It's A Mystery Why So Many Americans View Veterans Through Negative Stereotypes 

It’s a mystery. 

When you think of those who serve in our nation’s military what image comes to your mind’s-eye?  Do you see talented and skilled people who are highly successful at any task? Sophisticated and technologically savvy practitioners?  Educated leaders, planners and supervisors informed on major issues of concern around the globe.

If not, you are not alone.  Unfortunately, few outside the military view our nation’s warriors in that manner—or even remotely similar—and therein lies the mystery. Why?

Instead, the sad fact is that far too many Americans perceive veterans in a manner that can be characterized by the image of Gomer Pyle, the simple-minded character from a 1960s sitcom.  That caricature represents troops that mindlessly march forward, not thinking, only responding to orders from leaders portrayed as even less capable.

 

Piling on are the persistent negative stereotypes, heavily promoted in the media, that military veterans don’t fit in because of post-traumatic stress disorder, or that they are homeless, and in general have difficulty returning to civilian life. 

   
How that image persists is truly a mystery. The truth is this generation of warriors is the most educated, most disciplined, best led, tech savvy and effective military force in American history.  With the smallest fighting force since the isolationist period between World Wars I and II, each soldier, sailor, airman and Marine learns to properly execute their role, as a team, while leveraging sophisticated technology to achieve their mission.

   

The uneducated Gomer Pyle stereotype has been gone and buried since the implementation of the All-Volunteer-Force instituted in the 1970s.  Homeless and PTSD-afflicted veterans, while worthy of attention because of their critical needs, represent a small percentage of veterans.  The vast majority of veterans are employment ready, able-bodied people with many of the skill sets most sought after by employers—adaptable self-starters with self-discipline, creativity and leadership.

   

Yet when veterans come to the civilian sector, it seems that the advanced skills and proven capabilities they acquired in the military aren’t applicable.  Hiring managers apparently don’t believe those skills translate to roles that support companies in fast-paced competitive business environments.

Therefore, if veterans have proven that they can succeed in complex, fast-paced environments against dangerous adversaries, why can’t they help a private organization meet its operational goals?

It’s a mystery.