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

I guess if you know them that well, and they're not offended. It's ok, but It can be taken as a derogatory term from someone who has never served.

No the only time I would take offense is when I know that just called a buddy a Jarhead wasn't a vet.

Sometimes

No

Shouldn't be a problem among service members. My brother now deceased to me is still a damn a Damn Jarhead from Nam and I'm a Squid from the Nam Era.

It depends, if a larger group of soldiers call a smaller group of Marines
'Jarheads" or speak of eating crayons, great chance of a physical altercation occurring. If you are stationed together or a personal friends, then develop a thick skin the insults will fly OK Squids, Zoomies, and Doggies!!!!

Sometimes it’s ok, respectfully or jokingly. If it’s with malice, then no.

Not really. Guess it’s how it’s sad. Like a Marine calling a soldier a Dog.
Doesn’t mean much, because those that resort to saying silly things are usually knuckleheads.

Yeah, Those 6 month tours they have must be Hell !!!!!

Yeah, Those 6 month tours must be Hell !!!!!!!

I wouldn't be offended by another veteran unless he was acting in a less than friendly way. Under those circumstances, I try to back away.

I was called a Signal Corp "girl" many times. Of course that was back when the military was made up of real warriors....not you girly boys of today.

I think it depends on context. There is a difference between "Hey, Jarhear! Let's go over to the club and have a beer!", and "That jarhead is about as useful as pockets in underwer."

None of these are relevant to the question. He is asking is: is it offensive to use words like Jarhead, Squid, etc. My experience is that the term Jarhead or Devil Dog, is not offensive to marines; Having never been a marine I do not know this is true, especially the term Jarhead as it is meant to refer to marines as stupid and thus a pejorative term.

The term Squid, in general is derogatory so yes that would be offensive.

The terms Grunt and G.I. are the only slang terms i am familiar with for the army, and they are not offensive really, although some techie mos' might take offensive to being called a "grunt'. As grunt is to soldier what Jarhead is to Marine.

Air Force is flyboy, which really only applies to officers and aircrew. And other than being called "boy" I do not see it being offensive.

really depends on the context of the conversation.

Right now, I"m on a job where I and one of my electricians ( ex-USMC) are the only two veterans. He twisted his arm pulling cable, and as safety officer, I iced it and gave him a " tennis elbow" brace, which he took home. He came back to work ( where he NEEDS it) I asked him where us your brace.He responded: "I thought I just needed it at home. I looked at him, and sighed, and shook my head, and said " You ARE a jarhead!" And we both laughed!! The other guys had NO IDEA what we were talking about.

Things like that was what made the service fun and great place to be. I hope that the sailors of today find the same comradery. Once in a while I still get called a swaby or squid and it makes my day.

M. Burt, SCPO, USN (Retired)

I've done my fair share of poking fun. I'm also ready for them to give it back. As long as it stays "All in good fun" then I say it's cool.

What I found funny though, was my co worker who is prior Marine Corps. He always claims he is die hard Marine Corps. I remind him, that if your so die hard Marine Corps, then why did you get out after three years? If you loved your branch you would still be in like me. Until I retired. Now I'm die hard Army.

I consider this term as mostly negative especially if said by a stranger. Fellow Marines only seem to use it in close company as a joke. I would be careful otherwise.

This is an insider term that would be considered negative if you did not know the person. I would be careful where it is used to ensure the proper context.

The names bantered back and forth may had even been started by the service from which they came from. I know a few jar heads and they consider it as being there's! As was mentioned once a Marine always a marine. I have had the pleasure of working with the Navy, Air Force and of course Army! There was an extensive amount of trash talk. But in the end, they worked together very well and you knew we had each others back.