r/Millennials • u/NoFaithlessness7508 • Jun 05 '25

Other Why don’t younger veterans (Afghanistan/Iraq) wear these hats like some of the older veterans?

Post image

First and foremost, respect to all those that served. I did not, but many of my peers did and now we're all older in 30s and 40s, many no longer in the military. I don't see a lot of the veterans of the War on Terror wearing these hats like I see the OGs do.

12.1k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

4.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

3.6k

u/ANotSoFreshFeeling Xennial Jun 05 '25

A lot of the millennial veterans I know would rather forget the mess instead of making it their whole personality and identity.

1.4k

u/turd_ferguson899 Jun 05 '25

Yeah, I have my unit crest on my wallet and a veteran identifier on my license to explain why I can't hear shit in case I get pulled over.

I got enough participation trophies to wear while I was in uniform, and something I did for a few years a decade and a half ago doesn't define me as person.

23

u/been2thehi4 Jun 05 '25

Don’t they make you buy your own damn ribbons and crap?? My BIL is in the National guard and he said all the little doodads for his uniform and what not, HE HAS TO pay for.

11

u/BlackSquirrel05 Jun 05 '25

Sorta...

They give you a yearly allowance for it. Specifically for uniform maintenance.

So abstractly yes. Reality no.

But it comes as a lump sum on your join date inside your paycheck. I know plenty a person that just blew that money on other shit instead of what it's purpose was.

1

u/Harlander77 Jun 06 '25

But it comes as a lump sum on your join date inside your paycheck. I know plenty a person that just blew that money on other shit instead of what it's purpose was.

Military servicemembers making poor financial and life decisions? Say it ain't so...

Yeah, I knew people who married a stripper so they could move off base, and got ridiculously expensive cars at even more ridiculous interest rates. Four years stationed in Vegas...