Soldiers can easily pick out their fellow soldiers from the crowd. There is simply something telling about people who were in the military. They conduct themselves differently in public, though the differences are extremely subtle. If you ever served them in the military, take a look at these pictures and try to tell us you can’t relate!
Floor = Bed
Basic training might be, well, basic but it does teach us some highly valuable lessons. For soldiers, the floor is as a good a bed as many. However, it is pretty ironic that while they are not picky about where to sleep, they could still stand at attention in only a few seconds!

Floor = Bed
Ironing Boss
Soldiers all know how to fold and iron clothes, particularly their uniform. It is simply a part of the job to look presentable as much as possible. A creased uniform is definitely a no-no.

Ironing Boss
The Way You Walk
We’ll let you in on a way to figure out who is a soldier. Watch them walk and you can see that military men or women walk with both control and purpose. Here is another tip: if you have to speed up to walk alongside them, there might be a chance they were in the military.

The Way You Walk
Military Time
Ask them what time it is and you will not get the usual answer. They will likely stick to the military time format. Honestly, why bother affixing AM or PM when you can find out in a shorter way?

Military Time
Your Hair
Think of the last time that you went to the hairdresser and asked for a specific haircut. Well, soldiers do not get the same treatment. They all receive a buzz cut! Soldiers can only get a different haircut once they leave the military.

Your Hair
Scanning Situations
One of the first things a soldier learns is how to observe and assess situations. It is important for them to act quickly if they find anything suspect. Now you know why there is no need to be alarmed when your military friends take time to scan the room wherever you go.

Scanning Situations
Standing At Ease
We admit that standing “at ease” probably looks like the opposite for civilians. When you do it on the regular, it becomes instinctive. Upon return to civilian life, we bet ex-soldiers still do it regularly.

Standing At Ease
Sir And Ma’am
Respect is also a big deal in the military, as it should be everywhere else. Regardless of who they are talking to, soldiers will always display respect. Men are called ‘sir’ and women are called ‘ma’am’.

Sir And Ma’am
Fast Eater
Another thing that changes when you go to the military is your eating habits. Soldiers need to munch on their meals quickly! This is because they need to head back to their post as soon as possible, especially when they are in the middle of war. Don’t just your soldier friend too much if they wolf down their food!

Fast Eater
Military Jargon
“Roger that”, “negative” and “affirmative” have all become in pop culture depictions of soldiers. True enough, this is pretty accurate soldier speak. Many military men and women, even after they are done with service, continue to speak this way. Truly, military has its own culture.

Military Jargon
Cursing
We have already mentioned that respect is a big thing in the military, though a lot of soldiers like to swear like sailors. If you want to see it for yourself, try talking to a drill sergeant. You’ll see what we mean.

Cursing
Polished
As aforementioned, it is important that soldiers look presentable as much as possible. Another thing they need to take care of is their boots. Soldiers have to put in some elbow grease to make them shine!

Polished
Your Fridge
Most of our fridges are full of reminders, photos, and magnets. Meanwhile, it is different for soldiers. Their fridges will typically show war memorabilia, military souvenirs, and other evidence of their time in the military.

Your Fridge
Saluting
If someone salutes you, don’t worry. That person is probably just greeting you! After all, this is the common mode of greeting in the military. As we all know, old habits die hard. Just salute back!

Saluting
No Kitchen
We all cook in the kitchen and eat in the dining room. To soldiers, however, these places are both ‘the mess.’ It’s not a judgment of your cleaning skills! It is only the shortened form of the mess hall.

No Kitchen
Call Of Duty
Actual soldiers play video games too and we bet they are fans of Call of Duty as well. However, they can tell the difference between fiction and reality. For example, they know that it would be impossible to pack a grenade launcher and six other rifles with you!

Call Of Duty
Black paint or ‘Boot-Topping’?
Do you know what boot paint or boot-topping is? If you haven’t spent any time in the military, you might think that it is simply black paint. Let us tell you the difference. It is a black coating used to lather between the deck and the waterline. When it comes to the consistency, it is a thick liquid made of either lime or sulfur.

Black Paint Or ‘Boot Topping’
Quiet In Line
Military personnel have a tendency to behave properly when in line for a queue. Basic training dictates that they must stay quiet when they have to wait for orders or enter the mess hall. They take this kind of behavior to civilian life and we daresay we should follow in their footsteps!

Quiet In Line
Checking Your Car
Soldiers will not survive in the military without discipline! Before they go out on a mission, it is the duty of a soldier to make sure the vehicle is ready to go. This is an important process, regardless of whether it is a jet, a helicopter, or an armored car. You might find that they also do this in civilian life with their personal car!

Checking Your Car
Home Chore List
In the army, chore lists are important if they wish to get anything done. This ensures that everyone knows their assignments and tasks. Someone who fails to accomplish their chores will be held accountable for it. The system is often used in their civilian homes as well.

Home Chore List
Skip The Fireworks
We all know that fireworks look beautiful, though we do not recommend setting them up if you have a soldier present. This is especially true if they have been deployed into a war zone. In all likelihood, those people will not react positively to loud explosions like fireworks. They sound a lot like something else.

Skip The Fireworks
Power Stance
The fact that they are soldiers does not only show in the way they walk. It also shows in how they stand! Based on their rank, they typically have some sort of power stance. You can tell their confidence from their posture alone!

Power Stance
Your Squad
It is true that there exists a special bond between a soldier and their companions on the field. Often, they end up becoming the most important people in each other’s lives. Together, they try to keep each other safe. Regardless of how curses and insults are exchanged, they trust and love each other to death.

Your Squad
Speaking In A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S.
Acronyms are also a big deal in the military life. If you listen in on a conversation between soldiers, you will likely be confused by the lingo. If you don’t understand what BOHICA, SNAFU, and WAG is, we bet you have always been a civilian.

Speaking In A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S.
Honking Twice
Honking twice is a military practice that means you are backing up. Many soldiers tend to do the same thing when they come home from service. Habits do die hard!

Honking Twice
The Flag
We all know that the American flag symbolizes the whole nation so it deserves nothing but respect. Whenever it is raised, soldiers will rise immediately and even bring their hands up to a salute.

The Flag
Back To The Wall
If you find yourself with a wall to your back, do not feel so dejected. There is always a bright side to things and this typically means that you are in the safe. Without any threats coming from behind, you can now focus your attention in front of you. This is why soldiers like to sit down with a wall behind them.

Back To The Wall
Hospital Corners
At this point, you can tell that soldiers like things neat. The same applies to their beds and the way they fix them. They make “hospital corners” for maximum neatness and the beds therefore look identical!

Hospital Corners
War Movie Frustration
Many soldiers get annoyed by the way Hollywood portrays war. Truly, the media will never be able to duplicate the real-life conditions of their experience. However, they can still chill out and watch an action flick but keep in mind they can pick apart the absurd moments.

War Movie Frustration
Whistling In The Loo
When you are in a public bathroom and the person in the other stall is whistling, they might have spent some time in the military. The military practice is still common, though no one knows where it came from.

Whistling In The Loo
Knife Hands
A knife hand is what you call the gesture soldiers make when they are explaining something. They keep the hand flat and tight, the fingers locked together. Even when they are done with service, soldiers typically use it when giving directions.

Knife Hands
Getting Up Early
When a soldier claims that they slept in, they still woke up way earlier than the rest of us. Basic training involves waking extremely early and this kind of thing doesn’t go away easily.

Getting Up Early
Popping Smoke
Have you ever heard of the idiom “popping smoke”? Well, it actually has military origins. In the battle field, soldiers typically “pop smoke” for a diversion or shield as they move into position. If you hear someone say they’re popping smoke, it means they’re leaving.

Popping Smoke
Tabasco Sauce
It is true that army food is far from gourmet. It is not unusual for the food to be served too dry or too bland. When this happens, soldiers have come up with a solution. Tabasco sauce is the way to go!

Tabasco Sauce
The National Anthem
As soon as the Star Spangled Banner plays, you will probably find soldiers with watery eyes. Our national anthem is basically the soundtrack of their lives. Of course, it is also worth mentioning that the song represents our nation.

The National Anthem
Always Early, Never Late
A lot of people think it is cool to show up “fashionably late” to an event. Military people, however, will frown on that. Soldiers typically show up around 15 minutes earlier than the call time. This is because they understand how important time is.

Always Early, Never Late
No Explanations
We normally give explanations when there is something important taking place. In the military, however, they give briefings. After all, it can be hard to digest information when one delivers a lengthy speech with a lot of emotion. For soldiers, it is important to be straightforward.

No Explanations
Workout Music
Any ex-soldier trying to find a song that will prep them up for a great work out should definitely play “cadence”. Nothing will get them pumped up like this song! Cadence, to military people, will forever be the soundtrack of hard work and motivation.

Workout Music
Your Gun
If you are a soldier who has handled a gun, you probably know what we are talking about when we way the firearm is practically a limb. Wherever one goes, the gun goes as well. Many former military people still feel like they have the gun with them!

Your Gun
Losing Your Gun
On that note, ex-soldiers apparently dream of losing their weapon. If you have ever been in the military, you will know that this is the worst thing that can happen in the battle field! When they open their eyes, though, they will quickly remember that they don’t carry a gun anymore.

Losing Your Gun