Stuttering in the Military | My Story

Stuttering and the Military
Hi guys,
Today I talk about my personal experience with stuttering in the military. Enjoy!
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[@milosandjelkovic2610]

I bailed out of mandatory military service due to my stuttering and you volunteered!!! You are the bravest person ever!!!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Hello Milos! Yes I was at a point in my life where I really wanted to do something challenging, so the Marine Corps sounded perfect to me. It did come with it's challenges though!

[@jackgaulsfitnessvlog4802]

I stammer. Some people laugh because they dont know how to handle the situation of dealing with a person who stammers. Great story

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

I agree. Most people aren't comfortable with someone who stutters around them!

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

@@MinkaLovesPineapples That person will walk away from the stutterer due to awkwardness!! It's happened to me...my thoughts "I wish I could kill you"

[@lancelambert87]

That's awesome you were in the Marines. I was in the Army and I think our stuttering is fairly similar.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Yes I really enjoyed being in the Marines, no regrets for sure!

[@lpvec40]

wow that's something I couldn't imagine doing in my younger days....it's too bad that people laughed at you...because you wanted to serve your country and were willing to put up with being laughed at for it....shame on the people who laughed and ridiculed you...thank you for your service minka!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Yes it sucks to get laughed at but it didn't happen often thank goodness. And you're welcome!

[@Beezy_Builds]

Currently in the Army for almost 4 years, About to become a SGT myself, and I must say it is a bit stressful at times I can't lie, I totally agree with the anxiety increase with rank lol. Your story gave me some motivation keep pushing.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

That's great! I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@user-zs5of5en5o]

I joined the military and I stutter. It's been a wild ride. My goal back then was to retire as a sergeant first class. I didn't think that I would make it pass basic training. Here I am at 19 years in the Army, and as of August 1st, I was promoted to sergeant first class. I've training thousands of Soldiers, went to war, led squads, led a platoon, won boards, and did lots of briefs. It wasn't all pretty but I've had my fair share of victories. Here I am. What a ride.

[@evestmarie3736]

KAL EL My Son is currently in Navy boot camp and I talked to him today, he stutters, it broke me today to hear he was having a hard time due to this. Your post gave me hope.

[@danielmugambi901]

I have a stutter. Mild but sometimes can be bad. I build my confidence everyday and it has made it easier. I joined the military with a stutter, didn’t even tell them I did. My MTI found out later that I had a stutter later on but he still kept me in because of my potential. Just be strong work on you weakness because if you look at it in the right way, it is actually your strength. Having a stutter is hard, especially when you want to talk to people and contribute. But you just have to be strong and put in the effort to love yourself and work on it. Don’t ever let it get you down, unless when it’s beyond your control !

[@mikeball217]

I stutter some what an that’s the only thing keeping me back in life an after watching this video I think I’m gonna join, thank you so much!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

You're so welcome! Good luck :)

[@noahfearguson1189]

Thank you for sharing your story Minka! I am looking to enlist after high school and I also have a stutter. I was worried that I wouldn't be qualified to serve , but after hearing your story I now know that the only thing holding me back is myself. You have no idea how much this video has helped to reassure me that I can do this. I just wanna give you a big hug lol. Take care Minka!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

You're welcome Noah! You got this. Good luck to you! Hugs :)

[@markstewart4031]

Thanks for sharing you're story. They shouldn't be making fun of stuttering people but thats good you met other stuttering people & they excepted you eventually. You were very brave well done.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Yes it's not fun to get made fun of about stuttering but luckily it didn't happen that much. It was definitely a priviledge to meet other people who stuttered. I was very fortunate about that.

[@terrik5951]

So brave what you experienced and to have such a positive attitude even in boot camp....incredible!!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Yes, it was quite the experience! :p

[@seankennedy987]

I'm in the Army and I have a stutter, very challenging at times. But your story gives me alot of courage thank you so much. I'm in cryptologic language school now and giving presentations are difficult. I'm hoping I will get better the more I practice. Thanks again

[@j.ronnygibson]

9:03 I guess most stutters have to learn to be like that. Also, I have made some progress in my speech but never like this. You are awesome

[@redcartiers]

I love your confidence, I wish i had this much confidence....

[@sinbad2k09]

I don't know if you still log online anymore. Just needed to say Thank You For Your Service and honesty with this subject. It is much appreciated, stay stafe. Semper Fi!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

I don't log on here often anymore but thank you for your kind words. Semper Fi right back at you.

[@Titan-wh1lz]

Your video inspires me. I give you credit for joining the marines which I know marine boot camp is the most difficult boot camp. You had the courage to join the marines and being a stutterer. That's incredible. I joined the Army and I also had a stutter. The drill sergeants thought I was nervous. I had a lot of great fellow recruits who were patient with me. This helped me when the drill sergeants got in my face and yelled. So when I graduated basic training and mp school, God really showed me that anything is possible if we have faith in him. You had some interesting experiences. Thank you for your service and Thank you for your video.

[@meanh6147]

I was turned down for the united states navy because of my stuttering. I past the test and the physical but was denied and that was the lowest point of my life. But I Think everyhting happens for a reasons.

[@skoomajoe6205]

Wow. You are fearless and brave.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Thank you :)

[@simon1374]

This is what I have been looking for for ages. Someone who has been through this experience. I feel so stressed all the time. I joined the british army last year and have found myself really depressed due to the fact that I keep quiet in most situations and get overlooked compared to my loudmouth fluent colleagues. I find there is added pressure due to the fact that I'm old lol(31 when I joined last year) and would be looked at in my battery for promotion due to my age. I must say that the stress of being new and going through training with the added complication of a stammer has made me wonder if I should of joined in the first place. I dunno how it is compared to military life in the States but in the UK people can be direct and almost insulting. I feel there are a lot of people who see u as stupid due to this condition. Great story though. Glad to hear it turned out well for you. I Know I will be hoping for the same result. Many thanks for this great video. Inspiring

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Thank you for sharing your story Simon. I will admit that in the US military people were very nice about my stammer. I did know a few males in the Marine Corps that did stutter and some of them were quiet and some were outspoken. I'm a shy person in general and my stuttering only made me more shy, so I hardly talked. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@simon1374]

Thanks for your reply. I do struggle as I tend to keep quiet a lot of the time which leaves me feeling out. Oh well sure it will pass just got bad anxiety at moment in regards to day to day life.

[@Dicken4k]

Thanks Minka for sharing.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

You are so welcome Norny

[@rankedup9493]

my stuttering isn't as bad as yours but I was hoping I wouldn't be denied entry for my stutter. nice video thank you

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

You'll be fine...I know a few Marines who had worse stuttering than I did.

[@RemyAutz]

Super job ... well done ...

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Thank you Remy!

[@joshuahernandez2758]

Wow you are so gorgeous and your stuttering makes you even more gorgeous 😍

[@NightOwlGamingz]

Simp ass

[@johnvelas70]

yep about 2:40 I was called "Douchebag" from my P1 day at Great Mistakes...not even "Recruit Douchebag". but it was for something else :)

[@ryanhanks6112]

Were you naturally athletic? Did you play sports in high school? Did you grow up hunting or around guns? Also, do you have any nagging joint pains from having served in the marines?

[@angrybird9644]

all stammer people are very good singers.. we can sing well!

[@photogrifmike]

Thank you for your service!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

No problem! I was happy to do it!

[@jordanhalkier81]

The military always seems to laugh and mock stammering, there is a few army officers in the UK that got laughed at when they first went into the army, they still succeeded and became army officers.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

I didn't get laughed at often but it was a good experience over all. My entire command was very understanding.

[@jordanhalkier81]

Minka Frederika yeah that's good that they understood you, there was a documentary that was about British soldiers who stammered going into the army and everyone didn't take them seriously and laughing and mocking was what they had to put up with.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Hmm I never had that experience. Everyone always took my very seriously.

[@charlydatduclai7734]

Minka Frederika Joining the Military with a stutter can very tough, I saw this video on KZbin of Jody Fuller, who served in the United States Army as a soldier. He also stutters, too but not quite severe as ours.

[@xys7536]

Watch in the company of men the commander Brits all stammer the rich lazy speech

[@jrh8393]

I got rejected from the Australian Army due to my stuttering impairment back when i was 23. They said during the recruiting process that my stuttering would put lives in danger, due to not being able to effectively communicate in potential combat zones. Australian armed forces are very strict against people who stutter lol

[@meanh6147]

I had the same experiences when I Tried to join the united states navy. That felt like the lowest point in my life. But I do Think everything happens for a reason.

[@lpvec40]

also ...just wanted to mention I downloaded the" self help for stutterers" book..it's.really helping me out....my wifes on board too....I talk to her using the slow speech, gentle onsets and light contacts while watching my self speak in a mirror...really helps me!!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Oh nice! I'll look into that.

[@brandonsekach2653]

I have a pretty bad stutter and I have boot camp soon. I’m pretty excited for the challenge though

[@charlydatduclai7734]

I thought about joining the Air Force to become a fighter pilot, but unfortunately joining the military with a stutter can be an extremely tough experience. I don’t think that I will be able to become a fighter pilot in the military because I also stutter, but at least I know that I can still overcome my stuttering problem.

[@talkswithgillard6986]

Your really brave. You should always follow your dreams no matter what! :)

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Totally agree! :)

[@rogerfuller1605]

I was in the army national guard from 1987 to 1996 my mos was 11B I made it to a E5 I have always have had a stutter I got out cause I felt I never had my team's confidence because of my stutter people think you are stupid

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

I get nervous sometimes that people will think that I am stupid. That would stress me out also.

[@WPUpioneer]

That male DI probably SMOKED that recruit SO HARD

[@jobisaiah8901]

I have a bad stuttering and i was thinking to join the army...but i am so scared

[@IrfanAli-bs8nm]

Thank you very much. you increase my confidence. love youuuu sooo much for such a motivational video

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

You are so welcome! I am glad my videos have helped you :)

[@IrfanAli-bs8nm]

Minka Frederika you are so brave I know that living with stuttering is very difficult. In school, every day class-fellow and even my teacher make fun of mine stutter. So every day I was weeping in school and then people are making fun of weeping, that you are a boy and you are weeping. Now in university, I control a little bit my anxiety and now I can deliver a presentation, but sometimes my stutter goes very worst, so then I watch motivational video now this time I watch your video then I realize that I am not the single one who face this problem, even this beautiful(Minka) girl is also facing this problem with very confidence. salute, respect, and love for such a brave lady

[@frankgrimes2679]

I'm new to your channel. Just wondering why you chose the marines?

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Welcome! I chose the Marines because I loved everything about Marine Corps. The PT, the uniforms, the camaraderie that the Corps promised. Honestly everything.

[@86756309bm]

Minka, how did you get into the military with a stutter? I am currently a college student TRYING to stay in ROTC. I just got disqualified because of my stutter and how it comes out when I recite something or when I talk in front of people. Did the recruiters know about your stutter when you were in the process of joining?

[@mansoobiqbal558]

Can I join air force as a GDP I am stammer person

[@gilbertespinoza7955]

Have you try speech easy it helped me little bit

[@corvoncarter1564]

I'm joining the Navy and I'm nervous as hell I stutter like you and kinda don't want go because of my stutter

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

If you really want to join then go for it! You're not alone. I knew about four other people in the Marine Corps who stuttered :)

[@carlosserrano8637]

Hi Minka, have you thought about going to medical and seeing if Tricare covers therapy? I’m also active and stutter aswell and am thinking of looking in to it.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Hello! While I was active I actually did go to speech therapy at the VA hospital. I stopped going though because I was gone a lot and got the feeling my command didn’t like that.

[@carlosserrano8637]

Thank you so much for your input, good luck on your journey!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Same to you!

[@xys7536]

Years ago I was processing into army I was hanging back speaking very little Sgt pulled me aside say grenade yell grenade go home

[@Dzeividz]

Same thing here, i stutter and will join the military.

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

Awesome. Good luck!

[@Dzeividz]

Minka Frederika Thanks. It will be Norwegian military.

[@Thiago-xu5os]

Hello, i'm stutter too

[@jackgaulsfitnessvlog4802]

I stammer too. I'm joining the British army I'm not letting my stammer stop me!

[@MinkaLovesPineapples]

That's awesome! Good luck :)

[@samuelgilbert6359]

Do you join??

[@Buzzbait321]

My older brother who stutters actually was able to become a priest, although his problem was moderately severe like mine.

[@alifnajmi1997]

Those Militaries would be laughing at you when you stuttering so bad

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

Don't people laugh at us to break us down to be stronger!! People will get mercily teased for anything in the army?? Isn't that supposed to build character?