Posted on Feb 23, 2018
Does rank play a part in how you view individuals after you have left the service?
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Whether it be on social media or in person at the local Veteran Service Organization (VSO), does the rank that you left the service with and the ranks that other veterans left the service with play into how you view, associate with, or speak to other veterans? The highest rank that I ever had was Sergeant and I still find that I address those that I know were officers as "sir" or "ma'am". (I also address all generations of older veterans as "sir" or "ma'am".) I still hold a certain level of respect for all those who attained a rank higher than I did, but I do speak to them as if we could have been old friends. I consider us all on almost a completely even field after leaving the service. Does anyone believe any different?
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Officers
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Warrant Officers
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 112
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Regardless of our achieved rank we all have earned a certain level of respect for our service to our country and to each other. It makes no difference to me whether you're senior or junior to me I will most likely address you by your rank at least until we have known each other for some time. I don't care if you were a Petty Officer or an Admiral we all did what we were called to do.
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Sure. Maybe not in the same fashion for everyone. I suppose I have my own little perceptions of how an individuals rank, specialty, and with officers rank, education and intellectual sophistication.
I am sometimes surprised.... most often by Majors. Only insofar as I am a bit baffled when I see one on here who pretty much acts like an ignoramous with low intellect and reasoning skills.
Just something I never understood. How someone could make field grade officer and still act a fool.
It’s more the exception than the rule by far yet it always seems to surprise me.
I am sometimes surprised.... most often by Majors. Only insofar as I am a bit baffled when I see one on here who pretty much acts like an ignoramous with low intellect and reasoning skills.
Just something I never understood. How someone could make field grade officer and still act a fool.
It’s more the exception than the rule by far yet it always seems to surprise me.
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No . I view them as they are human I'm not quick to judge I like to take the time out and get to know them and treat them according to that .
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If I knew they were an officer and we served at the same unit then yes I still refer to them by their rank or sir or ma'am until they tell me otherwise BUT if I'm at the VA and talking with someone , I don't care if they are a retired MCPO or full bird Captain , now we all fight the same cause, getting health care from the VA.
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If you're out, I don't ask what rank you were when you got out. That's none of my business. I can respect you as you are; as you want to be or how you represent yourself.
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If it's a former officer I knew yes, I still use military courtesy, NCO's I call by their first name.
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I have a lot of respect for former military based more on what they did then what rank they wore.
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Pretty much an even field in my mind on the part of social interaction. I have a tendency to call anyone older than me sir or ma'am and the older retired CSMs I address as Sergeant Major as that's how I've known them since I met them as a young Soldier.
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I like to address those who i have known to be officers or CSMs as such (Sir or Ma'am). I only do this because i respect them for the leadership that the provided me. But as far as myself is concerned, i like to remember what a great CSM that i once had the privilage to serve with, told me. "Dont take yourself so seriously, once you retire, the rank that is on your ID card wont get you a cup of coffee anywhere". I make it a point to introduce myself as Frank. I no longer hold the rank i had in the military and i have no control over others. That chapter of my life is over, time to move on.
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It does and it doesn't. The longer the time has been since I left the service the less it influences me. I don't expect those that were enlisted while I was commissioned to ever call me 'sir' just like those that I know that were Commissioned when I was enlisted seem to care whether I call them sir or not. One good friend of mine online was my platoon leader when I was a young PFC and actually pinned on my Captain's bars almost 12 years later. I tend to respect those that I knew for what they did, not necessarily for their rank. There are a lot of E4s and E5s that I personally think I should be saluting.
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