Posted on Aug 21, 2014
Do you think it is disrespectful to call a Private "Private" when speaking to them?
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I seem to be noticing that Army privates are taking offence to being called a Private. I have seen/heard the rank being used to get their attention and as an intimidation tool. I personally do not see anything wrong with it. We Say Sargent so-n-so, Captain so-n-so, and Specialist so-n-so. Why are Privates acting as if they were just slapped in the face when called by their rank?
Posted in these groups: 
Rank
Customs and Courtesies
Rank Customs and Courtesies
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 164
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"Can I call you General Sweetpants?".....Pauly Shore, from In The Army Now. Seriously, Private is a title that is earned. If they want to hear something different, they can get promoted. It should be good incentive to fly right and work hard.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC (Join to see) Well said. Put the blinders on and take what was said to you in AIT and carry it through your military career. Laughable.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Sorry but everyone has to start somewhere. If they don't want to be called by their rank, we can always call them MR or MS and they can go back to the house.
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CPO (Join to see)
On a humorous note, I will say this...there are some parings with rank that make unfortunate names for sailors, soldiers, and marines. I won't say them here but we can all use our imaginations. We once had a Seaman whose last name did not work well with his pay-grade.
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OK.. just for fun, and because I'm feeling a little crazy tonight, lets see what AR 600-20, Table 1-1 has to say about the subject. Last I knew, the regulation was the source....hmmm... seems like we are supposed to address personnel in pay grades E-1 through E-3 as "Private". Interesting...
Guess that's case closed, huh?
Guess that's case closed, huh?
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Cpl Michael Strickler
I think i speak for all the Marines (at least like e-5 and below) when i say we hate this sometimes...
http://terminallance.com/2010/03/02/terminal-lance-17-the-stare/
http://terminallance.com/2010/03/02/terminal-lance-17-the-stare/
Terminal Lance - Terminal Lance #17 “The Stare”
This occurrence is pretty common in my life. I refer to it as “The Stare,” I’m sure you’re all familiar with it. As a lower enlisted, we are obligated to “greet” Staff NCO’s and officers as they approach us or walk by us. Generally its not a big deal, but often times the difference between E-7 through the E-9’s is indistinguishable outside of 15 feet–degrading to a blob of black weighing down their collars.
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LCDR (Join to see)
I can see that, especially when E-8 and E-9 require you to be able to figure out what device is in the middle, as well.
Again, I like how the navy simplifies this.
- Nothing on the collar, or french fries - just go with the last name.
- Eagle and Stripes - Petty Officer "Soandso."
- Anchor - check the stars *
* Has been somewhat reduced in simplicity by the use of gold for the entire CPO rank on NWUs. It's hard to tell between Chief and Senior Chief, since the gold star is hard to distinguish from the gold ring on the anchor. They need to go back to the mixed "metal" (thread) from the coveralls. Master Chief was never a problem, since the two stars changed the shape of the rank from a distance.
Again, I like how the navy simplifies this.
- Nothing on the collar, or french fries - just go with the last name.
- Eagle and Stripes - Petty Officer "Soandso."
- Anchor - check the stars *
* Has been somewhat reduced in simplicity by the use of gold for the entire CPO rank on NWUs. It's hard to tell between Chief and Senior Chief, since the gold star is hard to distinguish from the gold ring on the anchor. They need to go back to the mixed "metal" (thread) from the coveralls. Master Chief was never a problem, since the two stars changed the shape of the rank from a distance.
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BG (Join to see)
Actually, when I was in Basic Training, I was a PFC and when I reported to the Commander as Private Goddard, he corrected me to say Private First Class Goddard. Be proud of being an E-3!
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SSG(P) Auston Terry
AR 615-15 July 1954: 7. Titles of address.—a. Noncommissioned
officers will be addressed as “Sergeant”
or “Corporal” as appropriate.
b. Specialists will be addressed as
“Specialist.”
c. Personnel in private grades will be
addressed as “Private.”
Not much has changed, I'd personally like to see the Army go to using precise rank because it shows attention to detail. It's not vital to this conversation but there is a book available digitally CMH 70-38 "The Story of the Noncommisioned Officer Corps." Which I reccommend at least perusing.
officers will be addressed as “Sergeant”
or “Corporal” as appropriate.
b. Specialists will be addressed as
“Specialist.”
c. Personnel in private grades will be
addressed as “Private.”
Not much has changed, I'd personally like to see the Army go to using precise rank because it shows attention to detail. It's not vital to this conversation but there is a book available digitally CMH 70-38 "The Story of the Noncommisioned Officer Corps." Which I reccommend at least perusing.
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It's a LOT better than most of the things I called them...wtf is happening to the Army today??? It's your first frickin name in the eyes of the Army you frickin turds, get the hell over it!!! Ok, retired old-fart NCO rant complete, carry-on!!
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SPC Thomas Lema
i was a spc , we were called specialist, or specs or by our last name no big deal' they should get some thick skin '
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SSG (Join to see)
T.U.R.D....Trainee Under Rigorous Development. It's an apt title that went out of style when PC became the new norm and the chains on the mind.
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