What is your opinion of the term "battle"?

2014-04-10T07:06:35-04:00

I have seen and heard many an NCO refer to another NCO as battle. Is this appropriate? What context would it be okay? Is there a special online etiquette for the modern day warrior?

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Apr 10 at 2014 7:09 AM

2014-04-10T07:09:17-04:00

I never really liked it. It's a weird thing to call someone. Of course, if both people are for it, I don't see any harm. I did have a 1SG who called everyone 'big guy' and everyone hated it... and him for that matter.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 7:10 AM

2014-04-10T07:10:46-04:00

It is over used and had been a discussion on here. I had one battle/battle buddy in the unit where I came from and that was my commander (I was the 1SG). Get here to TRADOC sent an email to a fellow SFC (that I have never met) and got a reply back that started out with "Hey battle" I thought to myself "really?" A true battle will do any and everything for you. So when people say that to me and I don't really know them, I pull out my phone and ask for their number, they look at me crazy, give me their number, then ask why. I simply reply with "well if you're my battle now, when I'm downtown, drunk out of my mind, and need a ride home at 0300, I will give you a call".

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Apr 10 at 2014 7:12 AM

2014-04-10T07:12:57-04:00

Leonard, we're constantly changing the way we communicate with each other and the slang is hard to keep up with at times.

Needless to say, I think it's okay to use nicknames to address each other as long as the interaction is understood to be respectful and appropriate.

There are some areas of our military jargon that need updating and some that need to remain the same. I think calling each other "battle" is acceptable.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 7:13 AM

2014-04-10T07:13:57-04:00

I despise the word battle, and where in any regulation, manual, policy message, handbook, or message have I seen that as an Army recognized way to address someone.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 10 at 2014 8:39 AM

2014-04-10T08:39:07-04:00

Hated the term from Jump street, when I returned to TRADOC in 2011, every member of the cadre of my Troop had a "battle" that was pretty much assigned by the command. As one of the six Senior Instructors, may battle was the SFC responsible for 1st PLT since I was the one from 2nd PLT. Didn't know the guy from Adam and really didn't work together other than when we "swapped" platoons (he being a Scout and me a Tanker) half way through the cycle. I understood the principle behind the action, but still made no sense to me as I worked closer with the 4 SSGs that were my responsibility than I did the other SFC, and therefor the 5 of us looked out for each other. Always hated when someone would call me Battle, and honestly refused to use the term myself.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 8:51 AM

2014-04-10T08:51:16-04:00

SFC Pederson,

It's the modern day, gender-neutral equivalent of calling someone "bro", so I only use it when having an informal conversation with my peers. I've been hearing and using the term since my first day in the Army, so I'm okay with it and don't understand why some NCOs hate it so much.

We didn't have assigned battle buddies in my BCT or AIT. We were all each other's battle buddies and were taught that, as such, we should always have each other's backs no matter what.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 1:22 PM

2014-04-10T13:22:52-04:00

It's along the same lines as NCO's addressing soldiers as "you", "guy", or simply by just their last name with no rank. We can preach all day long about what the reg says in regards to addressing someone properly, but how often do we practice what we preach? I personally have no issues with someone calling me battle, as the Army has been shoving the "Battle Buddy" term down our throats for many years. As other have mentioned, as long as both parties are ok with it, than so am I.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 4:14 PM

2014-04-10T16:14:56-04:00

I don't use it, I am glad nobody uses it with me

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 6:00 PM

2014-04-10T18:00:28-04:00

I cannot stand the phrase "battle". I don't even refer to my husband as my "battle". I think it sounds ridiculous and mocks who we are as Soldiers.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Apr 10 at 2014 6:29 PM

2014-04-10T18:29:25-04:00

Trying to give you a laugh here.......I think of "battle" as shorter than a war but can turn the tide of a war.

The literal term in Merriam-Websters dictionary is a military fight between groups of soldiers:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battle

interestingly enough, the Urban Dictionary points the definition back to the US Army:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=battle

battle

Short for Battle Buddy. A term used in the US Army to describe a good friend, someone you would trust with your life, and team mate in a military u...

Battle - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Definition of battle from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary with audio pronunciations, thesaurus, Word of the Day, and word games.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 7:15 PM

2014-04-10T19:15:04-04:00

I think you should only use it with someone you have been in combat with. I do agree that it would make me upset if some random NCO called me battle. When itts shared between two NCO's that have been through the same struggle as you, its ok.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Apr 11 at 2014 3:53 AM

2014-04-11T03:53:02-04:00

All you really need to remember is "Buddy" is only half a word...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2014 7:16 AM

2014-04-11T07:16:21-04:00

I prefer lanza or lancero

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Apr 15 at 2014 11:13 AM

2014-04-15T11:13:14-04:00

i believe it is an overused term and has totally lost its meaning. i recently reclassed from artillery to food inspection. there were a few privates at the school that kept referring to each other as that term. even screaming out "THAT'S MY BATTLE." they claim that the drill sgt's are making them say that nowadays. the thing is, they would not say it to everyone, just their friends. to me, if i claim one person as my battle, then everyone is my battle. if one falls, i will make sure i do what i can to help him/her no matter the love/hate i have for him/her. but they thought that the few guys in class that couldnt keep up didnt deserve to be called battle.