Posted on Aug 28, 2014
SFC Mark Merino
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Is it appropriate to refer to service members as "my brother" or "my sister"?
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Responses: 98
SPC Richard White
3
3
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No it is not offensive I belong to the United States Army Brotherhood of Tankers and we have Brothers and Sisters among us
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
My brother!
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CPT Jacob Swartout
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Well my sister just ETS from the Army this year so...she better of not taken it the wrong way, lol. Proud of her for serving 5 yrs and doing well too.
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CPT Jacob Swartout
CPT Jacob Swartout
>1 y
No she made it to just SPC... I tried to get her to stay in to make SGT but she had a MEB for her hip and couldn't do much more. Did deploy to AFGN a few yrs ago. I at least convinced her to do college while in and now she is a just few short classes from her Associates Degree. She would have made a great NCO since talking about making rank in JROTC during high school. In the end her hip condition was too much to overcome for continued service. I'm still proud of her though.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
ABSOLUTELY! Is she hanging tough CPT Jacob Swartout ? Does she need surgery?
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CPT Jacob Swartout
CPT Jacob Swartout
>1 y
She got her hip taken care of and is doing alright from what I can tell. She will be periodically getting follow up appts as needed. I don't think she will need anymore surgeries.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
Good to hear.
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SSG(P) Instructor
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SFC Mark Merino what came of this post, are you saying you feel insulted when I call you brother? Granted I don't say, 'my brother', but there is little difference. Just checking...because I do refer to a lot of my military brethren as brothers...we need a date and time stamp on the original post so we can tell how old a post is...admin, get on it.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
I won't feed the trolls Mike. I'll tell you offline
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SSG(P) Instructor
SSG(P) (Join to see)
11 y
Ha ha okay...standing by.
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SSG Buddy Kemper
SSG Buddy Kemper
11 y
I've been calling my brothers "brother" since 1989, big Sarge...probably always will
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SSG(P) Instructor
SSG(P) (Join to see)
11 y
Roger that Buddy....I've never heard of anyone being offended about the 'title'. Actually it like referring to someone as family.
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SFC Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
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The real question is who is really finds that offensive? What happens when they come across the enemy? Time out?

"I will never leave a fallen comrade..." maybe we should call each other combat comrade instead of battle buddies while were at it.
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PO2 Robert Haskins
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Not at all offensive to me.
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MAJ Michael Scharff
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2
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Band of Brothers... What brought this question up? did anyone have an issue with it?
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Cpl Glynis Sakowicz
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2
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Offensive? Its a sad and sorry thing if people are offended, because to a Marine... and yes, I'm bringing them up again, because its my point of view... to a Marine, every Marine IS your brother or sister.
We are ALL taught the same things, by people with the SAME mindset, of giving you an edge for survival in a wartime situation, and yes, its hard, and yes a lot don't make it, but once you do earn that title, you become family because you KNOW every Marine.
You don't have to like them, you don't have to feel warm and fuzzy emotions for them, but you have an instant feeling of respect and brother-sister or even a 'Cousin IT feeling, but the main point is, you KNOW them.
Its unexplainable to most people, but its true. Put fifty old Marines in a crowd, and somehow, t hey are going to find each other, and once they do, you are going to think they have been long lost relatives because they start at 'where and when' and branch out to 'what and how' before settling into the 'who are you, and where do you come from', because its not really important to us... its the simple fact that you earned the "EGA" you earned that at either PI or SD, and you talk long enough, you're going to find at least one thing in common besides the title, it ALWAYS happens...
If being accepted so completely by others is not something you are comfortable with, odds are, you aren't a Marine. Just saying.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
Semer Fi sister! Happy Birthday!
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SPC James Mcneil
2
2
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It doesn't offend me at all. I have one brother, and we pick on each other mercilessly. But let anyone else try messing with either one of us, and it's on.
Pretty much the same with fellow veterans.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
Great comment SPC James Mcneil and great analogy!
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SPC James Mcneil
SPC James Mcneil
11 y
Thank you!
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SSgt Tim Ricci
2
2
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Service
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters!
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
Awesome!
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Sgt Randy Novak
2
2
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You are all my Brothers and Sisters and I would die to protect you all. Without our dysfunctional family or country would not exist.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
Amen my brother Sgt Randy Novak
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