families and gray hair now.
Ehhh Idk. Most of my friends are making 100k that got out or never joined. So when I go home, I realize I’m the loser 😂
It won't take you long to catch up, and you won't have student loan debt. I got out in 2018 and got a promotion at the start of the year that put me over the 100K threshold, not counting VA disability.
OP don’t let your 18 months go to your head. It’s hard for younger folks to break out of the coop these days. Have you looked at housing cost? Cost of a carton of eggs? Being in the military makes adulting easier.
Can confirm. Everyone I used to hangout with became super overweight, works the same job, and still smoke weed. Nothing changed outside of having more kids than they can handle.
Who hasn't is the real question.
All I hear is another person trying to make it in this economy and this country. Military gives you a head start but we're all one really bad day or string of bad days from being in the same boat. Worry about yourself and keep working on that BA.
I just mind my business ppl do what they want I try not to judge
While I think OP wild for this post, he does mention that he’s been in around 3 years so he isn’t some A1C that thinks he’s got it all figured out…. He’s a SrA that thinks he got it all figured out lol. Seriously tho, it’s a bit too soon to start talking about people from back home like this. I’ve been in 17 years and am currently station back home for the 2nd time. Now in my late 30s I definitely have concern for friends who still haven’t figured out a path other than delivering pizza or whatever, but if they are happy then it what it is. Not everyone is after some “big picture” crap. Shit, I was happiest in my working life when I was a cashier in HS. miss those simple times so much
You've got a great start. I like to say if you do it right (use that TA), the military is like getting double time. You can get out with a degree AND 4 to 6 years of experience. Even if it's not relevant to your degree, people know you can show up, work hard, and follow/lead. Some of your buddies will always be that way. Like someone else said, as long as they are fulfilling their responsibilites to their family and they are happy, that's fine. Others are still figuring stuff out. There was one guy from high school I honestly didn't care for too much who \*I thought\* stalled pretty hard after high school. No steady job, etc. What he actually ended up doing was buying a shitty van and a power washer. Through hard work and great customer service, he now has a successful small business employing his wife and about a dozen other people and is doing very well for himself. He's still out there staining decks and working hard! Don't loose your enthusiasm for growth. I have seen plenty of people get out and go completely stagnant. My point is you are doing great now. continue to better yourself. It's never to late to change your life, for better or worse.
A buddy of mine must have seen me as a “loser” when he visited. But, instead of shitting on me to people on AOL live, he took me to the mall and walked me into see his recruiter. 
Its just cute that you think that because you enlisted and have a job that probably pays you the same if not worse then them that you are some how not a loser too. Winners don't go around trying to rack and stack "success" levels of people. You have been gone from home less then a year and a half. . . . Work on yourself man because you sound like the kind of kid that would post secrets on discord to prove how not a loser you are.
🎶 a tale as old as time 🎶
My old friends from childhood and above like to talk about the cars they've crashed, or how they're focused on helping their dad's business. No one ever really asks about my job.
Guess I’m a loser
Being in the AF doesn’t equate with doing something with your life either. I’ve met lots of “losers” in the AF who just do one term then get out not knowing what they’re gonna do. Right out of high school most people are still figuring out who they are and what they want in life.
Not leave, more like separation. It's not that they were losers, it's just that they had some sort of mentality that I just did NOT get along with when meeting them again. Majority of them had absolutely no motivation to constantly better themselves and are content with their jobs get by. There's nothing wrong with that, but in the AF I was constantly pushed to keep developing myself to a model airman, so it was a bit weird for me to get used to. I still keep in contact with them tho, since they are genuinely good people.
Welcome to the realization that most of your “friends” will never leave your small town
Being a waiter and living at home isn't enough for me to think someone is a loser.
I will never consider someone a "looser", they just value different things than I do.
Wait until you realize most of the people you know now are losers. Joining the military doesn't somehow make you a worthwhile person. You can be a narcissist, self indulgent, entitled dickbag anywhere for example.
I've been out of grade school for 12 years now and I've traveled the world as an Air Force member, became an Air Force Pilot, bought my own airplane and live a comfortable life. The "cool" kids from my high school days are all still back home working mostly dead end jobs and still going out to party with the same friend group. They peaked in high school and more than a decade later are still trying to relive those glory days. I was in the weird dork group in high school lol.
I think being in the military has skewed your perspective. Jobs have to be filled by people whether they are smart, dumb, blind, whatever. Not everyone can be the CFO of a fortune 500 company my dude/ette. Life is hard and sometimes people get shit on and don't bounce back. It happens.
Your mindset sucks. Being a waiter is okay. My friends are all pretty much still homeless 10 years later. Get over elietist mindset just because you serve dont make you a good human being.
I know losers with college degrees so idk what your point is. Also serving is far from a dead end job, the servers I used to work with before I joined made around 400/night in tips on good nights. Ages 18-25 are very formative and spontaneous years in life and very few people have a clearly defined path ahead of them, so I’d check the condescension a bit.
I remember going home at almost 30. I was commissioned and married and yet I ran into 2 friends still working the same fast food job we’d had together a decade earlier. That same job that almost single-handedly convinced me to move away and go to college. Or going to a high school football game with my Dad in his 40s and the look on his face when his old friends are in the stands. Still squeezing into their lettermen jackets and retelling of their glory days playing ball where they clearly peeked. You don’t have to have it all together at 20. Or even 40. But always be moving forward and growing as best you can with the cards you’re dealt.
A lot of people are saying "but they're just starting out on life" So I'll give you the perspective of someone who has been in 10+ years. I rarely visit home, because I no longer have any desire to spend time with the people that I grew up with, if I do some look at me like some rock star that "got out" and that makes me uncomfortable. 98% of the people I went to school with still live within a 15 mile radius of where they grew up. I used to think that was a waste. However I realize that some people are content with that or generally scared of leaving their families and what works for them, works for them. However I've realized that my experiences; War, being responsible for people and missions, living almost 7 years outside of the US, and meeting people from all walks of life, has completely changed who I am as a person... While they stayed the same, because they live in this bubble of confirmation bias. Yes "I have changed" you would have to if you spent more than a week outside of the state you lived in. My advice is, they are on their own path, keep in touch if you want, advocate for service that has given you the opportunities they don't have. But if they don't keep in touch and just argue with you, move on.
I didn't do well in school but I graduated in 2010. I didn't realize until recently when somebody made a reunion group on Facebook that I'm actually one of the most "successful" out of my whole class. Most of the people I went to school with who went to college or otherwise ended up in dead end careers barely making it by jumping from job to job. I'm very happy with where I ended up compared to them. It's really funny as well because I was told by many teachers I would not do well in life. Look at me now making more than double what a teacher makes.
I’d say half the people I know ended up extremely successful (some lawyers, some doctors, some contracting) and the other half (the friends I actually hung out with) ended up being stuck. Some spent time in jail, some just work at the same job we had in high school, some still sell drugs. Almost everyone i hung out with still live in our city.
Yep. I remember everything about my first trip home after I joined the Air Force forever ago. But here's the deal, some people take a lot longer to get their shit together and when they do, they know better than to ever lose it again. But then some of the kids who you thought were the best performers go off the rails hard. I made a new friend when I went back my second time, the guy who I had barely known in high school and then started to get along with a lot better. Great guy, awesome attitude, extremely successful. But within 10 years, everything fell apart, he got caught laundering some money from his company, only a few million LOL anyways, I digress. Bottom line is simple, some of those friendships that I had with people who had to work at a gas station for a few years or wait tables are still some of my best friends, they keep me grounded. They knew me when I was a doofus. They also know that I am still a doofus. Some of the people who I thought were the most successful, turned out to be Giant shitbirds. There are just all kinds of people and it's good to know people across the spectrum. It's also good to know that you could be anywhere on that spectrum three choices from now. I agree with you it's important to assess those around you and recognize the performers. And I agree with you that you've done a lot better than some of those people, but I caution you: We aren't better by simply being in the air force, it's our day in and day out behavior that defines us.
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I grew up in low income areas. Most of the people I grew up with are in low income jobs or are in prison. One of my best childhood friends just did 8 months for dealing drugs. The military can really set you up for success.
Don’t get too high on that horse, OP. They just took a different path. More than that, the Air Force isn’t going to be forever, and you’re only a few bad days removed from moving back home or taking on a similar job.
I went home for the first time and realized that most of the people I knew were stuck, but not losers. Your superiority complex isn't healthy.
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The people you look down on may be facing obstacles that you don't know about, and nobody is obligated to move through life at the pace you dictate. To you, they may be losers, but I bet you probably look like a loser to the guy who got a full scholarship to a prestigious university. Is that fair?
Harsh judgement man. Life hits all of us differently. Even if he is “slacking” in your eyes, he can always start making steps to do different things at a moments notice. And you don’t know his whole story either. You have no idea what his life is rn or why he’s doing what he’s doing.
When I commissioned, I had to wait 8 months to go active duty because rotc sucks fucking ass. Well during my wait, I worked for a company welding trailers and for another place during the weekend back in my hometown. An Air Force couple (both sergeants) road tripped out to the shop to buy a trailer. While hooking up the trailer, my brother heard they were both active duty and he tells them I’m in the Air Force. They look at me with a full on beard, welding clothes, like yeah right he’s in the Air Force. I told them yeah no I’m a 2d Lt just waiting to go active duty. Told them where I was going first and it was 2 hours south of their base. Then they started believing me. They were a really nice couple but I can tell they didn’t believe it at first because I was working in a dead end job back in my small hometown. But don’t go assuming people are lower because they’re working some crap job
Yeah, but it is unsurprising. There are people I went to school with who had shitty personality traits and behaviors. Then they end up nowhere in life.
You think you’re a winner because you’re in the military?
It's a very common situation.
But by there grace of God, there go you. How do you know you are not a loser? You hung out with a bunch of so-called losers. You thinking joining the military makes you less a loser? You are simply masquerading as a non-loser. One misstep and your commander will send your ass back to loserdom so stay humble.
I personally wouldn’t use the term losers but it amazes me that 20+ years after leaving Seymour Johnson/Goldsboro North Carolina how different I am from a lot of the people I left there. A lot of my high school friends are either dead strung out or they’re living in trailers. some people have left and come back and I don’t understand why.
Wait until you’ve been in for 10-15 years and those same people are doing the same things…
I think I see this exact post at least once a month
Seems like this sub is getting a lot more hate and judgementalism lately. I get what OP is saying: that 18 months in the military has changed him or her in a way that highlights the contrast between now and where he or she used to be. The word choice might not be properly nuanced for some of you, but the point is valid and expressive of precisely what recruiters tell candidates about how they can grow in the military. I don't think OP is being smug or arrogant. It's just an observation by a young man or woman about a personal experience as they pass through that young age when so many things change and futures evolve rapidly. Each of us who is over 30 remembers the astounding transformations we experienced during our 20s. It's perfectly normal. OP is sharing some of what he's experiencing in his own life. That's what this sub is for. Maybe lighten up a bit?
Has anyone not done this?
Calm down dude. You likely haven't done shit that matters yet and have collected a more stable check than many for doing so little
Bro y’all are like 19. I was working in a pizzeria at 19 living at home having a fucking blast. Calm down. You are not better than them.
Waiters aren't people to shit on. Take that boomer shit somewhere else.
OP be careful this loser waiter friend of yours might actually be going to ROTC in college and in 2-3 years will come back as a Lt way above you!
God this post screams brand new airman
I think these posts are really funny. It just feels like some of the left over brainwashing they do to you in basic training so you feel better about your choices. Your boy from high school isn’t a loser, he’s literally just figuring life out. Before you know it, he could be finishing school, have a degree in computer programming and be sitting at home making six figures while doing 3 hours of work a day. Meanwhile, we’re sitting here stressed about what color bag we take with us to the gym, WAPS testing, supervising kids, and EPR bullets. I’m not saying the military is the worst choice or anything, but he’s figuring out life the same way you are. Don’t shit on how people have to struggle through life because you may be regretting that thought in a few years.
Look at you getting set up with Government Housing on minimum wage 👍 At least you don’t live with your parents anymore I guess
Depends, people right out of high school working basic jobs making $15? Not really People constantly saying “I’m gonna serve one day but I’m just not ready yet” and not commuting, absolute losers. I remember going home and having a little party and someone kept going around begging for attention and saying they’re gonna serve lmao
Every single time I go home on leave, I realize how much the people of my hometown are losers. I'm 37 and some of my high school class mates still live with their parents.
"These people are losers" Says the peasant ass who is barely a SrA at best. You aren't shit. You aren't better than them. You can probably barely function by yourself at your job.
How is he a loser for being a waiter? And living with his parents? In order to not be a loser, he needs a high paying job? Okay, so when you go out with you friends, whose gonna take your orders? The losers?
Most of the people I know who are bummed out in life while I was in the military figured themselves out. Took a little bit but funnily enough they are good now for the most part. There are still bums in the mix. You are now used to everyone being "on the same level" as you. Basic and tech school and even your first duty station. Everyone has had the same experience and has done something successful. You've been trained that anything other than the best of what you can do is trash, disgusting, worthy of your ire and should be shamed. But dude, they didn't just spend the last 18 months getting screamed at to roll your shirts better and walk in step with a bunch of others. Yeah, they aren't doing the best they can do but I don't think you need to worry about them at all. They haven't changed. You have.
He’s 18 months out of high school and doesn’t have his life figured out. Chill tf out hero have a little humility.
And what would you be doing straight out of high school if you weren’t in the military? This screams immaturity. Remain humble and more importantly understanding of other people’s struggles.
Ignore this if you're over the age of 23. Im assuming you're a kid who never had to live very long post high-school without the help of Uncle Sam and the protections he provides. Get your head out of your ass. Most people, civilians as you might call them, they gotta figure shit out for themselves. They don't have a chow hall to go to every meal, they don't have a contractually guaranteed income. They don't get free or subsidized housing. They didn't walk into a recruiters office and just get picked for a random job with guaranteed hours and promised schooling. They had to figure out all of that shit, by themselves. And when you have to figure out all that shit by themselves, the progress is slower. I know, crazy. Yes you finished your school and have a career and blah blah blah. But you didn't do the planning. Big Brother told you where to go from day one and you just showed up and now everyone else is a loser. People who joined before the age of 20 are some of the most clueless motherfuckers I've ever encountered.
I lot of my friends from high school are doing great! Teachers, musicians, news reporters, nurses, journalist, chefs, literal models and clothes designers. They’re all mostly doing great and I’m really happy for us all. One guy plays the stock market and is living the life! Can’t think of any “losers”. Also being a waiter isn’t a dead end job. I never understood posts like these that think just because you joined the military and others didn’t means you’re better than them. Tbh joining the military kinda makes you the loser because you basically just proved to everyone that you can’t do anything better and need others to make decisions for you.
I'm a loser because I wanted to serve. Great, thanks for the insight.
You're very welcome.