# Members of the US military are called...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011 "2015-03-02T14:09:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011/41 "2015-03-04T02:40:33Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I don’t think you really want to tell a Marine that. 😉 It’s a comment on USMC’s present role, not on ability of personnel. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011/42 "2015-03-04T02:51:29Z")
GI - “a member or former member of the U.S. armed forces, esp.” (but not necessarily) “an enlisted soldier.” Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 2001 The G.I. form indicates “government issued” - _op cit_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011/43 "2015-03-05T00:08:15Z")
There are problems. As I said upthread as a 4 year Navy guy in no way shape or form was I ever a soldier. The core of my being says that is Army. A Marine is a marine, maybe just maybe in the loosest terms possible he is a soldier but only because he too wears cammy and has a gun. In a bar all bets are off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011.md?page=2)