How do you handle interservice rivalry that goes beyond the the normal good-natured variety? When does it cross a line?

SGT James Colwell — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:03:24 -0500

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Dec 20 at 2016 5:06 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:06:48 -0500

By handling it? Details are important in the bigger picture of the question? How is it over the line, ETC?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2016 5:16 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:16:20 -0500

SGT James Colwell Most of the time, inter service rivalry is good natured. It crosses the line when it is mean spirited. We are all brothers and sisters that have many shared experiences.

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Dec 20 at 2016 6:45 PM

1SG Al Brown — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 18:45:52 -0500

Usually alcohol numbs it across line line, followed by trip to the Emergency Room, then the Army MP station. Usually after everyone has their stitches and court dates, at least you've made a new friend with the Marine Corp 1SG. Until next time. Don't miss those days.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 20 at 2016 7:31 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:31:55 -0500

It only ever crosses the line for me when people say stupid shit like (and yeah, I've seen it here) 'the Navy isn't a combat service'. Because someone stupid enough to say that is dumb enough to believe it. Otherwise, I'm fully prepared to let the gamut of Sailor insults (squid, swabbie, etc) bounce right off my thick skin, because I'll give as good as I get, and it's just friggin camaraderie.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Dec 21 at 2016 2:04 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 02:04:23 -0500

When it becomes insulting instead of just an exchange of humor. I respect all My bothers and sisters in all the branches of the Armed Forces. I expect each of us will take pride in our own service, its shouldn't be any other way. Just remember though each of us has an important job to do in the service of our country and We may offer small jokes to each other in showing that but let it go beyond that and keep it to a very small limit if at all.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 21 at 2016 3:12 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:12:35 -0500

I will probably always bust the chops of my Air Force Brethren, Maybe because I am jealous of their Quality of Life. I probably will always bust the Chops of my Marine Brethren but I'm sure that the one s that were the Victims, Excuse me "Trainees" of British Riot Control Training want to beat My Ass (I was a Recruited Professional Rioter for the British Marines). Army? I may tease the Army Folks but those that Know me know that I was a Guest of Washington's own for Several Months. I recruited an Army Spook from one among them. It's called a Brotherhood, We May Fight but I Know Who My Brothers in Arms are.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2016 3:14 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:14:19 -0500

We have all taken part in this interservice rivalry, however, there is a difference between good-natured and insulting. As corpsmen, we are thrown into the joint service atmosphere, where good-natured fun is had at everyone's expense. We all favor our specific branches and think it is the best, however, I've never had an issue with anyone. At the end of the day we are all just serving our country.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Dec 21 at 2016 7:46 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 07:46:59 -0500

I find it rarely crosses the line. It has to be truly ignorant and intentionally insulting. But if it does, I start asking questions about their service, and about how our services have worked together (successfully) in the past. If you know some history and you know a little about the other services, it's not hard to show we are a better team together.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 21 at 2016 8:54 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 08:54:46 -0500

Honestly I've never dealt with any line crossing amongst my fellow service members. But typically you can tell the difference between someone pulling your leg and flat out trying to denigrate you. It also depends on the pre-existing relationship between the two parties. When we're close to people personally, we tend to push buttons harder than we do with complete strangers because we know how our friends will respond.

So while my friends and I can goad each other calling one another a "POG-ass Boot Bitch" and still laugh about it and be friends, if I said that to a complete stranger, they'd most likely take that as insulting.

If you believe someone has crossed the line, let them know. If it truly was a friendly ribbing, they'll probably apologize. But there are people who do thrive on being mean and cruel who will just say "it's all in good fun" or something along those lines and continue trying to provoke people.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2016 10:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 10:53:36 -0500

Crossing the line? Maybe when it resorts to physical violence. Up until that point it is all grab ass and trash talk amongst siblings. Nobody intentionally physically whoops up on their siblings, unless copious amounts of booze comes into play and somebody goes full idiot. Only encountered that once and in the end, after getting thrown out of an establishment, we all realized that it was stupid, brought each other drinks, and conducted ourselves like civilized folks so the local PD would not suspect us.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Dec 27 at 2016 12:02 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 12:02:54 -0500

It crosses the line when those Marines disparage the USAF people who provide them with chocolate fountains and espresso bars when they come in for R&R and a chance to sleep on clean sheets in a hard billet with working AC at an air base. It also is bad when the Army guys steal the MWR provided ping pong paddles having lost their own.

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Dec 27 at 2016 4:50 PM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 16:50:36 -0500

When someone throws a punch or beer bottles get broken :-)

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Dec 27 at 2016 9:22 PM

Sgt John Koliha — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:22:39 -0500

The only time a line can possibly ever be crossed is when some poor, uninformed service member believes that they (and their service) are any way able to rival the Marines.

Response by Cpl Jeff Ruffing made Dec 28 at 2016 6:19 AM

Cpl Jeff Ruffing — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:19:44 -0500

What is crossing the line? If it results in physical assault, that's crossing the line in my book. If that's the case, there is UCMJ for that. Other than that, I've never experienced in my 20 years 8 months ANY crossing of the line in rivalry. I've actually seen it worse in its own branch with practical jokes and hazing.

Response by SPC Sean Martin made Dec 30 at 2016 9:28 AM

SPC Sean Martin — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 09:28:57 -0500

I'd bow out! When it gets physical, it has crossed the line!!

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jan 7 at 2017 2:58 PM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 14:58:49 -0500

Any other vet or GI can give me shit, just as I do to them. But let an outsider give a GI or vet shit, I'll jump down their' throat, they haven't EARNED the right to give us anything. We be family.