https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/other/214198-soldaten-auf-zeit.html?

Soldaten auf Zeit

English translation: temporary enlistee

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Soldat auf Zeit
English translation:temporary enlistee
Entered by: William Stein

17:31 Jun 5, 2002
German to English translations [PRO]
German term or phrase: Soldaten auf Zeit
Soldaten auf Zeit

Sie sind Soldat auf Zeit. Für die Dauer Ihrer Dienstzeit können Sie sich auf einen sicheren Arbeitsplatz und auf ein regelmäßiges Einkommen verlassen. Alle Möglichkeiten, die junge Menschen heute haben, stehen Ihnen offen, z.B. zu reisen, Sport zu treiben, einen eigenen Wagen zu fahren und viele andere Dinge

(Don't worry, I'm not trying to recruit anybody!)
William Stein
Costa Rica
Local time: 20:35
temporary enlistees (or temporarily enlisted soldiers)
Explanation:
Notice the connection between auf Zeit and temporary (coming from the Latin Tempus = time).
This expression differentiates between the draftee (taken against his will), the regular army enlistee, and the person who enlists for a specific period of time.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-06-05 18:18:45 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I began my service career as a draftee in 1944, decided to stay in the service and retired in 1965 as a regular army serviceman.
Selected response from:

Dr. Fred Thomson
United States
Local time: 20:35
Grading comment
Thanks, Fred and everybody else!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3temporary enlistees (or temporarily enlisted soldiers)
Dr. Fred Thomson
4 +1RA's
brute (X)
4armed forces (soldiers)..
Kathi Stock
4short-term (regular) soldiers
Cilian O'Tuama
4not the answer
Andrzej Lejman
4regular soldiers
Mike McDonald (X)
4 -1Professional soldiers
Jan Liebelt


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
armed forces (soldiers)..


Explanation:
...who have enlisted for both long and short engagements

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-06-05 17:34:01 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Quelle: Eurodicautom

Kathi Stock
United States
Local time: 21:35
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in pair: 789
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
RA's


Explanation:
"Regular Army Enlisted Personnel"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-06-05 18:06:47 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

US Armed Forces terminology!

brute (X)
PRO pts in pair: 255

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  allemande: yep - they enlist for certain set time periods
29 mins
  -> Thanx, Allemande!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
short-term (regular) soldiers


Explanation:
a guess, fortunately there's no military service where I come from :-)

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 03:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 7294
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Professional soldiers


Explanation:
Or: Regulars.

Jan Liebelt
France
Local time: 03:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 77

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Andrzej Lejman: See the link, they differ between Zeitsoldaten and Berufssoldaten
4 mins
  -> I know there is a difference, but only in German. Both volunteer to do mre than they have to.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
not the answer


Explanation:
Die Bundeswehr unterscheidet zwischen Zeitsoldaten und Berufssoldaten.
Ein Zeitsoldat kann demzufolge schlecht "professional soldier" genannt werden.


    Reference: http://www.deutschemarine.de/made/dmbas.nsf/DocName/themen_b...
Andrzej Lejman
Poland
Local time: 03:35
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in pair: 154
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
temporary enlistees (or temporarily enlisted soldiers)


Explanation:
Notice the connection between auf Zeit and temporary (coming from the Latin Tempus = time).
This expression differentiates between the draftee (taken against his will), the regular army enlistee, and the person who enlists for a specific period of time.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-06-05 18:18:45 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I began my service career as a draftee in 1944, decided to stay in the service and retired in 1965 as a regular army serviceman.

Dr. Fred Thomson
United States
Local time: 20:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 5861
Grading comment
Thanks, Fred and everybody else!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: Yes, this seems the closest equivalent to the German system.
10 mins
  -> Thanks, Kim

agree  Ingrid Grzeszik
52 mins
  -> Thank you, Ingrid.

agree  jerrie
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Jerrie
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
regular soldiers


Explanation:
Until conscription ceased in UK in 1962, men enlisting voluntarily, as distinct from those called up for 'National Service', were known as regular soldiers, soldiers in the Regular Army, or just 'regulars'. This only seemed to apply to the Army, the Navy and Air Force either not drawing the same distinction or having their own and less well known internal jargon.


    Spent 31 years as a civilian working with the British Forces
Mike McDonald (X)
Local time: 02:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 74
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also: