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.
Navy
Air Force
Coast Guard
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 31
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That's like those in high school that called us athletes Jocks. I think those who use the slang terms are just trying to identify with a group they could never be a part of. I prefer they just stay respectful, but as long as long as they aren't disrespectful, I'm okay with it. The military needs all the civilian fans they can get these days. There are so many others out there ready to overthrow our constitution and burn our flag to worry about.
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If you didnt serve you don't have the right to talk to those of us that did in our language. Airborne all the way!
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Sure, why not? At least they recognize the service. Even if they say it with venom, trying to put us down... I earned that nick-name... what do the have? We fight for their right to say pretty much whatever and however they want to as a citizen of this country. We can't take it away just because they don't understand it was US that LET them say it.
I've been shot at... words can't hurt my feelings.
I've been shot at... words can't hurt my feelings.
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I never really had a problem with it since it was mostly family, (my father was 28 years US Army). What gets me, is as a civilian working at a power plant. I am familiar with a punk, who says "I was going to join, but my Dad said no". All the while he walks around and denigrates people who served. It's a good thing I'm fully matured.
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If they haven't walked in our shoes, they have no right to talk about us in the way that we like to poke at each other. We have all earned that right. They have not.
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I know a guy who got kicked out of Marine boot camp. And he still talks shit about the Navy. I don't even think he has the right to. Let alone someone who was never on that bus we all remember.
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Short answer-no.
Longer answer-HELL no. I have no problem with a Marine calling me a POG. I'll tell him to go eat some more crayons; he seems cranky. But if some civilian calls me the same, it is ON.
Longer answer-HELL no. I have no problem with a Marine calling me a POG. I'll tell him to go eat some more crayons; he seems cranky. But if some civilian calls me the same, it is ON.
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US Constitution and First Amendment...freedom of speech...
Much of our American iconic celebs to include all other Hollywood wanna bees and special types emulate the military slang and/or lingo. Cartoons like Beatle Bailey or Big Box hits like Jarhead and Captain America are examples of how Americans perceive the military life style. At least the military jargon grabs the public's attention. Who were the Japs during WWII? America called them Nips too...They were our enemy, the Japanese, yet there was a US All American Japanese unit that distinguished them selves in Europe fighting the Heinies, aka...Germans. Walt Disney and Warner Brothers both got in the act ...Donald Duck and the Navy and an Army draftee named Bugs Bunny.
It is what Americans say and do during war and peace.
Much of our American iconic celebs to include all other Hollywood wanna bees and special types emulate the military slang and/or lingo. Cartoons like Beatle Bailey or Big Box hits like Jarhead and Captain America are examples of how Americans perceive the military life style. At least the military jargon grabs the public's attention. Who were the Japs during WWII? America called them Nips too...They were our enemy, the Japanese, yet there was a US All American Japanese unit that distinguished them selves in Europe fighting the Heinies, aka...Germans. Walt Disney and Warner Brothers both got in the act ...Donald Duck and the Navy and an Army draftee named Bugs Bunny.
It is what Americans say and do during war and peace.
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