Do you call yourself ex-branch or former branch (i.e. former army ranger)?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:41:39 -0400

I often hear or read veterans refer to themselves as ex-army or ex-military. I do not know why they would do this. The title 'veteran' is earned, and I am not ex-army, I was not kicked out. I am still army, just not active. How do you refer to yourself and what do you think of the term 'ex' military?

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 20 at 2015 4:42 PM

SSG Izzy Abbass — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:42:27 -0400

Army Veteran. Once a soldier, always a soldier

Response by SSG Michael O'Malley made Jul 20 at 2015 4:43 PM

SSG Michael O'Malley — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:43:35 -0400

I reference everyone that has earned it as either (branch) veteran or Retired (branch)

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jul 20 at 2015 4:49 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:49:59 -0400

Once a tanker always a tanker. Stay on the tank!

Response by CPO Jon Campbell made Jul 20 at 2015 4:55 PM

CPO Jon Campbell — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:55:16 -0400

I am retired, so I don't use either, but 'former' carries the connotation of being honorably discharged, while 'ex' carries the connotation of a checkered past with the military. Marines in particular are touchy about being referred to as 'ex.'

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 20 at 2015 4:57 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:57:49 -0400

I tell people I am a Retired Sergeant Major.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 20 at 2015 5:07 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:07:24 -0400

I am a Navy Vet.

Response by LT Garth Young (Ret) made Jul 20 at 2015 5:18 PM

LT Garth Young (Ret) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:18:56 -0400

"Retired Military"

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 5:20 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:20:14 -0400

Even with spouses, "ex" has a negative connotation (despite the fact that that can be a good thing). It's also important to have goals, therefore I'm shooting for Retired Army.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 5:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:32:46 -0400

I'm a retired soldier.

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Jul 20 at 2015 5:33 PM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:33:37 -0400

Army veteran.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Bly made Jul 20 at 2015 5:49 PM

SPC Jeffrey Bly — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:49:11 -0400

I used that term once. And my fellow veteran said what do you mean ex? It made me think. So I've changed my tune. I'm a proud veteran who served honorably. I am me. I am Army!

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jul 20 at 2015 5:52 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:52:28 -0400

I am a Marine - just no longer on active duty. No such thing as a "former Marine."

By the way, (pet peeve) -- I HATE it when I hear, "I was in the service." WTH? The Secret Service? Food Service? Damn it, don't say that! ..."service"... hmmph.

Response by SSG John Erny made Jul 20 at 2015 5:56 PM

SSG John Erny — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:56:11 -0400

Once airborne always airborne; unless you betray the honour, like a certain guy who walked off his post and got six paratroopers killed

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 20 at 2015 6:01 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:01:10 -0400

When asked I tell everyone who asks I'm a proud Air Force veteran!

Response by SSgt Doug Erickson made Jul 20 at 2015 6:18 PM

SSgt Doug Erickson — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:18:44 -0400

I agree that Veteran should be used. Are you really ever an ex member of the military.

Response by CPO Rob Daniel made Jul 20 at 2015 7:16 PM

CPO Rob Daniel — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:16:20 -0400

I am a Navy Chief!
I bled, I swetted (if wasn't already, it's a word now), and I may have cried once or twice while earning the right to be called a Navy Veteran.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jul 20 at 2015 7:43 PM

CPO Joseph Grant — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:43:38 -0400

Submariner and Chief Petty Officer for life. Ex doesn't even cross my mind.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Jul 20 at 2015 7:51 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:51:49 -0400

I never use ex or former. It is veteran or (branch) veteran. Sometimes Vietnam veteran when referring to someone from that war or to myself .

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 8:27 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:27:11 -0400

I would say it's in the eye of the beholder really.
My stance- do you call a returned POW a Former or an Ex POW?
I think it has to do with perspective of the relationship or grounds at the point of separation. Someone who might be bitter or carry a grudge would be monte likely to call themselves an Ex-...

Response by SSgt Randy Saulsberry made Jul 20 at 2015 8:37 PM

SSgt Randy Saulsberry — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:37:07 -0400

No, that term doesn't apply to Marines. I just say I am a Marine.

Response by PV2 Kyle Vanhousen made Jul 20 at 2015 8:47 PM

PV2 Kyle Vanhousen — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:47:05 -0400

Army veteran

Response by MSG Douglas Tolliver made Jul 20 at 2015 8:48 PM

MSG Douglas Tolliver — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:48:00 -0400

I am retired and receiving my retired (retainer) pay. I am not a former Soldier, I am a Soldier and I will be until the day they plant me. I am not a civilian and I will take issue with anyone who calls me one. I was a Signal troop early on and I still claim signal even though I spent only 4 years before jumping to Transportation. I am a Transporter for life. I claim both. The only thing the word former applies to with me is civilian. I am a former civilian.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Jul 20 at 2015 9:24 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 21:24:15 -0400

I use veteran or retired, never ex anything.

Response by CPL Eric Allen made Jul 20 at 2015 10:50 PM

CPL Eric Allen — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 22:50:21 -0400

I prefer civilian that's just me

Response by LCDR Robert Turner made Jul 20 at 2015 11:26 PM

LCDR Robert Turner — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:26:28 -0400

I am a retired Sailor! Proud to have served and would do it again!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 11:59 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:59:14 -0400

I always went with "prior AF." Never "ex." I was never relieved of my oath.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jul 21 at 2015 1:22 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:22:59 -0400

I refer to myself as a "Retired Army Officer".... not "ex" or "former"... just "retired".

Response by Cpl Randy W. made Jul 21 at 2015 4:40 PM

Cpl Randy W. — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 16:40:30 -0400

I am a Marine. I did not retire from the Corps, I served my time and was honorably discharged.
I go by Marine.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jul 21 at 2015 4:48 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 16:48:47 -0400

As a reserve retiree (9yrs AD), I still think of myself as a soldier. I kind of like "keeping it" versus dropping it. I like how GEN Odierno established "Soldiers for Life..."

Response by SFC Kelly Bristow made Jul 21 at 2015 9:08 PM

SFC Kelly Bristow — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 21:08:40 -0400

I tell the NCO I work with not to call me sir. I worked my ass off to get to be called Sergeant and now that I have retired, it's no different, I am still a Sergeant! I am a retired Army Sergeant, not ex-Sergeant, if I were an ex-anything - it's ex-knucklehead.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Jul 22 at 2015 10:19 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:19:53 -0400

I say Navy Veteran.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 23 at 2015 3:29 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 03:29:45 -0400

Retired Navy. Whenever I hear people say "I'm ex-military" I ask if they were kicked out, got a Dishonorable Discharge, etc. I then say, "you're a veteran, not an ex-service member."