How many NCOs get sick when they hear Soldiers referring to each other by first names and hear other NCOs doing it or allowing it.

MSG Sommer Brown , I think if you approach it professionally, you can change the culture. That is, pull the relevant parties aside and tell them your preference. When speaking of an individual in a public situation refer to them by their rank and last name. It will take time but you can fix it. In my experience I was a member of the National Guard, and I had to do what I mentioned above, and eventually it worked. I explained that it was critical to use military courtesy, as it is a component of discipline. Referring to an individual by their rank, reinforces the chain of command and that the rank must be respected.

When I was younger a friend and I were both E-5s and we referred to each other on a first name basis. He got promoted before me. The first time I called him by his first name after we were different ranks our 1SG had both of us on the ground and made a huge example of both of us. Made it clear that it didn't matter that we were friends, he was a higher rank and would not be disrespected in the presence of junior enlisted Soldiers. The second the NCOs openly lack discipline the junior enlisted will run wild. He also stated that to allow me to call him by his first name in front of junior enlisted displayed favoritism on his part.

is there more than one way to handle that situation? ABSOLUTELY.
However, this way was EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY and it never was an issue again.
I may have been a bit sour about it back then, but now I look back and think that the problem was solved, and the problem STAYED SOLVED.

Now in my military career I have to look at a roster to know what my friend's first names are.

I'm an officer and I struggle with it. I will admit that I have done it at times but I didn't understand it when I first commissioned. I would never address any one above me by their first name.

I've seen that too. Now I only do it with my guys that I deployed with; there is a group of about 8-10 of us and we are all E-3s or E-4s and refer to each other by first name even in uniform because of our group dynamic. Outside that group, the rest of our unit hasn't deployed and they all call each other by last names (unless its someone higher ranking).

I think as long as the group is close and you guys worked together than that familiarization with each other is okay, especially if it helps you guys work better together. God forbid somebody went up to one of our corporals and yelled "Hey Kyle what's up man" or "Hey Jared how's it hanging" that would get squashed right away. I know that sounds wrong and hypocritical, like how come he gets to call you by your first name but we try to avoid it in settings where we're around all the marines from our unit. I saw the same thing on active duty when we were deploying; the active marines had their little cliques and did the same thing, I even saw it with sergeants!