Do y'all see the term 'soldier'

Erin2903

 *silly question alert*

as describing someone in the Army?

I always thought of it as a term for someone in the Army. But I live on an Air Force base (but my husband is Army) and a lot of girls here use the term for their husbands, like on cheesy jewelry "I love my soldier". Or saying things like "I really miss my soldier today." I though they would say Airman, but what do I know.

So it got me thinking and I'm wondering if I have just been wrong about this.

What say you MN?

Sibil

Soldier is army; airman is air force.  It's really not that hard.

They don't say I am an American airman for nothing, you know? 

K&C2005

This is how I have always thought of it: Soldiers are Army, Sailors are Navy, Air force are Airmen, Marines are Marines. What is most surprising to me about that is that their spouse would not correct them. My husband would be irritated if I called him a Sailor or Marine (he is Army).....just saying. 

kpol8

When I was a kid, I thought they were all "soldiers" so that's what I would have used for anyone serving in the military. I know better now, and probably realized the difference in late middle school/early HS. I go with the Soldier-Army, Marine-Marines, etc. now.

Pumpkin701

I don't know if this will really make sense, but I grew up in an area without a big military presence. Most of the people I knew that joined the military were Army National Guard and only did the minimum contract. Or maybe I just don't know that many people. Or maybe all the AD and long-term Guard people moved and just didn't really have an impact. 

Anyway, I didn't have anyone to tell me, 'Hey stupid, members of the Air Force aren't soldiers, they're Airmen.' I saw something about it on here when I first started hanging out on this board and realized how stupid I sounded. 

I tend to stick to service member now. 

Sibil

I didn't grow up with any military knowledge other than my grandpa talking about being in the merchant marines.  Still, it seems nearly every political speech refers to soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen.  It doesn't take a genius to match it up with the branch.

And by the time I married H, I'd been to enough events reciting the airman's creed, so it's kind of hard to miss how they identify.  I'm thinking these spouses are just complete morAns. 

Pumpkin701

Soldier just seemed like a catch-all term for members of the military, like service member. 

blueshirt2003

I see soldier for Army and Airmen for Air Force, so on and so forth. 

 

Kendraish

Killer Cupcake:

When I say "Soldier", I am referring to someone in the Army. 

When talking about Marines, Marine, AF, Airman/woman, etc.  

 I agree! 

AlouetteBeans

I would refer to the different titles (Airman, Marine, Sailor/Seaman - hee, etc) however, I have heard many people use the term "soilder" generically to refer to military members... I know its probably "wrong" but I never cared enough to make an issue out of it.

MrsOjoButtons

Killer Cupcake:

Airman/woman

LOL  We don't have Airwomen.  Same creed as the men, "I am an American Airman."

Plenty of people who are far removed from the military use 'soldier' as a generic term for "random person who wears a military uniform," and I don't have a problem with that.  When I was still in BDUs and doing RAP, lots of kids would call me a soldier.  When I was in blues, people would ask if I was in the Navy.  That's the south side of Chicago, not too far from a large Navy base.  Some people just don't know.

A person who's married to a service member though?  They're dumb.  How are they supposed to pick out which "Toughest Job in the ___" if they can't read the branch on their spouse's blouse?

crownsuperstar

K&C2005:

This is how I have always thought of it: Soldiers are Army, Sailors are Navy, Air force are Airmen, Marines are Marines. What is most surprising to me about that is that their spouse would not correct them. My husband would be irritated if I called him a Sailor or Marine (he is Army).....just saying. 

 This is how I see it.  I think that a spouse not knowing what their husband is to be called is a little silly/dumb in my opinion.  However, that is just my thoughts.   

Fancy3Face

Definitely an Army term.  I think its very strange that an AF wife would use that word to describe her Airman. 

DowagerCountessofNJ

MrsOjoButtons:

Killer Cupcake:

Airman/woman

LOL  We don't have Airwomen.  Same creed as the men, "I am an American Airman."

Plenty of people who are far removed from the military use 'soldier' as a generic term for "random person who wears a military uniform," and I don't have a problem with that.  When I was still in BDUs and doing RAP, lots of kids would call me a soldier.  When I was in blues, people would ask if I was in the Navy.  That's the south side of Chicago, not too far from a large Navy base.  Some people just don't know.

A person who's married to a service member though?  They're dumb.  How are they supposed to pick out which "Toughest Job in the ___" if they can't read the branch on their spouse's blouse?

I was this person until I dated T.

Erin2903

MrsOjoButtons:

Killer Cupcake:

Airman/woman

LOL  We don't have Airwomen.  Same creed as the men, "I am an American Airman."

Plenty of people who are far removed from the military use 'soldier' as a generic term for "random person who wears a military uniform," and I don't have a problem with that.  When I was still in BDUs and doing RAP, lots of kids would call me a soldier.  When I was in blues, people would ask if I was in the Navy.  That's the south side of Chicago, not too far from a large Navy base.  Some people just don't know.

A person who's married to a service member though?  They're dumb.  How are they supposed to pick out which "Toughest Job in the ___" if they can't read the branch on their spouse's blouse?

Lol, and I would put money on the fact that they have some article of clothing that says that.

Thanks ladies, I've always used the specific Soldier, Marine, Airman as well. I can see someone outside of the military just using soldier as a catch all but it just was weird to me since it was several spouses.

meltoine

Kind of unrelated and it probably makes me look like an idiot, but when I found out in 11th grade American history that "troop" refers to just one person, it blew my mind.

I always thought of a "troop" and a group of people. Then we were studying World War II and our textbook listed so many thousands of troops that had died and I asked how many people were in a troop. My teacher actually laughed at me. 

kacasey276

When I say soldier, I am referring to someone in the Army.. When I met my husband ( who is a Marine) I called him a soldier and he nicely corrected me. I understand now that every branch has their own term.. I think the general public associates service members as soldiers.. That is what I usually here from people

Sibil

Oh, I totally get that the average person thinks that soldier is a catchall.  I probably thought that, too.  I honestly don't remember that far back since I met H 12 years ago.

But, if you're married to someone, how do you not absorb the information?  You hear the damn creed.  You hear many speeches about airmen.  Just... how do you not get?  

ETA I do think we're more culturally aware of army terminology.  When H first became a flight commander, it was the first I'd heard that term.  He explained that it was like a platoon, and then I understood it.  At this point, I know far more about AF terms, but initially I had no clue. 

Sibil

That is a great story, KC.  I can see some airmen I've met saying something similar, followed by a resounding whoo-ah.

Sibil

Maybe there was a former marine in the crowd?

Sibil

Oh, did my ignorance just show through?  I honestly have no clue which shout belongs to which branch.  Things are things I couldn't care less about.  I also never paid attention to stan's marriage, so I have no idea which branch it was to.

I really can't stand the cheerleading at any event I've been to.  It reminds me of summer camp, yet it's for adults, apparently professionals, and they're trying to shout each other down.  

kyrgyzstan

Killer Cupcake:

Sibil:

That is a great story, KC.  I can see some airmen I've met saying something similar, followed by a resounding whoo-ah.

Oh! Another story!

After Stan's wedding, after the sword arch and the swat, someone yelled "Hooah!"

Wong branch! 

lol

Sorry Stan. I thought it fit. 

LOL! It's true. It was, however, someone in his family, and they're from an Army town, so it's what they know!  

Pumpkin701

Sibil:

Oh, I totally get that the average person thinks that soldier is a catchall.  I probably thought that, too.  I honestly don't remember that far back since I met H 12 years ago.

But, if you're married to someone, how do you not absorb the information?  You hear the damn creed.  You hear many speeches about airmen.  Just... how do you not get?  

ETA I do think we're more culturally aware of army terminology.  When H first became a flight commander, it was the first I'd heard that term.  He explained that it was like a platoon, and then I understood it.  At this point, I know far more about AF terms, but initially I had no clue. 

Just throwing this out there. K just hit his four year mark and we've been together since before he joined. I've only heard him say the creed once and that was at graduation for Basic. 

MilitaryIssued

kacasey276:

When I say soldier, I am referring to someone in the Army.. When I met my husband ( who is a Marine) I called him a soldier and he nicely corrected me. I understand now that every branch has their own term.. I think the general public associates service members as soldiers.. That is what I usually here from people

I made this mistake, but was not kindly corrected lol...I got a "brief" about it!!


My husband is also a Marine, and after marrying into the Corps, I learned that "solider" is associated with the Army