Posted on Feb 21, 2018
Anyone ever hear of a First Sergeant being call “Top"?
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I suspect some stolen valor from a guy who says he is a Marine.
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 22
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In the Marines only a MSgt is called Top. Don't make the mistake of calling a 1stSgt top.
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Sgt Jason Schaeffer
Agreed. I’ve never heard a 1stSgt call “Top.” Always a Master Sergeant. Thanks for your response.
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SSgt Dan Montague
Sgt Jason Schaeffer - when I was a boot I made the mistake of calling my 1stSgt Top. I must have had to do 50+push-ups
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PVT Mark Brown
Wow, if I met a Marine E8 I would surely make that mistake, maybe. Like I said elsewhere, Top is reserved for more casual settings. On first meeting, I would not presume to use the friendly Top to address the man.
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That’s all we ever used to call our 1SG. Now, don’t know if it’s done.
We also used to call the CDR “old man”; mostly because back then they were real grey beards and crusty as hell.
We also used to call the CDR “old man”; mostly because back then they were real grey beards and crusty as hell.
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SFC Greg Bruorton
While serving as the NCOIC in the SSO 2ID the CO and the XO referred to me as "Top." And I was an E7 then too. It's simply a form of informal respect.
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PVT Mark Brown
SFC Greg Bruorton - Were you in an E8 slot or working as the 1SG? I didn't know Top could be used to apply to a section chief, aka NCOIC. But I totally agree the term is a form of informal respect. Of course, my Army exposure was limited to Basic, AIT then 26 months in Korea with the same unit the entire time. Then I went home.
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SFC Greg Bruorton
PVT Mark Brown - I was the top enlisted in my communications section so I must suppose being called 'Top' is okay. As a matter of fact, the slot is E8 as my replacement, of whom I knew personally at Bragg as an E7 (P) maintenance chief, came on board right before I left in 1975.
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In the Army, 1SG was the only person I ever heard referred to as "Top". Master Sergeants were always addressed by rank, no nicknames or other titles that I ever heard.
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MSG Charles Turner
I, an old Maintenance Mater Sergeant, had been Called TOP Sergeant. This was in the Maintenance Arena. The MSG of a Maintenance Company, He is the NCOIC of the Complete Maintenance Company. All the Maintenance Section Sergeant work with HIM / HER to do the SUPPORT ROLE of the Company. I envisioned "MASTER SERGEANT Half-Mast McCanick as a TOP Sergeant. I do believe he was referred as such in a few of the PS Mags that I read over the years.
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