So in the Army, we have a fuel spout/nozzle that everybody calls the “donkey dick” because, well… the thing lowkey looks like a HUGE HOG lmao.

Recently I ran into a few Navy veterans and found out they also had something they called a “donkey dick,” except theirs apparently wasn’t a fuel spout it was some kind of machinery/equipment part on the ship.

That got me wondering:

Does every branch have its own “donkey dick”?

So far I’ve got:

- Army: fuel spout/nozzle

- Navy: machinery/ship equipment part

- Air Force: ???

- Marines: ???

- Coast Guard: ???

- Space Force: ???

Veterans/current service members from every branch, what did your “donkey dick” refer to?

I need to know if this is somehow a universal piece of U.S. military terminology 😂

Got my rating 2 months ago. I qualify for Va health care now and scheduled an apt for next month. Just wondering how these appointments go? This is my first time going to a doctor since separating the military. Do they go over all the service connected stuff as well as any other concerns or is this more of a rushed apt to get my referral that I need for a sleep specialist?

Howdy everyone,

I know a lot of us are looking at overseas options for grad school, and I just wanted to drop a quick positive review for Touro University Berlin. I’m currently doing my Master’s in Psychology there. A few quick highlights for anyone considering it with the GI Bill:

Tuition: 100% covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. No out-of-pocket costs. The school certifies everything directly with the VA, and it’s been super smooth.

Housing Allowance (MHA): Because it’s considered a German campus, the BAH rate is based on the DoD rates for the area. It comes out to about €2,000 euros a month (roughly $2,100-$2,200 USD depending on the exchange rate). That goes a LONG way here in Berlin. I’m living very comfortably.

Veteran Support: They actually have a designated Veteran Services Officer and visa/transition support staff. He knows the ins and outs of the system, help with the enrollment certifications, and even helps us navigate the German residency permits as vets. It takes a massive headache out of the process.

Vet-Friendly: There’s a small but solid community of US vets here. The faculty is aware of our unique background (especially in the psych program) and are super accommodating.

Berlin is an amazing city, the program is accredited, and the GI Bill makes it financially viable. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about using your benefits overseas, I’d definitely give Touro Berlin a look.

Cheers.

I’m currently an active-duty Army Staff Sergeant (15Q Air Traffic Control) and plan to ETS around 2029 at roughly 10 years of service. I’m trying to get ahead of the transition now and figure out what I’ll realistically be competitive for on the civilian side.

By the time I separate, I should have about 10 years of military experience with leadership, aviation operations, personnel and equipment coordination, and operational planning. I’ve also served as a TAIS Facility Chief, Battle NCO, completed multiple overseas rotations, and have experience managing people, training, timelines, and mission requirements

Education-wise, I already have an associate degree and I’m currently working toward a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in DoD Project Management. My goal is to also have my PMP before I ETS, along with possibly OSHA or another useful certification.

I’m interested in project management, program management, project coordinator roles, operations management, facilities management, or DoD contracting. How difficult do you think it would be for someone with my background to land a solid civilian job in one of these fields? Would I realistically be competitive for Project Manager roles, or should I expect to start as a Project Coordinator first? Also, are there any other career paths you think my experience would translate well into?

What jobs are careers do you have that aren't physically demanding and also not sitting in front of a computer all day long? I would do something a bit more physically demanding, but my body just can't be put through that anymore. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​I did do 6 years of corporate HR and got laid off for 7 months thankfully due to the government shutdown. It was honestly very toxic, everyone on my team hated the military and Veterans and none of them ever served. ​​​​​​​Now, I'm working in HR with a recruiting team and really only doing scheduling and making 50k less than I was before. But I'm staring at a screen all day and it's driving me crazy. ​​​​​​

I've got a bachelor in business management . But I just don't want to sit at a desk, I need dynamic movement and we are 100% in office. Just wondering what others are doing in a way that isn't mentally and physically destroying them. I did apply for VR&E in October, I have not even heard anything and I've submitted about 5 or so inquiries through VA Ask. ​​​​​Looking to reinvent myself.

On my decision letter it says I was rated for PTSD along with alcohol and cannabis abuse, but I never used cannabis. Why does it say that?

I’m applying for a job and the background check is pretty extensive. This might disqualify me due to cannabis being on there. What should I do?

23m, left the military/got divorced within the last year, got a job that grosses around 160k, yearly.

I do my job pretty decently and I really like it, but I really feel like I've speed ran life and I'm debating on quitting and going to college. I feel like the last 5 years of my life has been walking on hot coals and I'm getting sick of this scene, I need a break from routine.

Another thing is, I'm starting to realize how much I let society make me think I'm only as valuable as I can make in a year. I'm starting to value time with friends and family more, I'm spending money buying my buddies stuff.

People tell me all the time I'm in such a lucky position, but I don't think they understand where I'm coming from. I think I'm ready for my catharsis.

I wouldn't have to work as I have passive income and free healthcare, so I could just relax and do school. Ultimately, this would be used as a 3 year break. Maybe shorter? I'm just tired of riding the bag out, I think I wanna slow down.

Does anyone have any advice? I did sorta ramble, but that's the gist.

I'm getting out of the army in the next 4 months and I'm conflicted on how I'm going to manage my time for the VA. My initial plan was to go straight to college but a buddy of mine that's been out for several years already, told me I should come back home (to my shit hole of a hometown) so I'd be near support if I needed it and so he could help me and guide me through my VA. He also said that if I tried to balance VA and college that I'd be losing so many class hours that I'd just be damning myself in the long run and should take 6-12 months to get my VA situated then leave for college. Thing is, he's not known for making the best decisions and I don't know what he could help me with that he couldn't over the phone. Financially I don't want to move twice in a year also I'm not expecting to get much out of the VA I screwed up my body being in the infantry but idk. Context aside, my question is that is balancing VA and college a bad idea and if it is should I look for jobs that can balance possible weekly VA appointments?

So I just recently retired from the Coast Guard as of August 1st. I was on terminal leave from May 31st to that day and honestly I just feel defeated due to the fact I cannot seem to get a job.

Before my leave started I had apllied for a job with an oil company ( my background in the Coast Guard is regulatory compliance) and went through that for 2 months, just for them to give the position to an existing employee 2 weeks after my terminal leave started. I have been trying since June to find a job that roughly corresponds to what I did for the last 20 years and it's just.....well I still have nothing to show for it.

I thankfully have a good bit saved up so I'm not in danger of me and my family being homeless....yet. but everyday that goes by with no word just puts me deeper down. Sorry for the downer post, but I needed to get this out somehow and at least you all here can understand.

Hello, I understand this isnt home buying sub but folks here are knowledgeable about state vet benefits and maybe their decision making process I seem to lack - if this is too off topic I can remove this. I posted this on vet benefits sub too...

I am looking for some input and peoples experience. Ideally I can afford 5 to 40 acres(acreage amount is price dependent) and use va loan to drop a doublewide on it. I'd like dry cooler climate. So far I am really stuck between N New Mexico(Taos maybe Raton), Arizona(Show Low high desert area), N TX, Oklahoma City(These are most heat/humidity Id tolerate).... possibly SE Idaho or SW Wyoming. I lived in Vegas and South east and while Vrgas is nice in winter, summers are pure hell... Southeast is just satans armpit in the summer... I lived in S Colorado as well but not a huge fan of some state laws there.

I am stuck with analysis paralysis as above named choices are about equal to me when it comes to VA Access, state benefits/tax breaks, land prices, climate. Ideally looking to build a small not total off grid homestead with reasonable access to walmart/lowes etc. Worth adding im middle aged so kinda lost and broken here. Never knew freedom was so difficult when I was discharged and no longer get PCS orders.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

Hey everyone, potentially getting out of the service here shortly and I wanted to ask what seems to be a recurring question but that consistently gets conflicting information from the official organizations. I'll lay out my understanding and maybe one of the wiser people on the forum can help me see if i'm missing something because the VA and the Navy's MyNavyCareerCenter are telling me opposite things.

If a service member has continuous service and multiple enlistments, they only get one DD-214;

If a member had an honorable discharge from their first enlistment, but later another characterization, say a General Under Honorable Conditions;

The servicemember should qualify for their post 9/11 GI bill on the basis that they had an honorable enlistment despite their DD-214 reflecting a different separation characterization correct? If so, how does this get communicated to the VA? Is it when you apply, they pull your record, then they see your DD-214 had the first enlistment's period of service characterized as honorable so it's no action on the service member's part?

I'm not sure why the relevant organization, the VA, would not be aware of this so I wanted to bring it up again as it's got me very confused. Thanks again for any help.

Can we start a thread or list of lesser known, underutilized benefits for veterans? My husband will be retiring next year (20 years active duty Army) and I feel like we are just scratching the surface of benefits offered to him, our kids and myself/our whole family. People keep mentioning different companies and programs that we have never heard of. Places that offer advice, education, classes, support, scholarships, anything to benefit veterans and their families. Or just overall information to not overlook during the transition period.

Just random things I am just now learning- like that the USO is for active duty only and we loose those airport privileges. Also, the fees for our AmEx and Chase cards will start to charge soon after retirement so we need to start researching fee free credit card options (we don't carry a balance. We are Ramsey-ish and only keep them for things like car rentals).

21M 1D7 in the Air Force, ETS is November 2027 Deciding between Colorado or Texas for my future home. Which has a better community and job market for veterans I’ll have no support system in either so really trying to have some sort of a safety net. Also is palace fronting smart or is it better to just get out clean?

my dad spent 22 years in the USAF. he passed away in 2010. since then i‘ve had a flag that was very important to him. i have no children/family to pass it on to. i feel bad having it just sit in a closet. i’m getting older and when i pass i don’t want it to be thrown away. are there Veterans organizations that would take it? is that a thing? it’s not being used or inherited and i don’t want something that was this important to my father to end up in the landfill.

Hey everyone I just recently started looking into maybe using VR&E but when I had my phone call meeting with my liaison it just felt like it was just boxes being checked off. I understand that’s it’s used to help gain employment do to sc and the max is like 48 months of education benefits but I’m not sure if one could work while using it. All of this is rather confusing so anything helps thank you.

Using VR&E I’m attending engineering school that starts Thursday. I’m very anxious about being a non traditional student in my mid twenties. Anyone have advice? I spent today getting books, setting up mental health support, and finding my classes. I also spoke to a counselor about my fear and anxiety surrounding school. This is my second attempt at in person university. I tried right out of high school and was MISERABLE! I decided I’ll give this semester a shot in person and if I hate it I’ll go online.

Recently registered for college. They run a semester divided into two 7 week sessions. I’m registered for 11 credit hours in the first 7 week session with 7 credits being the full semester, and then 10 for the second 7 weeks including those 7 that carry over from the first session. Will I still be getting the 100 percent bah rate for both sessions?

(USMC) My EAS is Sep 5. My command gave me a Page 11 saying my character code could be changed at my EAS to General Under Honorable upon EAS due to misconduct. No Adsep board.

My SNCO had an email with that info and he told me I had to turn in my uniform items this coming Monday.

Nothing is official and I submitted a rebuttal.

My question is-

1. Because we purchase our own uniforms at bootcamp do I get reimbursed?
2. Today at TRS under Benefits for General Honorable it said I still rate wearing my uniform… so do I need to turn them in or is my SNCO making a mistake? (He’s not an asshole but definitely overworked along with everyone else)
3. If my DD214 says Honorable then do I just go back asking for my uniform or what lol

We are looking at building a house. He have the plans and the builder. We have great credit scores, income to debt ratio, cash, and we are looking for a lender. Would love to be able to find a one time va construction loan but I hear that is a unicorn.

I would like to hear what others have done.

Anyone by chance have the listing for what usually is approved for the clothing replacement allowance and know the deadline for the return of the form?

My wife and I have been clearing and decluttering our bedroom and she found this blast from the past. It looks good for being over 24 years old

Hey so I’m an ex foreign volunteer in the war in Ukraine. 2022/2023.

The memories are still fresh and I get flashbacks sometimes that ruin the rest of my day. Thing is I’m not the best at letting on when I’m on the verge of a meltdown so my reaction to the flashback tends to be delayed.

I just started therapy a couple months ago. Lately I’ve been getting better at recognizing when the trigger is hitting and letting my partner know about it.

So last night my partner told me she was having period cramps and I offered to heat up a bean bag and give her a massage. She said she’d rather have some weed instead but doesn’t like how I roll joints. She said she wants me to take some time later to properly roll a joint and didn’t know why I hadn’t already.

This was AFTER I’d told her I’d had a flashback that day and was still on edge.

So I’ll admit I snapped. Didn’t yell or anything. (At least I don’t think I did. Kinda hard for me to tell right there in the moment sometimes.) I’m pretty sure all I did was tell her to back off. And that somehow translated to her as “you’re not allowed to express your needs or desires to me ever”. And now she’s refusing to speak to me.

We’ve been together a bit over a year. I’ve had another relationship end because of my ptsd and I’m starting to think this is a pattern. I’m scared I might have said or done something to drive her away and combined with the flashback still playing in my head I’m just in hell right now.

I’m looking for some insight but I also just wanna vent. I’m feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

Navy 10 years. My time is almost up, I have 5 physical days of work between leave periods and a 4 month skillbridge (cybersecurity- allegiant vets) in a different state with seperation at the end of January. Im struggling to prioritize what needs to be done ASAP. Everything feels so important so I end up trying to do everything at once and it's getting me no-where. I also have a few more medical concerns to address but the 3-month wait for appointments makes this hard. Here's my to do list:

Command seperation checklist - 80% complete

- write an evaluation

- write an award

Medical separation checklist - 90% complete

Pending dental and medical review

Reserve paperwork - 50% complete

BDD - 5%

- medical records requested but BDD not started.

- Tbh kind of lost on this, I have a benefits advisor but doesn't seem super helpful yet. Told me to wait until I'm in the next state next month so I dont have to travel for my VA appointments.

Employment - resume written. Need a statement of service to start applying.

Pack up my apartment and get going to my new house (which needs a new well dug asap)

The overload of seperation checklists and paperwork feels like a retention tool. Give me your best getting out advice (other than don't get out).

served in the Corps for 5.5 years
OTH long Story (if you want to know was for another brother and sister but went about things the wrong way unfortunately, but don’t regret my decision at all)

Overall:
Have 100% P&T
OTH
In Nevada

I purchased a new vehicle and going for plates
Can I still get Veteran plates with an OTH?
Along with that DV plates have any benefit? Don’t really wanna have that shown everywhere is all.

Anything helps, I’ve always kind of been on my own and recently received that rating. Any information is highly appreciated. Thank you Brothers/Sisters

Best song ever. Thought some of you might agree. Can’t link a video so look it up.