Posted on Mar 10, 2016
CW4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Technician
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SSG Shawn Mcfadden
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That follows more under Military Customs and Courtesy. The same as a Commanding Officer (CPT, LTC, etc.) being"the OLD MAN"
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CPT Social Work
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There has been plenty of good answers given from what I see. I'd just like to add a personal touch. I grew up in the Army and made it to SFC. So of course my rank with my last name was all I knew. When I became an officer, it was a bit weird at first to hear people call me by my first name in uniform. I got used to it super quickly. My boss even uses my first name on my OER sometimes to put a personal touch in a statement. I have only been an officer for 4 years and I must say, once in got used to the first name thing, it just brings a level of comfort to the work environment.
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LTC James Washington
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Just thinking back - I would not call anyone by first name until they had served under me or we had served in the same organization for some time. For Sergeants Major - I didn't refer to any by first name until I was a very senior Major and we had served together closely for a period of years. (Except for my first Tank Platoon Sergeant when he bacame Regimental Sergeant Major - and then not publicly.)
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PFC Christopher Voechting
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When I was attached to the 1st Special Forces group at Ft Lewis they used first names all the time. Let me tell you, as a PFC, being told to go into a command tent and ask for Chris; only to find out the lowest rank in that tent was Colonel! Talk about being as nerves as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
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SSG Retired
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AR 0.0
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SGT AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer
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In aviation it is a sign among officers of familiarity that rarely extends to enlisted except among airframes that have "ride along" crewchidfs, so for airframes that dont "ride with pilots" first names are against a sense of working class pride but for crew chiefs who do a sense of "crew"
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SSG Retired
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I'm a SSG and have several higher ranking NCO's and officers call me by my first name on a daily basis...at first it startled me but I have become accustomed to it...I just do not call them by their first names...they are great leaders.
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CW4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Technician
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Posted this original question over 3 years ago as a rhetorical question. There isn't a regulation that allows anyone of any rank to address a fellow Soldier by their first name. Period. Doesn't exist. In fact, 600-20 or 600-40, forgot exactly which one, specifies exactly the proper way to address every single rank. The point of the question was to shine a light on the fact that so many officers feel that there are different standards for them than what exists for enlisted. If you are one of those who feel it is ok and/or justified then you are/were part of the problem. The moment you let someone walk past you with a uniform issue or fail to render proper customs and courtesies you have created a new standard. Same goes for the first name issue. From a 4-Star to a one-striper, same standard for all. It's funny how many people have replied to this topic over the course of 3 years and still get it wrong.
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LCDR Aerospace Engineering Duty, Maintenance (AMDO and AMO)
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Sounds like you're the type who would definitely be called by his rank in the wardroom.
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1SG James Kelly
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Well there was this General my wife worked for; we were on a first name basis I called him Sir and he called me whatever he wanted to.
Of course that was old Army.
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SSG Jim Schimon
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SSG Jim Schimon
SSG Jim Schimon
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SFG SCHIMON It very simple ,You use what is on your uniform Rank/ last name.If the unit allows A nick name like Cowboy when it one on one .Unless you slept with the person the night before you keep it professional . last name /rank is your fiist name
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