Posted on Oct 4, 2014
Opinion: Should civilians ever use Grounder Pounder / Squid / Flyboy / Jarhead / Coastie terms?
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What do you think about a civilian, who has never served in any branch of the Armed Forces, using slang terms to reference other branches not by their actual name?
Personally, I believe anyone that has honorably served in any branch; that has put their own ass on the line by taking the oath, has by definition earned the right, by common mission, to respectfully (mostly), and at other times jokingly refer to their fellow brothers in arms in terms, that might otherwise be considered insulting.
I look at it like this: I'm allowed to say pretty much anything I want about anyone in my family; including my extended family. I have that right. But GOD HELP that dumbass outside the family that uses the same language I just did to describe my brother or sister. They don't have that right.
I love my Jarhead, DevilDog, Leatherneck brothers and sisters! Hell, I would have gone into the Marine Corps, but my recruiter found out my parents weren't related!
I love the Squids, Deck Apes, and Anchor Crankers I would have joined the Navy, but my recruiter discovered that I could read!
I love the Flyboys, Zoomies, Wingnuts and Chairforce Warriors! I would have joined them too, but I accidentally passed my PT test!
I love the Coasties, and Puddle Pirates! I would have joined the Coast Guard, but they found out I was allowed to be out overnight.
I was an Army grunt, a grounder pounder and dog faced soldier. I'm proud of my service and the service of my brothers and sisters in all the lesser branches (HA! See what I did there?!) I think you have to earn the right to use these terms - terms that I believe are ultimately ones of endearment and shared sacrifice.
Personally, I believe anyone that has honorably served in any branch; that has put their own ass on the line by taking the oath, has by definition earned the right, by common mission, to respectfully (mostly), and at other times jokingly refer to their fellow brothers in arms in terms, that might otherwise be considered insulting.
I look at it like this: I'm allowed to say pretty much anything I want about anyone in my family; including my extended family. I have that right. But GOD HELP that dumbass outside the family that uses the same language I just did to describe my brother or sister. They don't have that right.
I love my Jarhead, DevilDog, Leatherneck brothers and sisters! Hell, I would have gone into the Marine Corps, but my recruiter found out my parents weren't related!
I love the Squids, Deck Apes, and Anchor Crankers I would have joined the Navy, but my recruiter discovered that I could read!
I love the Flyboys, Zoomies, Wingnuts and Chairforce Warriors! I would have joined them too, but I accidentally passed my PT test!
I love the Coasties, and Puddle Pirates! I would have joined the Coast Guard, but they found out I was allowed to be out overnight.
I was an Army grunt, a grounder pounder and dog faced soldier. I'm proud of my service and the service of my brothers and sisters in all the lesser branches (HA! See what I did there?!) I think you have to earn the right to use these terms - terms that I believe are ultimately ones of endearment and shared sacrifice.
Posted 11 y ago
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