RichmondJake said:
My dad was inducted and spent 3 years overseas. I've never been in the military -- my desire for the military evaporated when Uncle Sam returned my older brother home from southeast Asia in a box.
But it sounds like you got inculcated anyway.
There is no such thing as a "sick day" in the military. You show up, no matter how sick and then ask permission to go on sick call. If you are dying, they put you on Quarters. Quarters does not mean "day off". It means "house arrest". If you are too sick to work, you damn well better NOT be out at some movie. You had better be in your quarters -- that is the only place you have permission to be.
My husband once got a hysterical phone call from the young wife of a guy he recruited. He had missed formation too many times, so they moved him into the barracks to make sure he showed up on time. His wife was crying into the phone, saying "They are trying to destroy our marriage. They can't DO this!!! waaaaah!!!!"
(But it worked out for me: That incident was one of the things that Clued him as to what a wonderful army wife I am.)
The point is: If you have ever spent time in the military or been raised by a parent who spent time in the military, "On Time" means "15 minutes early" and if you show up at 8am on the dot, you clearly overslept or had a flat tire on the way to work. I did manage to get somewhat "deprogrammed" last summer. It can be done -- if circumstances are extreme enough.