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

When a Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman achieves their rank, they have earned that respect to be called by their rank regardless of regulations, it is professionalism at it's finest. Otherwise why not take the next step of disrespect and call one another Troop!

The Army directs that all NCOs be addressed as "Sergeant" because all NCOs are sergeants, other words added to their rank are simply descriptors to describe their grade. Staff Sergeant originates from the British Army, a sergeant serving as a clerk etc on the staff had a crown placed above his stripes and given the rank of Staff Sergeant. Sergeant First Class and Master Sergeant come from experience and are used to distinguish them from lower sergeants. There are two exceptions to be made. The first comes with the First Sergeant is a position rather than a rank. A 1SG can be described as a MSG that has been given authority over a company sized element. This is the first time you will see this. Staff Sergeants are not just squad leaders. They are also recruiters, drill sergeants, section sergeants, NCOICs etc. The only place you will find a 1SG is in a 1SG slot. During the Civil War, a Sergeant Major was a Sergeant that had been given responsibility over a regiment. So again we find ourselves addressing the position. After WWII, Sergeants Major were found on staffs and we're separated into the ranks of SGM and CSM. Sergeants Major are still addressed as Sergeant Major as a call back to their roots.

(I've done a lot of historical research into ranks, structure and their origin, none of this is based on experience.)

So do you say Aye Master Sergeant Smith

I always address a MSG as "Master Sergeant." I however don't always differentiate between SFC and SSG, usually I refer to either as Sergeant. I feel like if a 1SG is addressed as "First Sergeant", a MSG deserves the same.

Adressing them as sergeant is a matter of expediency for them. It is narcissistic and time consuming to hear the full title 50-100 times a day

I disagree. We are not the marine corps. Army regulation outlines how we are to address NCOs. Even when working joint with marines, I explained what the army said about addressing by full rank. I still made it their option, but it's what is appropriate.

Although I absolutely agree and make every effort to use the full rank when I know it. If I'm offering a greeting, and had minimal to calculate the rank, I know how much Army and Marine enlisted hate being called sir, so I must admit, if not Air Force, I've been guilty of saying, "Morning, Sergeant!" I'd rather do this, which is accepted as opposed to guessing the rank too quickly and making the mistake of calling them by a lower rank!

No Sergeant it's not disrespectful, it's been this way for a long long time. So why do you think it should be changed now? You'll get called by your full rank when you are about to get your ass chewed, LOL!!

Sergeant by itself IS BY ITSELF respectful. Addressing an NCO by their full rank when above the grade of E5 can be either a signal of increased respect, or a signal that whomever is addressing that NCO feels the NCO has an inflated sense of self worth.

When in doubt, refer to the regulation in question.

Each service has its particular culture on how said respective service members address one another. I learned the hard way addressing a Marine by Sergeant and not by their actual earned rank was a no-no. When corrected, I admitted my ignorance and ensured never to do it again. However, Air Force and Army may and are typically addressed as Sergeant So-and-So. The Navy well, that's Petty Officer So-And-So, but only if you're not aware of their rate (MOS/AFSC). On that note, I don't in any way believe addressing an enlisted Soldier by Sergeant So-And-So is in any way 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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