Youth is Wasted on the Young – Letters from Veterans to Their Younger Selves

If you could send a message back in time to your 19-year-old self, standing nervously in formation with a fresh ‘haircut’, what would you say? For U.S. veterans, this isn't just a fun hypothetical; it's a list of hard-earned, often painful, lessons. The military forges you, but it doesn't come with an instruction manual for life. While you can't change the past, this collected wisdom can change the future for the next generation of service members. Here are five things nearly every veteran wishes they had understood from day one.

Go to Sick Call, Your Pride is Temporary.

The Mistake - The military runs on a culture of "suck it up and drive on." Pain is weakness, and the light duty chit guy is often a pariah. We've all ran on sprained ankles, rucked with a screaming back, and ignored the ringing in our ears because we didn't want to let the team down.

The Wisdom - That "tough guy" mentality will cost you. Being tough enough to fight through an injury to complete the mission is critical, but damaging yourself in training and blowing it off? A decade later, that sprained ankle is chronic arthritis, that back is a constant ache, and that ringing is permanent tinnitus. Your future self, sitting in a VA claim-review office, will be begging for the very medical documentation you were too proud to get. Go to the medic. Get it in your record. Your pride is temporary, but "Not Service Connected" is forever.

That 25% APR Camaro Is Not Your Friend

The Mistake - You get your first "real" paycheck, and right outside the gate is a line of car dealerships that love the military. They know your pay schedule, they know you're 19, and they know you think a V8 is a personality. You sign for a 25% APR loan on a $40,000 car, and you're broke for the next five years. Not to mention that when you miss a payment, they don’t go to you, but to your command.

The Wisdom - Learn two words: Thrift Savings Plan. Put 10% (or more) of your paycheck into it from Day 1, then don't touch it. Compound interest is a force of nature. The guy who buys the Charger is a slave to his payments, but the guy who maxes his TSP is a future millionaire. Be the second guy. You can buy all the stupid cars you want later when you open a successful business, as many successful veterans do.

Use Tuition Assistance Immediately

The Mistake - You wait for "the perfect time" to start college, assuming the GI Bill is your only option. You spend your nights in the barracks playing video games or your days in the motor pool "hurrying up and waiting," wasting thousands of hours of downtime. You can always go to school after you get out, so you can enjoy the civvie life.

The Wisdom - Your education starts now. The military offers Tuition Assistance, which is free money for college while you are active duty, a different pot of money entirely from the GI Bill. You can knock out an entire associate's degree or all your general education credits online from your barracks. Use TA now, and you can save your powerful GI Bill for a master's degree, a law degree, or even pass it on to your family. Don't wait to get out to get smart and remember that more certs or qualifications mean better options when you get out.

Stop Complaining, Start Leading

The Mistake - It's easy to become a "barracks lawyer." Complaining is a common pastime, especially when the job is a difficult one. The formations are stupid, the cleaning is stupid, the new lieutenant's plan is really stupid. This attitude is a poison that sours morale and makes every day longer.

The Wisdom - You're missing the point. You're not just cleaning a rifle; you're learning attention to detail. You're not just standing in formation; you're learning discipline. If that sounds like manager slop, remember that one day you’re going to have to put ‘kicked doors in as an Infantry Rifleman’ on a resume in a way that doesn’t get you barred from the building. Find the dark, twisted humor in the absurdity, that's the real coping mechanism. The guy who complains is a boat anchor. The guy who can crack a joke while standing in the freezing rain is a leader. Be the leader.

Your Transition Plan Starts a Year Out

The Mistake - You're "counting down the days" to your golden ticket out of the front gate for good. You think freedom is the plan. You go to the TAPS class, play on your phone, and grab the free pizza. Day 1 as a civilian, you're on your couch, and the sense of purpose is just... gone.

The Wisdom - You can't just leave the military; you have to arrive somewhere. Your transition is your new mission. It starts 12 months out. What city? What job? What school? Start translating your skills. Network. Save your money. The loss of camaraderie is a profound shock, and the only way to beat it is to have a new mission ready to go.

Remember always that the United States military is the best in the world for a reason, and that reason is logistics. We can put foot to ass anywhere on the planet faster than most people can comprehend. When you’re planning your trip through the ranks or your exit from service, the old adage holds; good leaders think tactically, great leaders think logistically.

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