Posted on Aug 9, 2022
SFC PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer
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I have a new Officer in my unit who addresses myself and a Master Sergeant as Sir. He also refers to the Corporal and one of the other NCOs by their first names. I spoke to him about it, and his response was that he, as a Captain, can refer to anyone who doesn't outrank him however he wants to. I have looked at Army Regulation 600-20, but beyond the table showing the title of address, but I can't find anything that specifies whether he is allowed to address NCOs in the manner he is.
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Responses: 22
CPT Staff Officer
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Well.......... he's not professional then, and his response borders on being a jerk about it. CPT isn't a rank yet one gets to act that way, lest risk the wrath those he depends on to execute their jobs correctly without him having to micro manage everything with counseling statements.

My BC would refer to me by my first name when one on one. To me it meant whew........ I'm not in deep shit. When I hear CPT Lesher, I think uh oh.

The greatest mis addressing I did was to my TRADOC/AIT 1SG and I said good morning SGT. Push ups followed.

I think this situation needs mentoring guidance, but who is there to give it and for it to be accepted.

I still see folks get bent out of shape when addressing a WO1 as Chief instead of Mr/Ms. Usually of course it's other Chiefs. I do it too. All Warrants are Chief to me (I'm lazy), and they probably tolerate it because I was the Company Commander.

To address an NCO as Sir seems kind of weird. Then how does he address COL's. To address a CPL by first name and then not do so with all other lower enlisted sends a red flag of favoritism.

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If I have any guidance of direction one needs to be cognizant of ears around them. He's going to get caught up one day using his unique system of addressing service members and it's going to cause heads to turn of those 3+ ranks above him.

As well, rank has its privileges to blow things off, but at the end of the day we are each slotted into our own individual roles as it pertains to being a wheel in the cog of national defense. Our ranks don't allow us to really go too far left or right of our defined roles and responsibilities. Until one can WRITE the REGULATIONS one needs to be aware how far left and right the are outside of them and when and where they are when they do.
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SPC Member
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Edited >1 y ago
Pretty sure AR 600-25 and TC 7-21.13 covers it if 600-20 is lacking, but it sounds like he's behaving like he thinks his brass doesn't tarnish. CSM should hang about one day and listen in and if your BC is worth a damn he/she'll handle it.

Plenty of us have relaxed relationships with our seniors after working with them regularly or deploying with them, but there is a time and place and a need to know when to tighten things up. Those relaxed relationships take time to earn and feel out as well, can't just roll into it because you have bars.

The first name thing is something officers do between officers, but that's just an officer quirk and does not apply to the enlisted. Many enlisted find it awkward, unless a relationship has been built on a personal level through trust and service together. Even then there's customs and courtesies that still need to be observed in many areas.
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PO3 Bobby Quisenberry
PO3 Bobby Quisenberry
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Fraternizing is not good! You can loose respect for your seniors and not carry out their commands or feel lax in doing so.
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CSM Richard StCyr
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Used to be in AR 600-20 under titles of address.
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