How should soldiers show customs and courtesies to the Marines (or any other branch)? How exactly do we address ranks and proper greetings?

2018-06-17T11:55:51-04:00

How does this work theirs a lot of Marines were I am at but not sure how to address them?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jun 17 at 2018 11:56 AM

2018-06-17T11:56:35-04:00

With respect.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jun 17 at 2018 12:03 PM

2018-06-17T12:03:44-04:00

Call them by their rank.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 12:25 PM

2018-06-17T12:25:25-04:00

Always address them by full rank and name for enlisted and "sir" for officers. Learn their enlisted rank structure. You should already know the officer rank structure because it is the same as yours. Treat their NCOs and officers like you would one of your own. PFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 12:39 PM

2018-06-17T12:39:55-04:00

Address officers the same "sir or ma'am"

Address enlisted Marines by their rank "staff sergeant, master sergeant, or master gunnery sergeant"

Or you can just offer them crayons.

Response by Cpl Kenneth Osborn made Jun 17 at 2018 12:42 PM

2018-06-17T12:42:12-04:00

That should have been addressed in basic.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 1:38 PM

2018-06-17T13:38:02-04:00

Call enlisted by their rank and officers should be called Sir/Ma'am. This should have been covered in Basic training.

Response by Barry Davidson made Jun 17 at 2018 2:40 PM

2018-06-17T14:40:37-04:00

I, as a civilian, address them as Marine unless they're an officer. Then it's sir. I haven't had a single one take umbrage yet to being addressed as Marine. Just don't address them as soldier or jarhead (unless they're a friend, and there aren't a lot of other Marines around in uniform) and you should be fine.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 2:43 PM

2018-06-17T14:43:02-04:00

To all the people saying "this should have been covered in basic"

Why would the the largest service teach how to deal with other services in basic when most soldiers will never work with other services?

There is plenty of time to learn that later, possibly on a professional development social networking website....

Response by SPC John Parmenter made Jun 17 at 2018 3:26 PM

2018-06-17T15:26:20-04:00

Maybe I'm missing something here. Why would a Soldier treat a Marine any differently that he would another Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Coast Guardsman??? You show them the same military courtesy as they show you.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 17 at 2018 4:56 PM

2018-06-17T16:56:39-04:00

To parrot others; enlisted by rank, officers by sir/ma’am. As a Navy person, learning ranks for the other services was tough. You’ll get used to it though.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 5:25 PM

2018-06-17T17:25:00-04:00

When I was at Ft.Lee I always addressed them by their rank. It was not covered in basic training for me. I was on a holiday block leave cycle so they probably didn't have time to address little stuff like that.

Response by SSgt Robert Prest made Jun 17 at 2018 6:11 PM

2018-06-17T18:11:35-04:00

Stay low, don't make eye contact and most likely they will let you live. :)

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 17 at 2018 6:14 PM

2018-06-17T18:14:01-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member Don't Ever Call Me Sir, My Parents were Married Thank You and I never attended Knife and Fork School. CTO1, CT1 or Chip is Just Fine. Don't Ever Call Me Mister. In the Navy Mister is an WO, CWO or Jr Officer. I usually called LTJGs Lt or Mr/Mrs/Ms (As Long as they didn't get too big of an Head) LCDR I Usually called Commander and any Admiral No Matter How Many Stars I just called Admiral.

Response by SPC Michael Dillon made Jun 17 at 2018 9:41 PM

2018-06-17T21:41:16-04:00

GTS. Study all branches rank structure.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Jun 17 at 2018 10:42 PM

2018-06-17T22:42:46-04:00

All officers' collar devices are the same in rank order. When I was in a work uniform without bling, I didn't expect a stranger to respond to my rank. Working around ammunition or high voltage electrical equipment, I usually didn't wear any metal. When I left the ship to run errands, I didn't always change into a dress uniform.
When I travelled as a Cadet, I would get a lot of "What" looks at airports. NCO's would see the gold chin strap and shoulder boards or sleeve stripes and didn't know what to make of it. Majority of Cadets knew not to make a scene or push their "low" power upon NCO's.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 2:21 AM

2018-06-18T02:21:59-04:00

In jump school at Benning, we showed all officers the respect they deserved, as well as the NCO's, regardless of the branch of service. We all serve the United States of America.

Response by CPO Glenn Moss made Jun 18 at 2018 6:56 AM

2018-06-18T06:56:34-04:00

Officers are officers, address them the same as you would any Army officers.

Enlisted are enlisted, address them the same as you would any Army enlisted...which means learning their rank insignia. For example, in the Navy any Petty Officer would be addressed as "Petty Officer" or "Petty Officer (name)". Chiefs are the same way..."Chief", "Senior Chief", or "Master Chief".

Be respectful. People make mistakes, especially between the services when recognition of one's rank is a bit different than for one's own service. Military custom requires that respect to be rendered both ways...for example, if one mistakenly salutes a senior enlisted person, that senior enlisted person is SUPPOSED to return that salute...and both carry on smartly. If anything, a moment of training held in passing.

ANY such error should ALWAYS be treated with respect...and maybe a moment of training. There will always, however, be those who will take offense and be rather verbose about it. Whatever...water off a duck's back and all. Don't be like them when you gain rank.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 9:25 AM

2018-06-18T09:25:54-04:00

It's important for you to learn the other branches rank structure and how to address them. I work in a joint environment, meaning all branches work here (excluding Coast Guard) and my supervisor is a Navy E-6 (IT1), and I work with an Air Force E-6 (TSgt). Marines are very specific, meaning if they are a Staff Sergeant, you address them as Staff Sergeant. Not the same with officers, Sir, or Ma'am just like with every other branch. Plus by showing them respect and learning their Ranks, I'm sure some if not all of them will be pleased and maybe even a little impressed.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Jun 19 at 2018 11:28 PM

2018-06-19T23:28:50-04:00

Marine ranks are similar to the Army's - the officer ranks are the same with a few differences in the enlisted ranks. One thing about the Marines is that they address each other by their full rank - i.e. Lance Corporal (not Corporal), Staff Sergeant (not Sergeant), Gunnery Sergeant, Master Gunnery Sergeant etc. As in the Army, officers are addressed as "Sir". Also remember that EVERY Marine is proud the be a Marine. He might gripe about the Marine Corps but he won't tolerate it being offended so don't dare tell any Marine jokes to a Marine.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Lyons made Jun 21 at 2018 10:27 AM

2018-06-21T10:27:01-04:00

I can’t say anything for any other branch. But the Army is to give the say customs as they do for Army officers to every other branch officer. As far as calling people bye their rank of other branches call me a bad ssg if you want but i wouldn’t know the difference between a e-5 and an e-8 in the USMC so you are all getting called Sargent if you don’t like it you would have to correct me.

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Jun 28 at 2018 12:51 PM

2018-06-28T12:51:30-04:00

Salute the officers address enlisted men by their rank. a marine sgt, with 2 rockers under the stripes is officially a gunnery sgt. But most like to be called Gunny. Beings as your a Pfc. and any marine E-3 and under I would say Marine. Any Marine E-4 and above is an NCO. and should be addressed by rank.

Response by Cpl Kenneth Osborn made Jun 30 at 2018 9:20 PM

2018-06-30T21:20:48-04:00

My apologies for being short. Hadn't realized the army boot camp didn't teach military customs and courtesies. The officer is correct in part of his response.(even though he's a National guardsman.)

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Jul 5 at 2018 11:18 PM

2018-07-05T23:18:14-04:00

Call them gyrines they love that

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Aug 9 at 2018 12:37 AM

2018-08-09T00:37:02-04:00

Read the Initial Entry Training Soldier's Handbook dtd 2008. There is nothing in it addressing ranks/rates of other services. When are the traditions and customs of the other services taught to Army recruits?
Coast Guard
*SR (E-1), SA (E-2), SN (E-3) - "Seaman"
*AR, AA, AN - "Airman"
*FR, FA, FN - "Fireman"
*All Petty Officers (E-4 to E-6) - Petty Officer's Rate
*PO3, PO2, PO1 - "Petty Officer"
*CPO (E-7) - "Chief"
*SCPO (E-8) - "Senior Chief"
*MCPO(E-9) - "Master Chief"
*All Commissioned Officers - "Sir / Ma'am" when addressed by lower ranks
Commanding officer of any ship is addressed as "Captain" regardless of rank
There are roles aboard ship that have titles separate from rank.
*WO-2, WO-3, WO-4, WO-5 - "Warrant Officer"
*ENS - "Ensign"
*LTJG, LT - "Lieutenant"
*LCDR, CDR - "Commander"
*CAPT - "Captain"
"Commodore" position held by fleet commander
*RADM, VADM, ADM - "Admiral"
Army
*PVT, PFC - "Private"
*SPC - "Specialist'
*CPL - "Corporal"
*SGT, SSG, SFC, MSG - "Sergeant"
*1SG - "First Sergeant"
*SGM, CSM - "Sergeant Major"
*All Commissioned Officers - "Sir / Ma'am" when addressed by lower ranks
*WO1 - "Mr. / Ms. / Mrs."
*CW2, CW3, CW4, CW5 - "Chief"
*2LT, 1LT - "Lieutenant"
*CPT - "Captain"
*MAJ - "Major"
*LTC, COL - "Colonel"
*BG, MG, LTG, GEN - "General"
Marine Corps
*Pvt - "Private"
*PFC - "Private First Class"
*LCpl - "Lance Corporal"
*Cpl - "Corporal"
*All Drill Instructors - "Drill Instructor"
*Sgt - "Sergeant"
*SSgt - "Staff Sergeant"
*GySgt - "Gunnery Sergeant"
*MSgt - "Master Sergeant"
*1stSgt - "First Sergeant"
*MstGySgt - "Master Gunnery Sergeant"
*SgtMaj - "Sergeant Major"
*All Commissioned Officers - "Sir / Ma'am" when addressed by lower ranks
*CWO-2, CWO-3, CWO-4, CWO-5 - "Chief Warrant Officer"
*2ndLt - "Second Lieutenant"
*1stLt - "First Lieutenant"
*Capt - "Captain"
*Maj - "Major"
*LtCol - "Lieutenant Colonel"
*Col - "Colonel"
*BrigGen - "Brigadier General"
*MajGen - "Major General"
*LtGen - "Lieutenant General"
*Gen - "General"
Navy
*SR, SA, SN - "Seaman"
*AR, AA, AN - "Airman"
*FR, FA, FN - "Fireman"
*CR, CA, CN - "Constructionman"
*HR, HA, HN - "Hospitalman"
*All Petty Officers - Petty Officer's Rate
*PO3, PO2, PO1 - "Petty Officer"
*CPO - "Chief"
*SCPO - "Senior Chief"
*MCPO - "Master Chief"
*All Commissioned Officers - "Sir / Ma'am" when addressed by lower ranks
Commanding officer of any ship is addressed as "Captain" regardless of rank
*WO-2, WO-3, WO-4, WO-5 - "Warrant Officer"
*ENS - "Ensign"
*LTJG, LT - "Lieutenant"
*LCDR, CDR - "Commander"
*CAPT - "Captain"
"Commodore" position held by fleet commander
*RADM, VADM, ADM - "Admiral"
Air Force
*AB, Amn, A1C, SrA - "Airman"
*SSgt, TSgt, MSgt, SMSgt - "Sergeant"
*First Sergeant - "First Sergeant"
*CMSgt - "Chief"
*All Commissioned Officers - "Sir / Ma'am" when addressed by lower ranks
*2d Lt, 1st Lt - "Lieutenant"
*Capt - "Captain"
*Maj - "Major"
*Lt Col, Col - "Colonel"
*Brig Gen, Maj Gen, Lt Gen, Gen - "General"

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 2 at 2020 10:56 AM

2020-01-02T10:56:31-05:00

A couple of things to remember:
_Marines do not salute when uncovered.
_Marines do not remain covered indoors unless they are under arms. Hence they do not salute indoors.
_Marines do not salute in PT gear.
_Marines Consider a Marine SSGT (E-6) a SNCO
_A fine distinction that virtually no one observes since the mid 1920's, and not many Marines actually know, but officers in the Marine Corps are not technically Marines. They are Naval (not Navy) officers, and an example of correct rank is "Captain of Marines", Not "Marine Captain" in formal and ceremonial situations.