Posted on Jan 20, 2014
How do you address a fellow RallyPoint member?
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From Day One of our military service, we were taught how to address our fellow service members based on their rank either as an Enlisted, as a Warrant Officer or as a Commissioned Officer. However, what is the proper way to address someone here on Rally Point? I do address current Service Members on Rally Point by their rank. When it comes to addressing fellow veterans (and retirees) on here, I address them by their first name.
How do you prefer to be addressed as? As for me, I've been out of the Army for nearly 18 years so I'm perfectly OK with someone calling me John. Or you could just tag me in, @SGT John Hauschildt
How do you prefer to be addressed as? As for me, I've been out of the Army for nearly 18 years so I'm perfectly OK with someone calling me John. Or you could just tag me in, @SGT John Hauschildt
Retirement
RallyPoint
Servicemembers
Etiquette
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 56
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I apply the same rules as those I apply in face to face meetings; service members by rank except among peers (E9 to E9 on a first name basis) and vets by their preference (although I have a hard time overcoming the rank thing - I ran into a retired CWO that I worked for 25 years ago, and immediately addressed him as Mr. Corcoran.)
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SSgt (Join to see)
I think that what works best for me is what I was brought up with and engrained in me as a child. The good ol Sir and Ma'am system. Yes Sir No Sir Yes Ma'am No Ma'am. You can always respect someone with Sir and Ma'am, although some services reply is hey I am a working man don't call me Sir.
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SGT Hauschildt, I prefer to use rank and last name, or sir/ma'am, just like I would in normal conversation. If I am "going back and forth" in a conversation with multiple entries, the responses may be shorter and a little more personable. If we have an established relationship, that may change in personal messages, but on the forum threads, professional courtesy is paramount. Bottom line is that you should always answer a question with courtesy and respect.
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
<p>MSG Stankovich:</p><p><br></p><p>Professionalism, and military bearing have taken me a long way in my military career. I stress to my junior Soldiers regardless if a Senior calls you by name you always maintain professional military bearing. </p>
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LTC (Join to see)
Completely Agree with you MSG Stankovich- professionalism is paramount. <br>
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Sir, for civilians and Officers I will address them as Sir/Ma'am. For Enlisted members, I address them by their rank. While this is a social site, it is also a site to learn and grow as leaders, share experience, and maintain the military standards. It is my intent to set the standard for my soldiers, peers, and superiors alike.
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
SSG Whittington:
Respectfully I concur, that this is a remarkable opportunity to be able to receive guidance from those that have served before us. It is imperative that we model protocol and provide compassion and understanding for growth.
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SGT Hauschildt, I don't have a preference for how people address me here on RP. They can call me by my first name or last name or just "specialist" and it's all the same to me.<div><br></div><div>If a member has (or has had) a higher rank, I prefer to address them by rank because I'm used to it and it makes my life easier than trying to remember who to address by first name vs. rank vs. Mr./Ms./Mrs.</div>
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I think this is to be agreed upon in a case by case fashion. Generally I go totally formal until I ascertain their boundaries. This is more so for upper management but lower grades should also be treated as we wished we were. It is never too late to do right by other people/
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Amanda.
Hicks is my married name and I was not married while I was in the service. Additionally, I had just barely become a third class shortly before I separated, so I never really had time to become accustomed being addressed as "Petty Officer." Not to mention that I separated over 10 years ago and haven't been in that mindset...
**I started a thread a while back about ranks between services and my honesty with not knowing the other structures off the top of my head. I had connected with someone who, turned out to be an officer and much higher on the totem pole than I ever was, I was immediately mortified that I had responded to his email simply by saying "Thank you, FirstName." I was polite, but even then I felt like I had made a huge error because of the rank difference.
So....given my personal preference, I'd rather just be called by my first name, but.... after that particular situation, I'm just going to call you PO3/SSG/MAJ/CW2 or whatever is in front of your name.... unless I have reason to believe that I should do otherwise.
So....given my personal preference, I'd rather just be called by my first name, but.... after that particular situation, I'm just going to call you PO3/SSG/MAJ/CW2 or whatever is in front of your name.... unless I have reason to believe that I should do otherwise.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
Amanda,
I am a retired Master Chief (Command Type) and am entitled to use and be called one. However, unless I am in uniform, as if I had one that still fit, I expect to be called Gene. I have been retired since 1996 and here on Rally Point I have been addressed as Gene, MCPO, Master Chief, etc. I really do not care. When addressing others, like you I am careful and use what the rank structure listed is, unless they have given a hint as to another preference by signing their name another way, like you just did. Of course this really only applies to retired and vets. Active duty really need to be careful because they never know who they will run into later in their career. I know some Senior officers (retired) who I address by name and others who I still address by rank.
Gene
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
Due to the mixed audience among different ranks and branches, I stress protocol to prevent disharmony and being misunderstood.
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I begin by addressing RP members by their rank. They earned it...they deserve the respect that comes with the position. Nobody I don't know calls me by my first name. I wouldn't do that to anyone else out of respect for that individual. Not to say things will always stay that way, but that's where they start.
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SPC Marcus DeMatos
1SG I hope you don't mind being called "Top", because those of us who know what a 1SG is you will always have the respect earned by being the Top Sergeant of the Company.
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1SG Michael Blount
SPC Marcus DeMatos - From you, it's not an issue. Ghank you for asking. It's those who prematurely assume familiarity who call me "Top" where I get annoyed. If we deployed together, stomp on a few brain cells or are brothers from different mothers - "top" is fine
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
1SG Michael Blount Roger that 1SG. One of the general’s aides, with whom I had a good history, ‘once’ called me SMAG! I couldn’t help myself, he never did it again!
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I feel like the relationship you have with the person must be taken into account. I may call veterans that I am familiar with by their first name, while newer acquaintances would be responded to as Mr or Ms. As long as you are tactful and respectful I do not believe many will have an issue.
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PO3 (Join to see)
LT, something to remember with RP, is that veterans cannot see your full name. At least... I couldn't. I assume I'm not the only one. Your comment about LT P. made me chuckle, because all I see is "1LT Carrie P., Camp Williams, UT." So I clicked to view your profile to see if I could see your full name to address you properly, and even there, I was unable to see your last name. So.... No disrespect intended. It definitely makes things difficult for those of us who cannot see full names due to military status.
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SPC David Wyckoff
I never realized that addressing someone by their rank and last inital could be pervcieved as being in a familiar zone. But if I did it conversationally it definitely would.
I have addressed RP members this way because I can't see their last name but I wanted to do my best to give them respect of rank. So if I have done it to you LT, then I hope you see it for what it is.
I have addressed RP members this way because I can't see their last name but I wanted to do my best to give them respect of rank. So if I have done it to you LT, then I hope you see it for what it is.
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SSgt (Join to see)
1LT Papproth. Telemarketers fear me because I try to sell them Fritos, or a car. :)
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I will address people by rank unless they specifically tell me differently
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It's too engrained in me to do anything but call senior personnel sir or ma'am. However, in an informal forum like this, I don't get bent out of shape anytime someone doesn't call me sir. So basically, I don't expect it but err on the side of caution when addressing those above me.
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1SG Michael Blount
Sir - I find that erring on the side of caution keeps my head right where I like it -- in between my shoulders
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