5
5
0
Are the Marines truly the only service who believes they are Marines first before their specialty? Does Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force consider themselves by specialty?
Posted in these groups: 
Pride
Pride
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 25
5
5
0
5
5
0
I always considered myself a soldier first not just a tanker or a Calvary trooper but always a soldier.
(5)
(0)
3
3
0
Can I say that I am first and foremost an American, then a Soldier, and thirdly a man who really REALLY hates the Cowboys. #HTTR4EVER
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
SSgt Terry P.
LCpl Mark Lefler - The statement was because we were all trained through basic then ITR when i was in. (1968) Semper Fi
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
I'm a unique butterfly in the peace time army... with feelings, and thoughts, and ideas, and stories... Oh sorry, reading from the new Army's IET Soldier's Handbook....
So yea... a Unique Butterfly first and foremost.... Ehm.
So yea... a Unique Butterfly first and foremost.... Ehm.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I would consider myself a Marine first before my MOS or even being a veteran. I identify with the ethos, language, experience, esprit de corps etc of the Marine Corps. I don't click as well with non Marines. I know it is strange to say that even after 30 years out of the service. If I bump into a Marine, anywhere, we can click pretty quickly.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I may receive some flak for this but I would say that I am first a Christian. In fact, I would put Airman further down then even second. I would say Christian, Knight(family/friend), American, then Airman. In fact it's kind of funny because with the exception of the Christian aspect when I am in uniform you read my priorities perfectly left to right: Knight, then U.S. then Air Force. Don't take this the wrong way as being an Airman is important but I know where my priorities lie and it isn't necessarily what Big Blue would probably prefer.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I don't know. It depends on what you do, I suppose.
I am a Signal Intelligence Analyst, but first and foremost, I am a Soldier. I've been in for a few years now, but I have always been a Soldier first. I can contribute to the warfighter while in garrison, but when requirements come down that pull us from mission, we are reminded, "you're a Soldier first."
It seems people in combat service support roles actually need to be reminded that they are Soldiers, and I say this because of the attitudes of many junior Soldiers I have worked with over the years. Yet, while I was in my AIT (MOS-producing school), I learned the MI Soldier creed, which begins with the words, "I am a Soldier first..."
My entire career it has been repeated that being a Soldier is a 24/7 profession and that I am a Soldier first. Few of us take it to heart. Many don't, and leave the service to pursue a (decidedly better-paying) job as a civilian or contractor working for a three-letter agency.
Combat Arms, on the other hand, aren't told they're Soldiers on a daily basis. It's very apparent from what they do and what they are required to do and know. Due to that, many identify as their jobs within the Army. "I'm an infantryman," "I'm a ranger," or "I'm a sniper," are much more common responses than "I'm a Soldier." Part of it may be because there is a certain level of pride that comes with being able to say, for example, that you are a Ranger, when so many others are Soldiers but not as highly skilled as you. Another part of it is community. For me, I'm a Soldier first and foremost, in a field where many people forget that and have to actually be reminded, over their sighs, every time there is something "Army" that comes up.
I am a Signal Intelligence Analyst, but first and foremost, I am a Soldier. I've been in for a few years now, but I have always been a Soldier first. I can contribute to the warfighter while in garrison, but when requirements come down that pull us from mission, we are reminded, "you're a Soldier first."
It seems people in combat service support roles actually need to be reminded that they are Soldiers, and I say this because of the attitudes of many junior Soldiers I have worked with over the years. Yet, while I was in my AIT (MOS-producing school), I learned the MI Soldier creed, which begins with the words, "I am a Soldier first..."
My entire career it has been repeated that being a Soldier is a 24/7 profession and that I am a Soldier first. Few of us take it to heart. Many don't, and leave the service to pursue a (decidedly better-paying) job as a civilian or contractor working for a three-letter agency.
Combat Arms, on the other hand, aren't told they're Soldiers on a daily basis. It's very apparent from what they do and what they are required to do and know. Due to that, many identify as their jobs within the Army. "I'm an infantryman," "I'm a ranger," or "I'm a sniper," are much more common responses than "I'm a Soldier." Part of it may be because there is a certain level of pride that comes with being able to say, for example, that you are a Ranger, when so many others are Soldiers but not as highly skilled as you. Another part of it is community. For me, I'm a Soldier first and foremost, in a field where many people forget that and have to actually be reminded, over their sighs, every time there is something "Army" that comes up.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Not to upset our brothers in the Corps as I have nothing but respect for them...if you really want to talk about the "few and the proud"...you might want to take a look at the branch that has about 40K members while the Marines have almost 200K! I have never had someone ask me what I did in the Coast Guard. So I think it has more to do with the smaller branches...people just associate you with the branch instead of an MOS or Rate in that branch.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google