Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier. Is this true??

Being a Soldier will always be a huge part of who I am. So for me yes...yes that statement is Absolutley true

A soldier is a soldier... and always will be. I don't know why this bothers me but... Many veterans (not Marines) will say, "I was in the service." Well, fine. What service? The food service? The Secret Service? While I applaud the Corps for instilling this concept to their recruits, I wonder why the Navy, AF, and Army don't do the same. I love it when a veteran says something like "I was an Air Force Tech Sergeant!" Damn! I know where I stand with that guy: Shoulder to Shoulder!

As for Marines, we've embraced this. And we get to take the "title" to our grave.

When I complete my service in the Army, I plan to return home and become a citizen. I wish not to be recognize as a Soldier anymore but the habits of a being a Soldier will be there.

Yes. I believe this is true, as long as the soldier uphold his military values throughout their life. Many veterans get into trouble when they lose that mentality but still have the strength to overcome, and get back on track.

An interesting (and true in my opinion) point I just read in another thread: If you get out of the Army and join a different branch, you are (again in my opinion) no longer a Soldier, but now a Sailor/Marine/Airman who used to be a Soldier.

That in no way takes away from what you accomplished in the Army (or whichever branch you used to be in before getting out and joining a different branch).

I consider myself a veteran. A Soldier, in my mind at least, is a person that still puts their boots on every morning to face the day. In my heart I know the Soldier still proudly resides there, as I see signs of him every day. But I feel that title belongs to those that are still serving.

I feel it is true for me. I still have saying, thoughts and sometimes still act like 1

If you have pride in what you've become, then it better be. If not, go sweep streets.

I'm not a soldier, I'm an Airman. I no longer consider myself an Airman, but I will always consider myself an Air Force veteran. I do have pride of having served, and took the values that I need and threw away what I did not.

I will say true, with the caveat if it has to be someone who actually made it through accession training. If you washed out in boot/tech/a-school, that doesn't really count.