Soldiers always stand out! Maybe it is in the way they stand, walk, or simply carry themselves on a regular basis. Perhaps it is all of these things together! If you have ever been in the military, some habits will stick even when you go back to civilian life. Can you relate to any of these points? If so, we are sure you were a soldier at some point in your life!
Floor = Bed
During basic training, soldiers learn how to sleep just about anywhere. It might just be the floor to civilians, but you will not hesitate to use it as a bed in time of need. Your friend’s shoulder is basically a pillow as well. However, do not take this to mean that they will slack off any time. Even when they are enjoying a good night’s sleep, they will be up at attention in no time!
Floor Bed
Ironing Boss
Soldiers know the importance of folding and ironing their uniform. Good luck looking for a soldier wearing a creased uniform. That’s simply not how things are in the military. They take good care to look presentable at any given moment!
Ironing Boss
The Way You Walk
Another sign that a person spent time in service is the way they walk. From a distance, you will be able to see that a soldier walks with both control and purpose. Even more than that, it is important for you to know that you will have to speed up your pace to keep up with them!
The Way You Walk
Military Time
We all learned how to read and tell time when we were kids. However, the military has a different way of going about it. Military time is more efficient because it becomes unnecessary to indicate AM and PM!
Military Time
Your Hair
Civilians are free to pick whatever haircut pleases them. However, all soldiers get a buzz-cut. It is only when they leave service that they can choose a different hairstyle. Nonetheless, most people stick to this cut since they are used to it by then.
Your Hair
Scanning Situations
There is no need to fret when you find your soldier friend scanning the park, room, or venue the moment you arrive. They learned to scan and assess situations from day one in the military. It has become their instinct to remain alert and watchful for anything strange. Of course, they will also act when it becomes necessary.
Scanning Situations
Standing At Ease
Civilians might think that the “at ease” stance looks far from comfortable, however, soldiers have become accustomed to standing like this, so they feel right at home when in this position. In fact, they will likely continue to do this in civilian life as well!
Standing At Ease
Sir And Ma’am
Respect is an essential part of a soldier’s life. No matter who they are talking to, they will never fail to display the utmost respect. Men will be referred to as ‘sir’, while women will be called ‘ma’am’.
Sir And Ma’am
Fast Eater
Soldiers also know how to eat their meals in the quickest way possible. This is important because they cannot afford to stay away from their post for a long time, especially if they are in the middle of a war. We bet that troopers who reenter civilian life will be overwhelmed by the free time they have after each meal.
Fast Eater
Military Jargon
Military speak is often depicted in all sorts of media. Do the expressions “negative”, “affirmative”, and “roger that” ring any bells? It is actually pretty factual as soldiers do speak like this. Sometimes, these phrases carry over to the way they speak post-military. They learn the language while in service, and it becomes difficult to remove it from the lexicon afterward.
Military Jargon
Cursing
They don’t mean to be rude. However, it is difficult to avoid talking this way when everyone around you speaks like this. Introduce yourself to a drill sergeant and you’ll understand exactly what we mean.
Cursing
Polished
We have already talked about the importance of looking presentable to soldiers. This also applies to their boots, one of the most important parts of their uniform. They will likely put in extra effort to ensure that their boots look as shiny as possible.
Polished
Your Fridge
Fridge doors are often used as a place for photos and reminders, but it serves a different purpose for military people. When you look at a soldier’s fridge, you will often find hints of their time in the military. You’ll probably find war memorabilia or military souvenirs over there.
Your Fridge
Saluting
Don’t be surprised when a soldier salutes you in public. It is a common way of greeting other people in the army and yet another difficult habit to let go. Feel free to salute back at them! They are only trying to say hello, so there is no need to feel threatened.
Saluting
No Kitchen
To soldiers, the mess is the equivalent of the kitchen. That’s right – it does not matter how organized and clean your kitchen might be. To soldiers, it will forever be the mess and that is that.
No Kitchen
Call Of Duty
Like most people, soldiers enjoy playing games like Call of Duty as well. However, what makes them special is that they know what it is actually like. They definitely know that carrying 6 rifles and a grenade launcher is only possible inside a game!
Call Of Duty
Black paint or ‘Boot-Topping’?
If you ask military personnel, they will tell you that there is not a lot of difference between boot-topping and boot paint. But just so you know, boot-topping is the black coating used to lather the space between the deck and the waterline. This liquid has a thick consistency and often uses sulfur or lime. Civilians might mistake it for black paint, but a military person will be able to tell even from a mile away.
Black Paint Or ‘Boot Topping’
Quiet In Line
If you chance upon a soldier waiting in line, they will be quiet and well-behaved. This behavior can be traced back to the basic training they underwent. They are used to waiting in line for orders and entering the mess hall. We honestly wish that this kind of behavior should be natural when you are lining up for the bus or the ATM.
Quiet In Line
Checking Your Car
Discipline is yet another important aspect of military behavior. Before heading off to a mission, soldiers need to check their vehicles to ensure that it is safe and prepared. Regardless of the model and make of the vehicle, they need to conduct a thorough check. Even when they are no longer serving in the military, they will continue this practice with their very own personal cars!
Checking Your Car
Home Chore List
How do you ensure that you get everything done? Creating chore lists is a pretty common practice in the military. It ensures that everyone knows their assignments and that everything is accomplished. When someone doesn’t follow, they will be held responsible. Many soldiers take this practice with them to civilian life.
Home Chore List
Skip The Fireworks
Fireworks will definitely look beautiful against the night sky, but you might want to rethink your plans if you have a soldier with you. In particular, those who have gone to war will not be very pleased with the bangs. Anyone who has ever been deployed has already had their fill of explosions so avoid fireworks at all cost.
Skip The Fireworks
Power Stance
Aside from walking a certain way, soldiers tend to stand a particular way as well. Depending on their rank, they might have a power stance. If you find yourself in the presence of military people, the way they stand will exude confidence!
Power Stance
Your Squad
The men and women they spend time with on the battlefield often end up becoming the most important people in a soldier’s life. After all, you are all responsible for each other. At the end of the day, it does not matter how many insults and curses have been thrown around. They will still love and trust each other than anyone else.
Your Squad
Speaking In A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S.
Acronyms are common in the military. However, you probably do not understand all of them. Do you know what BOHICA, WAG, and SNAFU mean? If you answered negatively, you clearly did not serve any time in the military.
Speaking In A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S.
Honking Twice
It is considered standard for soldiers to honk two times to warn people that you are about to back up. When they finish serving in the military, soldiers tend to keep doing this. Old habits die hard!
Honking Twice
The Flag
The American flag symbolizes the entire American nation, so it deserves the utmost respect. When a soldier sees a flag being raised, it is second nature for them to stand and even salute. This is definitely the kind of patriotism we should be instilling in our youth.
The Flag
Back To The Wall
Soldiers understand the value of keeping your back against the wall. Why? It is actually a great position since it reduces the need to keep an eye over your shoulder. It guarantees that there will be no threats coming from behind, so you can focus on whatever is happing in front. This is the reason why soldiers like to take the seat in the back, even when they have returned to civilian life.
Back To The Wall
Hospital Corners
As we have said earlier, neatness plays a big part in the daily lives of soldiers. Their beds are no exception. After waking up, they take the effort to make their beds and create “hospital corners” for a uniform look.
Hospital Corners
War Movie Frustration
It does not take a genius to figure out why a soldier would be annoyed by a Hollywood war flick. After all, they will never be able to depict the true experience. Nonetheless, they can still enjoy action movies as long as they look past mistakes like this one.
War Movie Frustration
Whistling In The Loo
When you are in the public bathroom and hear whistling from the adjacent stall, there is a good chance that person was in the military. The history of this ‘tradition’ remains unknown, but it is definitely a widespread practice in the military.
Whistling In The Loo
Knife Hands
Do you know what a knife hand is? It is basically the gesture soldiers use when they are trying to explain something. They flatten and tighten all the fingers so that they are aligned. Even after service, men and women typically use this to give directions.
Knife Hands
Getting Up Early
You and a soldier probably mean different things when you talk about sleeping in. They don’t mean getting up by noontime. After going through basic training and deployment, they probably mean 7 am!
Getting Up Early
Popping Smoke
Like what you see in action films, troops “pop smoke” when they need to make a diversion so that they can move into position. When the term is used outside of the military, it means the speaker is about to leave.
Popping Smoke
Tabasco Sauce
Military food is certainly far from gourmet food. It is a good thing that soldiers have decided to make do with the equipment they have. Tabasco sauce is probably the most used condiment in the mess!
Tabasco Sauce
The National Anthem
Soldiers might get a little emotional whenever Star Spangled Banner comes on. Don’t be surprised to see their eyes wet as it plays. The national anthem is, after all, the ultimate soundtrack for people who chose this career path.
The National Anthem
Always Early, Never Late
We know that some people like to show up “fashionably late” to certain events. However, soldiers will never be part of this group. They avoid arriving late when they could, typically arriving 15 minutes early. Military people know just how valuable time is.
Always Early, Never Late
No Explanations
For most of us, rambling explanations will often suffice when talking about a certain thing. Soldiers, meanwhile, give briefings instead. When doing this, they refrain from displaying too much emotion and relaying too much information. They prefer to do it short and sweet by only revealing the important bits without straying from the topic.
No Explanations
Workout Music
Any ex-soldier looking for a great soundtrack to go with their workout can simply turn to “cadence” if they need an additional boost. Regardless of how they might be feeling on that day, this is a tune that will definitely make them feel motivated enough to keep working hard.
Workout Music
Your Gun
Anyone who has ever held a gun while they were in the military knows that it is basically an extension of the body. Wherever a soldier goes, so does their gun. When the time comes to leave the military, it is likely that they still feel as if the gun is on them.
Your Gun
Losing Your Gun
Here is another tidbit about the gun they used to carry. Ex-soldiers will continue to dream of losing their gun, only to wake up and realize that they have already turned both the gun and uniform in.
Losing Your Gun
Phonetic Alphabet
Soldiers tend to spell out words via the military phonetic alphabet. Instead of simply saying the letter “j”, they will probably say “Juliet” instead. The same goes with saying “delta” over “d”. You would have to be very quick to figure out what it is that they are trying to say.
Phonetic Alphabet
Short Showers
Soldiers simply do not have the luxury to take long showers, so they keep it brief. They have better things to do than spend longer than necessary in the shower. You will find that many ex-soldiers still refuse to spend a long time in the shower if they can help it.
Short Showers
Sunglasses
If you have ever been a soldier, there is a good chance that you feel comfortable wearing sunnies. It hardly matters if the sun is out or not. You will be sporting your sunglasses regardless.
Sunglasses
Talking During The Anthem
Anyone who continues to speak while the national anthem is on will drive soldiers insane. To say the least, this is very disrespectful and inappropriate. It is definitely a good thing that they have been trained to be behaved. Otherwise, who knows what would happen in situations like this?
Talking During The Anthem
Towards Danger
Regardless of the danger looming in any situation, a true soldier runs towards it and never away from it. This also applies to the act of extending help to others. When there is action needed, soldiers will never fail to offer their hand to those in need.
Towards Danger
“Say Again”
When you need clarification, you will probably say either “excuse me” or “pardon me”. However, a soldier will go with “say again” instead. This is more military speak that is hard to drop after service.
“Say Again”
Finding The Exits
Soldiers have been trained to look for the exit points as soon as they walk into any situation. This is another habit that they will likely keep for the rest of their lives. In case anything happens, they will be able to figure out what to do.
Finding The Exits
Right Hand Free
Most soldiers tend to always keep their right hand free. Of course, the lefties will do the same thing with their left hand. Nonetheless, it is important to them to do this regardless of location and time. If you are on a date with a soldier, don’t feel bad if they don’t hold your hand!
Right Hand Free
Hands In Pockets
Another way to figure out if someone is a soldier is to see if they put their hands inside their pockets. This is not something military personnel usually do. As previously mentioned, they want to be ready at all times for any situation. Instead of keeping their hands tucked away, you will see them standing upright with their hands on their hips.
Hands In Pockets
Quiet During Announcements
Soldiers value respect more than anything else. When they are being given orders, they will remain quiet. The same thing applies when they are at a baseball game or the supermarket and an announcement goes off. They will stand there quietly to listen.
Quiet During Announcements
Alternative Routes
Do you want to know why your military friend always maps out multiple routes regardless of where you go? They always keep alternate routes in mind so that you would not be inconvenienced when something happens.
Alternative Routes
Brass To The Grass
Don’t worry if you don’t know what “brass to the grass” means. It is something that will only make sense to soldiers. You might not have any use for this slogan, but rest assured that soldiers will be using it even when they are done serving.
Brass To The Grass
Gig Line
Perfection has always been expected of soldiers, which must be why someone came up with the “gig line”. This something all military personnel is familiar with. It is the alignment of the uniform trouser fly-seam, uniform shirt seam, and the belt buckle. They need to be aligned perfectly at all times.
Gig Line
No Word Is Gold
Anyone who has ever spent time in the military will know that no word is considered the “end all be all”. Nothing is ever set in stone and no one knows this better than soldiers. They know that everything can change in only a second.
No Word Is Gold
Last Names
It is not unusual for soldiers to be unaware of someone’s given name. Typically, they will refer to their companions by their last name. If your name is John Cooper, you will only be called Cooper by the other soldiers.
Last Names
Soldier Or Not
People who served in the military for some time will keep their behaviors and habits even after they are done with service. Regardless of how much they try, it will hard to drop the things that lent them soldier status.
Soldier Or Not
Shot Joints
When you go into the army, soldiers have to train to perfection. However, it is a different story altogether the moment they get discharged. Ex-military men and women will forever blame the military for the joint pain that they will experience for the rest of their lives.
Shot Joints
You’ve Got An Ex
Counting down the days until you see your military partner will definitely be tough. As a matter of fact, many such couples end up in divorce. It is no secret that the stress might be too much for both parties to handle. This is the reason many veterans have numerous failed relationships.
Youve Got An Ex
Fast Dresser
What are you going to do when the enemy launches an attack in the middle of the night? They won’t wait until you are dressed before they make a movie. This is the reason it is important for soldiers to be prepared at all times. The fact that they only have their camo uniform must help speed up the dressing process.
Fast Dresser
Some Vitamin M
Have you ever heard of Vitamin M? If the answer is ‘no’, this might have something to do with the fact that it exists only in the military. When soldiers get sick, they do not call in sick. No, they drink a Motrin and fight on. During moments like this, Vitamin M is going to be your very best friend.
Some Vitamin M
Water Too
Water is pretty toe-to-toe with Vitamin M. Both of them are miracle workers! Strep throat, a hernia, a stomachache, a migraine, a missing leg… water will definitely help. When Vitamin M isn’t enough, water might do the job.
Water Too
Chopper Differences
Military children know the difference between helicopter models, while non-military kids will simply refer to all of them as a helicopter. Try asking the former if it’s an Apache, a Blackhawk, or a Chinook. They will definitely know the correct answer.
Chopper Differences
Time Away
Military children know the difference between helicopter models, while non-military kids will simply refer to all of them as a helicopter. Try asking the former if it’s an Apache, a Blackhawk, or a Chinook. They will definitely know the correct answer.
Time Away
Worst Case Scenario
In the military, soldiers have been taught the importance of imagining the worst-case scenario. This line of thinking allows them to prepare to the best of their ability. As such, they will always imagine the worst possible scenario that can happen at a family reunion or the supermarket.
Worst Case Scenario
Skype Is Reality
Skype might be one of the greatest things ever made. Video chatting offers the next best thing to actually being with loved ones in real time. Although a phone call will let you hear their voice, Skype lets you hear and look at them at the same time. Apparently, many soldiers have watched their wives deliver their child through the program.
Skype Is Reality
Special Laundry
Darks and lights? That’s not the way a soldier will separate his dirty clothes. No, it is more like camouflage or not! Do you know what setting they put the washing machine on to ensure that their uniforms are clean as can be? We sure could use it to keep our camo pants looking awesome.
Special Laundry
Too Quiet
Soldiers quickly learn how to sleep through anything. If you ever spent time in the military, you might even have a difficult time falling asleep when it is too quiet. Should this be the case, turn on your television and set the sleep timer!
Too Quiet
AC Or No AC?
Air conditioning is not something that exists in the military. Soldiers have no choice but to get used to the heat! After being discharged, soldiers should be able to make it through the worst temperatures without the AC. Even worse, some of them have decided that they could not live without high temperatures!
AC Or No AC
Medal Of Dishonor
True enough, no one out there truly likes a liar. However, soldiers have a particular dislike for people who lie about their service. Don’t make the mistake of impersonating a valiant hero. That’s not gonna go down well at all.
Medal Of Dishonor
Hats For The National Anthem
Anyone from the military will be annoyed when they find a person still wearing their hat even during the national anthem. Worse? Sitting down while it is playing. Just imagine how soldiers must have felt after the NFL players knelt down.
Hats For The National Anthem