Posted on Aug 23, 2014
SFC Operations Nco
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I feel as if I’m speaking to a Master Sergeant, Sergeant First Class or Staff Sergeant, they need to be addressed as their full rank and not “Sergeant.”
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PO1 Ron Clark
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Very disrespectful especially (if you know better) and if you don't then you should learn better. In my branch once you make E4 you're an NCO Junior though you may be, it is what it is? When you address someone lower than their achieved rank you are doing them a disservice, not only disrespecting whatever achievements they've accomplished and forgot that most of us worked hard to attain whatever rank we posessed and each level you achieve grants you increased authority, responsibility, and thereby respect with the rank and badge of office.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
SGT Jeremiah B.
>1 y
In the Army, it's a whole different animal. We don't use full ranks when personally addressing most enlisted members. Only the very senior-most NCOs are addressed by rank. You're a private, specialist, sergeant, First Sergeant or Sergeant Major. You would, however, refer to a Command Sergeant Major as simply Sergeant Major.
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Capt Richard I P.
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Marines do.
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SSG Public Relations
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Edited >1 y ago
My Platoon Sergeant posed this question to me as a "pop quiz" the other day. For the Army, the regulation clearly states "Sergeant" in those instances described in the original post. Personally, if there are multiple SFCs around, I would say "Sergeant [Name]". If I were referring to an NCO in the third-person, I would use their rank for clarity; "Staff Sergeant Johnson advised..."

Other branches have their own customs. A Gunnery Sergeant is NOT "Sergeant". A Tech Sergeant is most definitely a Tech Sergeant. I know this only from having worked in an joint base environment before. It all depends on the environment and where you grow into what you grow into. But as for the Army, MSG, SSG, SFC, and SGT are all "Sergeant". It's not disrespectful, it's regulation. Asking for something different ... must be one's own preference.
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LTC Immigration Judge
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The correct form of address is simply "Sergeant", which itself is a term of respect much like "Sir" or "Ma'am" is to a commissioned officer or "Chief" to a chief warrant officer.

From my earliest days as junior enlisted, through the NCO ranks and now as a commissioned officer I address all senior officers as "Sir" or "Ma'am" regardless of rank. NCOs other than first sergeants or sergeants major I address as "Sergeant", with the occasional exception of one master sergeant whom I particularly respect and who was a long-time mentor. I address her was "Master Sergeant", even now that she is retired.
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SGT(P) Lsv 2 Senior Radio Operator Maintainer
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AR 600-20!

With all due respect Sergeant, the fact of the matter Sergeant is that you "FEEL" that if you are speaking to a MSG that you mus call him by his full rank, SSG/SFC. I was taught as a Jr. Soldier to execute by Regulation, my morals, the law and the Army Values. Don't forget "No one is more professional than I".


-I'm just a regular person doing extra-ordinary things
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MSG Brian Breaker
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SFC MAtthew Torres,

This really is a good question. I don't mind either way. I think the regulation should be updated and you call an E-6 t thru E-8 by there rank. Why not? When I made Private First Class I hated to be called Prvate because I wanted that seperation. I know sounds silly, but I think we work hard for a rank and our title of address should reflect that.

To answer you qustion, I dnot think its a signe of dsirespect. Just don't call me SARGE!
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MSG Chief Instructor
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11 y
Depends on who I'm talking with.  With Soldiers I don't know, it's "Master Sergeant".  With Soldiers I've served with or peers, or people I respect, Sergeant will do.  Each case is different.
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SGM(P) Infantryman
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As many things go in the Army, this is laid out in an Army Regulation. Similar to this is 2LT and General are both "Sir". It is our duty to enforce the established standards. If given the opportunity voice your opinion and the reasons behind your idea as why the standard should change.
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SGT Squad Leader
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Edited 11 y ago
The horse isn't dead yet so I'll put in my two cents. According to AR 600-20, Table 1-1, the proper address for SGT, SSG, SFC, and MSG is Sergeant. I've worked with a lot of prior Marines who are still somewhat stuck in Marine regs, they'll address and MSG and SSG by their full rank, but it's on and off when addressing a SFC. The other thing that annoys me, prior Air Force do this too. When writing the rank of an army Staff Sergeant, they'll write it as Ssgt, First Sergeant as 1Sgt, or even Master Sergeant as MSgt. Leutentant Colonel as LtCol. Sgt doesn't annoy me as much because all the letters are the same, but c'mon, This is the army, we write in all caps for ranks and the abbreviation is never more than three characters.

It's SSG, 1SG, MSG, LTC, and SGT.
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SSgt John Carroll
SSgt John Carroll
11 y
I love stuff like this. If it "annoys" you that someone from a different branch is following the Standard Operations, Lawful Orders & Regulations as Prescribed to them by in their Chain of Command, Just don't be one of those folks that tries to enforce Reg.s that don't apply to someone in said different branches, trust me much worse.
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SGT Squad Leader
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11 y
I don't enforce regs that apply to the Army on other branches. I'm talking about soldiers who have been in the Army that are prior service from other branches.
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SSgt John Carroll
SSgt John Carroll
11 y
I wasn't trying to imply that you have been, just that I've been on the receiving end of that kind of ignorance & at the end they looked stupid and shit rolled down hill at me after they told their boss about it, was still worth it though.
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SGT Squad Leader
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11 y
Yeah, that is dumb on their part. I've worked with other branches and always thought to learn their basics in proper addressing of their ranks and customs and courtesies. I was stationed at March ARB for a few years and worked with their medical clinic a couple times. To me I was a guest in their building and it was only proper to go by house rules per se.
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SSG Aircraft Powertrain Repairer
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Edited 11 y ago
Doesn't bother me I have been known to address E-8 Master Sergeants by calling them Master Sergeant only because a 1SG is separated by troop command comparatively.
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CW2 Humint Technician
CW2 (Join to see)
11 y
Not only does this statement make little grammatical sense, it's also against regulation. Picking and choosing which regulations we enforce....

Do you actually call people "Hello, E8 Smith, this is Staff Sergeant Gorman speaking?"
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SSG Aircraft Powertrain Repairer
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11 y
I didn't pick and choose just caught myself from time to time calling a MSG Master Sergeant instead of Sergeant. And yes when I called my personnel manager i told him Staff Sergeant Gorman when he answered with Master Sergeant "name"
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SGT Bn C&E Ncoic
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I've always referred to E-5 through E-7 as Sergeant, but MSG's I always like to refer to them as Master Sergeant. Only a handful of times I've referred to them as Sergeant. And if it's a MSG or even retired, that I knew as a 1SG, I will always refer to them as 1SG, out of respect. I had a 1SG that is retired now, and I see him sometimes at the PX or whatever, and I still address him as 1SG.
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CW2 Humint Technician
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11 y
And I like to refer to them by their first name but AR 600-20 is quite clear.
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