Does anyone get offended by being called a "Joe"

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 20:32:27 -0500

I recently posted a question about lower enlisted soldiers being offended by being called a "Joe". There was a question about soldiers being offended from being called a "Private" which is an official term. Who's offended by being called an unofficial term such as "Joe"?

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Nov 23 at 2014 9:17 PM

PFC Zanie Young — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:17:09 -0500

Unless my name is Joe, I will be referred to by my rank. I was a Private in the US Army and I was always called by my given name, which was very offensive to me. I have earned the rank Private First Class and even when I left the military, I still was a Private before earning the title of Veteran of the Armed Forces. Anyone who is offended by being called "Private" should have never joined, those who don't want to leave the military should suck it up and earn more rank. I, myself, would have rather been called been called "Private" or Private Young, than anything else! That's my 2 cents.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 9:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:36:33 -0500

Next thing you know soldiers will get offended by being referred to as soldiers. Someone is always going to be offended by something, so at some point you just have to draw a line and call out ridiculousness for what it is. Joes being offended by being referred to as Joes should seriously put some thought into the idea that they might be in the wrong profession.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 9:47 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:47:21 -0500

I've been called worse.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 9:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:55:32 -0500

No big deal although referring to them as Soldiers would be a better term. I'm not necessarily offended but it's not a term I would use.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 10:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 22:19:42 -0500

Yes, I have been. No, not offensive. Because well...

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 23 at 2014 11:05 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 23:05:54 -0500

Shot, when I first came in...I would have been happy to be called a 'Joe'. I call Soldiers 'Joes' all the time, haven't had any EO complaints yet.

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Nov 23 at 2014 11:30 PM

SSG Keven Lahde — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 23:30:55 -0500

I think if anyone is offended by the term "JOE" I think needs thicker skin. Its not a bad word. Its not degrading in anyway I don't think. I guess todays Army, or military in general, is too soft.

Response by SGT Quinn Reels made Nov 24 at 2014 5:17 PM

SGT Quinn Reels — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:17:40 -0500

hell call them cry baby smh

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 5:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:42:04 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I don't mind being called a joe. It's what millions of Soldiers were called long before I joined, and I see no reason to break tradition.

You have to be careful, though. In my old unit, our CO (commanding officer) was about to release us for the day and our 1SG was busy at battalion. The CO texted our 1SG to ask if he had anything for us.

Our 1SG's response: "Have the NCOs stand by, but you can let the hoes go." Auto-correct for the win! Our CO earned mega cool points that day for reading us 1SG's typo, lol.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Nov 24 at 2014 5:44 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:44:58 -0500

Depends on who's calling them "Joe". In a lot of foreign nations we are in, US service members are still referred to by the civilian population as "Joe" (holdover slang from WW2). In that case, no I would not be offended. But anyone in the military should know that this is not acceptable.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Nov 24 at 2014 5:57 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:57:29 -0500

In West Berlin, Brigade was 'guarded' by Local Nationals(Germans). There was one guard we were very friendly with by the name of Hans. His English was...um...pretty good.
I'm sure he was aware of the term "G.I. Joe" but he always called me "Joe" when I'd go past his post. Then again, My father's name was Joseph(Yes, he was in the Army too) and with my name being what it is, I didn't mind being called "Joe" and I don't think my dad minded either.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Nov 24 at 2014 7:17 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:17:49 -0500

Never been called one, some folks in the AF get tweaked out if you say troops though.

Response by PV2 Abbott Shaull made Jan 5 at 2015 3:24 PM

PV2 Abbott Shaull — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:24:19 -0500

Hell what is there to be offended by. I address all company commanders I have met by their first name of Captain. XOs and Platoon Leaders by their first name of Lt. If I had met the Division Commander some day while outside of Division HQ, if I had some insane notion to wonder up there for no good reason, I probably have to use his first name to, General. So go ahead use my proper first name of Private. No offence, it not like we are in Special Operation unit, or unit where it much more relax or 'off duty', and even when off-duty I tend to use the 'official' name. Largely due to the fact, that I rarely knew anyone given name, even if I did, I have such a horrible memory for names it wouldn't matter anyways.

Response by MAJ James Hastings made Jan 21 at 2015 9:36 AM

MAJ James Hastings — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 09:36:24 -0500

If I had a soldier who was offended at such a simple phrase I would educate him like I did my son...

...I would hand him a shovel and have him dig a hole. Why? No particular reason, but if this soldier is offended at the term "Joe"...then he clearly has too much time on his hands so digging a hole will keep this recalcitrant soldier out of trouble. It worked for my son...well sorta...LOL!

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Jan 21 at 2015 9:47 AM

SPC James Mcneil — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 09:47:30 -0500

It's just a word. Doesn't bother me a bit.

Response by Gonzalo Herrera made Jan 21 at 2015 1:05 PM

Gonzalo Herrera — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 13:05:19 -0500

I didn't mind being called joe.. I've been called a minion, a "hero" (sarcastically of course) and it didn't bother me a bit

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 23 at 2018 8:50 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 23 May 2018 08:50:04 -0400

If you are out ranked, and it is not full of swearing, what offends you is not really important now is it. The service is not required to be PC but to defend and win.