Is it true that before early 2000s that people who were in Basic Training were called soldiers instead of trainees?

2021-07-31T14:47:18-04:00

vs. today, when you’re in Army Basic Training, you’re called Trainee? Just curious

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Jul 31 at 2021 3:03 PM

2021-07-31T15:03:35-04:00

It was trainee in 1978. As I recall, during one the Drill Sergeant scandals the term was deemed derogatory and Drill Sergeants were directed to refer to new Soldiers by their rank rather than trainee. Regardless of how they are addressed they are still Soldiers. The Marines don’t refer to their “boots” as Marines until after basic

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 31 at 2021 3:05 PM

2021-07-31T15:05:15-04:00

When I was in OSUT, I was very rarely called Soldier, trainee, Warrior, or any other term which could be considered positive or even neutral.

I will state, however, that both Soldier *and* trainee are accurate. I have, at many times, been a trainee, regardless of how long I had been in, or what rank I had attained. Every one of those times (at least within the Army) I was *also* a Soldier.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2021 3:34 PM

2021-07-31T15:34:28-04:00

Basic Trainee and AIT Student are accurate for today, in the Guard being called and titled Warrior rather than Soldier or Recruit is common in the Recruit Sustainment Program as the concept of being a Soldier is reinforced as something that you earn by graduating BCT / OSUT and pinning on your U.S. enlisted insignia. Then becoming MOSQ in AIT / OSUT and pinning on your branch insignia and regimental crest, thus earning your MOS title.

For years gone by, I can assure you my family members were not called anything flattering or resembling Soldier until they graduated.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2021 5:00 PM

2021-07-31T17:00:50-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member "raggedy ass recruit" comes to mind. Fort Ord way back when

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2021 6:49 PM

2021-07-31T18:49:23-04:00

I went to Basic in 1998. My Drill Sergeants called us Privates, or Privets. Because you aren't even a Private yet till you graduate, you're a privet, and one day if you're smart enough you can earn you're way up to being a dumb Private.

I hear years later they used Soldier and even Warrior. I don't know if that's any more true than Stress Cards in Basic training.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2021 6:54 PM

2021-07-31T18:54:50-04:00

I went thru OSUT in 2000. They called us "Priats."

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2021 7:58 PM

2021-07-31T19:58:55-04:00

2011 we were called privates

I went in as a SPC so I figured drill instructors were not talking to me.

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made Jul 31 at 2021 8:23 PM

2021-07-31T20:23:31-04:00

Basic training 1988 Ft. Sill OK
There the D/S would climb your butt if you called each other solider.
We had E-2's E-3's and even a SP4 that wasn't allowed to wear rank until after we finished OSUT for 13B.
We were dumb ass priiiiiiiivats until that day.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2021 9:11 PM

2021-07-31T21:11:47-04:00

In 2003 we were called everything but Soldiers during Basic. Definitely not trainee or Warrior. Private and High speed were the popular ones.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2021 2:42 PM

2021-08-01T14:42:46-04:00

In my Basic Training back in 1993, what we were called depended on which Drill Sergeant was screaming at us. The normal name was Private. One used the word Stud. Another the word Hero. One particular SFC Drill Sergeant liked using Stupid. I don't think any of us were called Soldier until Graduation Day.

Response by SSG Dennis O'Connor made Aug 1 at 2021 6:21 PM

2021-08-01T18:21:50-04:00

Did OSUT from November 89-March 90. We were referred to as everything from shitbags to douchebags. Never once, if I remember correctly, were we referred to as soldiers, trainees, troops, or otherwise until we graduated

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 1 at 2021 9:17 PM

2021-08-01T21:17:40-04:00

Hell in 73, I was called everything but free white and 21!!

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Aug 3 at 2021 10:00 AM

2021-08-03T10:00:03-04:00

As best I can recall, PFC Private RallyPoint Member, it was "Trainee" until somewhen around 1980. That's about the timeframe I remember the conversations among us NCOs about the DA mandate that trainees were to be considered soldiers from Day 1 of BCT. To say we weren't enthused about it would be an understatement.

Response by SGT John Ball made Aug 4 at 2021 8:57 PM

2021-08-04T20:57:15-04:00

I was called rag bag, ate up, knucklehead, soup sandwich and maggot. That was in 1987 though!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2021 9:02 PM

2021-08-04T21:02:34-04:00

1988 Fort Jackson. We were called privates or soldiers by our drill sergeants