How do you feel about the term "Battle Buddy?"

SGT Darryl Allen — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:11:33 -0400

So I'm not entirely sure how long ago this term came into use (it was sure as hell before my cherry ass joined), but I recall it being beaten into my head in Basic. Everybody around you was your "battle" and you couldn't go anywhere without a "battle buddy" and you'd get the life smoked out of you if you went anywhere without one within arms reach of you.

Then AIT rolled around, and since then, I haven't heard this term except in passing when I'm in some sort of large-scale brief with SMs from all sorts of MOS.

Are there certain MOS that love this term? All the 11Bs I've ever been around wouldn't be caught dead saying it, and I'm pretty sure you'd get laughed out of the hangar if you used it in a hangar (or anywhere that's primarily aviation personnel).

What are your experiences with the term "battle buddy" and how do you feel about it?

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jun 4 at 2015 5:12 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:12:17 -0400

No issue with it.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jun 4 at 2015 5:18 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:18:37 -0400

I'm just glad it started after I was retired.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:29:13 -0400

I thought it was cool when I joined at 17 in 2000. Now it just comes across as condescending. However, when a fellow combat veteran calls me "brother", I get a positive feeling. I also get a better reaction from my fellow NCO when I address them as "brother" as well. I just don't do so in front of Joe, or the Officers.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jun 4 at 2015 5:45 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:45:01 -0400

- BLUF: love the concept, hate the term.
- "Battle Buddy" is meant to convey the concept that the Army is a team sport, not an individual sport, and that the lowest echelon (team) we have is the two person team who are to look out for each other 24/7 whether in combat or in garrison.
- This concept must be initiated during BCT/AIT and continually reinforced through out a Soldier's career.
- Several 2nd/3rd order impacts of this concept to include but not limited to: never leave a Soldier behind, taking care of each other is an imperative not a suggestion, and standards/discipline need to be internalized but also enforced.
- Failures to properly execute the concept results in issues that we are seeing today such as suicides, accidental deaths, and sexual assault/harassment.
- The term "battle buddy", however, is not the best term to articulate and visualize this concept.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 4 at 2015 5:48 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:48:00 -0400

Wasn't it a British Army concept? I have no problem with the concept or the term.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:51:30 -0400

Response by MAJ James Woods made Jun 4 at 2015 6:02 PM

MAJ James Woods — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:02:13 -0400

Never had an issue with it but today I think it's over used in derogatory fashion.

Response by SGT Frank Geopfert made Jun 4 at 2015 6:07 PM

SGT Frank Geopfert — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:07:11 -0400

I have to agree with most people that it is used in either a derogatory fashion or when punishing someone, i.e. you can't leave your battle buddy's side.

The concept is a valid one but the terminology used could be better.

And not to knock any of our commissioned commenters but is this really a term that has been used to describe you or any of your fellow officers outside of the schoolhouse?

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made Jun 4 at 2015 6:29 PM

SGT Anthony Bussing — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:29:28 -0400

personally...I have never used it...I think it sounds moronic....just as I have never called a fellow Marine "Devil Dog"...lol

Response by CPL David Salazar made Jun 4 at 2015 6:52 PM

CPL David Salazar — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:52:11 -0400

We used it all the time! We started using the term strictly sarcastically, but it ended up sneaking its way into the vocabulary of everybody in our squad. We also often referred to blue falcons as "hero," "high speed," or "airborne." It took a couple of years to rid myself of those terms after discharge.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 7:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 19:03:02 -0400

That along with "hooah" can go in the vocabulary dumpster. I cringe everytime I hear that and respectfully ask my subordinates and peers not to call me that. I guess If the COL calls you that what are you gunna do (rhetorical).... Smile awkwardly and acknowledge him/her, but other than that I pass.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 4 at 2015 7:06 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 19:06:36 -0400

One of those TRADOC things that somehow left that environment, and unexplainably became popular with extremely garrison senior leaders...

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 7:06 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 19:06:56 -0400

As with most military terminology, if you used it for the purpose it was intended and actually had someone that it genuinely applied to, then that person is probably fond of the term, if someone didn't, then they probably find the term less appealing.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 4 at 2015 7:08 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 19:08:19 -0400

Maybe its become cliché.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 9:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 21:21:29 -0400

I have nothing against it. It's a term of camaraderie.

Response by SFC Michael Whipple made Jun 4 at 2015 9:56 PM

SFC Michael Whipple — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 21:56:20 -0400

As a retired grunt, I never had a problem using the term, and I retired in 2013. I have heard the phrase, as well as used it within earshot of my fellow infantrymen. Regardless of my rank, I was never ridiculed for using the term around my brothers. Now, there is definitely a different generation of Soldier being trained at the BCTs, and the term conveys that we follow the Soldiers Creed, and always work together and work as a team, a well-oiled machine.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Jun 4 at 2015 10:39 PM

SGT John Wesley — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 22:39:27 -0400

When I enlisted, it was "Ranger Buddy" in BCT.

Sounds like TRADOC jargon.

Response by CW3 Craig Linghor made Jun 4 at 2015 10:47 PM

CW3 Craig Linghor — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 22:47:02 -0400

Childish and unprofessional. What it really means is that "enlisted" soldiers are not adult enough to stay out of trouble so they need a babysitter. Have you ever seen an officer with a battle buddy?

Response by SSG Eddye Royal made Jun 4 at 2015 10:57 PM

SSG Eddye Royal — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 22:57:37 -0400

I just say Friend, even with senior leaders NCO or Officers, because of the work I did during Gulfwar and afterward.

People look at you strange when you say BATTLE BUDDY.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 11:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:02:08 -0400

Good intent. Way too overused.

My Plt put a "spin" on it and we go by Warrior Companion now......

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jun 5 at 2015 12:55 AM

MAJ Ron Peery — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:55:31 -0400

Most warriors refer to people on the line with them as their brothers. I personally never used the term "battle buddy". I hate alliteration. I don't like the "phrase du jour". Your brother always has your back. Don't need cute phrases to explain that.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 5 at 2015 10:04 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 10:04:18 -0400

Absolutely detest the term, just strikes a nerve, can not explain the whys or wherefores, it just does as well as the shortened "Battle", makes my skin crawl and my teeth hurt worse than nails on a chalkboard.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 5 at 2015 11:43 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:43:49 -0400

Someone came up with it after my time in OSUT. It is cute, and that is what the military and Army need, more 'cute'.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Jun 5 at 2015 5:22 PM

1LT William Clardy — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 17:22:48 -0400

It just makes me want to go check that my battle rattle is still ready to rock...

Although your meme/picture reminds me of the old (very un-PC) NCO command to tighten up a waiting line: "Make your buddy smile!"

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 6 at 2015 12:19 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 12:19:38 -0400

It means a lot if your a Drill Sergeant. It's how we did our jobs and trained our Soldiers.

This is on my profile page at the bottom:

https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/106303-sfc-joe-s-davis-jr-msm-dsl

Recruit: Conducted Basic Combat Training- getting a kick in the whole rear end.
A CIVILAN becomes a SOLDIER. Who knew 25 years and 3 days later, I would go to 6 combat deployments, serve in some of the finest units the United States Army could bestow on a Soldier. Most Ironically, Becoming a DRILL SERGEANT IN DECEMBER 2005 and serving at Sandhill, Fort Benning GA; with C/2-47 IN "Charlie Rock, Panther Battalion". I owe it all to my Drill Sergeants and a lot more gratitude. Thanks for training me to fight, win and survive and what the word BATTLE BUDDY MEANS. Yea, didn't know then, but boyee did they watch my 6 and cover me while I moved (the U.S. Soldier).

1ST PLT
SENIOR DRILL SERGEANT JONES
DRILL SERGEANT PULU
DRILL SERGEANT WILLIAMS

Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL at AMSEC Cheatham Annex - NAVELSG (Navy Expeditionary Logistics...

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, Army | RallyPoint professional military profile.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jun 6 at 2015 12:23 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 12:23:28 -0400

SGT Darryl Allen, I think that COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM's response is on the money. However, I retired long before this "phrase" jumped into the Army lexicon and it always has seemed rather silly to me. SSG Gerhard S.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jun 6 at 2015 12:27 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 12:27:58 -0400

IMO I think it is a dumb term and didn't use it.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jun 6 at 2015 12:32 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 12:32:57 -0400

Brother or Sister are the terms I used when appropriate.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 7 at 2015 1:56 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 01:56:34 -0400

It's kind of like the Navy's use of the term "Shipmate." Some people get offended when you call them that, and others are "Hooyah Shipmate!"

Response by CPL Corey Aldridge made Jun 10 at 2015 2:04 AM

CPL Corey Aldridge — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 02:04:53 -0400

It sounds pretty moronic to me. If memory serves me correctly we trained to work as a unit each covering everyone else s 6. It not only helped ensure mission success but ensured the all around best chance of survival.

Response by SGT Joseph Schmalzel made Jun 12 at 2015 7:34 PM

SGT Joseph Schmalzel — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:34:50 -0400

It was a basic training thing. Nothing more. It influences us to care about eachother. Nothing has bothered me more than hearing people call eachother "battle." It makes me want to punch them. After basic we are soldiers, after AIT we are proffesional soldiers. You should know to look out for eachother and be respectful. Nothing less.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 18 at 2015 10:58 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 10:58:42 -0500

I have no problem with the term battle buddy, battle or brother. They all mean the same thing. I have used all of them throughout my career and still use them when referring to other Vets.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 18 at 2015 1:43 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 13:43:37 -0500

The concept is simple, it entails soldiers who look out for their buddies. In the end, many soldiers have committed heroic deeds to save others.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 4:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 16:24:03 -0500

"Battle Buddy" are we children? Show me one soldier who raised their hand to become a liability! I have personally never used the term and detest it's use completely. I understand that most junior enlisted are fresh out of high school and have never been away from their families but that doesn't mean they need to be treated as kids. The idea is great but it sounds like something straight out of Sesame Street.

Response by TSgt Paul Davis made Oct 1 at 2016 5:56 PM

TSgt Paul Davis — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 17:56:14 -0400

It's like iron butterfly or quiet riot. "Battle" as in literally "war" with all the horrors of broken, shattered bones and ragged flesh being turn off or shredded by bullets, artillery of bombs..... and "buddy" which is a term of endearment a child might have for a new puppy. Those two words don't belong together. Get another term.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2017 11:59 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 11:59:04 -0500

I see it more with Guard and Reserve units than I do with Regular Army. Actually I never hear it. Warrior companion.