support the troops
Stand behind military
Support the troops is a patriotic slogan expressing solidarity with military service members, especially during wartime.
The phrase became ubiquitous in the United States during the Gulf War and Iraq War, appearing on bumper stickers and yellow ribbons.
It functions as a loyalty test—hard to oppose without seeming unpatriotic—while remaining vague about what support actually means.
Critics note it can deflect debate about military policy: You can support the troops and still oppose the war.
- veteransFormer armed forces members
- patriotismDevotion to one's homeland
- militaryArmed forces collectively
- armed forcesNation's combined military services
- ribbonsNarrow fabric strips
yellow ribbon · yellow · flag waving · sacrifice · fallen soldiers · flag · deployment · homecoming · welcome home · heroes · salute · military families · uniforms · overseas · duty · honor · care packages · care package
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, friendly fire, regime change, neutralize
- military slangFUBAR, hoorah, devil dog, SNAFU, GI
- war propagandawar posters, propaganda films, Soviet propaganda, patriotic imagery, demonization
support the troopsanti-militarism
Opposition to armed forces
pacifism · war resistance · peace movement · conscientious objection · draft resistance
support, troops, supports, supported, supporting, supporter, supporters, supportive, supportable