Branch Rivalries -- One team one fight? What are your thoughts on this?

2013-11-12T00:55:23-05:00

I've never quite understood their purpose. One team one fight right? what are y'all's thoughts on this?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2013 7:10 AM

2013-11-12T07:10:07-05:00

Good healthy rivalry/competition makes us work harder to be the best and makes everyone better in the end. Just like we have Soldier/NCO of the month boards, commanders cup competitions and post intramurals. We are just a bunch of proud "alpha" type guys that like to compete, win and be the best. Even though we do all the heavy lifting and hard work you can be sure us ARMY guys got the back of all the Marines/Sailors and Airmen to the bitter end.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2013 7:49 AM

2013-11-12T07:49:32-05:00

Air Force sucks, Marines suck, Navy sucks, GO Army!

Kidding... SGT Haranzo is dead on, itsa just healthy chest thumping from a bunch of alpha types. End of the day, its just for fun.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2013 10:07 AM

2013-11-12T10:07:23-05:00

Go Army! Beat Navy! It's sibling rivalry. We may not get along with our sister services but nobody else is allowed to pick on them but us.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 12 at 2013 10:07 AM

2013-11-12T10:07:31-05:00

A1C, in most cases (I have seen some unfortunate exceptions) it's good natured fun. My dad was a ground pounder in the Army; two uncles in the Air Force (including one who did a tour at Shepard AFB where I visited as a kid) and one in the Navy. My step son is a Marine. I've heard just about everything imaginable when it comes to inter-service rivalries. As the country's smallest (and in most cases least known) service those of us in the Coast Guard take more than our fair share of ribbing, but I've never been treated poorly by members of any other service when push came to shove. Quite the contrary. I received a ARCOM during a joint assignment with my Army brethren and I'm one of only two Coasties to ever attend the USAF First Sergeants' Academy (training which gave me leg up to get my current assignment). I've participated in USN Chiefs' Mess functions. I've trained USAF & USN folks in the maritime security, and worked with Marine transportation specialists. I had a great time with them all. Airdale, Squid, Jar Head, Grunt, Puddle Pirate....it doesn't really matter. We all talk smack at each other to spur on some good natured competition, but when it's time to do what we do, it really is one force; one fight.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2013 11:14 AM

2013-11-12T11:14:48-05:00

I used to explain it to civilians (when I was a Recruiter)
that it was like football teams. My team is better than yours. It's healthy as
long as it doesn't affect the work environment. My last assignment was Joint
and each of us learned from each other. The Marines, Navy, Air force and Army
all have unique ways of getting the mission accomplished. It was a great experience.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Nov 14 at 2013 1:48 AM

2013-11-14T01:48:22-05:00

It's all in good fun. The best of friends also usually tease each other. Also a good rivalry can bring out the best of a person if they use it to improve their performance. I've enjoyed learning more about the other branches by being here on RallyPoint. A rivalry can also help bring people together when it's kept at respectful levels. My favorite football games are the Army Navy games simply because of the respect each Academy shows towards one another after the game with the singing of both of their Alma Maters.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2013 9:03 AM

2013-11-14T09:03:56-05:00

As long as we keep a competition that makes us strive to be better than it is healthy, but if we actually think the other branches are inferior then we lost objectivity and forgot that every branch has its strengths and that we need each other for those strengths.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2013 3:45 PM

2013-11-14T15:45:01-05:00

It is simple to understand! we are all brothers and sisters and family fights every now and then. Look at the right side of your work uniform. what are the first two letters? They are U. S. one team one fight. Even the CHAIR FORCE knows that one. I mean Air Force. GO ARMY!!!!!

Response by Capt Ed Yong made Nov 14 at 2013 6:33 PM

2013-11-14T18:33:04-05:00

It's all in fun. At the end of the day (e.g. service academy football games) we are all one team again.

Response by Capt Ed Yong made Nov 14 at 2013 6:34 PM

2013-11-14T18:34:59-05:00

It's all in fun. At the end of the day (game), we are all one team again. Nothing wrong with a bit of fun. Service branches are people, too.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2013 6:03 AM

2013-11-15T06:03:11-05:00

It's all in good fun. I have friends in all branches of the military. Those Sailors love to remind me that they've spanked our tails in the Army/Navy game for the last what....14 years now (is that accurate) and I love to show them just how easily I can break them off for PT. I always joke about the Air Force and my Airmen buddies tell me I'm too much because the Army does things crazy.

But like someone mentioned earlier, we can do it with each other but no outsider can ever mess with us and get away with it. Also it gives each branch a chance to flex their muscles and puff out their chest at the sight of their success.

A WIN FOR ONE IS A WIN FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Like Under Armour said "Protect This House"

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2014 5:24 PM

2014-08-04T17:24:45-04:00

I don't understand it either. It never made any sense to me. The Air Force isn't even a real branch of the military. It is more like a corporation.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 2:34 PM

2015-05-14T14:34:38-04:00

I have picked on the other branches of the service since the day I joined, and have had them do the same back to me about the Air Force. I have also had the pleasure of working with both the Army and the Navy on several occasions, and while this sibling rivalry continued, it never stopped us from working together to achieve a common goal.

One of my real life friends is ex-navy and teases me on occasion about how I should have joined the "real military", and I usually respond with something along the lines of him being gay or enjoying semen. We then both laugh about it and carry on.

We are one team, one fight. The rivalry just brings out our competitive nature, boosting overall morale (to those that don't get butt hurt).

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jul 21 at 2015 7:27 PM

2015-07-21T19:27:07-04:00

I am always conflicted. I started my military career in the Army and switched over the AF. The Army feels like my first love, but the AF has given me a career while the Army was a small portion of my total military time. I say go Army and Air Force!!!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-07-21T19:29:33-04:00

It's just like sibling rivalry. We love and respect each other branch, but we have our own little quips and ideas. ANyone who takes it farther than jokes, is either a moron, or doesn't understand the concept.

Response by CPL Brendan Hayes made Jul 21 at 2015 8:28 PM

2015-07-21T20:28:00-04:00

It's not sibling rivalry at all. We all honestly hate...ok I can't even continue that in jest. It's been posted so many times that I had to try something different.

Some of my favorite drinking buddies while on active were Marines, and like with most drinking buddies, there was a fair amount of smack talk. To continue what has been posted above, it's like rooting for your favorite football team. There may be some trash talk with fans of another team, but in the end you are all fans of the game, and there is a level of respect there.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jul 23 at 2015 9:45 AM

2015-07-23T09:45:06-04:00

There are always going to be the rivalries as long as there is a military. Hell you have them INSIDE the branches themselves....the POGS vs. the Grunts is timeless. But in regards to the AF, face it you are ours (The US Army's). We're the mother and you're the child that gets to go out and play, but when momma calls you make sure to come to her. To add onto that last nuke dropped on anyone was done by the Army.....the AF didn't come into it's "own" until 47? Gotta love it!