I suppose one could say we are “soldiers of the sea” if they want to stretch it that far. However, as a retired Marine, I do mind being referred to as a soldier. I am a Marine. To me soldiers always denotes Army service which is just fine but I was not Army.I have a friend who was in the Corps with me, when her contract was up she went into the first civ div...then a few years later, into the Army and she retired as a LtCol. She too was proud of her Marine Corps time and in her Army office
she displayed her Marine plaque, the flag set etc and trust me, no one messed with her! To this day she is more proud of her Marine time than the Army stints....( and to hear her tell it, while she was on active duty in the Army she tells me former Marines now in the Army could be picked out in a heart beat. It was always about bearing.) To each their own...but I will correct those who call me a soldier and simply say I am a retired Marine..
I should add one other thing..often we Marines make the mistake of calling our junior personnel “troops”. I have heard more than once a this statement corrected by a SGTMAJ or CWO..reminding others that they are not toops, they are Marines. Troops are in the Army.
This is not a slam against anyone who has served in the Army..they are strong fighters too..it is just a matter of who we are and the distinction we earned.