Does rank play a part in how you view individuals after you have left the service?

Only if you want it to. I may prefer to show the utmost respect for that private first class who is a recipient of a medal for valor....and cuss out that POS colonel who got good men killed. It all depends on the soldier, sailor, airman or marine. Either you choose to dignify past rank....or you don't. But it is YOUR choice.....not theirs.

SGT Gunderson,
I'm with you on this one. But I only refer as "Sir" or "Ma'am" if I don't know the person, or meet for the first time. I do have a lot friends who were my NCOs which I consider as friends especially in my career field so small as the one I worked on while in the Army...I address them by their names. Other than that, I still render the proper respect.

I'm not a member of a VSO, so I can't speak for those who are or the organizations. Yes, a person's previous rank, retired or otherwise, does influence my treatment of them for a while. First impressions are very important. If I know the person held a senior enlisted or officer rank (E-7 or above, O-4 or above), I have a different initial opinion of them than if they held lower rank. If they were a general officer, not only do I have a different opinion, but I normally display differential behavior toward them. HOWEVER, that initial opinion can be, and often is, changed as I get to know them.

Here's a couple of cases where my opinion of the person changed. Had a lady who worked for me who was a retired USAF Tech Sergeant (E-6). At first I viewed her as the highly skilled technician and middle manager type. She quickly demonstrated I has grossly underestimated her. She knew far more about automation that I did, learned new software rapidly, and quickly showed she was ready for management responsibility. I pushed her to complete her Masters Degree, which she did, and encouraged her to seek jobs of increased responsibility and compensation within our company, which she did. Unfortunately, the company didn't understand her potential and she took a job elsewhere. She remains a friend and is doing quite well. Second case is a retired major general who I once worked for and attended our church. He had always called me Jim after I retired. I was always differential to him and never knew what to call him. General seemed a bit much, Mister was absolutely not appropriate. After about 5 years, I used his first name, Jack. He accepted that with the grace and dignity he had shown throughout his 40 years of service. He and his wife left our church to live in an assisted living facility on the East Coast. We parted friends.

To me the rank structure stayed in the service. I call officers Smgts everyone by their first name now.

Nothing wrong with addressing retirees, veterans of any branch as "sir" or "ma'am" in the civilian world; that just shows your maturity and respect for others. Did you ever call your First Sergeant or Company Commander by their first names before? Probably not. If you know Mr. So-and-so was an Officer or a Senior NCO, it wouldn't be wrong to refer them by their previous rank, unless they specifically say, 'call me by first name, Joseph.'

It doesn't.

I believe I posted a comment on the ”rank card” and I'll add to that here. The military hierarchy and structure is set up based on rank which is what they used to grant authority and benefits to service members. The people who have served honorably and attained that rank should be given same deference and benefits they had when they left the military. but I have a caveat only on military installations and incidents involving the military. But civilian to civilian the same we should be treated no differently from a E1 to a O9.

I have been a life member of the VFW for over fifty years now. The only "rank" most of my comrades care about is the fact they have elected me Post Commander four times. As for active duty rank, nobody really cares about that most of the time. They are interested in how well you are able to perform in any position you are elected, or appointed, to serve in.

I do still say sir to officers (the Post Commander who preceded me was a retired Army LTC). Contrary to popular belief, veterans rarely sit around "telling war stories" so former military rank rarely comes up. If you are a VETERAN and earned an Honorable Discharge, you are de facto a member of an elite brotherhood and have earned total respect.

Absolutely not. I will engage in conversations with them about their service but for the most part, it doesn't.

The playing field is level in the civilian world. I know a person, who only reached E4 in the service. But you would never know that, in the way he leads a large Veteran Based group in North Carolina. His mind set, and leadership is at least a First Sgt, if not a Sgt.Major.