What should you not say to a combat veteran?

20 Things You Should Never Say to Someone in the Military
  • "How many people have you killed?" ...
  • "What kind of action did you see in combat?" ...
  • "When are you done?" ...
  • "I'm glad you made it back in one piece." ...
  • "How could you leave your family for so long?" ...
  • "What do you think about what's going on in the news?"

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What not to do to a veteran?

DO NOT, even in a joking manner, tell a veteran that they should be grateful they made it home alive, they didn't die “over there” and they need to get “over it” and be happy. There is already a VERY good chance that they wished they had been killed in action.

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How do I talk to a combat veteran?

7 Tips for Talking With Veterans About Military Experiences
  1. Create a space to talk. ...
  2. Respect their boundaries. ...
  3. Let them tell their own story. ...
  4. Be an active listener. ...
  5. Be empathic. ...
  6. Manage your own feelings as they come up. ...
  7. Be accepting.

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What not to say to someone in the military?

Things NOT to Say to or Ask a Veteran
  • “Thank you for your service, but I don't think we should have been there in the first place.” ...
  • “The military is a job for men. ...
  • “How could you leave your family while you were deployed?” ...
  • “Are you suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? ...
  • “Have you ever killed anyone?”

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Why combat veterans don t talk about war?

Civilians do not like to hear about killing, and combat soldiers do not want to talk about it. There is no euphemistic way to talk about killing, and there is no eloquent way to describe a violent death. So, in order to cope, soldiers have invented their own private language to talk about these subjects.

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THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY DURING AN NCOER!

19 related questions found

Why do veterans get so angry?

Anger and trauma

Problematic anger can co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition that may develop following exposure to a traumatic event, such as a deployment-related trauma.

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Why do veterans want to be left alone?

Sometimes this desire for solitude is an acquired trait. After a veteran's experiences in the military, they may desire less interaction with others; we're not avoiding the crowd because it reminds us of Baghdad. We're avoiding the crowd because being part of the crowd no longer interests us.

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What is disrespect in the military?

Truth is no defense. Disrespect by acts includes neglecting the customary salute, or showing a marked disdain, indifference, insolence, impertinence, undue familiarity, or other rudeness in the presence of the superior officer.

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What are military words for respect?

verb (used with object),sa·lut·ed, sa·lut·ing. Military. to pay respect to or honor by some formal act, as by raising the right hand to the side of the headgear, presenting arms, firing cannon, dipping colors, etc.

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What are unprofessional behaviors in the military?

Unprofessional relationships include those that abandon goals, exclude others, detract from authority, grant favors or show favoritism to people you like. It also includes relational behavior that hurts unit morale, discipline and unity or behavior that benefit you at the expense of others or the AF.

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How to date a combat veteran?

Whatever your background, here are nine things you're going to have to get used to if you decide to date a servicemember or veteran.
  1. Understanding dark humor. ...
  2. The things they carry. ...
  3. Bobby pins are everywhere. ...
  4. Opening up takes a little longer. ...
  5. Inter-service rivalry is all in good fun. ...
  6. You learn to love listening to stories.

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What is the average lifespan of a combat veteran?

The overall average age at death for all 100% service-connected U.S. veterans is 67 years. When separated by gender, the average age at death for all female 100% service-connected U.S. veterans is 63 years of age and the average age at death for all male 100% service-connected U.S. veterans is 68 years of age.

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Do veterans miss combat?

Most veterans don't miss the bloodshed or horrors of war, which is why we don't talk about the details much. Instead, we miss the camaraderie we experienced. We miss the thrill of feeling alive, knowing a bullet could snatch our life in a split-second.

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What do veterans miss the most?

They miss the shared hardships, having someone watching their back, and they miss being valued for who they are—the good, the bad, and the ugly. What else do veterans miss when getting out? Veterans miss that sense of identity they had while serving.

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What is the biggest problem for veterans?

The Changing Needs of Veterans

Post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, illnesses caused by toxic exposure and other injuries can show up years later and affect any stage of life. Veterans may lose jobs or face crises.

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What veterans want you to know?

  • 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know.
  • 15 Things that Veterans want YOU to Know:
  • We are not all soldiers. ...
  • Reserves are part of the military. ...
  • Not everyone in the military is infantry (in tanks, on patrol, etc.) ...
  • Military has leaders at every level in the chain of command.
  • Military is always on duty.

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What is a nice message to soldiers?

Thank you for your service to this country. Your bravery, sacrifice, and strength do not go unnoticed, and we will always be indebted to you and your family for all that you have given to the country. I would like to thank you very much for your service! Thank you for your time, bravery, and sacrifice for this country.

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What is a good message for a soldier?

Armed Forces Day Appreciation Messages

“We appreciate your service on this day and every day.” “Wishing you and all armed forces members a great day.” “Your country thanks you today, and so do I.” “Thank you for committing yourself to our country's safety.”

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What are 3 words for respect?

Some common synonyms of respect are admire, esteem, and regard. While all these words mean "to recognize the worth of a person or thing," respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation.

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What is offensive in combat?

An offensive is a military operation that seeks through an aggressive projection of armed forces to occupy or recapture territory, gain an objective or achieve some larger strategic, operational, or tactical goal. Another term for an offensive often used by the media is "invasion", or the more general "attack".

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What is an insulting name for a soldier?

Trench Monkey – Widely considered to be a derogatory term, trench monkey has a negative connotation and is also meant to refer to a soldier or any other Army service member.

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What do you call a soldier who refuses to fight?

A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles.

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Why do veterans struggle with relationships?

The symptoms of PTSD can cause problems with trust, closeness, communication, and problem solving. These problems may affect the way the survivor acts with others. In turn, the way a loved one responds to him or her affects the trauma survivor. A circular pattern can develop that may sometimes harm relationships.

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What causes veterans anxiety?

Some Veterans develop severe anxiety following a trauma or a life-threatening experience. For others, stressful life events — such as the transition from military to civilian life or difficult work situations — can cause anxiety disorders. There are several types of anxiety disorders with a variety of symptoms.

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Do veterans feel lonely?

"A lot of them feel very lonely, feel very lost," she says. "Loneliness leads to other health problems. They're at higher risk of heart disease compared to other Americans ages 50 and older. They also have poor outcomes."

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