Why are Marines called marines and G.I.s called soldiers

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: CollectiveUnconscious

Originally posted by: nutxo

Originally posted by: CollectiveUnconscious

Originally posted by: chusteczka
GI, is an abbreviation for General Infantry. Infantry is a ground force.

Marine, is a historically-based title for the hand-to-hand combat fighters used to protect British sailing ships (merchant and military) from pirates. This allowed sailors to focus on sailing the ship and the close combat fighters to focus their time and training on protecting the ship.

It can be disrespectful to provide general terms for military forces with widely differing job responsibilities and skills since people often take pride in their skills that set them apart from others. Additionally, using the correct term provides more specific information on a situation.

EDIT:
soldier

1. a person who serves in an army; a person engaged in military service.
2. an enlisted man or woman, as distinguished from a commissioned officer: the soldiers' mess and the officers' mess.
3. a person of military skill or experience: George Washington was a great soldier.

To say that 10 soldiers lost their lives when the USS Cole was bombed several years ago does not convey the appropriate information.

G.I. stands for Galvanized Iron, the first evidence of marines in history was the Romans, and the Spanish had an equivalent of marines before the British.

Edit: And to say that 10 soldiers lost their lives would be correct as they were people engaged in military service.

Actually it would be more correct to say 10 sailors lost thier lives.

It would be more appropriate, but that does not negate the fact that 'soldier' is also correct.

It would technically be correct, but if the armed forces are adopting the more-specialized use of Soldier to refer to a member of the Army, exclusive of the remaining military branches, then that would be the more correct usage.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

As a prior posted stated, soldiers are Army troops. Airmen = Air Force; Marines = Marines (duh!), and sailors = Navy.

 

[Narmer]

Originally posted by: Linux23
The ignorance is strong in this thread. :Q

What have they said that is ignorant?

 

[zephyrprime]

This is just like secretaries wanting to be called executive assistants. It's nothing but prissy nonsense.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: Linux23
The ignorance is strong in this thread. :Q

What have they said that is ignorant?

From Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: ig·no·rance
Pronunciation: 'ig-n(&-)r&n(t)s
Function: noun
: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness

 

[Eeezee]

Another appropriate term for anyone wearing a helmet is a buckethead. I believe this term originated a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away and is still used to this day!

 

[MedicBob]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Grunt (Pre-Marine)

Devil Dog (IIRC the Japanese soldiers nicknamed the Marines this for their tenacity)

Leatherneck

Jarhead (for obvious reasons, look at the haircut)

Then there's the obvious.....hero, but that applies to all who serve for this country.

1- Grunt = Infantry 03xx and 11x series USMC and USA

2- THe Germans named the USMC Teufelhunden which is Devil Dog

3- Leatherneck is from the old collers they wore, actually leather to protect from swords