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I get what you're saying, but even HVAC guys are civilians :)

Huge pet peeve of mine, this militaristic way of thinking. Even police are civilians -- every one is, except for actual soldiers. Cops love to refer to everyone else as "civilians" but they're just hired security with extra perks.

You seem ill-informed in your pet peeve. Miriam Webster defines civilian as "not military not police."

A dictionary reflects current usage. It does not reflect correct usage.

Police in the US are not governed by the UCMJ and have no affirmative obligations in the way military do. They are also civilians under the Geneva convention.

A professional police force only goes back about 200 years.

My pet peeve is nerds arguing with the dictionary:)

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