For those who’ve served, transitioning to civilian life can feel like entering a different world. In Episode 8: You Can’t Do That, the hosts of The Common Veterans take a humorous but honest look at what doesn’t translate from the military to the civilian world—and how Veterans are forced to adjust.

Field Habits Die Hard

From combat parking at Target to scanning rooms like a security team, old habits are hard to break. Military communication styles—direct and loud—don’t always fly in corporate settings. Even eating habits, like wolfing down meals in two minutes, raise eyebrows.

Kenny zeroes in on his biggest pet peeve: posture. “Even my kids. Stand up straight—it’s not that hard!”

Mentality Misfires

It’s not just behaviors—it’s mindset. Mission-first urgency doesn’t always mesh with civilian workflows. Tony admits, “I have trust issues when people say they’ll finish something.” Without structure or hierarchy, projects get lost and leadership gets muddy.

Fred adds, “Too many chiefs, not enough Indians,” calling out a common frustration in decentralized civilian teams. And while vulnerability is encouraged in civilian spaces, veterans are often wired to push through silently.

“We were taught to suffer in silence. Civilians expect you to speak up.”
“In the military, failure meant someone could die. Out here, it just means a reschedule.”

Relearning the Rules

Fred sums up the emotional difference: “Bad things happen and you have to move on.” That kind of resilience is misunderstood outside the military. Dark humor, another survival tool, often misfires in civilian life.

Jeff reflects on the struggle of forming trust and relationships. In a roundtable, each host shares something they’ve had to “unlearn” after taking off the uniform—things that helped in service, but don’t always help after it.

What’s Next

In Episode 9: Game Night, the team shifts gears for a fun night of games and camaraderie. From strategy to laughter, it’s a reminder that joy and bonding still have a place in post-service life.

Whether you served or support someone who did, this episode delivers truth, laughs, and insight you don’t want to miss.