G.I. is a noun used to describe the soldiers of the United States Army and airmen of the United States Army Air Forces and also for general items of their equipment. The term G.I. has been used as an initialism of "Government Issue '' or "General Issue '', but it originally referred to "galvanized iron '', as used by the logistics services of the United States Armed Forces. The letters "G.I. '' were used to denote equipment made from galvanized iron, such as metal trash cans, in U.S. Army inventories and supply records. In British military parlance and in armed forces modelled on British military traditions, G.I. refers to a Gunnery Instructor (generally an NCO responsible for inducting and training recruits).
where did the term g.i. come from
originally referred to "galvanized iron '', as used by the logistics services of the United States Armed Forces. The letters "G.I. '' were used to denote equipment made from galvanized iron, such as metal trash cans, in U.S. Army inventories and supply records