Do we need to capitalize the words Soldier, Sailor, and Airman?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 09:57:17 -0400

I noticed that some people capitalize the word Soldier, so I researched it and found that in 2003, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker decreed that all internal Army correspondence should capitalize the word "Soldier".  Army Regulation 25-50 says that the words Family and Civilian should also be capitalized.  <div><br></div><div>I know that the word Marine needs to be capitalized to make their troops feel special, but should I capitalize the word Soldier when I'm writing in a non-official capacity, like when I post here on RallyPoint?  If we capitalize the word Soldier, shouldn't we also capitalize Sailor and Airman, and do we really need to capitalize Family and Civilian?</div><div><br></div><div>EDIT:  I've concluded from this discussion that it's best to capitalize the word Soldier in both official and unofficial correspondence to show respect, because it's a title, and to maintain writing good habits. I'd encourage other junior enlisted Soldiers to read this thread if they're unfamiliar with this rule.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 10:24 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:24:41 -0400

I do it out of habit as well, it's just what I'm used to seeing. Another one that I see done both ways is the abbrevation of a rank. Personally, I'll go the PFC. SPC. SGT way, but I see it as Pfc, Spc, Sgt, too. Good information in the initial post, thanks for bringing up this conversation SPC Thundercloud.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 28 at 2014 10:27 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:27:50 -0400

I continue to capitalize Soldier even now that I am retired, it is just ingrained in me now...doesn't make a difference I suppose, but I will continue to do so as I feel it is a sign of respect. That's just my opinion as a older-fart though!

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Mar 28 at 2014 10:28 AM

1SG Shane Hansen — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:28:54 -0400

AR 25-50 requires capitalization of "Soldier, Family, and Civilian" when used in internal army correspondence.  It's a good regulation, you should check it.  Will teach you how to properly write memorandums and letters to name a few things.  

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 10:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:39:17 -0400

You answered your own question. If you are not creating military correspondence IAW AR 25-50 don't capitalize anything you do not want to. In forums such as this sometimes my AR 25-50 brainwashing is automatic and I capitalize "Soldiers", but there's not a particular reason I do.

Can anyone tell me why we've changed the font from Times New Roman? Arial just looks unofficial IMO.

Response by SFC Cornelius Walsh made Mar 28 at 2014 11:07 AM

SFC Cornelius Walsh — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:07:19 -0400

I disagree. Soldier is a proper noun. For example - there are many soldiers in the Department of Defense. There are Soldiers in the Army, Sailors in the Navy, Marines in the Marine Corps, Airmen in the Air Force and Guardsmen (or Guardians if you ask them) in the Coast Guard. Much like many outlets refer to any Special Operations unit, i.e. SEALs as "special forces," when realistically there is only one branch, the Army that has Soldiers that are indeed Special Forces.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2014 4:08 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:08:05 -0400

I don't mean to be bossy, but you should consider tagging this as "Army Writing Style."

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2014 7:01 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 07:01:04 -0400

We capitalize Airman in the Air Force.

http://www.stripes.com/news/general-jumper-decrees-airman-be-spelled-with-capital-a-1.20174

General Jumper decrees airman be spelled with capital ‘A’

Air staff executive officers, secretaries and staff groups of major commands were first told of the change in late February, said Lt. Col. Michael Caldwell, strategic communications adviser for the Ai...

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 20 at 2014 11:19 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 11:19:57 -0400

SPC Thundercloud, <div>I wasn't aware of Civilian and Family! </div><div>The Amy is leading me towards more and more capitalization of things I wouldn't capitalize otherwise. It's pretty interesting, giving the "grammar nazi" posts going on in other threads about poor writing.  </div><div><br></div><div>Oh, well, when in Rome....</div>

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2014 1:07 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 01:07:15 -0400

Marine is not capitalized to make me feel special, it's capitalized because it rates it.<div><br></div><div>If you were the U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, or Airmen then it would be capitalized along with soldier, sailor, and airman.  You are in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force and are not called individually as Army, Navy, or Air Force.</div><div><br></div><div>Now I am part of the U.S. Marine Corps or U.S. Marines, my name is in the title and therefore when addressing me as Marine or speaking to Marines, it will always be capitalize because its a proper noun.  That's also why you may have heard "earn the title, Marine!"</div><div><br></div><div>For the U.S. Coast Guard, guess what? Their Coast Guardsmen is capitalized as such as well.</div><div><br></div><div>Common nouns = no capitalization = soldier, sailor, airman</div><div>Proper nouns = capitalized = Marine, Coast Guardsman</div>

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2014 7:57 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 07:57:44 -0400

As an English Teacher, I have to always encourage writing correctly regardless of whether or not the correspondence is official.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2014 6:37 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:37:08 -0400

It's a title therefore it should be, not mention its also in the regs AR 25_20

Response by PO1 Rudy Lopez made Apr 21 at 2014 6:56 PM

PO1 Rudy Lopez — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:56:38 -0400

Internally on service component documents (DoD as a whole) Soldier, Sailor Airman, and Marine are capitalized. Is this proper English writing etiquette as per Engl 101 and 102 are concerned, no it is not, however, as veterans and active duty service members garner more and more mainstream attention, it is accepted as part of English curriculum. I have yet to see any college or professional document I have ever turned in to have the capitalization of such names questioned or told that I am wrong.

Now,... does it "Need" to be capitalized,... to answer this scroll up to SGT Amanda D., she laid out a great example on how and when it is appropriate to capitalize outside of the military.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Apr 21 at 2014 8:58 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 20:58:43 -0400

SPC - depending on your higher, when you start doing NCOERs, you'll find them getting kicked back if you don't capitalize certain words, "Soldier" being one. It only takes a couple times before you get the hint.

Response by Sgt Ballard Hall made Apr 21 at 2014 9:16 PM

Sgt Ballard Hall — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 21:16:02 -0400

LOL @ "I know that the word Marine needs to be capitalized to make their troops feel special,..." That's hilarious. I'm glad you was able to give me my one good laugh for the day; I thought, with the time running out, that I wouldn't achieve it.

To create some conversation though, why exactly do we "need" to feel special and what made you conclude to this thought? Do you have any statistical data or scholarly research to prove your point?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 27 at 2014 11:51 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:51:41 -0400

I know that when I took Telecommunications Managers School CTOC Cleotha Fluitt would definitely hit me with a red mark if I didn't capitalize a descriptive noun.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 10:59 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 10:59:26 -0400

I Have Had Senior Leaders Tell Me Not To Capitalize The Word Soldier On Evals And Award Recommendations.

If writing outside of military channels (internal communications or semi-official fora like RallyPoint), then I do not follow AR 25-50's guidance.

Response by Sgt Ronald Miller made Apr 19 at 2015 3:20 PM

Sgt Ronald Miller — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 15:20:46 -0400

A soldier reference is a proper noun requires capitalization. Marines don't capitalize the title to make each other feel special Marines capitalize because it's a Title, it's who we are. Marines always reference other Service Members as Soldier Sailor Aireman out of respect. It's in our lexicon.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2015 4:46 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 16:46:55 -0400

This topic shows me that I am never to old to learn.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 10:19 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 22:19:58 -0400

I think they should all be capitalized because the word represents the service members (enlisted and officer), civilians and families, because none of us can do it alone.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 8 at 2015 4:01 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 04:01:15 -0400

I forget which Admiral said it, but he was a WWII guy. He was the one who said that Sailor should be capitalized when referring to a member (enlisted or officer) of the US Navy.

I also look at it like this. Just like you, I feel that it is an official title so therefore it is capitalized. The same goes for Soldier, Marine, Airman, Coast Guardsman, National Guardsman, etc.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Aug 8 at 2015 7:01 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 07:01:43 -0400

Only if referring to an American Soldier. Feel free to discuss brit or canuck or afghan soldiers without capitalization.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 12:48 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 00:48:07 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I am trying to figure out a way to say this. In about the third or fourth grade (maybe it was only my school) we were taught the rule is to capitalize titles when they came before a person's name. For example Doctor John Smith. We were also taught to capitalize titles when used in the place of someone's name. For example The President has arrived. Capitalize Government titles.The Soldier's weapon misfired. We do not capitalize when we are using the word to refer to someone's occupation For example director Stephen Spielberg. Ok so that's all I can remember from English class I hope it helps

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Aug 10 at 2015 8:57 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:57:07 -0400

I usually do it is a matter of acknowledgement and respect for our service members.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 10 at 2015 1:00 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 13:00:53 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I can't remember if I do sometimes and don't sometimes. Anyway, I think they should be capitalized and I will try to remember to remember if I do - if that makes sense! Great thread by the way and good discussions on the subject!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 2:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:54:47 -0400

As a former Marine and current public affairs soldier in the Army National Guard with a journalism degree, I have to agree with Gunny Fair.

The word "Marine" is capitalized because it's a derivative of a proper noun: "United States Marine Corps." The words "soldier" and "sailor" are lowercased because they are - forgive me - common nouns.

I'll concede that an argument could be made for "Airman" as opposed to "airman." After all, the word does come from the "United States Air Force." That said, the consensus for a lowercasing "airman" seems to have already been decided for the same reasoning as "soldier" and "sailor" in standard English usage, as well as AP-style writing.

From what I've seen, the egos of all the different services seem to desire the same linguistic status as "Marine" - as perceived by a reader's eye, anyway. I'm guessing that's why the words "Soldier," "Sailor," and "Airman" are usually capitalized in the publications the various services control, as well as much of their correspondence. It's because of service-specific style guides (like AR 25-50) reflecting arbitrary, internal mandates that don't necessarily follow the normal rules of English.

That said, the rationale for capitalizing "Family" and "Civilian" still escapes me completely.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2020 4:47 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2020 16:47:47 -0400

AR 25-50 states the capitalization of "Soldier" and "Family" when used in "internal army correspondence." AR 360-1 (para 13-12, (4) states, "In all command information products and AF or CE publications, “Soldier” will be capitalized when referring to
U.S. Soldiers. “Families” will be capitalized when referring to Army Families." It seems it should be capitalized when used in publications prepared internally for publication or to communicate internally within the Army. I was taught Army writing and public writing are two separate things. You should not write an Army memorandum to a civilian employer with UIC's listed since that is irrelevant information to the civilian sector. Ranks or titles however, are relevant since they are positions and titles.

Response by SSG Michael Davis made Aug 16 at 2020 6:14 PM

SSG Michael Davis — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 18:14:11 -0400

Attention to detail is important to be relevant and not kill people around us in theater, and these are life skills that will serve you well once you are not in uniform any longer. Embracing this attitude and carrying it with you will be a key part of your success once you are no longer in uniform, and might keep you from getting killed while you are still in uniform.