Posted on Apr 30, 2014
Not allowed to address IET Privates by their rank.
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So I was informed this morning that TRADOC says we aren't allowed to address Privates by their rank because it is demeaning... WHO COMES UP WITH THIS STUFF?!
CLARIFICATION: You cannot address them SOLELY by their rank.
CLARIFICATION: You cannot address them SOLELY by their rank.
Rank
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 62
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I think this is bogus. I'm not sure if the Air Force has a similar regulation but honestly, who really cares? Even as a junior enlisted member, if you call out to someone saying "excuse me, airman", I think that is much more appropriate than the alternative "hey you!". In the same manner, if you do know the person, I think it is more respectful to say, excuse me airman so-and-so, but to classify the former as "degrading"? I'm sorry but no. Soldiers commonly refer to other soldiers "sgt, first sgt, command sgt major, etc". We do the same thing in the Air Force with chief, first shirt, LT, and so on. There are too many rules and regs being written for the sole purpose of protecting people's feelings. Aren't we in the military?! This has been done for centuries. I don't get it.
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SSgt (Join to see)
This is quite possibly the greatest post I've read yet. How can we win war if we soften ourselves so much that a CSM must think more on how not to insult a private who has no clue about whats going on. All I can say is If you join the military you aren't entitled to anything. All these new airmen/privates are too entitled and CoC's have to tip toe around too much to get any work done. Its the military, its not your grandma's house. Your feelings don't matter here. Mission success does.
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I don't have any problem being called an "Airman" I am proud to be in the military and in every branch we have a specific general title. There's nothing wrong with being a "soldier" , "marine", "seaman" ect. My rank matters to me but I am also proud to represent the Air Force as an Airman. Even if I was an officer I would still be proud to be called an Airman regardless of my rank. People get too wrapped up in the little details rather than the bigger picture that we are all defending this country. The military is getting too soft in some aspects, it's called the military for a reason.
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Great topic SSG. In training I was called Private and much worse. I believe its not demeaning. Its simply a rank. Would it be degrading if some one kept calling an NCO "Sergeant" all the time. No, they are simply showing courtesy. Same thing with Drill Sergeants, or AIT instructors. They see too many faces and names. Calling them "private" is simply easier.
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I was none to fond of being called "Recruit" while I was in Boot Camp but that was my title, Seaman Recruit. We loved the last 2 weeks when the CC started calling us Sailors.
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SSG Genaro Negrete
I can appreciate the sentiment. Makes you feel like you actually earned the title. I hear marines have to refer to themselves in the third person as "recruit". I can imagine the sense of accomplishment when they graduate and can me called marines.
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SSG Kevin McCulley
What is really funny is that a majority of the IET soldiers are just as disgusted as we are by the TRADOC limitations.
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SFC (Join to see)
According to military regulation, appropriate forms of address are "Soldier" (or "Sailor", "Airman", "Marine", etc.), the Rank or Business Title of the individual (such as "Private", "Sergeant", "Major", "Lieutenant", "Doctor", "Professor", etc.), or, when addressing any Warrant or Commissioned Officer of senior rank "Sir". Other accepted forms of address (though not necessarily by reg) are "Mr.", "Gunny", "Top", "Boss", "Guns", "Chief", and "Commander" just to name the ones off the top of my head. None of these has ever been derogatory in nature. Not even the Navy term "Seaman" is derogatory, though many use it in a derogatory manner. People who use rank in a derogatory manner are to blame. Calling a Private "Private" is not derogatory.
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Really?? It's demeaning??? Bless their hearts...-_-. You know how many times I have been called "Airman"? Or I have called another member "Soldier" or "Marine" or "Seaman"? Mostly because a name was unknown or not visible but I needed to get their attention. This is ridiculous. Its getting so frustrating when THIS becomes our military's major concern. Let's not focus on things like how can we amend our budget to the best possible use for our equipment, supplies, and troops instead let's focus on feelings.
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What happens is when enough people complain because they are butt hurt the military sometimes changes it. I never saw anything wrong with being called private. It falls under 25-50 that your title is private. Which is why I find it funny when I say private to an E-3 when two have the same last name and they tell me I'm supposed to address them as PFC.
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