I don't know if this is the normal today, I was very uncomfortable!

[Guest carbonarcher]

Ok, Let me start by saying I support the Military 300%! That being said, I was in a gunstore close to the fort. My Daddy was Army special forces in Vietnam, (has never and will never talk to us boys about it) Grandpa lost his leg on the beaches of Anzio, (He was part of a .30 team, he carried the bipod) he was hit by a mortar, his team all died and he layed on the beach for three days before they could get him! (Gangreen set in and he lost his leg), his brother was a tank commander under Gen. Patton in Europe, winner of the Medal of Honor... My Uncle is a grad of the naval acadamey, class of 78. My brother -in -law is a grad of West Point,class of '84('91 vet Air artillery), his youger brother is a former Marine, (Captaian of infantry '91vet), Cousin, West point grad, other cousin in Naval academy now... wants to be a S.E.A.L.

That being said, I was very uncomfortable when a couple of SPF guys came in, (with a young lady in the store) They just acted shadey. Then the language.. I was shocked that these guys were acting this way.. I know, My Daddy would have whipped our @#$%, if we acted that way in public. I honestly felt uncomfortable. Maybe it was me!! One took off his patches and the othe still had his on.. the one who did not have his patches on, left on the phone.. the other stayed in the store, I had actually made eye contact, and wanted to thank him for his service. Just looked at me and left.

I know that they meant no harm, but actions do speak louder then words!! Trust me I know, my Daddy put me and my brother into the paces!!

I don't know,

Not trying to cause a problem, I was just shocked! Maybe I have higher views of the SPF?

I am not saying that All are like this! I have bought dinner for quite a few Green berets! just as a thank you for keeping us safe!

Am I Wrong? With my observations?

[Erik88]

I don't understand your post...What happened exactly?

[Mr. Brooks]

The majority of the SF guys I have worked with are still very respectful and would never act like you you described. However, there are exceptions anywhere, some people do slip thru the cracks even in SF training.

I can say for sure though, they are the exception and not the rule.

Also, if they were playing with their patches like that they might have been posers. I know of people who have tried to wear things they haven't earned before. (ranger tabs, jump wings ect)

When I came back into the Army there was a prior Marine that was trying to claim all sorts of awards and schools that he never earned. They don't look to favorably on that kind of thing as he found out.

[Guest carbonarcher]

OK! I was just very upset that this was our cream of the crop! Like I stated, my DADDY was one of them too. He Never acted that way! And GOD FORBID, that his two BOYS DID! It was just very weird... That is all I can say... I look at My DADDY, Larry Vickers, Ken Hackelthorn, and I say, No Way!

[Guest carbonarcher]

Erik88,

Have you ever gotten the feeling when you walk in to a place and something isn't right? Maybe sets your awareness to another level? This is how I felt! I was very dissappointed!

[Erik88]

Erik88,

Have you ever gotten the feeling when you walk in to a place and something isn't right? Maybe sets your awareness to another level? This is how I felt! I was very dissappointed!

gotcha, I'm with you now.

[Guest db99wj]

Posers is the first thought I had. Army Surplus commando's.

[walton6467]

As a Clarksville native, I have seen this before. Its sad. I wish there was a better way to police this. Our "skilled" military don't deserve the reputation these yahoos give them.

[LagerHead]

The majority of the SF guys I have worked with are still very respectful and would never act like you you described. However, there are exceptions anywhere, some people do slip thru the cracks even in SF training.

I can say for sure though, they are the exception and not the rule.

Also, if they were playing with their patches like that they might have been posers. I know of people who have tried to wear things they haven't earned before. (ranger tabs, jump wings ect)

When I came back into the Army there was a prior Marine that was trying to claim all sorts of awards and schools that he never earned. They don't look to favorably on that kind of thing as he found out.

There was one in my company, before I got there. He actually had papers for jump school, jumpmaster school, dive school, the Q course and everything. The only reason he got caught was because somebody got hurt on a jump that he was jumpmaster on and the routine investigation ferreted it all out. Pretty scary.

[Mr. Brooks]

There was one in my company, before I got there. He actually had papers for jump school, jumpmaster school, dive school, the Q course and everything. The only reason he got caught was because somebody got hurt on a jump that he was jumpmaster on and the routine investigation ferreted it all out. Pretty scary.

That's insane! If one of my jumpmasters did something like that I don't know what I would do.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

So they cussed. What's the big deal? Everyone I know cusses.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Ahh i see....interesting.

[LagerHead]

So they cussed. What's the big deal? Everyone I know cusses.

When you are in uniform you are representing the military to the civilian community. As a whole all branches of the military frown on this type of behavior. For example if you get technical you are supposed to refer to all civilians as sir or mam when addressing them, a fact with which Barbara Boxer is apparently unfamiliar. To those of us that actually care how we're represented when off base the type of behavior outline by Carbon is very insulting.

[Mike.357]

profanity in normal everyday language is a real sign of ignorance.

[ncomarc]

When you are in uniform you are representing the military to the civilian community. As a whole all branches of the military frown on this type of behavior. For example if you get technical you are supposed to refer to all civilians as sir or mam when addressing them, a fact with which Barbara Boxer is apparently unfamiliar. To those of us that actually care how we're represented when off base the type of behavior outline by Carbon is very insulting.

Well said, this is a prolem in the Reserves, where the newer Soldiers don't seem to get trhe whole representing the military thing.

[Punisher84]

profanity in normal everyday language is a real sign of ignorance.

+1 I always watch my language in public especially and I certainly would have never and never did conduct myself in a poor manner in uniform.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

I try and watch my language most of the time. However, I do get angry at times and sometimes it comes out but I dont just go around saying cuss words left and right. I am not offended by people cussing though. To each their own. I suppose it is like if you are in public and in a work uniform you are still technically representing said company even when not on their property. I see what you are getting at now. Still, I probably would not have felt offended or insulted by their actions.

[Guest GunTroll]

I never cursed when I was in uniform. And never while within a group of buddies in uniform. And most certainly I have never been cursed at by someone with a higher rank than myself.

It has taken me almost three years to lose my foul Army mouth and I'm still working on it. I didn't have a library job while I was in. That being said I never cursed or carried on poorly while out and about in uniform. Just seemed well, wrong and immature.

[Guest mustangdave]

Carbon...unfortunately...this kind of behavior seems all to common for the younger "newbie" types...they think they're ALL THAT and a BAG OF CHIPS. Its also not restricted to Army Special Forces...its in the Navy... the US Marines (though if your platoon NCO finds out...you're in for a world of hurt)...even the Air Force ( they usually just arrogant ass hats anyway cause all they really do is push a button for a job). The more senior NCO's are almost to a man much better behaved in public.

[JAB]

..even the Air Force ( they usually just arrogant ass hats anyway cause all they really do is push a button for a job).

My buddy who is EOD and has been in Iraq on several deployments (in the triangle of death at least once) and whose last deployment was to the mountains of Afghanistan just might disagree with that statement. Of course, he had a foul mouth before he joined the Air Force.

[Guest mustangdave]

My hats off to those EOD guys...I was referring to the AIR FORCE as "I" knew it while I was serving...

[Chucktshoes]

I had a foul mouth before I went in and was known to use a few choice words while turning wrenches on F-16s, not pushing buttons. You army guys were always just jealous we had the nicer (edible) food and quarters. :lol:That being said, when in public amongst civilians or even amongst other units, I knew to comport myself in a professional manner that would not draw scorn or disrespect upon my unit or the AF in general. That went for when I was in or out of uniform, cause the locals knew you were in service just by looking at you, lol.

[First Strike]

In the barracks, clowning around, foul mouth. Out in public, never. Yes sir, yes maam all the way. Of course thiis was regular infantry 20 yrs ago. Even so, the young men that I have met that serve now are very respectful and professional. I think some of the earlier posters are right and they were just posers.

[Krull]

Well with a criminal justice degree we are trained to look at the bad side of people. Now with that said maybe they were posers up to no good. May be they were about to snuff the joint. I think your sixth sense might have been on to something. I work with SPF guys sometimes and I don't know any that would ever remove their markings.

[Guest The Highlander]

Posers.

I am willing to bet that on another day they are Tacticool Ninja's too. The same guys have, for the most part, incredibly bad technique when gun handling, and if they have an HCP, they probably go out of their way to "let everyone know" they are carrying. Because they can't get respect legimately, they puff up like a blowfish and try to seem like they have it anyway.

By the way, to the OP, thank you and your family for exemplary service.

The Highlander