A majority of younger veterans said they feel uncomfortable when they are told “thank you for your service,” a new poll found.

Ahead of Veterans Day on Saturday, a survey found disparities between young military members and their older counterparts in how they prefer to be recognized for their service.

Among younger military members and veterans — age 18 to 29 — 70 percent said they feel uncomfortable or awkward when they are thanked for their service. Only 24 percent of older members, 65 years and up, say the same, the Endeavor Analytics and YouGov poll found.

“This data shows that military service members and our veterans want Americans to go beyond small talk to connect with them on a deeper level, including learning more about their service, honoring each veteran’s service in ways in which they feel comfortable talking about it,” Robert F. Whittle Jr., retired Army major general and United Services Automobile Association (USAA) chief of staff, said in a statement.

  • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    34 here, I absolutely hate being told thank you for my service and generally don’t reveal I was in the military if I can avoid it. I have no interest in being associated with the crowd of morons happy to send other people’s kids to war and then refuses to take care of them when they come back.

    • MycoBro@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Every time I see someone with one of those fucking hats on (you know the ones) it makes me cringe so hard. Like those dudes who get there basic training company tattooed on their arm, or even worse, a combat patch tattoo hahaha. You now how many fucking boots got first cav tattoos after deployment? Lol. POGs everyone of them.

        • MycoBro@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          The hats that say “Vietnam vet” or “first cav” or have an OIF ribbon on it or whatever

          • andrewta@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Why would Vietnam vet hat make you cringe? Those guys got spat on when they came home. If they want to wear a hat now why not?

            After you left service maybe you put your time behind you, and that’s fine. But why would a Vietnam vet hat make you cringe?

            • MycoBro@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              There is no hate in my cringe but the cringe is real. There is an entire “boot” culture you aren’t aware of. Trust me on this one.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Eh, they can have a purpose. If you don’t want anyone to talk to you then you wear the dirty salt stained one. Or if you’re tired of people assuming your service dog is fake then put on a nice clean one. Instantly 100% less questions about “why do you have a dog?”