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imkopaka wrote:As a Marine, I can tell you that it has nothing to do with age...except perhaps that older Marines are sometimes a little less tactful when they correct the terminology. I will politely correct anyone who refers to Marines as "soldiers" both as a pride issue and an accuracy issue. As Soccerdad said, you wouldn't call a soldier or Marine "sailor," so it shouldn't be acceptable to call a Marine "soldier" either. We work dang hard for that prestigious title.

I understand completely. I had boot camp in Ft. McClellan Alabama. I was Army and there were Army, Marines and Navy training together.
When I said older Vet I am meaning Korean War and WWII Vets. They have a totally different view on the armed forces. I find it interesting to listen to the banter and stories they tell.

cyphertext wrote:Marines will tell you that they are not soldiers. The Army has soldiers and the Marines have Marines. Just like the Air Force has airmen and the Navy has sailors. Civilians will call any service member a soldier as a generic term, but there is a difference.

The young Marine is technically correct, but the puffing of the chest is intraservice rivalry. But when it is time to go to work, we are all the same team.

That's pretty much how I felt as well. My Father was a Marine also and he was one of the we are all brothers in arms and a soldier is a soldiers kind of guy.

I have a couple of places I go where I run into the old school vets and there were a few young Marines that came in.
One of the Older Marines said Thank you young man for your service. The Young Marine said thank you and to you as well.
The Older Vet then says it is a totally different world to be a soldier in now a days.
To that the young Marine stuck out his chest and proudly said "I am a Marine not a soldier." (Sort of respectfully but the Older Vet got an evil grin. Then replied.
" Young man I hope you will one day never learn the hard way that we are all soldiers."
The young Marine got a puzzled look on his face. The older Marines Navy Buddy decides to pipe in with "We fought side by side and lost the same friends and honor all of our fallen soldiers, and just to be technical (Clears his throat) The definition in the Dictionary is a Marine is a Navy Soldier."
The young marine just said yes sir and walked out.

I was just curious if this is actually an age thing or not. I know a few older Marines that would say the same thing.