Do you consider the term jarhead and other names for the different branches of service offensive?

Nah...they shoot at all of us...but you better be smiling when you say it.

I've never taken offense when my Jarhead, Squid, and Ground Pounder friends I'mply that I was never in the military, I was just in the Air Force. HA!

I cannot understand why a Marine would get offended by "jarhead". We were called that in boot camp, called that as a nickname for many years afterwards. The Navy has many nicknames as well as any other service. If you cannot handle it then either go back to boot camp/basic training or switch services. 'retraining is probably the best idea. Get past the ego and live up to the name that all of the services work so hard to maintain...."PROUD AMERICAN SERVICEMEMBERS"!!! God bless all of you for service.

You earned the name. Embrace it.

As with most things, it's not what ya say but how ya say it.

If you are that sensitive then what the hell are you doing in the Services? Our job is ultimately to wage war. (You know...kill people)
So personally I could give a rat's behind if it hurts your feelings!!!

I agree, if you have never served, you wont undrstand and have no right to use such terms. It also helps to know your audience and also how the terms were used in context. Civilians will tend to use them in a derogatory way because a family member was a member of X branch and they feel loyalty to their family member and to that branch by association. They do not understand the "sibling" rivalry aspect and feel that since they have heard their family member use such terms that it is ok for them as well.

Hey, it's AWESOME, let me repeat, Its AWESOME!!! One of my best friends is a JARHEAD & we go @ it Everyday, The rivalry between branches of service are SPEACIAL & anyone who doesn't understand/get it, JUST DOESN'T GET IT, YOU HAVE HAD TO PUT THAT HAND UP IN THE AIR & SWEAR THAT PATH TO UNDERSTAND!!! WHOOOOAHHHHH!!!!!

I agree that as long as the joker is a current/former service member that we all know it is in good fun. I mean, if we got offended when other branches make fun of us then there wouldn’t even be a Coast Guard.

Jar head, Squid, Zoomie...I got nothing for the Army. It's all fun.
A- ain't
R-ready to be a
M- Marine
Y- yet

PFC Justin Gkuspie it all depends on who hears it and their interpretation. Even if the person you are referring to finds it funny you can always have someone overhear you calling someone else a leg and they are offended, then it's offensive. So it is important to know your audience and those around you before you say anything.

After 6 years in the Joint Community and wearing a lot of Purple. The Joking/not Joking thing is pretty obvious and the joking side is pretty much expected. As in many Military groupings, if you aren't getting a little jocular verbiage tossed your way, you're probably not seen as part of the team. Let me put this keyboard down now, my crayons getting warm...

Offensive??? The military sure has changed since I was in, and I retired in 2011. I would have to say by even asking that question about being offensive, what a bunch of pussies.. your damn right! It’s supposed to be offensive.. that’s what made it fun!! But back then each branch knew we are on the same team.. but we still fought! Today it seems balls have been cut off and spins removered all for PC... good luck with that crap if and when we actually fight a adversary like China or Russia. They don’t care about feelings..

I have had to explain to people we are allowed to be derogatory to each other. I expect to get called grunt when I meet another service member. No offense taken none meant.

Half the fun of being in the service is ragging on people in other branches of service. If you are easily offended by being called a Jarhead, grunt,squid or chair force than you probably shouldn't be in the service. We have done this amongst ourselves for as long as the different services have been around. When done amongst ourselves it is fine but a different story when someone who as never served uses these terms

As with most things, you need to know your audience.

I would say unless you know the Marine on a personal level not on the first time saying Jarhead. How would we Army vets feel if a Marine called us a Dogface on first greeting.

I do not. I'm proud to be called Jar Head , Devil Dog or Leather Neck. Just do call me late to dinner.

It had better not be offensive to anyone! We are warriors, not millennials!

We all make fun of the other branches but it’s all done in fun. At the end of the day we are all on the same team! However, if a civilian that has never served uses these terms in a derogatory manner then I would say consider the source. Don’t let people that have absolutely no insight of the military bother you.