Posted on Apr 6, 2015
Is it ever appropriate to address a fellow Service Member by last name alone?
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I must say that I am guilty of allowing my battles to address me as Burns or Burnsy, etc. in the work environment. But had a SPC done that, I'd probably lose my ever-loving mind. Why is that? Are they not just following the example we set? Is it disrespectful or not? Does it matter the rank of the other person?
If my CSM called me by Burns would I correct him? Probably not. Should I? Probably not. LOL I want to know your thoughts on this.
Is this just an Army thing? I know in the Air Force which is almost the same as military, that they address each other by first name quite often. Say it aint so.
Side Note: This picture is the best I could come up with to illustrate this question. Everyone knows the relationship between Forrest and Bubba.
If my CSM called me by Burns would I correct him? Probably not. Should I? Probably not. LOL I want to know your thoughts on this.
Is this just an Army thing? I know in the Air Force which is almost the same as military, that they address each other by first name quite often. Say it aint so.
Side Note: This picture is the best I could come up with to illustrate this question. Everyone knows the relationship between Forrest and Bubba.
Customs and Courtesies
Respect
Disrespect
Leadership
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 71
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I can't remember for sure, it's been several years, but I thought I read in the command authority AR that it is only appropriate for someone of higher rank to address someone by their last name, but only for E-4 and below. All others should be address by rank and name or just rank or Sir if talking to a more senior officer. Like I said, can't remember for sure.
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Are you in uniform? Did you not earn your rank? Why would you allow anyone, regardless of rank, address you as such. I look at it as that is your name now. You're in the military act like it.
Now with that said outside of uniform that's a little different. We are all human and we all want to keep that relaxed atmosphere when we're not at work. I called my peers and friends of same rank by their last name or first name depending on how close we were. But letting a junior enlisted call you by just your name is still a no go in my book.
Now with that said outside of uniform that's a little different. We are all human and we all want to keep that relaxed atmosphere when we're not at work. I called my peers and friends of same rank by their last name or first name depending on how close we were. But letting a junior enlisted call you by just your name is still a no go in my book.
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Only problem I had was when I was Pvt/PFC/SPC some NCO's tried calling me by my last name alone in a demeaning manner, so I responded alike. Once they asked me why I disrespected them by not addressing them by their rank, I told them I was only doing so because I thought we were buddies, since they did not address me by my rank, as regulation required. After that all was well in soldier land.
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I try very hard to use the persons rank and last name. He'll, I work side by side with the last BC XO'd for and I still call him Sir most of the time.
But then, it could be I was raised that way too.
But then, it could be I was raised that way too.
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For me it varies greatly from situation to situation. During certain training exercises I insisted everyone call eachother by first name regardless of rank. This includes officers, NCOs, and junior enlisted. On a normal garrison day, everyone goes by rank. When on mission it was very likely myself and peers called one another by first name.
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While in the Air Force I always addressed everyone by rank and last name. Once, when asked by a Senior Airman what my first name was, my response, "To you, it's Sergeant." That was the end of the conversation.
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It is all how it is said. I mean in my squadron, if I'm looking around for someone I'll just ask "hey have you seen **insert last name** around anywhere?" or "hey **insert last name**, how's things going?"
Now as far as chewing someone out, eh I don't prefer it or prefer seeing it happen to someone. But it happens
Now as far as chewing someone out, eh I don't prefer it or prefer seeing it happen to someone. But it happens
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I was in the Air Force and actually got my ass ripped for that. A SSgt (who was flirting with me) got all butt hurt because I did not address him as Sgt. ****... And while he did it, he addressed me by last name only. It pissed me off... If you want to be a stickler for it, address everyone by their rank, not just superiors or peers... However, I still say it is no big deal. This political correctness in the military is asinine...
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