Addressing a MSG, SFC & SSG as “Sergeant.” Does anyone else think this is disrespectful?

Holy Cpl Vote Down!! I wonder why he did...

Anyway, SFC, I don't think it is disrespectful. Especially for those new young recruits who should but might not know what the rank is. I would hate to call a 1sgt Sgt. OR SGM SGT...

But again, It's all on the tone. :-)

During my time as a soldier that was just how we did it, unless it was some formal address such as awards presentations or promotions, or reporting to the Commander and the like. The only Senior NCOs who were addressed differently in my time were in pay grade E-9, unless they were First Sergeants. And I have been in or around companies where the First Sergeant position was filled by a senior SFC or an SFC (P), and we still addressed them as First Sergeant. This may be a little silly but I always cringed just a little down deep whenever someone addressed the First Sergeant as Top, even though it was widely acceptable to do so. In an Aviation unit where there is a large population of Warrant Officers, you couldn't just walk into a room and say, "Hey, Chief." You'd have several of us looking at you as if we were wondering if you'd been hitting the bottle already or something. Personally I think we find a lot of different reasons for poll-vaulting over mouse feces when it comes to some of these things regarding customs and courtesies. The wise-guy in me compels me to further state that after I pinned-on CW4 bars, I always made it a point to smile really big whenever I saluted a 2LT and said "Good Afternoon, Sir!" But that's just me I suppose. We all have to start somewhere, don't we? And that 2LT, though probably very young and still wet behind the ears, has earned the title of "Sir" or "Ma'am" and I would be terribly unprofessional if I did not acknowledge it...but sometimes it was just too much fun for a crusty old hoot like myself. ;)

In the Air Force, our regs permit "Sergeant" as a term of addresses for any NCO from pay grades E-5 through E-8, although in the Security Forces (AKA Security Police) career field, we have an unwritten tradition of addressing E-8s (Senior Master Sergeants) as "Senior." Our BIG taboo is to NEVER address a Chief Master Sergeant as simply "Sergeant" or refer to him/her verbally as an "E-9" (even though that's his/her pay grade); it's ALWAYS "Chief" (or theoretically the full rank, although in practice that's too much of a mouthful for practical oral usage).

Not by my lights.

Disrespectful would be addressing them as "LT"...

Just depends on your career field, and sometimes on how recently someone was promoted...

Other than the ranks that have to be addressed differently - i.e. First Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Marines at their full rank etc I will generally use "Sergeant" the majority of the time but I have felt sometimes that I should address a E8 by their full rank (Master Sergeant, Senior Master Sergeant as example), as a sign of respect, even though I am not in the wrong by addressing them as Sergeant and last name.

I have been reading all of the answers and thought how funny it would be if we called Lieutenants First and Second. Wouldn't that sound ridiculous? I don't think anyone would make the argument to call LT's by their full title. As my comment above on SFC Torres' thread states: in the case of the MSG, I have no issue with addressing them by "Master Sergeant". Its just one of those little things that shows you respect that person and what they have done in their career. I don't think anyone will be calling you out for violating regs, but I could be wrong...

In general, and as has been mentioned per regulation -- Sergeant is applicable for all up to First Sergeant and Sergeant Major. However, MANY people address Master Sergeants as their complete title. I find myself "following the crowd" in addressing Master Sergeants simply because I feel like I am disrespecting them by not doing what everyone else does...even if regulation supports just calling them "sergeant." If 49 people call them Master Sergeant, and I'm the only one addressing them as "sergeant" -- it could be viewed as disrespectful. Even though allowed to by AR -- I also don't think that the AR prohibits the use of their full rank.

This isn't taking away from you accomplishment. It is not speaking a mouth full ever time you have to speak to several NCO ranks in the same meeting.

Copied straight out of AR 600-20.

Grade: Sergeant Major of the Army
Pay grade: E-9
Title of address: Sergeant Major
Abbreviation: SMA

Grade: Command Sergeant Major (See table note 2)
Pay grade: E-9
Title of address: Sergeant Major
Abbreviation: CSM

Grade: Sergeant Major (See table note 3)
Pay grade: E-9
Title of address: Sergeant Major
Abbreviation: SGM

Grade: First Sergeant
Pay grade: E-8
Title of address: First Sergeant
Abbreviation: 1SG

Grade: Master Sergeant
Pay grade: E-8
Title of address: Sergeant
Abbreviation: MSG

Grade: Sergeant First Class
Pay grade: E-7
Title of address: Sergeant
Abbreviation: SFC

Grade: Staff Sergeant
Pay grade: E-6
Title of address: Sergeant
Abbreviation: SSG

Grade: Sergeant
Pay grade: E-5
Title of address: Sergeant
Abbreviation: SGT

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