8 Harsh Truths About Army Life Nobody Tells You

If you think being in the military is being like in an action movie, you will be sorely disappointed. There surely are moments like an action movie but not all gets a chance to do that.

Now, we know what you’re thinking already but this isn’t that.

So what’s this about? You have to look under the hood. If you want to make the right decision, you have to do your research. And this post will help you in that.

All do not live a life as shown in commercials: Yeah, they are pretty awesome that is for sure. They make you want to jump up and sign up for the service tomorrow. But, they are in no way a good depiction of the military lifestyle. Not everyone will go to a warship or be a pilot in IAF.
It will destroy your soul: We must warn you that the language is rough, but every word of it is true. Every soldier has experienced this at some point during his military career.
If married soldiers die during service, their family would suffer greatly: This is true, absolutely true. The unit personnel will support you till they get the recognition that they’re doing their job. After that, they’ll sit in their chairs and relax.
You are on standby 24/7, even on a holiday: No matter what your rank or specialization, the Army can wake you up at midnight and make you guard a port-o-potty in the middle of nowhere, thousands of miles from any national security threat. All you’ll have to protect yourself is a broom and a canteen. You have no say in the matter, and nobody is required to explain anything.
You have nothing to gain in a war, and everything to lose: The best they can hope for is to come back in one piece. Thus there is no logical incentive.
Troops often come back with post-traumatic stress syndrome: This psychologically haunts them for years, or for life.
You keep your family at risk: An Army wife understands that her soldier can be deployed at any time, many times. During this time, she holds the fort. We hate to say this, but it’s a lot like being a single mom. It takes a very special woman to be an Army wife. Just remember that when you join, so does your family.
You might get fatally injured: Casualties happen in war. War is hell. People know the risks when they join. It comes with the territory. What people don’t know is that this can happen at any time, even stateside. Even if there is no ammunition or ordinance around, a soldier can get seriously and permanently injured from other reasons including Basic Training, PFT, etc.