Do you still refer to yourself by rank when not actively serving?

2016-10-17T13:19:25-04:00

Good Afternoon RallyPoint members!

I have been out for almost 2 years. Despite working closely with Marines as a contractor, I have always been addressed as "Goolsby" or "Mr. Goolsby". Well today I met a Marine and introduced myself as "Cpl Goolsby". Has anyone else found themselves using rank in introductions? Do you find that to be a normal or do you just slip up now and then?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-10-17T13:21:28-04:00

No, I even try not to use my retirement ID card when I go on basses becasue they will salute me and refer to me by rank.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Oct 17 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-10-17T13:21:08-04:00

The closest I come is when I'm speaking some where, I will say "you can take me out of the Army but you can't take the Sergeant out of me". Other than that, I go by Ben, or Keen. Never "Mr. Keen" because that is my dad and only by "Benjamin Michael" if my mom gets mad at me. Yes, I'm a 36 year old man with several combat tours but hearing my mom yell my full name still puts the fear of God in me.

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 17 at 2016 1:41 PM

2016-10-17T13:41:06-04:00

Not at all. I get highly irritated being called by my former rank. I never refer to myself as Sergeant because that isn't who I am anymore. My first name changed from Sergeant to David the day I ETSed

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Oct 17 at 2016 1:49 PM

2016-10-17T13:49:28-04:00

I rarely (if ever) refer to myself as Chief, but my grandkids call me at all the time! :-) They love coming to Gram & Chief's house!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 17 at 2016 2:22 PM

2016-10-17T14:22:49-04:00

Never but a friend tells his teenage son that if he doesn't square away he'll have to see "The Captain". I give the kid "the look" and that's the end of it. Worked well when he was unkind to a dog. When people call me Captain, I just say I don't do that anymore. I'm more in the category of when you're done being rank, stop calling yourself it :)

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Oct 17 at 2016 2:32 PM

2016-10-17T14:32:08-04:00

only by accident when i first retired. The only people I still usually address by rate is a doc.
I find it kinda weird if people want to be called by their rank after they get out.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Oct 17 at 2016 2:50 PM

2016-10-17T14:50:48-04:00

I never have, Cpl Justin Goolsby. I have a few friends though, that insist on calling me colonel. It sounds nice, so who am I to object?! Again, I'd never introduce myself as such.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Oct 17 at 2016 3:10 PM

2016-10-17T15:10:56-04:00

Nope. Never.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2016 3:15 PM

2016-10-17T15:15:40-04:00

No, except for here on RP. And that was done by the system.

I am referred to by rank when using on base services. It really surprised me the first time and I looked behind me to see if there was someone else that was being addressed.

I will confess I sort of like it. Brings back memories that I cherish.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2016 3:33 PM

2016-10-17T15:33:19-04:00

Cpl Justin Goolsby I am no longer a sergeant. I am a Marine for life.

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Oct 17 at 2016 3:39 PM

2016-10-17T15:39:41-04:00

When I first left AD I would occasionally inadvertently answer the phone where I was working "RAF Alconbury Law Enforcement SrA Steinmeier."

Response by PO3 Johanna England Chavez made Oct 17 at 2016 3:49 PM

2016-10-17T15:49:42-04:00

No.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Oct 17 at 2016 4:42 PM

2016-10-17T16:42:39-04:00

I use my retired rank in place of Mr. on documents where I am able. I figure that SFC is as good as any other address and I earned the title.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2016 7:18 PM

2016-10-17T19:18:01-04:00

Nope, but a retired Army buddy of mine calls me Master Sergeant all the time. Of course it might be because I always call him Captain!

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Oct 17 at 2016 7:41 PM

2016-10-17T19:41:59-04:00

I've met a good number of other veterans and we usually ask what our MOS was. Then I get referred to as "Doc" (68W) which I love. One guy at my church was Airborne so I call him that.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Oct 17 at 2016 8:25 PM

2016-10-17T20:25:26-04:00

Normally, I just introduce myself as "Steve" or "Paramedic Holt". It depends on the situation. A few patients who I know are Veterans, I'll start a conversation, "Hey, I noticed your (insert whatever military memorabilia here). What branch were you? I'm retired AF" and let them lead from there. Sometimes it makes them easier to care for when they know a fellow Vet is there. Away from work, I'm just plain old "Steve". 'Mr. Holt' is my dad.

Response by SGT Alan Dike made Oct 17 at 2016 9:15 PM

2016-10-17T21:15:03-04:00

nope.. left it behind when i ets'd

Response by CPO Gregory Smith made Oct 17 at 2016 9:52 PM

2016-10-17T21:52:53-04:00

I work with a lot of former and retired military. Mostly senior enlisted and officers. Let's just say some habits die hard.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 17 at 2016 11:32 PM

2016-10-17T23:32:16-04:00

Hi ... I'm Mongo...

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 18 at 2016 2:42 AM

2016-10-18T02:42:31-04:00

I don't. Very few people in my social circle know that I served.

Response by COL Lee Flemming made Oct 18 at 2016 9:56 AM

2016-10-18T09:56:26-04:00

Something to look forward to maybe..."The Colonel." To be honest I introduce myself as Lee 100% of the time in private social settings, and about 90% of the time in military settings.

Response by MSG David Rogers III made Oct 18 at 2016 10:31 AM

2016-10-18T10:31:13-04:00

I work with ROTC Cadets, but as a college employee, instead of Master Sergeant Rogers, I am Mister Rogers...... welcome to my neighborhood!

Response by LTC David Zimmerman made Oct 18 at 2016 11:06 AM

2016-10-18T11:06:27-04:00

I don't personally use my former Rank in any way. I feel that part of my life is done.
I do make the Dog call me Commodore when we are out on the boat. I just promoted him to CPO since he hasnt Ralphed in the boat for awhile.
The wife won't call me anything except dumbass, which I am told is General in Polish.
It wasn't the rank or position that I remember but people i served with and the adventures we had.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2016 11:50 AM

2016-10-18T11:50:51-04:00

Hi, Corporal Goolsby.

I work with a number of military personnel, some I knew back in the day, some new, both officer and enlisted. Sometimes they use my rank, sometimes they don't. I answer to both. But it does warm my heart that some people consider it respectful enough to do so.

The VA has called once or twice looking for Sergeant Lamb. That got my attention.

I introduce myself as Tony.

Response by Cpl Eli Linthicum made Oct 18 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-10-18T12:27:41-04:00

No, I can't say I've ever referred to myself by rank since separating, but I do get a kick out of finding a Gunny, Top, Doc or Chief in the contractor space: see the fire in their eyes light up when referred to as such. Made a new discovery when attempting to address a recently retired Senior Master Sergeant in full and he proudly insisted "please, from here on out it's just Senior, brother!" I don't know who was more fired up about it, me or him! Keep chargin' Corporal of Marines!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2016 4:39 PM

2016-10-18T16:39:31-04:00

I've never done it, what purpose would it serve? I would be concerned that someone who did introduce themselves by a military rank, who was no longer in the military, was focused on the past instead of the present.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Oct 19 at 2016 1:19 AM

2016-10-19T01:19:26-04:00

There is time and a place. For some thing the government will refer to us by Rank/Grade. For other things like paying taxes we are just a social security number :)

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Oct 21 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-10-21T13:21:59-04:00

if everything goes correctly nobody even knows who i am. i keep a low profile. only when i'm teaching classes and then i get Professor Wood whether i like it or not.