How do you define the term soldier?

What hurts me is there are a few in the VA not DR or nurses or other workers but those there for car that when they ask me if I went to Viet nam and I say no that is the end of the conversation. I feel like a draft dogger who flied to Canada. Of course I don't tell them that if I screwed up my job and the other two who ran shifts they could of very well not had a United States of America to return to. . We ewer tested constantly even by the Russians NOT TALKING and if they got the idea that MAD was a joke because of a bunch of screw ups WELL......../ MY mentor said to not say anything I couldn't prove which i probably have ...so forgive that rant all all you ashiest can have a field day aging with me

LTC Stephen F.
Sir I played cello back in the day. A voice out of nowhere said trumpet.

I switched never regretted it.
It's never too late.

SGT James Sherman - I played trumped too up through college. I "wanted" the violin when picking an instrument on the first day of music class, but I didn't want to get picked. Never regretted it all. Took me all the way into college and into Drum Corps and DCI with SCV.

Some non-Army SM’s might initially shake their heads and declare themselves sailors or airmen or even Aviators rather than soldiers. The broadest agreeable definition, to me, includes them as soldiers also, in the abstract. When I was growing up it was still socially approved to play with toy soldiers or plastic “army men”. That helped influence my logic when Dad, a carrier pilot, sat us down to tell us he was going to war. “You mean you’re gonna join the Army?” “No, I’m in the Navy.” “But if you’re going to war you have to be in the Army.” “I can’t be in the Army, I’m a Navy pilot and I’m going to drop bombs on the enemy.” (Cool). Dad went out and bought young adult and childrens books on Naval actions in WW2, for us kids, especially aviation. Join the Army! Snort! Year was 1967, I was in 2nd grade. In my 7yo mind he was a Navy guy… in the Army. He was a soldier.

Fast forward 25 years and I was parked on the side of a road, on my way back from fishing, to look at some cut timber on the side of the road, when an MP major pulled over to ask me my business out here in the back roads of Ft Lewis. “Are you a soldier?” “I work at the hospital.” When he saw my ID he said “So you are a soldier.” “Well, I’m a doctor”. “So, you’re a soldier” he repeated. In my mind I was just a POG. I’d gone to desert storm with “real” soldiers. Still, I was a soldier.

Thank you my friend and sister-in-Christ SPC Nancy Greene for your encouragement and our friendship.

Sir I concur with SSgt Murphy. Although I am a Marine through and through and don't like being called soldier I won't/don't get too offended if called one. I have served with Army, Navy and Air Force and it doesn't matter to me if they have been in combat or not, overseas in the sand box or not. They rose their right hand and swore under God to support and defend the Constitution the same as I. Therefore, they served and are brother and sisters in arms. I also believe that there are prayer warriorrs for it says in the bible Ephesians 11-17 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God". Therefore, it's amazing to me that the government gives us amor to withstand against the enemy the same as our heavenly Father.

SGT Charlie Lee - It would be weird if he didn't elevate his Marine status above other Military forces. It's what we do among other things.

Before I was a Marine i was a real loser. It was JROTC that 2 Marine Drill Instructors and a Senior Chief saw something in me even though I was a delinquent. Even as a young kid I knew that I wanted to be a U.S. Marine. The pride, the brotherhood, the comraderies, something I had always heard of spoken by Veterans not just Marines. That is something I didn't/don't take for granted. Yes, you are right I do elevate the Marines above most things the only thing I elevate above the Corps is Jesus Christ.

SGT Charlie Lee All Marines think they are better than Soldiers. Most Soldiers know they are better than Marines.

And both Marines and Soldiers realize that both are better than Squids and Zoomies.

(Tongue VERY firmly in cheek.)