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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SPC and below, fine. Peers, fine. But if that Soldier is an NCO or officer, they should still have that professional courtesy extended to them, even by their superiors. E.g. the CSM should still address Sgt. Smith as "Sergeant", especially if in front of Sgt. Smith's Soldiers, and not just "Smith". First names are never ok when in uniform.
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CSM can call Specialist and below anything he wants to, Sergeants call each other Sergeants, Sergeants call lower enlistees by their last name or depending on the Sergeants mood he may call them a host of other colorful names.
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When we were deployed, sure we did. of course not to OIC or anything like that. We were all brothers. As for homeport/ around all the "stupid" environment... yes, we addressed each other accordingly. Just have to play the game thats all.
In the end it all comes down to military bearing and being a good influence to the boots... and also showing your chain of command above you that you can be a good influence to others.
In the end it all comes down to military bearing and being a good influence to the boots... and also showing your chain of command above you that you can be a good influence to others.
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Suspended Profile
First of all Staff Sergeant, you know better than to compare us with the Air Force.
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Years ago when I was on CQ, someone called and they wanted a phone number from the recall roster binder. I introduced myself as "SGT Martin" and along with the organization. The caller identified him as a CSM who I never heard of and proceeded to call me by my last name only. So I proceeded to tell this CSM my rank was SGT and he needless to say he was upset about that. I gave him the number he wanted and that was the last I heard of him.
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SSG Robert Burns:
In the work place it is not professional or appropriate. Off duty and away from the work environment I would only address those who had given me specific permission to use their first name or any nickname they choose. I still use rank and name here in the comments and if given permission will call them whatever they prefer in any messages I send them.
Any questions?
C.
In the work place it is not professional or appropriate. Off duty and away from the work environment I would only address those who had given me specific permission to use their first name or any nickname they choose. I still use rank and name here in the comments and if given permission will call them whatever they prefer in any messages I send them.
Any questions?
C.
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Rank Last Name should be the standard and only superiors should optionally use last name only....
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I absolutely hated being called by just my last name. It was almost always done in a condescending or derogatory manner. I was taught in basic that you use rank and last name or rank if you could not see the name tag/tape on the uniform. I enforced this with my subordinates and requested this of my peers and superiors. No one had a problem with my request, especially when I explained the reason for it
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The only time I would refer to someone by their last name was if I was working directly w/ them & in the middle of a task, such as in the armory: Hey Airman Young, can you bring me the log book? I only ever called someone by their first name when off duty or told to do so, but usually we all referred to everyone by their last names when off duty - hard to turn the switch off.
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its rankism if you get mad at some one lower rank than your self when if you dont have the nuts to correct a csm then dont flip shit on pfc who ever calls you by the same thing
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