Hi guys, I've been considering enlisting after graduation, and I had a kind of basic question. I know Army members are called soldiers, so are all military branches considered soldiers too? Like would Navy or Air Force also be considered soldiers?
While it's common for people to use the term "soldier" as a blanket term for all members of the military, it's not technically correct. Each branch of the United States military has its own specific terminology for its members.
Members of the Army are referred to as "soldiers," you're correct. If you are referring to someone in the Navy, they are known as "sailors." Those in the Air Force are called "airmen," and anyone in the Marine Corps is a "Marine." As for the Coast Guard, they are referred to as "Coast Guardsmen." And the newest branch, the Space Force, refers to their members as "guardians."
Understanding and respecting these distinctions is a show of respect for the unique roles and histories of each branch. So while "soldier" does get used colloquially to mean anyone in the military, it's more accurate to use the specific terms for each branch when possible.
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