Posted on Feb 21, 2018
Anyone ever hear of a First Sergeant being call “Top"?
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I suspect some stolen valor from a guy who says he is a Marine.
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 23
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In the Marines only a MSgt is called Top. Don't make the mistake of calling a 1stSgt top.
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Sgt Jason Schaeffer
Agreed. I’ve never heard a 1stSgt call “Top.” Always a Master Sergeant. Thanks for your response.
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SSgt Dan Montague
Sgt Jason Schaeffer - when I was a boot I made the mistake of calling my 1stSgt Top. I must have had to do 50+push-ups
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PVT Mark Brown
Wow, if I met a Marine E8 I would surely make that mistake, maybe. Like I said elsewhere, Top is reserved for more casual settings. On first meeting, I would not presume to use the friendly Top to address the man.
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No, but I do recall on the occasion of standing in formation to observe a crusty old MSgt with the 1st MARDIV headquarters pin on MGySgt, the Colonel asked, "Well Top, I have been calling you Top for so long now... what will I call you now?"
The crusty old Marine replied, "Aw heck sir, you can call me 'Tippy Top'".
The crusty old Marine replied, "Aw heck sir, you can call me 'Tippy Top'".
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That’s all we ever used to call our 1SG. Now, don’t know if it’s done.
We also used to call the CDR “old man”; mostly because back then they were real grey beards and crusty as hell.
We also used to call the CDR “old man”; mostly because back then they were real grey beards and crusty as hell.
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SFC Greg Bruorton
While serving as the NCOIC in the SSO 2ID the CO and the XO referred to me as "Top." And I was an E7 then too. It's simply a form of informal respect.
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PVT Mark Brown
SFC Greg Bruorton - Were you in an E8 slot or working as the 1SG? I didn't know Top could be used to apply to a section chief, aka NCOIC. But I totally agree the term is a form of informal respect. Of course, my Army exposure was limited to Basic, AIT then 26 months in Korea with the same unit the entire time. Then I went home.
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SFC Greg Bruorton
PVT Mark Brown - I was the top enlisted in my communications section so I must suppose being called 'Top' is okay. As a matter of fact, the slot is E8 as my replacement, of whom I knew personally at Bragg as an E7 (P) maintenance chief, came on board right before I left in 1975.
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