Why the change from using the term “battle buddies” to “warrior companions”?

2018-10-02T01:42:39-04:00

I recently was corrected by different superiors on different occasions when I used the term ‘battle buddies.’ I was told I should use “warrior companions” now. Battle buddy is now a faux pas. When did this change? I said roger but later tried to learn why the change but nobody knew why, and apparently many had not heard of the change. Were several superiors pulling my leg on different occasions? Or is “battle buddy” now offensive? I call folks my “battle.” But if I call them my “companion” it begs the question what sort of companion? Has “battle buddy” gone the way of “good buddy?” Did it gain some sexual innuendo that I’m not aware of? Or is it offensive to those who have not been to a real battle? What about those “warrior companions” who have not yet been to real war? To be sure I’ve never had a person to complain when I called them my battle buddy. They knew what I meant. I feel a SHARP complaint coming if I call someone my companion. Mybe not so much warrior companion. I have searched for the memo or regulation but cannot find it anywhere. Am I the only one who has heard of this change?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 2 at 2018 2:20 AM

2018-10-02T02:20:27-04:00

Warrior Companions is an urban legend that started as a satirical practical joke.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 2 at 2018 2:24 AM

2018-10-02T02:24:06-04:00

https://www.stripes.com/news/rumor-debunked-army-battle-buddies-won-t-become-warrior-companions-1.101771

Rumor debunked: Army battle buddies won’t become warrior companions

ARLINGTON, Va. — Contrary to what you may have read, the Army has not embraced the more intimate term “warrior companion” to replace the platonic “battle buddy.”

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 2 at 2018 5:23 AM

2018-10-02T05:23:06-04:00

I have not heard of this, if it is true, what a shame. It really rolls off the tunge. What a shame, I guess I said it twice. Thank you for your service.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 5:46 AM

2018-10-02T05:46:37-04:00

Used to mess with Ranger students and tell them it was no longer Ranger Buddy but warrior companion. Their reactions were pretty funny. Never kept the charade up though because warrior companion just sounds stupid.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Oct 2 at 2018 6:25 AM

2018-10-02T06:25:25-04:00

Honestly, both of them sound lame. "battle buddy" or "warrior companion", I would use neither. I think soldier, Marine, Sailor or Airman to address each other sounds far more professional than
"battle buddy".

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 2 at 2018 6:41 AM

2018-10-02T06:41:23-04:00

Ever notice how the new Company Commander has to re-arrange the furniture in his office, no matter what. I think It's like that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 6:54 AM

2018-10-02T06:54:12-04:00

No BS this was something that started as a trolling joke. A couple of dudes started it and it got a life of its own when some people thought this was real. Next thing you know, it was adopted by Facebook leadership groups and it got so big that even Army leaders were forced to address it. This was a couple of years ago, so it's surprising anyone still believes it.

Response by SFC William Stephens made Oct 2 at 2018 8:26 AM

2018-10-02T08:26:36-04:00

REALLY is this female thing, All my Army friends used to call me BATTLE!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Oct 2 at 2018 8:38 AM

2018-10-02T08:38:23-04:00

Brother,works for me.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 8:40 AM

2018-10-02T08:40:24-04:00

A joke?
I think not.
Who else, besides your warrior companion, should you send for a spool of flight line or a bucket of rotor wash?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 8:49 AM

2018-10-02T08:49:00-04:00

They started changing allot of terminology back in 2005 when I was a cadre at Ft. Jackson, they corrected me and told us we could not say double tap and the reactive fire range and all kinds of stuff. Somebody at TRADOC has to earn a living somehow.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 8:50 AM

2018-10-02T08:50:48-04:00

It started out a joke ALARACT written by the guy that created the Bob on the Fob comic strip: https://www.stripes.com/blogs-archive/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/remember-the-warrior-companion-rumor-here-s-the-backstory-1.149701#.W7NoMRRRfI0
But it did pick up traction all over the Army. As recently as last year you could find memos at Bliss mentioning "Warrior Companion".
In my BN, we prefer the term "Combat Lifestyle Partner".

remember-the-warrior-companion-rumor-here-s-the-backstory-1.149701%23.W7NoMRRRfI0

Response by CW3 Michael Bodnar made Oct 2 at 2018 9:00 AM

2018-10-02T09:00:05-04:00

I kind of do not like the term battle buddy. I see the sense for teaching them to always have someone with you but I think in this day and age, we can come up with something better than that. The term just seems elementary to me.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Oct 2 at 2018 12:15 PM

2018-10-02T12:15:31-04:00

OMG! I heard it all now. This is the second gayest thing I've heard all week. The first was when I found out my boyfriend was seeing his ex boyfriend. LOL! JK! Seriously..... JK! Next it will be Battle significant others as gay as the military is becoming.

If battle buddy is a problem then why not use the term co-worker. I mean in all honesty "buddy" to me in "battle buddy" isn't the word that is miss leading. It's Battle. How often are most SM's of any branch really in battle?

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Oct 2 at 2018 12:22 PM

2018-10-02T12:22:35-04:00

The new term for FY19 is Significant Other Buddy or SOB for short, the Death by power point presentation is going through review by the Good Idea *Fairy* (not to be confused with a homophobic comment) in the subbasement Gender Neutral mop closet of the Pentagon.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 12:46 PM

2018-10-02T12:46:54-04:00

Could be worse...in a way. Here in Honduras, they are known as Travel Companion.

Response by SPC Mike Davis made Oct 2 at 2018 1:15 PM

2018-10-02T13:15:31-04:00

Reason for change....some girly general getting a complaint from some butt hurt girl.

Response by SrA John Monette made Oct 2 at 2018 3:20 PM

2018-10-02T15:20:36-04:00

as someone who has never been in a real battle, I don't see any problems with "battle buddy". it could be simply that the military had too much time on its collective hands and decided "let's screw with everyone today"

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 3 at 2018 4:17 AM

2018-10-03T04:17:27-04:00

Sounds Greek to me. :D
Do you gotta be an Operator to use it?

Response by PO1 William Wade made Oct 4 at 2018 2:47 AM

2018-10-04T02:47:01-04:00

Yes, and what is up with the term "War Fighter"? Why can't they just be soldiers since they don't fight wars 25/7/365?

Response by SCPO William Akin made Oct 4 at 2018 9:23 PM

2018-10-04T21:23:29-04:00

And the winner is.... "Combat Lifestyle Partner"
Thank You SGM (Verify To See)

Response by SGT Mike Moschkin made Oct 7 at 2018 10:44 PM

2018-10-07T22:44:43-04:00

I never saw either term until now on RP before we were foxhole buddies because we shared a foxhole. I guess these new terms came about because now days they don't dig in to a foxhole any more ?

Response by PV2 Stephen Walker made Oct 16 at 2018 10:34 PM

2018-10-16T22:34:25-04:00

I got out in 95 and still talk of my Battle Buddy. It's just easier to say! I say KISS. Companion? Really!

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Oct 24 at 2018 7:43 PM

2018-10-24T19:43:53-04:00

Just another example of "politically correct" bullshit I suspect.

Let's face it, the military has a long disgusting history of trying to adjust terminology for the unpalatable. In my Grandfather's day "Shellshock" was the term used to describe PTSD, and how many times have we changed the terminology to describe shooting at each other (e.g. firefight)?

Response by SGT Thomas Mitchell made Nov 2 at 2018 9:17 AM

2018-11-02T09:17:57-04:00

Oh crap! Has the military been taken over by a public relations department?

Response by CPT George Ruzicka made Nov 3 at 2018 2:00 PM

2018-11-03T14:00:34-04:00

I guess I am showing my age but back in the late 60's when we were in a combat zone we called each other "brother". "Battle buddy" had not come into play as you did not want to get close to anyone in Nam because they could easily become a casualty. Too difficult to deal with so with rotating replacements the new guys were kept at an arms length.

Response by PV2 Michael Miedzianowski made Nov 15 at 2018 2:04 PM

2018-11-15T14:04:36-05:00

I thought it was because of having females in combat now ? You never know for sure .