I’ve met so many people who, after I share that I was in the military, feel like it’s appropriate to share how they almost went into the military. Cool story bro.

The military isn’t a joke. It’s long hours with very little repose. It’s mentorship. It’s toxic work environments. It’s political correctness.

Honestly, I could give two fucks if you ALMOST joined the military. You didn’t do it, plain and simple. Eat your own words. It is incredibly disrespectful to downplay someone’s military service by talking about how you were in ROTC. Or by saying you went to a recruiter. I literally don’t care.

People are super condescending when I tell them I have PTSD from the military. It’s disgusting and shameful. You were not in my shoes, therefore shut the fuck up.

It is frequently touted how brave individuals are who serve(d) in the military. We shower them with praise and admiration. Inevitably, in the midst of conversation, I hear a story of some relative who served.

Listen, very cool story, but I’m uninterested. If you didn’t serve, you don’t know the life. Cry about it. But take your self-righteous bullshit elsewhere. You don’t know the sacrifices we make. You don’t know how mentally and physically exhausting the military is. Please sit down.

Not to toot my own horn, but yes I actually will. I come from a family of many respected military members. This is my adoptive family by the way. My uncle, an Air Force veteran, inspired me to join the Air Force. My grandparents served in the Navy and met on a naval ship. My great grandfather was in the Coast Guard. He helped storm the coasts of Normandy. He was there on D-Day. My cousins served in Iraq. My sister serves in the Army.

I don’t enjoy hearing preachy civilian bullshit on the military. It’s disrespectful. Please go through boot camp and serve at least four years. Then maybe we can talk. Also, be mindful of how you speak to veterans. We literally could care less about your opinions on the military.