Is it offensive to call service members brother and sister?

If you get offended that i call you my brother or sister, then you never really knew what it meant to serve in the first place. I went to war, so for me it has special meaning to refer to a fellow member as my bro or sis. To me, whether you went to war or not is immaterial, because if you served, then i count you as my brother and/or sister. Period.


Of course, this is merely my humble opinion.

I have no problems with the terms.

Personally, I only use it for those whom I know and have served with or am aware of their background. Example: As a contractor in Iraq, I worked with some great people (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) that I consider as my Brothers and Sisters. And, for those of you who seem a bit sensitive about VN Vets, I include anyone who served during any campaign period. No matter when or where.

SSG V. Michelle Woods, I know you are not referring to some of my favorite people when you say you have dated Infantrymen (note the UPPER CASE letter I) who were offensive and creepy. After all, that is a block of instruction at the Infantry School. I mean the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. Sorry, I got a little teary eyed and "Old School".

Call them anything want as long as it is no offensive and it seems like everything is today

I'm okay with it, and it depends on the individual!

If we are really close I will. If you ever find me on facebook I have a couple of my real close friends in the 101st listed as Brothers, under family. I call my friends who were the same rank as me "bro".

In my opinion, we're all family if like it or not. Downrange, we may run into each other and I hope you sure act like you're my family.

SFC Mark Merino You let me know if they call you a sister....

If it is I'm in trouuuuuble. That is right up there with "roger sergeant" and "no LT we can't do that" in my daily vocabulary. The best part is, I mean it. The folks I work with have walked in my shoes and we have felt pain together. They have also been there for every personnel celebration in my life. Heck yeah they are my brothers and sisters, E-1 to O-10.

As I think about this question, the one strange thing to me is that I would never have consider calling or referring to my sister as "sister" when we were both serving? Is this strange?

I don't think it would, but I guess it depends on when you decide to throw it out there as well. If you know the person I believe it is alright. I wouldn't just walk around randomly calling people I don't know brother and sister.