Posted on Sep 17, 2016
My Navy and CG SNCOs out there. How do you respond to a service member mistakenly calling you the wrong rank?
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Respond to their greeting or whatever and move on. It's not a big deal, I've been a Chief for 12 years, and whether or not I have a star in my anchor doesn't change the fact I'm still a Chief.
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PO1 Harry Champagne
WHEN I WAS IN THE NAVY ESPECIALLY SHIP BOARD WE USED THE TERM MR. OFTEN
EXAMPLE AN OFFICER WITH THE NAME OF SMITH WOULD BE CALLED MR. SMITH.
EXAMPLE AN OFFICER WITH THE NAME OF SMITH WOULD BE CALLED MR. SMITH.
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SCPO Bruce Petosky
SCPO (SW) Retired.
My response would depend on the rank and service of the other service member. It is certainly a teachable moment. One to re-enforce the difference in the rank insignia to a service member that should know, and two to educate a un-knowing service member of the difference.
My response would depend on the rank and service of the other service member. It is certainly a teachable moment. One to re-enforce the difference in the rank insignia to a service member that should know, and two to educate a un-knowing service member of the difference.
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CPO (Join to see)
The best response I ever got from a Senior Chief that I called "Chief" by mistake when I was a junior Sailor: "That's ok, you can call me by my middle name." It made me think for a moment, and then laugh. He corrected me without being brash or negative, which I appreciated.
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I was at the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, NC about 20 years ago and a young marine walked up behind me and said, "What's up Army Duuuude!" When I turned around and he saw that I was a E-7/SFC, he snapped to at ease position and looked like a deer in the headlights. I told him that my rank was SFC, equivalent in rank to a Marine Corps Gunny, not Army Dude! I told him that if he is approaching someone from behind that he does not actually know, assume they are an officer or verify their rank first. He thanked me and I dismissed him!
SFC Port
SFC Port
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Sgt Carlos Barrera
That is a problem that I saw first hand in the Army while stationed there: everyone above the rank of Sgt is Sgt. Soldiers had to be reminded many times that an E7 is a Gunnery Sergeant or Gunny, not Sarge. Boy did I see many dressing downs by former D.I.'s chewing up soldiers for calling them by the wrong rank!!!
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SPC Justin Foster
Sgt Carlos Barrera - Per regulations, you're supposed to address E-5 through E-8 as "Sergeant" in the Army. There are some NCO's in the Army that feel that they should be addressed as Master Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, or Staff Sergeant, and they are all incorrect. If you were being addressed improperly by Army junior enlisted, it's because they were taught the Army way, which is different from the Navy/Marine Corps way.
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SPC Justin Foster
Sgt Carlos Barrera - I somehow posted the same thing twice, so I'm editing this one to mean nothing. Haha. Apologies!
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Sgt Carlos Barrera
SPC Justin Foster - IS all good, I just found it ironic that an E5 and an E7 are addressed as Sergeant, I know Marines do things different, but while aboard the Army base I was stationed, I addressed a SSgt as Staff Sergeant, and E7 SFC as Sergeant First Class, yeah I know it was a mouth full but I addressed them by their rank, our E7 Gunnery Sergeant do not have a problem, actually encourage us to addressed them as Gunny.
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Every Chief is a "Chief" ... unless he's just an E7, E8, E9.
At least, that's what a Master Chief Boatswain's Mate on my first ship told me.... "Every member of the Goat Locker is a Chief" ... the difference in paygrades matters where seniority (and pay) matters... except for that, they're all to be recognized as the "subject matter experts" / experts in their fields.
At least, that's what a Master Chief Boatswain's Mate on my first ship told me.... "Every member of the Goat Locker is a Chief" ... the difference in paygrades matters where seniority (and pay) matters... except for that, they're all to be recognized as the "subject matter experts" / experts in their fields.
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When I went through CPO Indoc, a million years ago, a well-weathered SCPO told us that, regardless of stars, from 6 feet we all look like Chiefs. I took that onboard. Acknowledge the greetings, and let folks correct themselves as they get closer. I've never been insulted by being called Chief.
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Usually nothing. YOU ARE A CHIEF! The star on your insignia does not change that.
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I get called "Chief" by most of the active USAF people I encounter at Offutt Air Force Base each time I go there for medical appointments or commissary visits. I simply realize that I am in a military environment that does not regularly deal with "my kind." It's no big deal to me. However, on the lighter side, when engaging with my LTC orthopedic surgeon, when he calls me "Chief," I say to him, "That's Senior Chief to you, Major!!!"
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You let it pass. If it's someone you see routinely,let them know the difference. When I was frocked to senior chief I was on recruiting out of LA. Another SCPO and I were both frocked at the same time and after the ceremony on our way back to our recruiting stations, we decided to stop at the CPO club at Port Hueneme. We were going to show those CB chiefs what two real fleet SCPOs looked like. Ooops, when we walked in we were in the middle of the monthly Command Master Chief's meeting: slumped shoulders.
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I am a Master Chief; it is the Chief anchor that makes the difference. If anyone called me Chief, I would not be insulted; nor would it bother me if someone saluted me, as I have a lot of gold and silver on my cover. I have dealt with both situations and am comfortable with each. I had two officers salute me and a CPO salute me when I was stationed in San Diego. I just saluted them back, as if nothing was amiss, but the Chief said,"Shit," and I just kept on walking. If in doubt, salute; and maybe you'll get a grin in return.
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CWO2 Richard Rose
There's absolutely nothing wrong with an enlisted saluting another enlisted. The salute is also a sign of respect.
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If it's just a passing remark and its intentions are proper I move on, but in a Joint environment, especially if you are working with them daily, I believe its important for all of us to know the proper names and titles of the enlisted and officer ranks. Just as an Army Capt wouldn't want to be called a Lt by a Navy Petty Officer, it's important to know the names of the ranks and titles. It's professional! But I'm called Chief all the time mostly from Army and it's no big deal I love being a part of the Navy Chief's Mess!
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CAPT Charles Weishar
Interesting that you mention the joint environments, Chief. I was stationed in Frankfurt and my office was in the IG Farben building co-located with the Army Fifth Corps. I was an O-6 at the time and wore my blue uniform with four gold stripes on each sleeve. But I was often treated as an O-3 - even quartered with them (until I spoke up to the hierarchy). I spoke to the Deputy Corps commander and asked whether he would have any objection to my wearing the Navy winter working uniform. The Corps had no objection. The winter uniform consisted of a black shirt with silver Eagles on the collar. That turned the reaction of door guards and other enlisted rates.
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PO1 Harry Champagne
CAPT Charles Weishar - ITS EASY FOR THE NEWER PEOPLE TO MISTAKE YOUR PROPER TITLE. THE ENSIGNIA ARE THE SAME JUST WHAT YOU ARE CALLED IF DIFFERENT.
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CAPT Charles Weishar
Not too sure what you mean by newer people in relation to my situation described. I was referring to doorway guards in more senior ratings and people in the administration offices. Both situations have senior people in charge. True, the metal insignia on collars is sometimes identical among services and I was sometimes referred to as Colonel. I ignored those occasions.
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