Airman wishes people would stop asking 'Which branch of the Army' he's in
MARIN, Calif. — An airman visiting his hometown as part of the Air Force Recruiter's Assistance Program is tired of people asking "which branch of the Army" he's in, Duffel Blog has learned.
Airman 1st Class Michael Arrierez, who recently finished Air Traffic Control technical training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, is taking advantage of the RAP program so he can go home for two weeks without using up too much leave. His duties have mainly included dropping off Air Force brochures in shops or schools around town while wearing his uniform, but this has led to people asking questions involving the Army — an entirely different service from his own.
"I've had this happen to me eight times already," Arrierez says. "Some civilian will see me in my ABUs (Airman Battle Uniform), thank me for my service, and then ask, 'So, which branch of the Army are you in?' or, 'How's Army life?'"
Arrierez believes this misconception comes from people conflating the terms "army" and "armed forces," as well as t…
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