Posted on Jun 18, 2016
PFC Justin Gkuspie
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I have a couple of friends who are Marines (They are both out but I know 'Once a Marine always a Marine') and I've jokingly called them jarheads and they've made fun of the Army. I'd never call someone I just met a jarhead unless they absolutely knew I was joking. I guess what I'm getting at is, do you think interservice rivalry can sometimes come off as 'offensive'' even if it's meant jokingly?
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2ndLt Fulton Recepcion
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Not at all! I'm a Jarhead!
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SFC Robert Bower
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No, it's a tradition!
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Cpl Vic Eizenga
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Edited 9 y ago
To me it was never offensive how else do we keep our helmets on? Just one Jarheads opinion!
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SMSgt Keith Klug
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I think the inter-service rivalry is great. My brother Trent Klug, called me Wingnut for years. I just chalked it up to not being able to say Air Force correctly.

For those that don't know, my brother served one tour with the Marine Detachment on the USS Ranger. Then went on to be with the 7th ID, out of Fort Ord. Got out, joined the National Guard, who did the only thing they could with a man who had both sides of his brain removed. They made him an officer. (Don't let him know I am proud to call that Lt Col, brother and "Sir")
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CW2 Carl Swanson
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If it's another service member, I consider it along the lines of calling your brother a knucke-head. It's meant in fun and I still call Navy folk "Squids", Air Force people "Zoomies" and Army types "Dog face". I have been both USMC and Army so it never bothers me.
When a civilian says it, you can tell and it just comes off as a punk.
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Maj Ken Brown
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Why would I mind being called Jarhead by a friend who doesn't mean it in a derisive manner? I don't mind being called Jarhead by another Marine either. This is why I can identify with black folks who object to being referred to by the so-called n-word by non-blacks or when the word is used in a derisive manner.
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MSgt Bill Loveli
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I don't know about other services but for Marines the term "jar head" is historicaly appropriate, going back to a uniform cover that was high with a flat crown.
No offence,
Also try: gyrene, sea going bellhop


Also
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CPO Bryan B.
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Good natured inter-service "name calling" is fine, but a civilian hasn't earned that right. One of my favorite things to do when I would get a patient in the back of my ambulance and found out they were a vet would be to give them a little dig, my favorite being, "Air Force? They wouldn't let you into the really military?"
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SrA Calvin Osterhoudt
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In my Eyes, The only people that can use slang(Jarhead, Grunt, ground pounder, swabbie, squid, zoomie, flyboy) to describe a US Military branch are those that have served with Honor. Anyone else who uses those and other slang terms, I take offense to. I tell them, "Unless you have served with Honor in any military branch, DO NOT ADDRESS ANYONE WHO HAS SERVED BY ANY TERM OTHER THAN Marine, Sailor, Soldier, or Airman, or Coast guardsman."
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Sgt Thomas Greer
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Not personally. I understand others may feel differently. I would not use the jargon with someone I'm not familiar with.
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Capt James Kerins
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Most Folks have no idea where the term comes from. I would say most think it means we have no brains and our brains are in a laboratory jar somewhere and thus we have no intelligence . The term comes from Marines in the early days on ships and they were much taller and many times they jarred their heads.
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Cpl Ronald Enders
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If a man or woman has served in our military, and use such terms, it is acceptable. It is a right of passage, and when used by present/former military personnel, it is a bond.
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Cpl Antonio Martinez
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No way! Jarhead, Leatherneck, Devildog, and all the other ones that Im not mentioning were names I earned!
Now on the other hand, I did my time with the doggies also (in the army) and it didnt feel too great when jarheads would refer to us as "doggies" but just like other veterans & active duty folks have mentioned...it was all within the family so you kinda took it in stride.
When I was at Lackland AFB for K-9 school, I was part of a small Marine detachment and I remember our company gunny referring to airmen as "zoomies" ha ha I bet they didnt like that name at all.
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LCpl Randall Mellott
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Does that mean I shouldn't be still calling Navy guys and gals "squids" anymore????
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LCpl Randall Mellott
LCpl Randall Mellott
9 y
I mean sailors, squids, anymore???? Seriously, other than planes, how would Marines get to go to battle without sailors???
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Cpl John M Dutrow
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NO
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CWO3 Retired
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Yes, sometimes other service members do take advantage of a good thing. But, as a good jester when said. Hey Once a Leather Neck, Jar Head or Marine, we know well enough what you meant by that. Semper Fidelis MAC. James
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LCpl Kevin Perry
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In response to the above question, I take no offense to being called a Jarhead...by people the know me or have served, all others should show a little more respect as far as I am concerned, I will accept an oohh rah or a semper Fi brother, but thats about all I will tolerate.
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CWO3 Retired
CWO3 (Join to see)
9 y
LCpl. Perry, You're right on the money. Semper Fi. CWO3 Kaupe, USMC, ( Ret )
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Pvt Jeff Crawford
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Any and all surnames that Marines have collected along the way,are to me, a badge of honor.
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SGT Mary G.
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Nah. And remember we all were/are GIs . . . Goverment Issue/General Issue.
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PO3 Tom Lewis
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Bubble head is submarine sailor I love it.
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Cpl Antonio Martinez
Cpl Antonio Martinez
9 y
Oh is that what it meant, I thought it was....LOL never mind...(to the pfc that started this thing, see I was about to open up a can of worms... and btw I was JK brother, I was just yanking your chain)
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