Help settle an argument. Are US Navy personnel ever considered "soldiers"?
- Thread starter y_p_w
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Seaman is generally referring to enlisted ranks E1-E3 and also based on the specific job.
I grew up in southeastern Virginia, where there are many Navy facilities. Civilians never called Navy people "soldiers". "Squid" was the preferred term.
Not “swabby”?
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
No.
No, that would make you a coxswain.
And if he is remembered as a "Soldier", "Special Operations Chief", "Special Warfare Operator", or "Nate", that's all that matters. The fact that he is remembered is all that matters.
I bet his family would be honoured that he would be remembered as any of those titles, as long as he's remembered.
Yes, the most terribly-dispositioned sailor I ever met was PNSN Samples (real last name!), if you know rank terminology. Dude had to put up with snickers & giggles every time. You’d have thought he won the lottery when he made Petty Officer Third Class!!
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Maybe by people actually in the Navy. By everyone else in the Armed Forces, we still call people in the Navy seamen. Because it's funny.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
I don't believe there is a generic term. A technical/ correct term would be "uniformed servicemember" --- but I doubt many would like to be called by the technically accurate term.
A performance of 6 essays by younger servicemen describing their experiences, included one by a female who piloted drones used by the US Air Force. They sat at video screens with basic avionics and joysticks.
She mentioned the nickname amongst themselves was the "US Chair Force".
Would they be "Chairmen"? (ha-ha)
NOTE: The performance, the title of which I cannot recall, was descriptive and respectful.
She mentioned the nickname amongst themselves was the "US Chair Force".
Would they be "Chairmen"? (ha-ha)
NOTE: The performance, the title of which I cannot recall, was descriptive and respectful.
Were you in the Navy? We are talking about Navy people being called soldiers, here. Calling a Navy Person by an Army name isn’t accurate, and it wouldn’t be welcome.
It’s like calling a Yale Grad a “Huskie” - uh, well, yeah, they’re both in Connecticut but no - neither party would be fine with that appellation.
dnewton3
Staff member
Along with mis-identifying service members, I have another pet peeve ...
When someone says "ex ..." in front of the service member being discussed. (Actually, regardless of the topic). The term "ex ..." generally implies a separation due to disagreement, contention, etc. Think of "ex wife" or "ex husband". Or "ex employer". All these have a general negative connotation. The separation was not on good terms.
Whereas the term "former" implies a separation of circumstances. My "former wife" died of cancer ... My "former employer" went out of business ... etc.
This concept would apply to most any situation in life. I don't like it when people call me an "ex cop"; it implies I did something wrong and was kicked out. I know someone who lost a spouse in an automobile accident; he doesn't refer to her as his "ex wife"; that would be disrespectful to her memory. He rightly calls her his "former wife".
If someone served in the military and left under positive circumstances (honorable discharge), they should be referred to as a "former Sailor, Airman, Marine, Soldier ....".
The only time I would use the phrase "ex" to refer to a service member would be if they had been dishonorably discharged; presumably because they did something wrong and were kicked out.
When someone says "ex ..." in front of the service member being discussed. (Actually, regardless of the topic). The term "ex ..." generally implies a separation due to disagreement, contention, etc. Think of "ex wife" or "ex husband". Or "ex employer". All these have a general negative connotation. The separation was not on good terms.
Whereas the term "former" implies a separation of circumstances. My "former wife" died of cancer ... My "former employer" went out of business ... etc.
This concept would apply to most any situation in life. I don't like it when people call me an "ex cop"; it implies I did something wrong and was kicked out. I know someone who lost a spouse in an automobile accident; he doesn't refer to her as his "ex wife"; that would be disrespectful to her memory. He rightly calls her his "former wife".
If someone served in the military and left under positive circumstances (honorable discharge), they should be referred to as a "former Sailor, Airman, Marine, Soldier ....".
The only time I would use the phrase "ex" to refer to a service member would be if they had been dishonorably discharged; presumably because they did something wrong and were kicked out.
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This is about as bad as the thick versus thin debate. My two best buds, one I call seadog, as he was Navy, and the other I call jarhead, as he was a Marine. They call me high jumper as I was a Army Paratrooper. Works for us, but then we are old guys who only complain when our beer is not cold enough.
Typically, when you’re being referred to by a generic term like “sailor” by a fellow sailors it’s pretty much derogatory in its intent. If somebody says “sailor” or “shipmate” as your title then you screwed up, you’re in trouble or they don’t like you. Or maybe even all of the above. It’s kind of similar to your mom using your full name. It’s rarely a good thing.
Agreed @dnewton3 - you want to get a real rise out of a former US Marine?
Call them an “ex Marine” - once a Marine, always a Marine, there are no ex-Marines!
I’ll give you an example from when I was on Active Duty. A co-worker’s father was dying in the hospital. He had served one tour (4 years) in the USMC during Korea, in Combat. It was early November.
The Marines in our building found out about his situation - and on November 10th, in their Blue Dress Uniforms, they arrived at his bedside, with a birthday cake, to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday with a fellow Marine.
There are no “ex” Marines.
So, completely agree with you - the “ex” has a pejorative connotation.
Call them an “ex Marine” - once a Marine, always a Marine, there are no ex-Marines!
I’ll give you an example from when I was on Active Duty. A co-worker’s father was dying in the hospital. He had served one tour (4 years) in the USMC during Korea, in Combat. It was early November.
The Marines in our building found out about his situation - and on November 10th, in their Blue Dress Uniforms, they arrived at his bedside, with a birthday cake, to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday with a fellow Marine.
There are no “ex” Marines.
So, completely agree with you - the “ex” has a pejorative connotation.
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GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Thanks for explaining the difference between EX and Former.... Something I didn't comprehend prior.
