"Thank you for your service".... but I have only applied to West Point.

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Linneyj1

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Oct 28, 2019
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When asked where my DS has applied for college, he tells people that he has applied to "West Point".
The odd reply he often gets from people is "Thank you for your service".
..err.... "I'm still in High school and have only applied to a service academy. I'm not in the military yet".

'Thank you for your service" now seems to be the stock reply whenever you use the words 'military', 'Army/Navy/Air Force', etc.. in a sentence.

Anyone else get odd replies when their kids tell people that they have applied to a service academy ?
 
Not odd at all. Before my son went to USNA people said the same thing. They mean “thank you for taking this path to serve”. Most students applying to SAs could go to good schools and chose to serve.

A simple thank you for your support is all that is needed.

The alternative are the ones who dislike you for going into the military. That’s worse.
 
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When my DS was still in AROTC, they would wear their uniform to class once a week. On more than one occasion, while at lunch, people would try to pay for his lunch.

It was awkward for him to have to explain that he was not yet a veteran, and wasn't deserving.
 
As a veteran, I'm not entirely thrilled with the "thank you for your service" response I receive when it is revealed that I made the decision to serve in the military. Having grown up in a military family, I certainly didn't love the disdain that was demonstrated toward members of the military in the 70's, so I guess it's a better alternative to that.

Most veterans know that they didn't join the military for anybody's thanks. And certainly when it was not an all-volunteer military, there was no need to thank anybody, because most had served (or would have had to if qualified). Also, a lot of people end up in the military for a wide variety of reasons (and they're not always altruistic reasons).

Maybe I'm getting too old and jaded, but I think thanking people for their service is unnecessary - but I would welcome other Veterans to comment on this.
 
TexasAggie204 said:
Maybe I'm getting too old and jaded, but I think thanking people for their service is unnecessary - but I would welcome other Veterans to comment on this.
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I have mixed emotions about it. I served from the mid 70's until the mid 00's and this changed immensely during that time. I am pretty active in Veterans stuff in my area and the constant thanks can get a little uncomfortable but when I think back to being spat toward and called "Baby Killer" while I was a Mid at USNA, I think that the over-thanking is better. When I was in the thick of things like coming back from combat deployments, etc it seemed that few people cared much about the military which is better than actively deriding us but also not reflective of the sacrifices being made.

In the end though, I did and do what I'm doing for the COUNTRY that has given my family and I so much. This isn't for other people to thank me, its for me to thank my country.
 
TexasAggie204 said:
As a veteran, I'm not entirely thrilled with the "thank you for your service" response I receive when it is revealed that I made the decision to serve in the military. Having grown up in a military family, I certainly didn't love the disdain that was demonstrated toward members of the military in the 70's, so I guess it's a better alternative to that.

Most veterans know that they didn't join the military for anybody's thanks. And certainly when it was not an all-volunteer military, there was no need to thank anybody, because most had served (or would have had to if qualified). Also, a lot of people end up in the military for a wide variety of reasons (and they're not always altruistic reasons).

Maybe I'm getting too old and jaded, but I think thanking people for their service is unnecessary - but I would welcome other Veterans to comment on this.
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I get the thank you for your service a lot.

I do think it’s unnecessary, but by the time the person said it, it’s really too late to say they didn’t have to say thank you. They almost always want to shake my hand.

I smile, look them in the eyes, give a firm handshake, and say, “Thank you for your support, sir (or ma’am).”
 
DS says he and his Cadet friends say “Thank you for your service “ to each other as an inside joke. Their feelings are that they haven’t done anything deserving of a thank you at this stage in their careers. I beg to differ....they have made a Huge commitment to serve their Country.
As a Veteran I don’t mind people acknowledging my service and offer a reply telling them it was my honor to serve our country.
There was a Vietnam documentary we watched on tv at our motel on RDay eve. It showed a lot of the negativism and even hate that many Americans displayed to our military back then, those were super low times.
I reminded DS that Patriotism is not a forever thing and that it comes and goes. He is entering service at a high point of patriotism. Currently it’s still relatively high, but certainly can become negative again as much as I hope it doesn’t.
A sincere thank you to all who served, are serving, and planning to serve!
 
As someone who has not served, I think the VERY least I can do is say “thank you” to those who have, are, or will serve in the future. Thank you for affording our country the freedoms that we all too often take for granted. Whatever the motive or circumstance that put you into service, to me at least, is far less relevant than the selflessness required fulfill your duty. I do try to teach my children about that selflessness and sacrifice and willingness to risk oneself for the safety and freedom we enjoy - I include first responders in that list in addition to servicemen and women - and I hope they get it. They will say thank you to those in uniform without me prodding them to do so. I hope it is taken as the respect for the uniform that it is intended to be and to let those people know that there are still many in our country that recognize and appreciate deeply the sacrifices made.
 
I travel through a lot of airports and routinely see members of our military on the way to or from my gate or baggage claim. I will usually fist-bump with them as we pass by but not say anything, or even break stride. Seems like a good way to acknowledge them without making anyone uncomfortable. More often than not, they break out in a big smile.
 
Over 3 1/2 years ago (Wow), during our first Parents' Weekend at USAFA, we took our DD out to eat with friends for lunch. As required, she was in her service dress as a Doolie. As we were departing and walking by a bar/counter area, an older gentleman turned around, stopped her and thanked her for her service. You could see she was a bit bewildered, but extremely humbled. She responded by very genuinely thanking HIM for his service...he was wearing a jacket and hat with various service memorabilia including "Vietnam Vet" on his hat. After we left, she commented that she felt she had done nothing to deserve the thanks. However, like a few mentioned above, she is one of the few (less than 1% active duty and less than 7% of all adult Americans) who have or are committed to serving our great nation. I sometimes believe that those, who served during the times when most Americans preferred to denigrate a service member, are more likely to thank someone since they were not afforded that gratitude.

Another quick story...at the end of the Veterans' Day assembly at my DD's high school last year, a gentlemen wearing a "Vietnam Vet" hat came up to the Superintendent, with whom I was speaking, and made the simple statement, "This is the first time anyone has ever thanked me for my service." Needless to say, this brought tears to the Superintendent's eyes; she was astounded that could be such the case, even though she knew it to be true.
 
There was a period in our history where many of the general public looked down on those who were in the military (drafted or volunteered - it didn't matter). While it often is used as an icebreaker rather than uttered with sincerity, I am glad we have folks saying "thanks for your service" when they encounter anyone remotely connected to the military. Don't be surprised that they don't get the nuances of the situation (SA, NROTC, Vet, etc) - most have no experience with the military at all.

Is it necessary? No. Appreciated? Most of us probably have mixed emotions on that but I appreciate it from the perspective I posted above. I thank them for their support and move on.
 
AROTC-dad said:
When my DS was still in AROTC, they would wear their uniform to class once a week. On more than one occasion, while at lunch, people would try to pay for his lunch.

It was awkward for him to have to explain that he was not yet a veteran, and wasn't deserving.
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I told this story before. My son was in the AF for three days and someone offered to pay for his lunch. He told them no but they insisted and he accepted. Little did they know that he had only been in 3 days and most of the days was taken up filling out forms.
 
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