Hi everyone,
I got out of the army a couple years ago, and as I was transitioning out I set up my dress uniform all prim and proper, but never had a reason to get an official photo taken in it.
My parent's only picture of me in a dress uniform is after basic training, so they have been basically begging me for an updated photo since I told them I was buying the new uniform.
The issue is that I've had a mustache/goatee combo of varying length since getting out, and my wife and I are both strongly against completely shaving it for the picture. If I trim it down, hopefully revealing the structure of my face, could the photo be altered to appear as though I had shaved?
Lastly, I know the rules say to link a photo, but because a dress uniform is kind of like wearing your entire service history, I prefer to not make it utterly public. The photos are the regulation covering these types of photos
Thanks in advance!
No one's arguing that the job isn't traumatic. I'm sorry for your suffering. I know a kid in construction who lost a thumb, he won't have the VA supporting him, and he won't ever be glorified for it. I know an ex-EMT who is in constant pain and can't work anymore in his 40s, where's his fan club? He's going to carry that with him to his grave.
Let's be clear, someone like me not glorifying this job is a loss of privilege, not rights. Boo hoo someone doesn't have the same worldview as you and knows there are a lot of jobs where workers destroy their bodies or minds to keep our country running.
I'm with you 100% not glorifying military service. The last five or so years I was in, the only stuff I did was obvious, purely political posturing, not fighting a morally justified war against an immoral enemy, it's not that easy these days.
I carry a decent amount of joint pain, but I don't imagine it's much worse than a career in the trades. After a few year.....process, with the VA, where I had to staunchly advocate for myself, I feel fairly compensated for how my body doesn't quite work as well as it should.
With that said, I did a ton of awesome stuff while I was in, and have a lot of good memories. A large chunk of them are from schools, like Airborne, air assault, MFF, urban combat, etc. The uniform conveniently collects little reminders of those experiences in one place.
Like, if I were to get a masters, or doctorate, or anything like that, I'd display it. The uniform is just like that for me. I'm almost certainly never going to wear it in public and it lives in my closet, but every now and then it's nice to look at and reminisce.
Sorry for the word soup, I've got a newborn in the house and I'm chronically sleep deprived
🙂 good luck with the little one!
I just look at 'em as what they are - uniforms. I guess some folks get excited about anything.