Sister Service Rivalries

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 21:17:06 -0500

We all play the "us" vs "them" rivalry game, but more and more we are working together in joint operations. Have you guys seen joint operations help to reduce or maintain those rivalries?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 10:41 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 22:41:41 -0500

I think it makes us better at them.
Now we actually know people in the other services.

Because of Joint Operations I now know someone in every service and I
learned a joke about their service from most of them.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 22 at 2013 11:31 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 23:31:55 -0500

Although working together in a joint environment is probably the 'ultimate' in a professional assignment (and the wave of the future), as long as we wear different uniforms and name tags over our hearts, there'll be rivalries...it's all in good fun.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 11:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 23:53:26 -0500

The only joint service operations I have been on were between army and air force. I don't think that we have that much of a rivalry, and honestly I enjoyed worked with our AF JTAC's they were an awesome bunch of guys.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Mar 26 at 2014 12:03 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:03:44 -0400

We will always have our "Rivalries" that makes it fun...When the "stuff hits the fan" we are always there looking out for each other. On a side note we have more "rivalry" issues after retirement.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2014 1:59 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 01:59:38 -0400

I'm Coast Guard assigned to the Navy. Frankly it gets old to me. I love to have fun and cut up but making fun of a military service is something I cant or wont do. Lots of people died wearing the uniform, I just can't fathom to make fun of that.

While that's taking it to a serious level, that's my thought process. Worlds best Navy? The US Navy. Not the Coast Guard...it's not our mission. Best Air Force? I'll give you one guess.

I'm proud of my smaller military service, not embarrassed. I just wished others embraced theirs like I do mine and learned from others instead of constantly being insecure and insulting them constantly.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 7 at 2014 3:48 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 03:48:01 -0400

In my current Occupation I worked with a Soldier that served on a Navy Cruiser in CIC as part of the AAWC so I guess that is the wave of the future. It is a bit different though and that Rivalry will always be there, Like brothers that we are we like to fight amongst ourselves.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jul 10 at 2014 7:46 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 07:46:17 -0400

I am sorry TSgt, did you say that there were inter-service rivalries? A friend of mine posted this t-shirt on Facebook, and it absolutely tickled me. Rivalry is good for morale. And there is a big difference between good natured fun, and looking down at someone. That is just being a jacka$$.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2014 2:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 14:29:22 -0400

I have heard that marines will not do joint ops with army ATC because marines ATC are officers and were enlisted....

When I was in Fort McCoy for AT the AF ATC was their, even though we did not do anything joint with them, which would have been good to see how other ATCs do their job, it was good to see us working in the same location.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Sep 2 at 2014 11:58 PM

Capt Chris McVeigh — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 23:58:33 -0400

I would say it depends on the command. If you have good relationships it expands them in a joking manner. As you work closely you become friends, friends generally make fun of each other. If the services have bad relationships within the joint command, it can intensify the rivalry in a less pleasant way.

The only issues I have ever seen arise are in differing service regulations, when one service tries to call out the other for violations without knowing the proper rules, or tries to enforce their own services regulations on others. Always keep an open mind when working in the joint environment.