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

Only when it’s used with the intent of being offensive. Much like grunt, it can go both ways.

My wife's brother joined the Navy in 2000. At that time I was a SSgt (E-6) in the Marine Corps. Even today we call each other jarhead and squid. It is all in jest.

Nope it's all done in love! I was also a police officer and we have a rivalry with fire fighters and it's all good!

I know several marines, active & retired or inactive. We joke back & forth about Army vs Marines. Its always in fun. I was Army ('Nam 67/68), my brother was Army (Col, ret.), my cousin was Army (Nam 65/66),and my son is currently Army (I'd brag on him except for security reasons). I also have kin who were Marine, Air Force and Navy. The thing is, we all proudly served and have earned the right to kid each other about our choices of military service, but just as was mentioned about siblings, "I'll pick on my brother, but don't you dare". There really are relatively few who have served, and those of us who have should consider ourselves a close Brotherhood. I especially love all my brothers who made it home from Vietnam. They and ,especially POWs and KIAs are the heroes.I didn't agree with former Sen. McCain's politics, but he was still one of my heroes. May God bless all of you who served and may he grant you his peace Through Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace.

We are all Brother's (and Sister's)-in-Arms and like any family, the nicknames fly. I smile when a grunt, anchor-clanker or leatherneck calls me wingut or zoomie, they've earned the privilege to do so. But that's a privilege reserved for a fellow Vet or one still in uniform.

Fellow vet to fellow vet never. I have a buddy who was Navy, and a brother as well, I was a Coastie, we bust each other mercilessly but if a civilian ever tried to join in, they got the stare.

My marine buddy stuck on al Saad with me once told me that jarhead is a term most marines will respond to in the same way as if you called him marine. He said if you ever wanted to start a bar fight with a group of marines, call one devil dog without permission.

I have told Marine, Sailor, and Airmen jokes for as long as I can remember. I yo dish it out you havr to be prepared to take it as well. It doesn't matter what branch you join - once you serve you become a member of the largest fraternity in the United States. And, once you become a member of our fraternity yo become our "Brother" or "Sister" and family will always heckel family.

you mean the likes of crayon eaters, window lickers, chair force, and lets leave the Coasties alone.
we may joke with each other, call us names and such but your still my brother/sister.
Notice I left the navy out of it because they are nothing but transport for marines.

that depends on who it is doing the name calling. Another military member or past military member, no particular problem. Someone who never served, ALWAYS offended.

We each have our nic names. Pride is our heartage. As long as we all know we are proud of our service, thats all that counts. Thank you all, coasties, swabbies, airdales, jarheads, and GIs you are what makes us great.

I Agree with Lt Col Tisher, it all depends on who's saying it. My submarine duty usually got me tagged as "squid" or "Bubble Head". No problem if it came from another Military member, as I have comebacks for each of the other services. I Do find it offensive if it comes from a random "Joe Civilian" who has never served.

I am a navy veteran and my uncle is a former marine... I would call him a jarhead and he would call me a squid and we would hug right after

SOUNDS like an INFANTRY question to me...Cav don't care.

When I get kidded by other vets or active duty about being an "Airdale", or bird dog for being in the Air Force I take no offense at all. After all, a Jarhead, Navy Bellhop (Marine) Anchor Clanker, Swabbie, (Navy) Knee-deep Navy, or they wear shorts in case the ship goes down they won't get their pants wet, (Coast Guard) Knuckle dragger, Grunt, Dog face (Army), should feel a large amount of pride. They earned the nicknames by virtue of being brave, honorable, and patriotic because they were part of the Brotherhood/ Sisterhood of Hero's who served this country. Now if some snowflake, draft dodging never served, civilian used those terms. It's on. Only those who were willing to come home in a box can use the names which many times are said in a derogatory manner. Just sayin'.

I think it’s the attitude the person using it is in..., maybe they’re being sarcastic, obnoxious .. belligerent.. when they sAy those words... it’s a matter of character the person that it is being used against is
In.. how will they react ; like it’s water off a duck’s back and laugh with them ? Laugh with them, and that person’s offense is weakened ..

Th Marines I've known don't care what you call them. Jar head, grunts, Mullet heads. That's what they called each other long ago, around Camp Lejeune, NC. My Dad was a Captain. 2nd Amtrac battalion, 2nd Division, I believe. He worked with the Tacticians. I worked for the Navy. Fast Attacks. We said "death from Below" , kill em all, let God sort them out. The Marines had better sayings, gerally. They said the same good, relevant stuff as we did, and much more. Love the Marines, Navy, and all our troops.

Offensive?? Among the services?? Of Course Not! I have called Jarheads Grunts, and even the ever loyal Mud Marines Sometimes when my nephew who did the unspeakable and went into the Army when his Uncle, Grand Uncle Grand father and Uncle were all in the Navy and one Uncle was ever in the Army Air Corps he became a Dog Face. That one srange Uncle who was a B-24 navigator with the US Army Air Corps then became the AIr Force always took it good when we called him Fly Boy. It is all good fun even when the fists fly as long as it is all over before the MP's, SP's or the local constabulary's arrive. BUT GOD HELP THE CIVILIAN SNOW FLAKE THAT TRIES TO CALL ONE OF US THOSE NAMES. They will have to pick him up with a spatula!

I just received an email from an old friend about a discussion - is the term "shyster" antisemitic. It comes from the German for excrement. And of course Yiddish has its roots in German, so therefore it must be an antisemitic term, right? Oh scheise!

No. If your feelings get hurt by words than the Marines probably is not the right place for you.

PFC Justin G'
I have worked with several Marines both in the service and the civilian side and I really got the impression that was a term of endearment. That is not to say they will not banter back and fourth as well. To be safe, it might be more prudent to know the person, as a friend on the outside chance the person is not in a good mood.

Nope

As Colonel Tisher stated below, it really all depends on who and how it's said. I was an FMF Corpsman as such was called, well a lot of so-called "derogatory" names. The best was when someone mistakenly called me either Jarhead or Marine. I'd correct them right away but I was also proud I comported myself in such a manner as to be mistaken for a Marine. As someone else said, I'd never lead with calling someone I'd just met by a slang name for members of their service. And I've been in situations where former members of other branches have given people much more than was just inter-service rivalry and that can go too far. Bottom line is, all of us are proud, or should be, of our service, branch of service, unit and occupational speciality

I was in the Navy in the late 60's and we jokingly called eachother leather necks and swabbies if someone not in or have been in the service ,that we did not know , he had a bad day

Brothers can joke and bs with each other .But an outsider better think twice before messing with one .

If someone gets upset by this, they need to go home and get their baby bottle. I always loved the inter military rivalry.

If you have worn the uniform, terms such as Dogface, Jarhead, Squid or Zoomie are no more than friendly jibes among the different services and, in my opinion acceptable. The only one I find offensive in any way is the term "GI" as I have heard it used by civilians and mostly with a negative connotation. The serviceman and servicewomen serving, and who have served, are professionals, not Government Issue by any measure.

I've been called "squid", "deck-ape" and a few other things, I don't get offended and I don't see any reason why anyone should take offense at any of the terms used to denote the branch of service the are/ have served in.

Having went to a tri-service school (indianhead) naval school that had Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. There were Squids, Ground Pounders (gravel agitators), Wing Walkers, and Jarheads. We all wore (or would wear) the Charles County Crab. That badge denoted a band of brothers beyond service. We get that. It has been a proven bond since 1940s.

I've never called anyone but their rightful name. I just never felt right calling a Marine a "jarhead"...I feel only they can call themselves that. As I haven't earned that right. I also feel that only those of us who have served and or are serving can call ourselves our nicknames....and only when it's appropriate.

I have no problem with Squids,Jarheads,Puddle Pirates,Dog Legs,et al we can and will say whatever about our Brothers and Sisters any Family member can however if not part of this Family Brotherhood/Sisterhood you do not have that Right. However the biggest problem I have is with those Cranyon Eating Grunts,they only eat the Maroon/Yellow ones !
HooAh! OohRah! HooYah!
“”Gunner” USN(ret)

No not at all.

Not really if its from another military person. Having served in several inter service groups I was constantly reminded of the Air Force penchant for building the golf course and often was shown pictures of a aircraft carrier with a turf covered flight deck if the carrier had been owned by USAF

I tend to be in the same mindset. If you served, game on, if not, you may lose your head

I am not offended when another veteran or active service member uses a name like Jarhead, I am not even sure it is meant to be offensive. I was recently at a dock in San Diego when a man (navy vet) saw the EGA on my cover and reminded me that the Corps was a department of the Navy. I replied that it was, the MEN'S DEPARTMENT. I thanked him for feeding me the opening to this old joke, and we started a barrage of jokes which his wife interrupted as it was their dinner time. As for civilians, I really don't care. They are either ignorant or jealous.

I'm a Marine, everyone else on here is in the Military.

Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot, Over! "Offensive", because of a few words, give me a break! When it hit's the fan, the things we have to face, now that is offensive.

I don't find it offensive I wear it proidly

We are family and family pick on each other and it's fun I was in the ARMY and my stepson is a JARHEAD we have fun pick on each other when I get to see him GOD BLESS YOU ALL THAT WERE IN

These are terms of endearment between warriors, and yes it is better to know a Marine before calling them a jar-head the out come will favor you better.

I always enjoyed the the team easy and fun when I served, I was a Navy Corpsman called a swab by,
my friends Doc by My Marines, show I called jarheads, including my dad who was a WW2 Marine. It was always said with respect