Is it true that before early 2000s that people who were in Basic Training were called soldiers instead of trainees?

It was trainee in 1978. As I recall, during one the Drill Sergeant scandals the term was deemed derogatory and Drill Sergeants were directed to refer to new Soldiers by their rank rather than trainee. Regardless of how they are addressed they are still Soldiers. The Marines don’t refer to their “boots” as Marines until after basic

1988 Fort Jackson. We were called privates or soldiers by our drill sergeants

I was called rag bag, ate up, knucklehead, soup sandwich and maggot. That was in 1987 though!

As best I can recall, PFC (Join to see), it was "Trainee" until somewhen around 1980. That's about the timeframe I remember the conversations among us NCOs about the DA mandate that trainees were to be considered soldiers from Day 1 of BCT. To say we weren't enthused about it would be an understatement.

Hell in 73, I was called everything but free white and 21!!