Uniform Reactions

Today I spent all day at Army drill, and when I got to my house, I grabbed my backpack and immediately headed downtown to school to get some books from my locker. I didn't change out of my uniform, because I didn't really want to go downtown and knew that if I changed, I would sit, the television would miraculously turn on, and there goes my evening. For the first time, I was a little embarrassed to wear my uniform. Usually, I walk proudly, look at people in the eye, etc, but for some reason, I wasn't feeling very self-confident. I avoided eye contact, and spent much of my trip downtown wishing I had changed.

I didn't get any negative reactions from anyone, but I got quite a few reactions that made me laugh and I thought I would share:

1) In the Davis T stop, I turned after feeling a tap on my shoulder and an older man and his wife were standing there. He stuck out his hand for me to shake and thanked me for serving. This has happened a few times before, so I simply smiled and said "thank YOU" but then he went on to say, "Are you in tanks?" How odd. I responded with, "No, they don't let girls in the tanks." He sat on this for a second and said "Are you infantry?" I was afraid he'd start running the spectrum of branches that us ovaries can't participate in, and I started to feel a little bad that we would eventually get to what I am, communications, and it wouldn't be enough for him. I finally told him, and he just nodded. Nope, not good enough :-)

2) My classmates. Now, all of my friends at school know I was in the military. Some know that I'm still in, and some don't. One friend said I looked nice, one was baffled that I was in uniform, and one gave me a weird little left-handed salute, but all were happily intrigued.

3) Homeless guys. I forgot they line the Boston Common. One of them yelled "CAPTAIN AIRBORNE!" at me. Well, I AM a captain, and I AM airborne qualified, so I gave him a smile and a wave.

4) Army guy on the subway. Now in Iraq, we would have buses that would drive us around the base. Everyone on the bus was in the military. No one talked to each other. Now, if you're on public transportation and you see a military person, you feel obligated to strike up a conversation. Look what we have in common! I think everyone should have to wear a sign with their occupation on it. "LAWYER" "TEACHER" LADY WHO MAKES UP STORIES ABOUT HAVING DIABETIC CHILDREN TO GET YOU TO GIVE HER MONEY" Oh yeah, a post about her is coming. Anyway, a guy holding a baby and sitting with his wife yelled "Captain!" from a few seats away. Mildly embarrassed, I looked down at him, and he said "What's with the ACUs?" So many sarcastic comments ran through my head, but I settled on "I had drill today." He accepted this, and it turns out he was at Fort Devens range this morning and just wanted to know if I was there.

5) My favorite. I was walking back to my house on the bike path, and this little kid and his mother are going in the opposite direction. He runs by me, then runs back and yells "Are you an Army man?!" I said "I'm an Army girl!" He completely forgot he was with anyone and started to follow me, bombarding me with questions. His mother had to run up and grab him because I believe he was just going to follow me home. "I didn't know there were Army girls!" "Where are you going?" "Where do you live?" And, the best, as his mother finally dragged him away... "DO YOU SHOOT PEOPLE?!?!"

6) My last encounter was short, with a guy on the bike path saying "Did you just get back?" Um..yes, from downtown. Oh, you meant Iraq. "Nope, just had drill this weekend," I said.

It's great to see that people are curious and, for the most part, positive about people that serve in the military. It's easy to forget that it's so interesting to people, because, even thoug I'm in the Reserves, this was my job, and I don't find it terribly special. It's like actors that live glamorous lives, but say, "It's just a job!" and we don't believe them. Maybe it really is!