Question for veterans or active duty military personnel (1 Viewer)

[jdoggydogg]

Hi all,

My wife is going to teach a college workshop, and she is considering calling it a boot camp. Is that term offensive to vets? Any and all opinions welcome to chime in!

 

[smbkrypt24]

Boot camp is specifically for marines. Army is known at basic training. I don’t think it is offensive at all. I see a lot of workout classes that are called boot camps. 

 

[TheWinz]

Boot camp isn't just for Marines; it's slang for Basic Training for all military branches.  And the term is not offensive.

 

[smbkrypt24]

Boot camp isn't just for Marines; it's slang for Basic Training for all military branches.  And the term is not offensive.

It’s slang for civilians, but military personnel do not call it the same.

Same as calling your m16/m4 a gun.

 

[Streetduck]

It’s slang for civilians, but military personnel do not call it the same.

Same as calling your m16/m4 a gun.

The Navy calls it Bootcamp, and a freshly enlisted sailor is called a boot.

 

[BobbyLayne]

veteran

cannot imagine anyone thinking it’s offensive; it’s generic, has universal usage, it’s not dishonoring anyone or anything, et al

its really nice you asked though

 

[smbkrypt24]

The Navy calls it Bootcamp, and a freshly enlisted sailor is called a boot.

Maybe it’s navy/marine then. Interesting, I am just aware that in the army you better not call it boot camp.

 

[TheWinz]

It’s slang for civilians, but military personnel do not call it the same.

Sure they do, if they want to.  I spent nearly 26 years of active duty in the Air Force.  If I want to call my Basic Military Training "Boot Camp", I can.  

 

[BobbyLayne]

The Navy calls it Bootcamp, and a freshly enlisted sailor is called a boot.

yup that’s what we (USN) called it 40 years ago as well

don't think we used boot wonder if it’s region specific (2nd Fleet here) or just that I served a long time ago

 

[smbkrypt24]

Sure they do, if they want to.  I spent nearly 26 years of active duty in the Air Force.  If I want to call my Basic Military Training "Boot Camp", I can.  

I apologize, I should have spoke more from my experience. We were not ever able to call army basic training a boot camp.

 

[Streetduck]

Maybe it’s navy/marine then. Interesting, I am just aware that in the army you better not call it boot camp.

They are under the same roof, but for the sake of the question I don’t think there’s an issue with using the word.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Maybe it’s navy/marine then. Interesting, I am just aware that in the army you better not call it boot camp.

One thing I always loved about USMC

I’m ex-Navy. Lot of my veteran friends are ex-Army. Airman used to be in the Air Force.

for jarheads, it’s “I’m a marine.” fresh out of basic, active, retired, veteran - you are always a marine.

 

[TheWinz]

I apologize, I should have spoke more from my experience. We were not ever able to call army basic training a boot camp.

No worries, just having fun.  Any way you slice it, not offensive.

 

[smbkrypt24]

No worries, just having fun.  Any way you slice it, not offensive.

Agreed 100%

 

[Streetduck]

yup that’s what we (USN) called it 40 years ago as well

don't think we used boot wonder if it’s region specific (2nd Fleet here) or just that I served a long time ago

Me too 41 years ago I attended bootcamp in San Diego, never really got called boot until I got to A school in Memphis.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Thank you all so much for your replies, and thank you for your service. This was very useful for us.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Me too 41 years ago I attended bootcamp in San Diego, never really got called boot until I got to A school in Memphis.

SE - boot Orlando, BE&E Orlando, A school Pensacola, Charleston, Mayport (Jax) / 3 deployments to Med/IO & 1 South American

’twas an eventful 6 years

 

[Dreamer]

Not offensive at all.

 

[brun]

Never mind.

 

[-OZ-]

Hi all,

My wife is going to teach a college workshop, and she is considering calling it a boot camp. Is that term offensive to vets? Any and all opinions welcome to chime in!

Nope

If she started calling the attendees Soldiers, referred to her privates, and made a bunch of over the top military references, you might offend someone.  

 

[jdoggydogg]

Nope

If she started calling the attendees Soldiers, referred to her privates, and made a bunch of over the top military references, you might offend someone.  

Yeah no way would we do that.

 

[babydemon90]

Hi all,

My wife is going to teach a college workshop, and she is considering calling it a boot camp. Is that term offensive to vets? Any and all opinions welcome to chime in!

 Was in for 16 years, and nope not offensive in the slightest.
Although I have periodically joked to my wife when she would go to a workout 'bootcamp' that I should offer to help teach it but they'd just be polishing boots for 3 hours.

 

[Dacomish]

I am a 20 year USAF Retiree and bootcamp is not offensive to me at all, I even see many physical fitness classes out in the civilian world called bootcamps so its a rather universal term now. 

 

[Dreamer]

 Was in for 16 years, and nope not offensive in the slightest.
Although I have periodically joked to my wife when she would go to a workout 'bootcamp' that I should offer to help teach it but they'd just be polishing boots for 3 hours.

The first hour would be spent teaching people how to make their bed and fold their clothes.

 

[-OZ-]

The first hour would be spent teaching people how to make their bed and fold their clothes.

And then sleep on the floor to be ready for inspection. 

 

[smbkrypt24]

And then sleep on the floor to be ready for inspection. 

I chose to sleep on top and then tighten, didn’t pass usually. 

 

[Mister CIA]

One thing I always loved about USMC

I’m ex-Navy. Lot of my veteran friends are ex-Army. Airman used to be in the Air Force.

for jarheads, it’s “I’m a marine.” fresh out of basic, active, retired, veteran - you are always a marine.

But don't call Marines Navy dependants.  They hate that.

 

[Streetduck]

SE - boot Orlando, BE&E Orlando, A school Pensacola, Charleston, Mayport (Jax) / 3 deployments to Med/IO & 1 South American

’twas an eventful 6 years

I was stationed at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, 81-85

 

[Spike]

veteran

cannot imagine anyone thinking it’s offensive; it’s generic, has universal usage, it’s not dishonoring anyone or anything, et al

its really nice you asked though

Same.

 

[Spike]

Nope

If she started calling the attendees Soldiers, referred to her privates, and made a bunch of over the top military references, you might offend someone.  

I was in the Army Reserve back in the early 80s and went to Basic Training, just like anyone else who joined the Army.  (I was Radar O'Rielly in a medical unit.)

Once back in my reserve unit, back with the officers who were all directly-commissioned, the woman who was a major referenced me and a buddy as, "These are my privates."  Me and the other guy could not stop laughing the rest of the weekend.  Tears.

 

[-OZ-]

I was in the Army Reserve back in the early 80s and went to Basic Training, just like anyone else who joined the Army.  (I was Radar O'Rielly in a medical unit.)

Once back in my reserve unit, back with the officers who were all directly-commissioned, the woman who was a major referenced me and a buddy as, "These are my privates."  Me and the other guy could not stop laughing the rest of the weekend.  Tears.

I always tried to treat my privates well. Sometimes they took a good beating (PT)

 

[rustycolts]

And then sleep on the floor to be ready for inspection. 

Lol I remember doing that.

 

[rustycolts]

But don't call Marines Navy dependants.  They hate that.

Army infantry because even Marines need hero's .