why do people in the military think they are the best?

everyone thinks they're a bad *** when they first get done with basic, then they get to their unit and realize they don't know ****.

people join for different reasons. troops are human and have various motives just like every other human on the planet. some join for respect, others for college, others for an adventure, others because it's the only choice they have. it varies. Speaking for myself, and for the vast majority of troops I know, we HATE civilian attention no matter what form it comes in. We don't want to hear your opinions on things you've never done or experienced, we don't want to get asked the same 3 questions that every civilian asks, we don't want to hear the "I would have joined but..." line (like we really give a **** why you did or didn't), and we don't want to be bothered... especially when we are in the airport trying to read our ******* magazine while waiting for a flight.

to your edit: I don't think that urinating on body's is a big deal, at least not compared to what they do to US troops that they capture. Respect is a 2 way street, if you don't show it you won't get it back.

Coming out of Marine Boot Camp, I was pretty cocky, so I understand what you're asking. Coming back from deployment made me even cockier. I can tell you my opinion on why this happens.

1. In boot camp, there is a certain element of brainwashing, and I don't mean to say that in a bad way. Just think: you are trying to train someone to possibly fight and die for their country/brothers/service whatever. Would you want them going into combat thinking they were mediocre? We take pride in what we do and it often leads to a mix of confidence and *********.

2. If I'm in the 18 - 25(ish) bracket and have not only completed boot camp (which is challenging), but also traveled to other countries, possibly got shot at, basically voluntarily put my life on the line for everything one would believe they're doing it for, then come home to see my friends still working at McDonald's complaining how hard their lives are, why wouldn't I become a little cocky?

Bottom line: Not everyone joins the military for the "defend my country" reason. But once you get to boot camp, that is the mentality you need/are expected to have coming out. Not everyone is cocky and some take it to an extreme, but if someone is going to have to fight beside me and watch my back, I would want them both confident AND a little cocky.

The only ones that act like that are the immature 18 year old kids that just got out of boot camp last week. The rest of them do not think they're the center of the universe. They think YOU are the center of the universe and put themselves in harms way so that you can have the right to get on Yahoo Questions and and ask this question.

Im sorry but have you even talked with soldiers?

None of the military members I talk with think they are better than civilians. They are strong, for it takes strength to be a soldier, but they are not just joining for respect. Most people in the military join for a genuine love of country, the want to protect others, or to help oppress groups (like those oppressed by the taliban in Afganistan).

Military members dont think they are the center of the universe, joining the military means your putting your country before your self. Its the exact opposite.

-Aaron

Are you ignorant or what is it?They first off put their lives on the line for us who live in America and our American way of life first off next off the training they had to go through to get where they are today is painful to the likes you've never even seen.and lastly the position and the mantle they have is something to be proud of especially the uniform.So why do they think they are badass?They are badass every woman and man serving in the military commissioned or otherwise.

Military Veteran: means I am a veteran of military service. Self-Proclaimed Military: means you have proclaimed yourself to be what you are not. And that can get you in to real trouble. Try proclaiming yourself to be a police officer, or President of the United States and you will see what I mean.

Because military personnel account for less than 1% of the population of the United States of America. It is much tougher to get into the military these days; Two thirds of all applicants are turned away due to things such as drug and alcohol abuse, medical, and mental history. They sacrifice many things to serve our country and its citizens. Servicemen and women definitely have something to be proud of, and they are more than welcome to show it.

If you are in a job where you risk your life - you have to think you are a badass who can take on anything.

Otherwise when combat comes you will loose your nerve and panic as soon as the shooting starts.

I believe you may be confusing their newly found self confidence and what we call "military bearing" as arrogance.

I remember thinking the same thing about the varsity football players back in my high school days.

We teach personnel becoming Non Commissioned Officers that they can not demand respect, it must be earned. I truly believe that very few join the military just to get respect.

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James.... The voices say take your meds !!!!! Ask mommy if you can go to bed now!

"Infantrymen have a pride and arrogance that most Americans don’t understand and don’t like. Even soldiers who aren’t infantrymen don’t understand. The pride doesn’t exist because we have a job that’s physically impressive. It certainly doesn’t exist because it takes a higher level of intelligence to perform our duties. It’s sad and I hate to admit it, but any college student or high school grad can physically do what we do. It’s not THAT demanding and doesn’t take a physical anomaly. Nobody will ever be able to compare us to professional athletes or fitness models. And it doesn’t take a very high IQ to read off serial numbers, pack bags according to a packing list, or know that incoming bullets have the right of way.

The pride of the infantryman comes not from knowing that he’s doing a job that others can’t, but that he’s doing a job that others simply won’t. Many infantrymen haven’t seen a lot of combat. While that may sound ideal to the civilian or non-infantry soldier, it pains the grunt. We signed up to spit in the face of danger. To walk the line between life and death and live to do it again – or not. To come to terms with our own mortality and let others try to take our life instead of yours. We have raised our hands and said, “Take me, America. I am willing to kill for you. I am willing to sacrifice my limbs for you. I will come back to America scarred and disfigured for you. I will be the first to die for you.”

That’s why the infantryman carries himself with pride and arrogance. He’s aware that America has lost respect for him. To many he’s a bloodthirsty animal. To others he’s too uneducated and stupid to get a regular job or go to college. Only he knows the truth. While there are few in America who claim to have respect for him, the infantryman returns from war with less fanfare than a first down in a high school football game. Yes, people hang up their “Support Our Troops” ribbons and on occasion thank us for our service. But in their eyes the infantryman can detect pity and shame; not respect.

Yet the infantryman doesn’t complain about that. He continues to do his job; to volunteer his life for you, all while being paid less in four years than Tom Brady makes in one game.

It’s a job most Americans don’t understand, don’t envy, and don’t respect. That is why we have pride for the infantry."

This is a quote, I can't remember who wrote it so I apologize to the author.