Soldier for life?

As I sit here on my first day out of the Army, I continue to contemplate the Soldier for Life mentality/ program/ concept.  I may ruffle some feathers here and that’s good as this is meant to generate a discussion.

I’m not a Soldier for Life, it’s a chapter in my life.  A very large portion but not my whole life nor will I let my service solely define me. Is it the wrong mentality to keep pushing the mantra of the soldier for life on soldiers?  When everything in the transition dictates transform into a civilian, reintegrate into “normal” America and leave being a soldier behind. 

Think about it:

•    No LinkedIn picture in uniform

•    Lose the acronyms and military terminology

•    Use civilian business terms

•    Stop calling everyone sir or ma’am

•    Relate military experience to civilian jobs

•    Put the uniforms in the closet and put on civilian attire

•    Don’t walk down the hall with a coworker in step 

In my mind, its be proud of our service, look back at it with fondness, share our experiences and translate the skills we learned serving our country.  But when we leave the gate the last time, we are no longer soldiers.  The more we think we are still a soldier, the more we will set ourselves back in our transition to civilian life and the mental shift that needs to happen.  We must stop being a soldier and be a civilian for the rest of our lives.  Otherwise, we are hanging on to our past like the 55-year-old guy at the local bar talking about his high school football career.  We all know how well that guy sounds and looks.

I agree that we should encourage others to serve and be mentors for young people.  That is why we need to share our experiences, both the good and the bad.  Inform others about our service and the many once in a lifetime moments (yes many) we have had the privilege to be a part of.

I believe everyone acknowledges that we have a veteran suicide problem.  One is too many and the number is greater than one this year by far. If the individual solely identifies as a soldier and the charade is pushed on them that they will be a soldier for life, what happens when that’s not true.  When their team, squad, and platoon is no longer around.  When they drive out the gate and they don’t exist to the Army anymore (not a knock on the army, they have to worry about the people in service).  When they can’t find their purpose in life from being a soldier.  When there is no next mission to train and prepare for. When there is not a clear path to promotion.  When there is no morning formation and PT run to wake up for.  When you’re not freezing cold and pulling security in a faraway land, laughing with your buddy about how crazy the situation is.  When they are not commended for making things happen. When they are not mentored and counseled for professional and personal growth.  When they are not making a difference.  The list can keep on going for each individual service member.

Why is the Army pushing the Soldier for Life program? Why the unicorns and rainbows, false motivation to make people feel good about themselves?  Like everyone gets a beret and that will improve esprit de corps.  

But hey, you get literature and a bumper sticker saying “Soldier for Life.”  Hooah!