# Soldiers who think the rules don't apply to them **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250 "2013-05-01T20:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/41 "2013-05-02T05:27:11Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Air Force is not military. Technically only the Army is “military”. Truly so! That’s why they call it the “Chair Force.” ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/42 "2013-05-02T05:35:08Z")
I have several family members who are/were military. I’ve never seen any of them (including my dad) act like they have the entitlements the OP is accusing them of. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/43 "2013-05-02T06:09:02Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Air Force is not military. Technically only the Army is “military”. > > But OP if you want to froth at the mouth at military misbehaviour, [this story was right in your link.](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/army-major-wife-charged-brutal-abuse-adopted-kids-article-1.1331999) You ain’t even got the half of it. I got over 400 inmates who have done much worse. SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/44 "2013-05-02T06:12:29Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I have several family members who are/were military. I’ve never seen any of them (including my dad) act like they have the entitlements the OP is accusing them of. Officer wives, OTOH… ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/45 "2013-05-02T06:16:57Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > If you read the reddit post on this, the Airman got pretty much trashed by Soldiers. So it ain’t Soldiers who feel the sense of entitlement. It is only assholes in the Military who want to score with under-age chicks that feel that this is acceptable. Like i said above, I think the school should have made an exception for this kid. However, I don’t think he should have acted how he did. He is probably being mocked ceaselessly in his squadron (and rightly so). He knew he wouldn’t be allowed in, there was no reason to put on his uniform and go right to the gate and salute. He did all that to make a statement, and one should not make a spectacle of themselves while in uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/46 "2013-05-02T07:18:28Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > How did rape and murder get into this? It was a really good prom? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/47 "2013-05-02T13:32:09Z")
I’d like to add how much I hate this new trend of referring to U.S. Army service members as “Soldiers”. God, the \*arrogance \*of it. “Other armies may have soldiers, but here in America, we have Soldiers!” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/48 "2013-05-02T13:33:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’d like to add how much I hate this new trend of referring to U.S. Army service members as “Soldiers”. God, the \*arrogance \*of it. “Other armies may have soldiers, but here in America, we have Soldiers!” Especially since the guy in the OP was in the air force. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/49 "2013-05-02T13:37:46Z")
Exactly. A soldier in the U.S. Air Force. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/50 "2013-05-02T16:54:54Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Air Force is not military. Technically only the Army is “military”. > > But OP if you want to froth at the mouth at military misbehaviour, [this story was right in your link.](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/army-major-wife-charged-brutal-abuse-adopted-kids-article-1.1331999) Maybe he’ll get a military discount off his sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/51 "2013-05-02T17:14:33Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Air Force is not military. Technically only the Army is “military”. So, technically, what term should be used to cover army, navy, air force and marine personnel? I would have thought that “military” worked, but if we aren’t allowed to use that word, what one word works? ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/52 "2013-05-02T17:20:11Z")
US colloquialisms. Army = Soldiers Navy = Sailors Air Force = Airmen Marines = Marines AFAIK they are all “military”. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/53 "2013-05-02T17:38:10Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > So, technically, what term should be used to cover army, navy, air force and marine personnel? I would have thought that “military” worked, but if we aren’t allowed to use that word, what one word works? I can’t think of one word, but two will do in a pinch: Service member. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/54 "2013-05-02T17:40:10Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > So, technically, what term should be used to cover army, navy, air force and marine personnel? I would have thought that “military” worked, but if we aren’t allowed to use that word, what one word works? “Armed Forces” now good enough? [QUOTE=Tee] US colloquialisms. Army = Soldiers Navy = Sailors Air Force = Airmen Marines = Marines AFAIK they are all “military”. [/QUOTE] [Actually](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military#Etymology_and_definitions) [QUOTE=wikipedia] As an adjective\*\* military origi\*\*\*\*nally applied only to soldiers and soldiering, but it soon broadened to apply to land forces in general and anything to do with their profession.[2] The names of both the Royal Military Academy (1741) and United States Military Academy (1802) reflect this\*\*. However, at about the time of Napoleonic Wars “military” began to be applied to armed forces as a whole[2] and in the 21st century expressions like “military service”, “military intelligence” and “military history” encompass naval, marine and air force aspects. As such, it now connotes any activity performed by the military personnel. [/QUOTE] So in a nutshell, “military” originally meant simply land forces. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/55 "2013-05-02T17:41:15Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > I can’t think of one word, but two will do in a pinch: Service member. Oops, that’s still two words? As evident from my previous posts in this thread, I always just write it “servicemember”. [feeble justification] And so do sources like [military.com](http://www.military.com/benefits/military-legal-matters/scra/servicemembers-civil-relief-act-overview.html), if that counts. [/fj] ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/56 "2013-05-02T17:43:57Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > So in a nutshell, “military” originally meant simply land forces. Never thought about it before, but obviously that’s why we have a “Military” Academy **and** a “Naval” Academy (Latin _miles_, “soldier”, _nauta_, “sailor”). ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/57 "2013-05-02T18:05:33Z")
Well my gramps was part of the ground troops in the Air Force so he would be considered retired military. They call them security forces in the USAF ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/58 "2013-05-02T18:26:15Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > So in a nutshell, “military” originally meant simply land forces. Today the terms applies to all personnel, including Air Force, but the word _soldier_ is reserved for Army. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/59 "2013-05-03T02:40:24Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I do in fact do all my own shopping and have never had this experience. Not once. I’m pretty sure the scene **Completely insane robot** witnessed went something like this: Salesclerk: That will be fifty dollars plus tax. Customer: Your sign said you had a fifteen percent discount for military personnel. _Presents military ID_ S: Yes we do. Your total is now forty two fifty plus tax. C: Thanks! S: Thank you, and thank you for your service. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250/60 "2013-05-03T02:44:59Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Who goes to prom with their brother? Weird. My friend went with her dad. She had a date and everything that she broke it off with to do so because her dad came home from deployment, which at best happens once every 18 months or so. She was really excited about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-think-the-rules-dont-apply-to-them/657250.md?page=4)