Languish: Soldiers or Lawyers?

[Razgovory]

I suspect calling a marine a "soldier" is one of those military solecisms that are drilled into people in the armed services, but are made all the time by people outside the services.

"This is mah rifle, this is mah gun; this one's for fightin' and this one's for fun!"

It could just be the Marine corps is composed mostly of arrogant jackasses.

[The Brain]

Jarasses.

[Valmy]

I suspect calling a marine a "soldier" is one of those military solecisms that are drilled into people in the armed services, but are made all the time by people outside the services.

"This is mah rifle, this is mah gun; this one's for fightin' and this one's for fun!"

It could just be the Marine corps is composed mostly of arrogant jackasses.

The inter-service rivalry stuff is pretty tiresome for civilians I have to say.  'Yes yes I realize now you were backup assistant mechanic 3rd class in the Merchant Marine, I never meant to imply you were a latrine digger in the Coast Guard.'

[The Brain]

Any group of people who insist that outsiders use jargon are pretty tiresome.

[grumbler]

But so how is it wrong for a UK or Canadian citizen to call a US Marine a soldier?

It is wrong because a US Marine isn't a soldier. 

1mil·i·tary adjective \ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē\
: of or relating to soldiers or the armed forces (such as the army, navy, marines, and air force)

: of or relating to the army

: controlled or supported by armed forces

So you found a dictionary that doesn't understand the distinction between the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy.  That doesn't change any definitions, it just shows that anonymous dictionaries can be wrong, as well.

[Siege]

LOL can I be: Jaron?

[Eddie Teach]

Can't you tell the difference between Chinamen and Mexiricans?

[grumbler]

I suspect calling a marine a "soldier" is one of those military solecisms that are drilled into people in the armed services, but are made all the time by people outside the services.

"This is mah rifle, this is mah gun; this one's for fightin' and this one's for fun!"

Yep.  Kinda like the barrister/solicitor distinction in the UK, or doctor versus surgeon.

[Eddie Teach]

Do surgeons get pissy about being called "doctor"? 

[Siege]

Would the majority of US marines be ok with being described as infantry (at those that perform that function) ?

Or perhaps naval infantry?

"Who you callin an infant?  "

Majority of US Marines are pogs, they ain't  infantry.4

[grumbler]

Do surgeons get pissy about being called "doctor"? 

British doctors get pissy when they hear a surgeon called "doctor."  Apparently, back in the day, doctors came to the front door, surgeons to the servants' door.  In Britain, surgeons are called "mister," not "doctor."

[grumbler]

Majority of US Marines are pogs, they ain't  infantry.4

Correct. They are all riflemen first, but the USMC is an integrated all-arms outfit, not half of one like the USA and USAAF.

[Neil]

1sol·dier noun \ˈsōl-jər\
: a person who is in the military : a member of an army

It seems like a matter of useage.  I understand how the uS military uses it (and seems reflected in this definition). but calling a marine a soldier isn't 'by-definition' wrong, either.

The US military calls their servicemen soldiers and airmen (or aviators, for the officers).  The US naval forces call their people sailors and Marines.  It really doesn't matter what the Canadians call their people, or what the US military calls their people, though, and the US Marines are neither Canadian nor military.  By definition.

It doesn't really matter how the US military defines anything.  They can define black as white and up as down, but a US Marine is still just a kind of soldier and you're still a faggot and a cunt. 

[CountDeMoney]

I suspect calling a marine a "soldier" is one of those military solecisms that are drilled into people in the armed services, but are made all the time by people outside the services.

"This is mah rifle, this is mah gun; this one's for fightin' and this one's for fun!"

Yep.  Kinda like the barrister/solicitor distinction in the UK, or doctor versus surgeon.

MAH CLIP MAGAZINE

[Admiral Yi]

Seems to me if you're going to take exception to the soldier/Marine distinction, you also need to take exception to the soldier/sailor/airman one.

I once told a retired Marine officer in a nudey bar that I had heard the Army's nickname for Marines was bullet-stoppers.  He told me I was a punk and he didn't want to talk to me any more.