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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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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I've always referred to SFC and SSG as Sergeant. My relationship with the individual dictates how I address a MSG. If I've worked with them for a while I'll tone it down to Sergeant, but if they're someone I don't know or that I haven't worked with for very long I'll address them as Master Sergeant simply out of respect for their rank, expertise and TiS.
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SFC Operations Supervisor
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
Exactly how I do it as well.
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SSG Transportation Movements Supervisor
SSG (Join to see)
11 y
Agree. MSG and Up is full name, 1SG is 1SG, SFC SSG and SGT is all SGT.
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SSG Platoon Sergeant
SSG (Join to see)
11 y
This is wrong though. AR 600-20 states that a MSG be referred to as Sergeant. it's on page 10 I believe.
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SFC Jeremy Boyd
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I agree with and understand the regulatory guidance set forth in AR 600-20 concerning the proper address of ranks, but on that same token I too regularly address Master Sergeants by their full rank title. However, I do this with Master Sergeants whom have either already been First Sergeants in the past, or whom have been identified and selected to appointment to First Sergeant. If they have already earned that accolade that previously set them apart in the regulation for rank titling purposes and the NCO Corps in general, I see no reason why I can't continue to afford them the same courtesy they once enjoyed.
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SGT Maintenance Management Assistant
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I once got verbally reprimanded for calling a SSG "Sergeant", I took it like a good little soldier and then sat back and watched a 1SG verbally reprimand that SSG for calling the 1SG "Sergeant". Humorous from my perspective, but in all seriousness, it is in the reg and it is by no means meant to be disrespectful. To each their own and if a certain person of a certain rank prefers to be addressed differently, sometimes you just have to suck it up and address them with their full rank and drive on.
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
SGT (Join to see) Excellent reponse! Sometimes individuals are just too involved with themselves.....
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SGT Maintenance Management Assistant
SGT (Join to see)
11 y
Too true and sometimes its not even worth the fight, unless of course the person wanting to be reminded of their rank is a complete dick; then sure lets throw the reg at them!
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
SGT (Join to see) Are you implying there are AD SM's with EGO's so big that they feel the NEED to be stroked on a regular basis? OMG! EGAD! Beam me up Scotty....there's no intelligent life on this planet!
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SGT Maintenance Management Assistant
SGT (Join to see)
11 y
Planet
Lol
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SSG Instructor
5
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Unless its MSG and up, I address them as "Sergeant." To tell the truth, its the way we in the Army are bred because it starts in basic when you hear Drill Sergeants. If you really think about it, its only the Marines that address their NCOs by their full rank
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
11 y
Well stated!
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
4
4
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Yep...I'm with MSG Wade Huffman - the AR is simple and straightforward. Yes, you have a full title - but seriously - do you think I want to be addressed as Petty Officer First Class, Surface Warfare, Medley every time someone wants to address? NOPE. Petty Officer Medley is fine.

Yeah, I get it that you worked your a$$ off to get there.....
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SFC Robin Gates
SFC Robin Gates
11 y
Private is a private, specialist is a specialist, sergeant is a sergeant. This argument has been going on since 1776. The only ones wanting to be called by the full title seems that they have to be reminded of their rank. Power trip!!! First Sergeant is the only one different!
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
SFC Robin Gates LOL...sometimes you get the bear...sometimes the bear gets you.....
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SFC Robin Gates
SFC Robin Gates
11 y
PO1 George Medley, sometimes you got to show that bear... where it shit in the buckwheat!!!!!
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
That's what I'm talking about!
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CW2 Humint Technician
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4
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Soldiers calling MSG "Master Sergeant" has got to be one of my biggest Army pet peeves. It's very clear that the first time a Sergeant is called something other than Sergeant is when they become a First Sergeant.
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SGT Chris Birkinbine
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I don't mean this with any disrespect to SFC (Join to see) , but it seems people of late are going out of their way to find disrespect where there is none.

Disrespect is like offense. It is taken as in the eye of the beholder, but in reality is purely a function of intent.

If they say it with the intent of being disrespectful than it is, if they are not, then it isn't, and since it is current regulation to address them as such, I'd say the intent is not there.
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SFC Senior Drill Sergeant
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
SGT Birkinbine, I would disagree with you on intent. If a Soldiers says something to me that I find disrespectful but their intent is not to be disrespect that does not mean it's ok. If I perceive it to be disrespect and unless I'm completely off kilter than is disrespect. You have to remember that perception is key in this.
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SGT Chris Birkinbine
SGT Chris Birkinbine
11 y
I expect most people to disagree. My opinion is, if someone did not mean to insult you, offend you, or disrespect you, and you choose to take it as such, then you are making problems where there are none.

That has always been my belief and I have found that I tend to be a happier person when I don't always assume the worst intent of people.
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
I still have copies of that "butt hurt" chit if anyone is feeling disrespected.......
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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I've often referred to Army SNCO's by their rank and not as "sergeant" and I've never been corrected on it. Now on the other hand I have on 1 or 2 occasions been corrected by Marine NCOs for not using their correct rank and noting the reg difference between the 2 understand why.
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MSG(P) Michael Warrick
MSG(P) Michael Warrick
11 y
No because the army has taught its Soldiers for a long time that they should be called sergeant not sergeant first class or etc.. this is not the Marines !!
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SFC William Swartz Jr
4
4
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It is what it is, never bothered me it was and is HOW we address or are addressed, if some asshat feels the need to be called by the exact designation of Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class or Master Sergeant, then they really need to look at their priorities!!
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Sgt Andrew Pouliot
Sgt Andrew Pouliot
11 y
In the Corps calling a Staff Sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant, or Master Sergeant a Sergeant is liable to get your life ruined
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Sgt Cody Dumont
3
3
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They should be addressed by thier full rank. Try calling a Marine Gunnery Sergeant a sergeant and see what happens.
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
>1 y
Sgt Cody Dumont, of course you'd get into trouble with that example.

Even a POG knows that the preferred short form for "Gunnie" is "God"....
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SSG Recruiting And Retention Nco
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
But you're dealing with a difference of Branch.

The Marines have been functioning in their way and the Army theirs.
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Sgt Cody Dumont
Sgt Cody Dumont
>1 y
It domes not matter Marines address all ranks by thier appropriate rank and expect the same in return.
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CW4 Larry Curtis
CW4 Larry Curtis
>1 y
In many ways, comparing the customs and courtesies from one branch of service with the other just doesn't work. The Marine Corps is steeped with proud traditions, and rightly so. They have proven to be among the very best fighting forces in the whole world, if not THE best...and much of that stems from their high level of discipline. The unfortunate thing we have to deal with between our service branches is that what seems the logical norm for one branch may seem extreme or excessive to another, or maybe even the opposite...one branch may appear to be severely lax when compared to the other. I am a firm believer that it's those small foxes which can get us into trouble many times, but sometimes those small foxes have to mature beyond the cub stage before they are indeed an issue to reckon with. For me, having been a career soldier in the Army, this is one of those small foxes which hasn't grown out of the cub stage because I believe the Army has proven over and over that it functions quite well and professionally just as it has been. It's just a different motivational force driving the cart. I have had friends and relatives who have served in every branch of the military, to include the Merchant Marines of WWII. Everyone has a different set of particular values when it comes to these things...but the one thing we all have in common with each other is the need and desire to accomplish our missions successfully and be able to come away the victors. Sometimes we have to employ our forces in concert with one another to achieve our goals on certain operations, and most definitely to achieve the desired end result in the overall scheme of things. If I am an Army guy working along side a Marine who is a Gunnery Sergeant and he is accustomed to being addressed as such, then it is incumbent upon me, out of a show of respect, that I address him accordingly...and vice-versa. But that is really as far as this really needs to go. The Army cannot be the Marines anymore than the Air Force can be the Navy. But what may appear as minutiae to one may be highly-regarded to others, and vice-versa. In the end, we just need to remain focused on our mission and not allow the minutiae to cloud our vision and judgement. HOOOAHH!! Semper Fi, Anchors Aweigh, Aim High, Aim True, and Be The Army of One!. Now, let's go kick some ISIS ass, whaddaya say?
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SGT Jeremiah B.
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Per regulation, it is correct and addressing them by their full rank is a no go. How could that possibly be disrespectful? Never mind it would be obnoxious - "Yes, Sergeant First Class. No, Sergeant First Class. Get a shorter title, Sergeant First Class."
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SPC Infantryman
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3
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I called a 1SG, "sergeant" once. Notice I only said "once".
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
6 y
Why?
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Cpl Peter Martuneac
3
3
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I've never understood that about the Army. Why wouldn't you call them the rank they've earned?
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SPC David S.
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3
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Edited 11 y ago
Well flip this over to the commissioned side. I'd like to see someone address a full Colonel as "officer". The 'they're all officers' argument does not apply. The Army should take a note from the Marines on this one. Not saying everything the Marines do is the right way, but with rank there also comes increased responsibility and thus are due commensurate respect. When deployed it should be the NCO's call.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
11 y
Poor example on my part. I was trying to make a point on the differential in regards to responsibility. This to me seems to be counter intuitive with rank. I get the tradition argument but that only holds up to a point or all us CAV guys would still be on horseback.
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
>1 y
SPC David S., to adjust your example, when was the last time you addressed a lieutenant colonel by any longer title than "colonel"?
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
Good point sir. However when there was a full bird with in ear shot I made sure that I did address a LTC as such. Being that I was around the TOC our BN CO and his buddies would hang out. It wasn't uncommon to have the COL, other COL's and LTC's , and our XO MAJ all around. But you are correct as I always addressed my father's friend as Colonel Lowe when he has a LTC or later when he was a full bird.
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SFC Infantryman
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Certainly no LTC minds the title COL as it exceeds his rank and station, thus as a term of respect it achieves a higher standard of courtesy. This also makes the point that a higher standard should be encouraged, if not perhaps mandated, as opposed to settling for merely the "standard" or regulation's (minimalist) requirements.
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SSG Future Operations Officer
3
3
0
For me, I find this topic kind of funny. The reason I say that is because this is not a PV1 asking this question. It's an NCO. This question could have been avoided by looking at the Army Values and then reading the regulation.
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PO1 Master-at-Arms
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3
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Edited 11 y ago
In the Navy everyone E4-E6 is a petty officer. No matter who you are, if you don't know person's rating (MOS), you say 'Petty Officer'. If you do, you call by abbreviation and number.

In my case, I'm a master at arms 1st class, equivalent to Army SSG MP. My rating abbreviation is MA, and juniors would be addressing me as MA1. It's confusing if you're not in the Navy and other branch don't get so trade-specific as we do.

Nevertheless I wouldn't consider it rude if another petty officer would only call me by last name. I would however say something if a seaman would call me such
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SSG Robert Burns
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3
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I don't think it's anymore disrespectful than calling them an NCO.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
11 y
Not at all, its regulation and we are NCO's there to train, fight, win and survive in Combat to bring our Soldiers home.
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SGT Team Leader
SGT (Join to see)
11 y
Why would this be disrespectful? I only ask this because according to AR 600-20 that is how they are to be addressed. I know that other branches of service such as the Marines address each rank, but no the Army.
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MSG Parachute Rigger
2
2
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Nope! I like sergeant.there are people out there that feel they need to be recognized. I don't. I'm a sgt just like you. When I put on the diamond, I'll be a 1sg. But not until that happens again. Glad you want to show the respect, shows you're of good character. But I don't need to here master sergeant.
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SGT Jason Anderson
2
2
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Nope. There are three sergeants in the Army: Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Sergeant Major.

If you want to do something different, work to change the regulation.
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SSG Recruiter
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2
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I'll leave that to the Marines to address NCO's by their full rank.
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