Soon-to-be West Point candidate here, I have nothing but relentless respect for our armed forces and I don't know where it stems from (immigrant non-military family, pretentious liberal upper-class town) but I always feel a need and desire to show my appreciation for veterans and current servicemen and women. My question is, what can I do that will help in a simple way, or to show my appreciation without making you guys uneasy? I understand most veterans find it uncomfortable when they get a "thank you for your service" or something, but I still would really like to be able to extend a man in uniform some respect.
I wish you the best of luck with getting into West Point. You're right about the benefits being insane -- benefits are insane for the military in general. Better start looking into basic marching if you get in... left face, right face, about face, standing at attention, standing at ease, etc. And learn to slightly bend your knees when standing at attention so you don't pass out ;) I don't have a good answer for how to show appreciation, and saying "thank you for your service" might be the best way to do it. I can tell when it's said with a feeling of obligation as opposed to one of sincerity, and although it personally makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, I do appreciate the sentiment. Y'know, maybe you should just come up with your own one liner that's a bit different than "thank you for your service." I have a habit of saying "thank you for your help" instead of just "thank you" when I really want to mean it. Surprisingly, that little addition goes a long way.
Thank you, that makes sense. I tend to extend the sentence a few syllables like 'I appreciate it' instead of 'thanks' when i really mean it. I'll think of a line haha, good luck with your project getting those veterans homes, i'd love to hear an update in the future about how that's going if you keep working at it.
Was it for the free education and a good engineering degree? I don't mean to be damning, but that's a reason why the service academies are a place some people go. The USNA is the number four engineering school in the United States. I don't know about West Point.I don't know where it stems from
I didn't mean my appreciation was related to West Point. I venerated the military before I knew it was a viable option for someone seeking a strong higher education. As a lower-middle class teen with a constant fear of college debt and a desire for a remote sense of freedom after college, when I found out about the absolutely insane benefits of attending West Point, it only sealed the deal and convinced my mother to be on board.
Are you from a country where that's a thing?
I'm from Armenia, where teens break their own legs or flee the country to avoid the draft. I truly think it was born from my own interest, and possibly an oppressed desire for a little masculinity to be honest.