[x-factor]

LT - When I first read your post, I understood why you might be annoyed but I was inclined to write it off the guy's use of "served" as a good-intentioned error in etiquette and not a sin. But after reading the webmaster's response, I'm less willing to stick up for the guy. At the very least, he could have made his point about there being different kinds of "service" in a more respectful tone. As it is, I agree, he comes off as a poseur.

Did you notice the line about his brothers and father? Not to play amateur shrink, but I think the guy's defensive reaction might be based on a sense of inadequacy compared to the rest of his family. (Maybe he's disabled or something?)

I deploy as a civillian intel officer and I'm trying to think of what term I usually use to describe my time in the field. I want to say that I usually say "deployed," "worked with," "went out with," or something like that...but to be honest I probably have said "served with" at some point. In retrospect, I hope I haven't offended anyone.