Quick question: Can the term 'soldier' apply to all individuals across different branches of the military, or is it specific to certain ones? For example, is everyone in the Navy considered a 'soldier'?
The term 'soldier' is usually specific to members of an Army. In the United States, a member of the Army is called a soldier, a member of the Navy is called a sailor, a member of the Air Force is called an airman, a member of the Coast Guard is a Coast Guardsman, and a member of the Marine Corps is a Marine. The newest branch, the Space Force, refers to its members as 'Guardians'.
While it's common to informally refer to members of any military branch as 'soldiers' in general conversation, each branch prefers to use their specific term. Using the correct terminology is highly appreciated and shows respect for the unique roles and responsibilities of each branch. It's worth noting that while these terms are specific to the U.S. military, other countries may use different terminologies.
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