Posted on Jul 31, 2021
Is it true that before early 2000s that people who were in Basic Training were called soldiers instead of trainees?
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vs. today, when you’re in Army Basic Training, you’re called Trainee? Just curious
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00F: Drill Sergeant
00F: Drill Sergeant
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 15
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I went to Basic in 1998. My Drill Sergeants called us Privates, or Privets. Because you aren't even a Private yet till you graduate, you're a privet, and one day if you're smart enough you can earn you're way up to being a dumb Private.
I hear years later they used Soldier and even Warrior. I don't know if that's any more true than Stress Cards in Basic training.
I hear years later they used Soldier and even Warrior. I don't know if that's any more true than Stress Cards in Basic training.
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Suspended Profile
I was about two years behind you and went at the end of 2000. I remember being called private amongst other 'names'. Towards the end we had a ceremony where we were given one of the US collar brass for the dress uniform and told we were now Soldiers. It was nice (looking back) but at the time it was night and I just remember being tired.
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When I was in OSUT, I was very rarely called Soldier, trainee, Warrior, or any other term which could be considered positive or even neutral.
I will state, however, that both Soldier *and* trainee are accurate. I have, at many times, been a trainee, regardless of how long I had been in, or what rank I had attained. Every one of those times (at least within the Army) I was *also* a Soldier.
I will state, however, that both Soldier *and* trainee are accurate. I have, at many times, been a trainee, regardless of how long I had been in, or what rank I had attained. Every one of those times (at least within the Army) I was *also* a Soldier.
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SGM (Join to see)
We were called a lot of things, I don't remember Soldier, Trainee or rank being among them.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SGM (Join to see) - Oh, I was called "Private" a lot in OSUT, most often in the plural ("get over here, Privates"). But the Drills made it VERY clear that "Private" was *definitely* a nasty name. It was somewhere above maggot, but below worm.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SFC Casey O'Mally - 1983 OSUT Ft Benning. SSG Carpenter couldn't complete a sentence without using that universal F word, so something that would go with that word and he was pretty inventive about it's use. SSG Priestly didn't curse much, but he had some general terms if we were screwing up, some more personal ones if you were screwing up individually, but other than that, usually just called us by our last name. However, I soon learned that the tone that he used said a lot about what was going to occur. Kind a like when Mom used my full name.
Still, SSG Priestly was one of the sharpest soldiers I have ever met and he was what I always the standard I tried to achieve.
Still, SSG Priestly was one of the sharpest soldiers I have ever met and he was what I always the standard I tried to achieve.
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In my Basic Training back in 1993, what we were called depended on which Drill Sergeant was screaming at us. The normal name was Private. One used the word Stud. Another the word Hero. One particular SFC Drill Sergeant liked using Stupid. I don't think any of us were called Soldier until Graduation Day.
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