Yep. I was in the service. The service reflects society. Being a veteran holds very little water with me unless I know you. Same with being a decorated veteran. I saw too many medals handed out to too many undeserving folks while the ones who should have rated them received none.
Not sure how it worked but when I was “in” there was one guy at the base that was a total screw off and it was go to jail or go in the service. He chose the service and we got a petty thief.
Dumass broke into the EM Club one night,stole the cash box.
Ended up in the brig somewhere.
Stupid jerk had it better in the service than where ever the POS came from
At my last duty station I had an Airman reporting to me that had been incarcerated in the USAF Correctional Custody high rise facility at Lowry AFB. He had been in a theft ring stealing test equipment and fire extinguishers, etc. and sending them back home to his family to sell. As his Supervisor I was told. No one else in the workstation knew unless he told them. I was actually shocked to find out about it because we all held Top Secret Security Clearances. My only answer for that was that it was Jimmy Carter's Air Force.
I give people (both vets and non-vets) what I call “Default Respect”.
I treat them with respect (and with vets, that same extra measure of respect I give to anyone who has served) until they demonstrate that they are undeserving of my respect.
I have the most difficult time finding respect for veterans who are in lock step with Democrats, though. I simply don’t understand how that happens. I can respect them for their service, but it stops cold at the firewall of their Leftism.