war-fighter
n.— «According to Anderson, improving soldiers” digestive health is a primary concern for the U.S. Army because “war-fighters”-a term used to describe members of all the military branches-have long suffered from intestinal issues, particularly diarrhea, while serving overseas.» —“Live cultures called to active duty” by Kate Radway The Windy Citizen (Chicago, Illinois) July 15, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A hundred years ago, suffragists lobbied to win women the right to vote. Linguistically speaking, though, suffrage isn’t about “suffering.” It’s from a Latin word that involves voting. Plus: military cadences often include...
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when answering the phone. Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering with ahoy! but Thomas Edison was partial to hello! A fascinating new book about...
“War-fighter” is generally used to distinguish military members in actual combat/fighting roles from those in support activities not directly involved in prosecuting combat operations.