Background, late 20's, unemployed reservist, E-3 equivilant, living with parents and most importantly, single.

Where I live regular and reservists get paid quite handsomely, especially reservists as the income cannot be taxed. Without delving too much into what I do, I work in a combat role that is also quite technical and requires more intellect even within the lower ranks. I've been in for just over 4 years but what I have achieved and the level I am working at is more the level of an E-4 or even an E-5 in my job. Basically I've been doing the job of a JNCO of late. I've recently completed all promotion courses required for the next rank.

In my unit I have always been known as a careerist (or "thruster"), or a model soldier. I sometimes get shit from my peers because I don't play the "dumb private" as I show initiative a lot and hold a lot of knowledge that they don't have.

I am almost certain the shit I get from the others stem from two things:

  1. I don't have a full time job
  2. I am single

Contrasted with that a lot of the guys that give me shit are:

  1. Full time slaves (er, I mean, workers)
  2. Married with kids
  3. Have a mortgage

Basically they're jealous AF and they hate their lives.

I quite often get asked things like "when are you getting a full time job?" or "when are you getting a girlfriend?" and other things like trying to set me up with a girl they know.

One of the most recent of incidents I can recall is a few days ago I was tasked by higher to get something ready for the next week so I was unable to help the other guys with some bullshit work party (moving furniture).

When I walked past them in the middle of their work party one of them gave me shit for not helping them out but it was with a smiling face. Thing is, I wasn't born yesterday and I could tell by the subtleties in his tone and facial expressions that behind that face was full of jealousy and malice.

I didn't really pay too much attention to him as I had more worrying things on my mind at the time.

Anyway, what do you guys find is the best way to deal with wage slaves like this?