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 8 y ago
Responses: 21
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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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SPC 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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SPC 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
SPC 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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Top, 1st Shirt- I answered to both- it was always said with respect or else.
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Sgt Jason Schaeffer
Close... In the Marines, we reserve that nickname for a the Master Sergeant. Master Gunnery Sergeant we like to call “Master Guns.”
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SPC Joseph Wojcik
Oh. Now I'm wondering why my MCJROTC enlisted instructor was addressed as top by our officer instructor.
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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.
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MSG Charles Turner
Yes, I heard this from a few First Sergeants. Most of us Maintenance Types that either were The Master Sergeant / NCOIC of Repair Facilities did not mind. But not in official capacity. More of an "Affectionate" Term.
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Sgt Jason Schaeffer
Yes sir! Thank you for reaffirming my suspicions. I’d never hear a 1Sgt referred to as Top. Only a Master Sergent. Thanks for the response.
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It's an Army P.O.G thing. I've never heard an Infantryman call a First Sergeant "top".
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SGT Christopher Hayden
Arty guys are just as much a POG as a Mechanic. You're nowhere near who you're dropping rounds on.
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SGT Christopher Hayden
Also, must just have been a Unit thing. Because I never once heard anyone in any of the Infantry units I was in call a 1SG "Top". But the POGs sure did.
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SPC Erich Guenther
SGT Christopher Hayden - Infantry whats that? You mean the Army has Infantry units? lol. I can say I have heard the term Top in the Army but only by the CO and Officer Corps. Enlisted would not get away with it. Same deal with "Sarge" which I was always told in the Army was a fish on the bottom of the ocean that eats shit.
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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.
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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"!
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