Anyone ever hear of a First Sergeant being call “Top"?

Sgt Jason Schaeffer — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:24:57 -0500

I suspect some stolen valor from a guy who says he is a Marine.

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Feb 21 at 2018 8:33 PM

CW3 Jeff Held — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:33:01 -0500

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.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Feb 21 at 2018 8:56 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:56:14 -0500

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.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Feb 21 at 2018 10:27 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 22:27:31 -0500

In the Marines only a MSgt is called Top. Don't make the mistake of calling a 1stSgt top.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 10:45 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 22:45:45 -0500

Only in the Army.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Feb 21 at 2018 10:59 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 22:59:06 -0500

It's an Army P.O.G thing. I've never heard an Infantryman call a First Sergeant "top".

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Feb 21 at 2018 11:00 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 23:00:25 -0500

Sgt Jason Schaeffer: Yes.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 12:34 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 00:34:20 -0500

In 1972 Army, TOP meant, the "Highest" or "Top" ranking NCO in command within that unit, as per, Company, Battalion , Brigade, and Division.
It was to show Respect, and Acknowledgement to that highest ranking NCO.

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 22 at 2018 1:35 AM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 01:35:31 -0500

I once heard some junior Marines refer to the 1stSgt as the "First shirt." It didn't go well for them.

Response by MSgt Steve Sweeney made Feb 22 at 2018 7:10 AM

MSgt Steve Sweeney — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 07:10:30 -0500

No, but I do recall on the occasion of standing in formation to observe a crusty old MSgt with the 1st MARDIV headquarters pin on MGySgt, the Colonel asked, "Well Top, I have been calling you Top for so long now... what will I call you now?"
The crusty old Marine replied, "Aw heck sir, you can call me 'Tippy Top'".

Response by SPC David Willis made Feb 22 at 2018 9:13 AM

SPC David Willis — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 09:13:52 -0500

People need to stop with this stolen valor shit. I don't know everything about the Army as evidenced by folks correcting me on here in the past. I don't even know everything about the Infantry in fact if someone suspected me of stolen valor and asked what unit I was in during BCT I probably wouldn't be able to tell them because I just don't care enough to remember more than Ft. Benning, GA when it comes to basic.

Response by TSgt Tommy Amparano made Feb 22 at 2018 11:15 AM

TSgt Tommy Amparano — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:15:20 -0500

Why would you call a "shirt" a "top"? HA ha. I have heard both actually.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 11:35 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:35:28 -0500

Never in my time in USMC was 1stSgt called Top. Some MSgts got spun up over it too, with replies like "you want to give me a spin, I'm a Master Sergeant". MGySgts were Master Guns, SgtMajs were Sergeant Major.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Feb 22 at 2018 11:47 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:47:37 -0500

Yep, all the time, however TOP exist at the E-9 level by definition, but TOP is like Chief!

Response by SPC Joseph Wojcik made Feb 22 at 2018 11:54 AM

SPC Joseph Wojcik — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:54:16 -0500

In the Army. If memory serves me right, Marines only call MGySgts "top".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 12:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:06:23 -0500

That's a common moniker given to 1SGs - in the Army at least. Lots of people call their 1SG "Top."

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 22 at 2018 12:14 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:14:28 -0500

Top, 1st Shirt- I answered to both- it was always said with respect or else.

Response by MSG Charles Turner made Feb 22 at 2018 12:27 PM

MSG Charles Turner — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:27:24 -0500

Sergeant,
Yes! However it was a term that was SELECTIVELY Used! One of my Old First Shirts would get IRATE and respond "I am NOT a TOP, a TOP is a toy! Do you want to Play with me?" But even when I was a Fill In First Sergeant (All of my First Sergeant Time was FILL IN), I was only referred to as "TOP" by a couple of close Senior NCOs and the Bn CSM. They all only used the Term in private or isolated conversations.

Response by SPC Patricia K. (Williams) Elliott made Feb 22 at 2018 1:35 PM

SPC Patricia K. (Williams) Elliott — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:35:46 -0500

Every 1SG I ever had or knew was called Top until I got to HHC Ft. Riley and the 1SG there was NOT happy about being called Top. Never used it again while I was in the Army!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 3:01 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:01:36 -0500

I never much cared for the term, but I tolerate it as a part of tradition.

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Feb 22 at 2018 10:03 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 22:03:52 -0500

Back in the day, our first shirt was always referred to as Top except in formal, official situations. I always thought calling him Top was sort of a friendly but respectful was addressing our 1SG. We were extremely fortunate that our 1SG was for sure a cut above and man to whom as respect was due. SO, TOP is OK with me. TOP was OK with him as well. How about today's 1SG, How do you feel?

Response by Sgt Bill Cunningham made Feb 22 at 2018 10:05 PM

Sgt Bill Cunningham — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 22:05:59 -0500

When I was in the USMC 76-80, E-8 Master Sergeant and E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant were addressed as "Top" The E-8 First Sergeant was the "First Sergeant", NEVER "top"!

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Feb 22 at 2018 10:30 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 22:30:14 -0500

At least as far back as World War II in the Army the First Sergeant was called the "Top Kick", this was abbreviated to "Top". Until fairly recently when the Army, and the Marine Corps in particular, got more formal in addressing NCOs it was acceptable to call the First Sergeant "Top". I guess it is more common now to say "First Sergeant" rather than "Top".

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Oct 13 at 2021 12:03 PM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:03:46 -0400

I was in the Army from 1969 to 1971 and we always called the first sargent Top. It was normal and all the first sargents that I had Expected it. It was an Honorable thing to do.