Posted on Oct 19, 2017
How would you address an NCO in all branches? Would you call them Sir/Ma'am? How about in boot camp?
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Rank
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Customs and Courtesies
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 10
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We don't do that in the Army. We call a NCO "Sergeant" or "Sergeant Major" and only call officers "sir or ma'am."
The other branches seem to call NCOs sir or ma'am. The Air Force does (and they love first name basis). The Marines call their DIs sir or ma'am.
When I went to basic at Leonardwood in 2004 we called our drill sergeants Drill Sergeant.
The other branches seem to call NCOs sir or ma'am. The Air Force does (and they love first name basis). The Marines call their DIs sir or ma'am.
When I went to basic at Leonardwood in 2004 we called our drill sergeants Drill Sergeant.
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Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
In the Airforce, NCOs are either addressed a Sergeant or by their rank depending on the situation.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. - I have been in two joint units. I get called "ma'am" quite a lot by other NCOs. I have seen them call other NCOs sir or ma'am. I have seen them call CMSgts "sir." In emails from AF NCOs I get addressed as "ma'am" after they use my rank and name.
The officers like to call everyone by their first name. That threw me for a loop in my first joint unit having a Lt Col call me by my first name.
The officers like to call everyone by their first name. That threw me for a loop in my first joint unit having a Lt Col call me by my first name.
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SSgt Donnavon Smith
I was Air Force and it was always rank or name, but I still to this day will slip a ma'am/ sir in because that was how I was raised
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PO1 Eric Bigelow
in navy or cg, did both. it would be petty officer or chief, senior chief or master chief so and so.
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Well I cannot say about the other branches but in the Army you address and NCO by his rank of Sergeant, Sergeant Major etc. and in boot most post you call them Drill Sergeant, but I know back in 1992 at Leonardwood, if you called your drill, drill sergeant they would yell at you and say "I know I'm a drill sergeant" "you call me sergeant" .
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SP5 Peter Keane
Remember on the bus from reception to Basic, guy got on and after a few choice words about hating all us "fu88776ing trainees, we were told "my names Jackson, and myfirst name is right here on my sleeve"
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By their rank...NCOs are not addressed as Sir or Ma’am...these are reserved for addressing Officers...
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MSG Bob Metz
If you or a friend are prepping for Basic Training... bone up on ranks and other basic info by going to the Army website... https://www.army.mil
The Official Home Page of the United States Army
The latest news, images, videos, career information, and links from the U.S. Army.
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