Treasure 
People with good intentions who just don’t know any better often start many myths. I often see the sign of concern or bewilderment when people know i’m a soldier’s wife. Some of the questions most people ask on realizing i’m a soldier’s wife make me realize the fact that there are many misconceptions and myths about the military personnel out there. A number of myths have been perpetuated about these men and women who volunteered to serve. The information herein is intended to dispel such myths.Though as you read this article, you may have your opinion of what the men and women in uniform are but, “Are these conceptions really true?”.
Here are the common myths busted.
Myth : Military men are womanizers.
Fact : I get this one quite a bit!. Civilians are good at keeping this myth alive. To start with, on the issue of being womanizers, I always ask this “Are the ladies they are womanizing military too?”.
The reality is, in every society, whether in or out of uniform, you have the best and the worst. In the civil society, I have seen and heard of worst cases involving even men of God ( people who should have known better). I have also seen and heard of civilians that have never been associated with the military in any way yet they keep chains of lovers. Can we now say they are military too?.
I admit that the nature of military job often take them away from home, which tend to throw a lot of temptations on their way but there are civilians who live with their wives yet they are adulterers. Is it that they were equally trained as military men?.
The typical military man I know, loves his wife and family and will cease every little opportunity to communicate with her. He looks for every excuse in the world to travel home to be with his wife. When the coast is clear, he takes the risk to dash home without official approval and in worst cases, goes on absent without leave (AWOL) when all attempts to travel officially or unofficially fails.
“If you want to see the wrath of a military man you think is a womanizer and doesn’t appreciate his wife, try to piss off his wife”…….he will surely escort you right straight to hell!.
Myth : Service men are brutal spouses who always engage in domestic violence.
Fact : By virtue of their training, most people are of the opinion that men in uniform are aggressive and brutal but the truth of the matter is, they are only trained to be aggressive to the enemy. They are capable of passion and compassion like any human.
The military man I know, is very passionate and soft hearted when it comes to the one he loves especially his wife. Though issues of domestic disagreement may occur in some cases but it’s still part of our human life as it happens even amongst the civilian folks.
Myth : Service men and women are less educated and of lower aptitude than the civil populace (most people believe that the military is full of dullards that use it as a means of escape). Ever heard the old saying “Go to School or Join the Military?”.
Fact : The opposite is true. The military have some of the best brains you can think of covering all fields of human endeavour as against the misplaced views of some that only dullards go into the military and behave just like zombies incapable of taking decisions on their own ….just a “YES” man.
Most of these individuals in the military were highly skilled before they joined the military. My soldier was a university lecturer before he joined to serve the nation……he always got his act together!.
When you look at it critically, amongst the men and women in the military, there are high rated pilots, highly skilled medical doctors, engineers, technicians, lawyers and many more who have gained skills both in peace and war time that is unquantifiable.
About 80 percent of the jobs in the military are non- combat occupations which makes many civilian companies seek out military veterans for their work ethic, dedication and leadership skills to fill key positions within their companies.
Myth : Uniform men are paupers.
Fact : This isn’t entirely true. It all depends on rank and where the soldier is stationed which may make a soldier earn more than his mates (with what’s out there in the public space, there’s no doubt that most military men may be richer than politicians). Nevertheless, the military job encourages it’s personnel not to live above their means which instills a sense of discipline when it comes to spending. This makes it’s personnel not to show off their wealth or be too loud in public.
Though I can’t say the military is the highest paying job but it’s guided by a purpose and the will to serve and make sacrifices for the benefit of the nation. It’s because of this selfless service that a lot of organisations in developed countries provide and give military discounts to support soldiers and their families.
Myth : Female soldiers are incapable of settling down or building a home.
Fact : The military job has made a lot of attention to be focused on ladies in uniform. They are often conceived albeit wrongly by members of the public as being promiscuous and incapable of settling down.
In the course of time, I’ve had cause to relate with most of them and I find them to be really strong willed and a determined force. My experience with some of them shows that they are good mothers and homemakers who strive to make their marriages work while juggling it with the military job. They also instill the military discipline imbibed in them in their children and are one of the most loyal partners you can ever have.
These are just a few of the many myths out there about the military personnel. I grew up in an entirely civilian environment and I had my own funny beliefs too about the military until I became part of it and this dispelled all the views I had.
What are your views and opinions based on your personal experiences?.
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