Terminology in the infantry

[Infantryman]

I would like to respond to a comment by Big Bad John, which I believe was also echoed by others and would seem to have me look like an ignorant fool, based on my handle.

I have never met an "Infantryman", I have met Infanteers, Paratroops, and Marines.

Sir, although I have no doubt that it is possible that in the future, the language will adapt to your view so that nobody's feelings get hurt, the fact is that the dictionary (Webster, Britannica, and others) seem to agree with me.
This quote is from Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: in ·fan ·try ·man
Pronunciation: -trE-m&n
Function: noun
: an infantry soldier

Infanteer was not recognized as a word.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I've seen a lot of negative reactions to the word "Infanteer" as well.  Not being one perhaps I am not in a position to judge, but Infantryman has always seemed to be the traditional monicker.  It is also not gender specific, I see nothing wrong with calling a female infantry soldier an infantryman, just like female city councillors or called aldermen.

 

[big bad john]

I would like to respond to a comment by Big Bad John, which I believe was also echoed by others and would seem to have me look like an ignorant fool, based on my handle.

Sir, although I have no doubt that it is possible that in the future, the language will adapt to your view so that nobody's feelings get hurt, the fact is that the dictionary (Webster, Britannica, and others) seem to agree with me.
This quote is from Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: in ·fan ·try ·man
Pronunciation: -trE-m&n
Function: noun
: an infantry soldier

Infanteer was not recognized as a word.

An American dictionary, with American terms.   I rest my case.

Edit add:  What I wrote above was crass and I do apologize it.  My problem with your use of Infantryman was that you used it as a put down on women in the Military.  I do not know you at all, but if you noticed the last posting I did on the women in combat thread.  They were on a Capt Pip Tattersall from the Adjutant General Corps passing the All Arms Commando Course.  She is not an "Infantryman", but I would prefer to have her beside when it hits the fan than many Infantry types I know.  She passed when more than half the men on the course (most of them Combat Arms types) failed.  My point is that you can't judge an individual on generalizations of race, colour, creed or gender.

The woman I was most happy to see in my life was a rotorhead pilot picking a team I was with up.  I couldn't care that she was a woman, just that she was a good pilot!

 

[Infantryman]

Ok, well, here's what a british dictionary has to say (just in case encyplopedia britannica wasn't enough)

The freesearch online British English dictionary contains around 150,000 terms with examples and related words.
To use it, you may search using the search box above or browse the word listings by letter of the alphabet below.

Here's what a search for infantryman returned:

infantry

group noun {U}

the part of an army that fights on foot:
- The infantry was/were sent into battle.

- It's a light/heavy infantry unit.


infanteer was not found in the dictionary.



I don't have a collection of dictionaries in my office, so online research is the best I can do.  All I can say is I haven't seen infanteer in any of the dictionaries I've looked at so far (and the internet has reached the UK, I'm quite sure).

 

[Infantryman]

I replied before seeing your edit.

I have no problem with women in the military, but I do have a problem with the way they are held at a different standard.   They may have sex categories at the olympics but they shouldn't have them in the army.   Now, if we enforce a uniform standard, the problem is that it tends to be laxed so that everyone makes it in.   And although it's quite possible that the Capt you referred to is twice the soldier I am, pointing to a few exceptional women proves your point no more than me pointing to the exceptional men in the service.   I feel that my views are far less sexist than those of most women in the service, I want a high standard, and I want it across the board!  

The infantry should have the highest physical standard, and if 90 % of women don't meet it, and 70 % of men don't either then great, we'll do fine with the fellows and gals who do make it.  

Now, is those numbers go more towards 99%, then it may be worth considering what we are subjecting oursleves to administratively (separate bunks, showers, ...) for the 3 or four women that make it.   I am looking at facts, I believe that women are being allowed in the infantry as much as men (I've had female infantrymen in my platoon and on my courses and they did fine) but in the last Battalion I served, there were only 2 women (inf).   Even looking only at Pte/Cpls, assuming that women have only been effectively allowed for a few years, it's still an infinitely small percantage.  

 

[big bad john]

So do the women in the service I have spoken with.  BTW, we have no gender standards in the Commando Course, just standards.

 

[Infantryman]

Sorry, I'm new to the blog world, I was editing my last post when you answered it.

 

[Infanteer]

Infanteer was not recognized as a word.

I'm feeling awfully offended and belittled by this thread....

 

[readyfourzero]

Big Bad John you know what they say - P company - It's not for chicks, (Sorry everyone else this is Brit humour), but no doubt the Cdo Cse is hard, not that I have done it myself, we were always told to take a jump if any of us Infantrymen tried to apply.  I have done courses like SCBC and PSBC I should imagine most of the people that have been on that would be probable winners of the coveted green beret if you compare the courses.  There was a RM instructor on the Junior wing when I went through several years ago, Can't remember his name though.  I remember the RM instructor on my HW2 (Mortars) course and my Mor Pl Comds Cse (JP + GE) if you know who I am talking about.  Good blokes as well as several Bootnecks that I know, I was even voted in as a member of the buffalo club at one stage, I still cant drink right handed.

This Infanteer/Infantryman debate - at the ITC the students do the Combat Infantrymans Course if that is any help, I have also heard Anti tankers call themselves Milaneers (stange name-but then they are Anti Tanks) what are they going to call themselves when they get javelin - javelineers

 

[*Grunt]

Look guys Infanrtyman, Infanteer, Infantry it all means the same thing....An infantry soldier..I just dont see the point of arguing this fact. Yes Infanteer is an obvious Canadian term, for infantry, but I think the term Infantryman is universal. American's pretty much tend to call themselves Marines so, I dont think I should have to continue now.

 

[readyfourzero]

OK you're the boss.  Big bad john and I are just foreign invaders (doing what the brits do best, especially when we're bored!) we'll respect you're terminology.

 

[combat_medic]

Grunt, you may care to research your facts. I've heard people of numerous nationalities use the word Infanteer, so it's far from a purely Canadian term. Furthermore, I would be astounded if a US Army Ranger or Air Force Fighter Pilot referred to themself as a "Marine". Nor is Marine an exclusively American term. The British Royal Marines are just as proud of the term but, as with the Americans, the only people who apply it to themselves are those who are actually Marines.

Please do some research before making such blanket statements. If you don't know, there's no shame in asking questions, but if you're not sure and post anyway, it just makes you look bad.

 

[Chags]

Look guys Infanrtyman, Infanteer, Infantry it all means the same thing....An infantry soldier..I just dont see the point of arguing this fact. Yes Infanteer is an obvious Canadian term, for infantry, but I think the term Infantryman is universal. American's pretty much tend to call themselves Marines so, I dont think I should have to continue now.

Americans don't call themselves Marines unless they are in the Marine Corps.  US Army soldiers do not want to be called Marines.   They are infantrymen, cavalrymen, Rangers, etc..

and for the last time..  Infanteer is not the Canadian term for Infantryman.  It is not a word.. it is slang.