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Don't assume anything.
• Business Insider interviewed a number of veterans from several branches of the military.
• They told us about everything they wished civilians understood about the service.
• Based on those conversations, here are some things you should refrain from saying to veterans.
Most of the time, people have the best intentions when they're talking to a veteran.
"By and large, at this stage in history, the American people are very, very supportive of veterans," Brandon Trama, a former US Army Special Operations Detachment Commander, CivCom grad, and associate at Castleton Commodities International, told Business Insider.
Indeed, according to Gallup, the majority of civilians view each of the four branches either very or somewhat favorably.
"I've encountered numerous people when I transitioned who were willing to help me out, whether it was buy me a cup of coffee, give me thoughts on their career path, or put me in front of other people who may be able to point me in the direction of other opportunities," Trama said.
But, according to the Pew Research Center, fewer Americans now have family ties to those who served.
And despite the good intentions of many civilians, there's still a growing gap between the militiary and civilian worlds. So it's important for civilians to remember that there's a difference between reverence and understanding.
Business Insider spoke with veterans from several different branches of the military about transitioning back to civilian
Here's what they said they wished civilians would understand - and, in some cases, refrain from saying: