Posted on Jun 10, 2017
Do you find the term "butter bar" offensive or demeaning?
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As a newly minted O-1 I have no problem with the term, but some of my fellow ENS/LTs have been scolded for using it. I never considered the term a pejorative when I was enlisted and I still don't now that I'm on the officer side. I always thought it was sort of a rite of passage that goes along with being a new Officer. Am I missing something? Do you consider the term disrespectful or demeaning?
ENS
Officers
2LT
Professionalism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 392
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I agree with you. I never saw the term as disrespectful. I always saw it as a play on what the rank looked like. Granted as an enlisted I would never call them a butter bar, but that's not because I find the term disrespectful. It's just because addressing them as Sir or Ma'am would be the respectful thing to do.
Everyone starts at the bottom somewhere. If an O-1 finds the term butterbar offensive or demeaning, then he should take a good look at your average E-1 because aside from Sailors, most E-1s don't even rate to wear a rank on their collars. At least the O-1 gets something to put on his collar every day.
Everyone starts at the bottom somewhere. If an O-1 finds the term butterbar offensive or demeaning, then he should take a good look at your average E-1 because aside from Sailors, most E-1s don't even rate to wear a rank on their collars. At least the O-1 gets something to put on his collar every day.
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Cpl Justin Goolsby
SN Greg Wright - Nope, you are correct. When I was looking at the different rank structures, my eyes glazed right over Navy and jumped to Coast Guard. Long days get the best of us all. Thanks for keeping me honest.
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Yup, it's totally pejorative...as are many other military slang terms "of endearment." It's a challenge to the newcomer that sort of says, OK - now earn my respect, new LT!
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Like anything else it depends on who is saying it and the context it's used in.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Wisdom. If its coming from a 1stSgt or SgtMaj with battle scars and 8 rows of ribbons, and preceded by "You'd better get your head and ass wired together, quick fast and in a hurry"...it's leadership training/mentoring. If it's coming from a shitbird terminal LCpl and preceded by a few expletives, it's probably disrespect. All relative and situation-dependent.
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I am also a fan of the term, “First Lieutenant-Second Award” for newly minted Captains...
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CPT William Jones
That must be a new term for captain. I was one with over three years in grade and never heard that term. Like it.
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Yes, it is a bit bit disrespectful, but at the same time, it's something that has been earned over the years. I have yet to meet a senior noncom who has not had the "joy" of breaking in at least one Butter Bar who deserved the term and worse.
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I'm not in the Military yet but I feel as though if you're in and you let menial things like a name bother you, then maybe you don't have thick enough skin to be in the position you're currently in, but then again, like I said before, I'm not anyone yet so my opinion doesn't really matter
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SPC David Richards
Your in an interesting situation, you get to see all the crap that enlisted and officers deal with before going in. What I would have given to have just a little bit of information about the culture I was joining. On the other hand, not knowing made for some special memories......
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SSG Robert Perrotto
well said and well thought out - hopefully you have kept this intellect from being erased by the Marines.
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I am sure there are O1s that don't fit the moniker 'Butter Bar"...but I never met one personally
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SPC David Richards
I had one when I was AD in the 90's in an Artillery unit, I forget his name, but he did everything correctly. Listened to his NCO's and made appropriate decisions while not stepping all over us lower enlisted.
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