Naive Question: Why are soldiers called troops?

[Epsil0n00]

Okay, so I'm curious... I have heard the term 'troop' used interchangeably (sp?) with the word 'soldier.' What is the difference? Is there some rank or classification of soldier that is included in "troops" that would not be described acurately by the word "soldier?"

So when a headline says, "4 US troops rescued..." could they not just say, "4 US soldiers rescued"?

What gives?

 

[Goosemaster]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troop

 

[SonnyDaze]

Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

 

[huberm]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

I dare you to say that to a Marine's face

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

True the Marines are a Department of the Navy. We tend to believe we are the Men's Department.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: huberm

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

I dare you to say that to a Marine's face

Ok? What are they going to do when you are obviously joking? Hit someone and risk their CO making them scrub toilets for a month? I've got plenty of friends in the service. Luckily they are so quick tempered and silly like you are.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

True the Marines are a Department of the Navy. We tend to believe we are the Men's Department.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

True the Marines are a Department of the Navy. We tend to believe we are the Men's Department.

U-Rah...I told a Navy lieutenant that one time...I thought his head was gonna assplode...dammit, I was hopin... farkin squids anyway...:roll:

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: huberm

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

I dare you to say that to a Marine's face

I have, but he was old, so he just yelled at me.

 

[huberm]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: huberm

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

I dare you to say that to a Marine's face

Ok? What are they going to do when you are obviously joking? Hit someone and risk their CO making them scrub toilets for a month? I've got plenty of friends in the service. Luckily they are so quick tempered and silly like you are.

it was really just a joke

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: huberm

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Troops can be a generalized term for all U.S. service personnel. But each service has their own individual term:

Army = Soldier
Navy = Sailor
Air Force = Airman
Marines = Marine

Being a former Marine, I know we would take offense if you referred to us as a Soldier.

I hope you wouldn't take offense, Sailor. Since you are a part of the Navy and all.

I dare you to say that to a Marine's face

Say what? The Navy just needed dance partners.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: Epsil0n00
Okay, so I'm curious... I have heard the term 'troop' used interchangeably (sp?) with the word 'soldier.' What is the difference? Is there some rank or classification of soldier that is included in "troops" that would not be described acurately by the word "soldier?"

So when a headline says, "4 US troops rescued..." could they not just say, "4 US soldiers rescued"?

What gives?

OK. Why is a group of clowns or actors a troupe? Or a flock of crows a murder?