Why do they call one soldier a troop nowadays?

Question

Isn't a troop the same as a group?

Answer 1

In my husband's unit they call the individual guys "troopers". Never knew if they meant the same thing. :)

Answer 2

it's short for trooper

Answer 3

Its not new. . . I've been somebody's troop for about 18 years.

I think you might be thinking of the TV show F Troop?  

Answer 4

Soldiers are only in the Army.

A troop could mean anybody in the military.

Answer 5

According to the dictionary...

Main Entry: 1troop  

Pronunciation: \ˈtrüp\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French trope, troupe company, herd, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English thorp, throp village — more at thorp

Date: 1545

1 a: a group of soldiers b: a cavalry unit corresponding to an infantry company cplural : armed forces, soldiers

2: a collection of people or things : crew 2

3: a flock of mammals or birds

4: the basic organizational unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader

I think it's used more as a catch-all word meaning people who serve in the military.  This way we don't have to always identify whether we're talking about Marines, soldiers, airmen, or sailors... males or females... officers or enlisted...  If those specifics are unimportant to the message, then the word "troop" covers it all!

Answer 6

it's an interchangeable term, used for generations in the army. it goes back into the 1800's, when a group of enlistees were referred to as troops, and individuals referred to as troopers, usualy non-com's, anyone below the rank of lieutenant. ..