Isn't everyone in the Army a Soldier?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 07:16:49 -0400

I ran into two NCOs wearing undershirts outside and told them they could not go into the px and had to change as per 8th army regulations. I asked one if he was a Soldier and he replied "I'm an NCO" and it made me wonder, when and why did that become a disparity? Why do so many NCO's and Officer's not think of themselves as Soldiers?

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jul 31 at 2014 7:22 AM

SSG Ed Mikus — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 07:22:13 -0400

I do not know when this started to become an issue but i have seen this as well, i agree, this is a problem we muct face head on; we are all soilders first, you cannot be an NCO or Officer in the US Army if you are not a Soilder as well.

To fix this we should confront the offenders and mold their way of thinking at the peer level and through proper leadership mentoring and guidance.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 31 at 2014 9:38 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 09:38:06 -0400

I always lived by that credo. Though the Marines are the only ones who proudly and emphatically state that one is a Marine above all else.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 31 at 2014 10:37 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 10:37:59 -0400

The issue I see here is that some choose to associate the term "Soldier" as to mean "lower enlisted". They think that once the title of NCO or Officer is given to them, it replaces the title of Soldier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2014 3:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:52:55 -0400

Soldier first, NCO, Warrant or Commissioned Officer Second

That's the way I see it

Response by SGT Andrew Chapman made Aug 1 at 2014 9:55 PM

SGT Andrew Chapman — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 21:55:08 -0400

I think people forget where they start from and that a SOLDIER is something to be proud of. I was a NCO SOLDIER which just meant it was my job to lead teach and make the best soldiers I could make to follow in my foot steps.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 10:01 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 22:01:29 -0400

Shouldn't the 2LT be at parade rest while this conversation is ongoing? I'm thinking the 2LT needs to be adjusted......seriously doesn't AR 670-1 handle this situation? OR was it BR-549? I get them confused so many times....

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Aug 1 at 2014 10:27 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 22:27:40 -0400

Is a Naval Officer a Sailor? Oh, wait, that is another thread and YES, Heck Yes, all members of the Navy are Sailors just like all members of the Army are Soldiers. All of us are in the MIlitary and members of the same Fraternity and Sorority as Brothers and Sisters in Arms. Marines are of course Marines. I also include CG and Marines in the Sea Services elite.

Let Civilians and outsiders beware as we do close ranks when outsiders get into our sibling rivalry. But remember and write this down, Go Navy, Beat Army!

Just so the AF does not feel slighted - if anyone knows the current rumors as to what they might be doing, please enlighten the rest of us.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 10:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 22:30:29 -0400

Because in todays Army, just like everywhere else in America, this entitled attitude has developed and people think that they're above things when they're really just 8 up.

Also, the statement "everyone in the Army is a soldier" is quite debateable these days.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 11:40 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 23:40:36 -0400

Wow, that's so sad what they said. Sounds like they forget that NCO stands for Non-Commissioned Officer. If he received such entitlement, he should've acted as that. What he said was utterly disgraceful. This is almost equivalent to STOLEN VALOR. I'd personally try to get his name and unit. If he'd decide to put resistance, I'd call base security

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 2 at 2014 3:30 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 03:30:38 -0400

Soldier, officer, nurse. In that order.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 10:36 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 10:36:27 -0400

I think it stems from the connotation of the term Soldier.

Many will take the word Soldier as Lower Enlisted (i.e. "Let me get a group of soldiers together" usually refers to a group of E1-E4).

Then again it also depends on the tone of the response. I have seen many NCOs who think they are above others simply because of the velcro on their chest and refuse to be named "soldier" because they feel they are better than that.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 11:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 23:02:55 -0400

I hate to say it but our army has lost much of its professionalism. NCOs are not the only ones. Many simply think that they got a tour in and they are the cats moew. They should have known better. That is what you get when you reduce the standards.

Response by CPL Roderick Williams made Aug 3 at 2014 9:27 PM

CPL Roderick Williams — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:27:52 -0400

When you raise your hand in the beginning you become a soldier, in uniform or out of uniform your still a soldier in the Damn United States Army. As a NCO or an Officer your still a soldier at the core and that will never change.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 3:38 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 15:38:10 -0400

Were they on detail working outside? We've always been allowed to drop jacket when working outside on detail... but not for just hanging around or going into the PX. Walking into the PX sans jacket is a MAJOR no-go.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2014 4:05 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:05:54 -0400

They will act that way as long as their leadership permits it. I am a soldier and behave that way....most of the time. Should be no disparity between EM, NCO, Officer standards. Obviously, we have different jobs but all are Soldiers.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2014 5:39 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:39:45 -0400

Well I will call "Bull Shit" on that!

Everyone in the Army is a Solider!

Everyone in the Corps is a Marine (and a Rifleman)

Everyone in the Navy and Coast Guard are Sailors (and a Damage Controlman)

Everyone in the Air Force is an Airman

It is the damn generational sense of entitlement. I am a Senior Chief Petty Officer and Command Senior Chief, but I am a SAILOR first and foremost and I damn sure am willing to do anything that I ask my Sailors to do, and they know it. When I recite the Sailors Creed I say "I AM A UNITED SATES NAVY SAILOR", not "I AM A UNITED STATES NAVY SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER".

It is not much different it some one calls me Chief rather than Senior Chief. I am not going to rip them apart, have to be a CPO before you are a SCPO or MCPO, we are all Chiefs. Call me Sailor I am fine with it.

Should have asked the ass clown who his CSM was!!

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Aug 7 at 2014 6:12 PM

SGT Suraj Dave — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:12:52 -0400

Sir,
Its not that they don't think they are soldiers, they just don't care about post policy. No one really does to be honest with you. When I was a private, I remember going to the PX on the weekend's unshaved. No one ever said anything or did anything, except the "Courtesy Patrol" whose job it was to bother soldiers on the weekend. Of all the soldiers and dependents in the PX at any given time, there's only 2 out of 100+ people in this building looking for you. Odd's are you are going to get away with it. That's why they give it a shot to begin with.

Response by PO1 Eric Corralejo made Aug 8 at 2014 9:34 AM

PO1 Eric Corralejo — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:34:40 -0400

I have never understood people like this, I was honored to be a Sailor specifically a Submariner. I don't really understand why you would let others or yourself cheapen the Title of Soldier, Sailor or Marine.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Aug 8 at 2014 10:10 AM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:10:35 -0400

Definition of soldier:
1.somebody serving in army: somebody who serves in a military organization
2.army member below officer rank: a member of an army, of a rank below commissioned officer
3.dedicated worker: somebody who works with dedication for a cause

The definition above is what I found somewhere in the web.
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I personally say this: (Army)

For war purposes: A solider is anyone who picks up a weapon, points it at you with the intent to kill you or those around you.
This includes children (Civilians) if need to under this definition alone.
As cold hearted as my definition may sound, it is a fact. Your either going to take that one down or they will take you down 6ft under the ground.

Response by SPC Michelle M. made Aug 19 at 2014 3:23 PM

SPC Michelle M. — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 15:23:54 -0400

Someone told me that they started calling e-4 and below "Warriors" or was that just something post specific? I know its easier to get someones attention by saying "excuse me, Solider" especially if you dont see the rank and then address them accordingly after.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Sep 1 at 2014 10:13 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 22:13:36 -0400

I sure hope so however, in my unit we will chapter them out if they cannot adapt to the Army lifestyle or become an Army Values violator.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 17 at 2014 5:56 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:56:55 -0400

YES!

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Dec 21 at 2017 10:00 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 10:00:01 -0500

Sir, don't let them hard headed Sergeants think they are not SOLDIERS because everyone one of us Active, Guard or Retired were once SOLDIERS and it is instilled in us that we are and always will be SOLDIERS. I don't care if your the Commanding General to the lowest Private we all SOLDIERS.