What Do People Think You Do? - Myth Busting: Army Edition

What do friends and family think you do in the Army? Often, they aren’t sure. This blog explores the gap between perception and reality, and why it matters. 

When you tell someone you’re in the Army, their mind often jumps to one thing: combat. But that’s just one part of the story. In this Myth Busting: Army Edition series blog, we’re looking at what friends and family think you do vs what you actually do. 

Watch as real soldiers share how their loved ones react to their roles:

They Think It’s Always Fighting

The idea that the Army is all about fighting is one of the biggest myths we’re here to bust. 

“A lot of people think the Army is always fighting,” says one soldier. “They look at it as a combat job. It’s not always combat.” 

The Army is a huge organisation. It has engineers, chefs, musicians, medics, and IT specialists. It’s more than just boots on the ground – it’s a team that keeps everything running. When loved ones understand the diversity of roles and range of opportunities on offer, they are much more open to the Army as a career. 

Another soldier shares, “Mam, I’m in the office, I’m typing things up, just chill out, it’s absolutely fine.”

They Just See Me Jumping Out Of Planes

One soldier laughs, “For me, my family don’t think I do a lot to be honest… they just see me jumping out of planes and doing different sports.” But the truth? “I’m pretty busy.” 

This is a common theme. From the outside, Army life can look like sports matches and adventure training excursions. But behind the scenes, it’s full-on. In order to get to the exciting, challenging and unforgettable experiences the Army has to offer, you need to start a few steps back. There’s planning, admin, training, and teamwork. And yes, sometimes it’s in an office.

They Think They Understand, But They Don’t

The Army has a language of it’s on, which can be confusing and create a disconnect with friends and family. 

“I think it’s a bit harder when it’s your family,” one soldier explains. “You automatically go into the abbreviations speak… and think they understand, but they don’t.” 

A common barrier when explaining life in the Army to friends and family is the language. It’s easy to forget that military lingo isn’t everyday language. Breaking it down and taking the time to explain things can be a really useful way to bring your loved ones into the loop, and include them in your journey.

We Need More Exposure

These soldiers agree: people need to see more of what Army life is really like. 

“That’s the bit we need to get out there,” one says. “We need more exposure so people can actually see what we do, versus just thinking we are in a field.” 

That’s exactly what this series is about. Real voices. Real stories. Real roles.

Why This Matters 

If you’re thinking about joining the Army, you might worry about what others will think. You might wonder if you’ll fit in. You might feel unsure about what the job really involves. 

This series is here to help. We’re showing the truth behind the uniform. We’re challenging stereotypes and proving that there’s a role for everyone. 

Whether you’re great with people, numbers, tools or ideas – your skills matter here.

Our Myth Busting Series

Keep an eye out for the next video of the series, where we’ll hear from the solider if there was ‘Anything you wish you'd known before joining? Or follow us on our YouTube channel for more videos.