Is it really so hard to just smile and walk away? Why not just explain the difference between the tracks of an officer vs an enlisted man or woman.
I agree. At one time, I was one of those parents who’d roll their eyes and sigh when faced with unknowing comments and questions. I’d respond with a kind of tired tone, smacking of “I can’t believe you don’t know this.” Dig deep enough here and you’ll surely find something I wrote with exactly that attitude.
I’ve since come around. I now accept that we’re a country in which an embarrassingly low percentage of its people serve, have served or will serve in the military. That’s something only the government — or a war — can do anything about. Do I wish our citizens and residents knew and understood more? Of course. Do I wish they cared enough to understand what people — including my DD and DS — go through for the privilege and honor and burden of defending our country. Of course.
But they don’t. Even here, on SAF, there are many who admit to knowing very little despite their vested interest in the matter. So I’ve decided that I’m going try my best to patiently and thoughtfully educate them.
(I’ve said here before that I think some parents get annoyed when others are ignorant of the officer accession path because the parents are deprived of an “ooh-ah” moment — an opportunity for someone to pat them on the back and/or stroke their ego. Again, I say some parents, not all or even most.)
Yes, the comments posted here make for fun banter among us “insiders.” But in the end, those of us who are in the know should be the ones to educate others, without judgment or smugness. The better we do that, the better off everyone will be.