re: Why are we supposed to tell service members, “thank you for your service”?

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Why are we supposed to tell service members, “thank you for your service”?

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I never have and never will.

Do you do the same for firemen and EMS workers?

It’s a job.

My friends that were in the service say it makes them cringe when they hear it. Some literally respond- thanks, it was a job.

You thank them because if they hadn't all voluntarily enlisted during the past 20 years in Afghanistan and Iraq, you might have been drafted to go there. They stepped up. They put their lives on the line. Many enlisted after 9/11 because they honestly believed in the mission..and like i said, if there hadn't been enough willing, you and the other unwilling might have made them reinstitute the draft. What we really need to do is get politicians who are committed to ending wars, not starting them.

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What we really need to do is get politicians who are committed to ending wars, not starting them.

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Yep, but that doesn't feed the war machine.

I spent 30 years in the Air Force and don’t expect or seek it out. If someone thanks me, I smile, say thank you and move on. If you want to, fine if not, that’s okay too. It’s your choice. I say it to other Vets and those still serving as a sign of respect.

Regarding the question of "do you thank police, firefighters, paramedics etc for their 'service?" I do highly regard people who go into careers that are dangerous but whose intent is to help people. (Most/many cops may fit that description but sadly too many are just on power trips)
However, it is not comparable to the enlisted military experience. Cops and firefighters have unions which largely dictate things such as how many hours they can work on a shift, paid holidays, guaranteed sick days. And when their workday ends they get to go home to their families and enjoy safety in their home to the degree that any of us are safe in our homes. Someone in a combat military job is NEVER safe. They don't get sick days and paid overtime. They don't get to go home to their families at the end of their shift (I'm talking about combat service) . They are away from their families for many months at a time. Even non-combat deployed military are at the mercy of their command and don't have a union rep to complain to. I am extremely grateful and appreciative of police, firefighters, paramedics and will express my admiration for the things they do. But it's still not the same in my mind as military service.

Whether they went into combat or not, I tell them because they signed up to defend our country and technically put their hyde on the line for our freedoms. Simple as that.

I used to get pretty bothered by this truly. I’d be traveling in uniform just trying to eat at an airport chili’s or something and people kept coming up to thank me. I get that it’s just a show of respect and they mean no wrong but I just wanted to eat.

You should know the Air Force isn’t true military. At least according to all the military people I know.

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And tennis players

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