Posted on May 14, 2014
Should military courtesy be required in RallyPoint?
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For example, should enlisted personnel address higher ranking officers as "Sir" in discussions? Or is courtesy assumed? Do you think veterans "exempt" from courtesy?
Customs and Courtesies
RallyPoint
Policy
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 89
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Customs and Courtesies are always required for military personnel regardless of where they are at or what medium they communicate through. Period.
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Its like trying to call your first grade teacher Betty after all these years, you just cant do it!! She will always be Mrs. Smith. You can take the person out of the military but you cab never take the military out of the person!!! So its in our nature to say yes sir no sir and yes ma'am no ' ma'am to our superiors weather in or out of the service. Should it be required? Well for one I enjoy this Free site, (key word here is free), if RP has to hire courtesy police to monitor our sirs and ma'am's it will most defiantly will no longer be a free site. Use common sense here folks no debate necessary!! We have beat this horse to death and it should now be dead!!
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As a veteran, I prefer ranks (not mine or any veteran, but active duty). I still call sergeants sergeant, and I have no problem with calling any officer by their ranks. It would be quite awkward to type from the Parade Rest position or at attention.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Customs and Courtesies are always required for military personnel regardless of where they are at or what medium they communicate through. Period.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Veterans typically do not fall under the UCMJ any longer, so customs and courtesies are not required. With that said, you *should* always respect that person's previous rank out of respect for their service and their commitment to our country.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Oops, sorry, didn't realize my response was directly to your comment, thought it was for the thread. My bad!
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at this point all should be sir or ma'm, until you get to know someone well enough to be on first name Basis
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Regardless of their duty status, I prefer to go by rank, as it is the most comfortable for me. Besides I am not good at remembering names.
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I think if you are replying to an individual, then a salutation such as Sir or Ma’am is appropriate. It should feel like a conversation. The same would not apply to group responses, since that would normally be focused on the senior representative of the group, although some introductory comment should make the response easier to read.
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I think you answered your own question. Military Courtesy doesn't need to be required on RallyPoint, because it is naturally applicable in a military/veteran environment. I don't have any illusions of anyone standing at parade rest while commenting on a forum, but I do consider myself a professional serving amongst other professionals. In that sense I wouldn't demand courtesy, but expect that it will be exercised because that is who we are. To me, addressing Seniors on here is no different than if I were taking part in distance learning or sending an e-mail.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Major
I agree. However, as a wise man (my grandfather) once told me: "time and place, boy....time and place". That simple adage has given me a lot of help throughout my life.
I agree. However, as a wise man (my grandfather) once told me: "time and place, boy....time and place". That simple adage has given me a lot of help throughout my life.
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CPO Chris Calvert
I believe professional courtesy and respect STILL apply as it relates to some items; however, head of the line privledges at a commissary or exchange does not fit my criteria - that should have been left at the door. I didn't agree with head of the line privledges in those instances before I retired and I still don't!
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SFC (Join to see)
Front of the line "privileges" are only for self absorbed and self important. The NCO creed says I need to place the needs of others before myself. That still applies even if I am in a hurry.
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ALCON: If you are NOT addressing officers as sir or ma'am or by their rank, or you are NOT addressing NCOs by their rank on this site, (regarless of their branch or active/retired status) you are wrong.
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SFC (Join to see)
Lisa, Kevin, Lonnie, Erin, I think I'm kinda being missunderstood. I realize this is a social media site outside of military official functions. What concerns me is the growning lack of respect for courtesy (both inside the active duty military and society in general). Thank you guys for your input. And Rena, that PFC who may now be the president of a company, well, I'd probably call him sir as well. Out of respect for his accomplishment. In the future, know that most of my opinions come from the depths of a grouchy old platoon sergeant's soul and once you get beneath the IBA and SAPI plates I'm just on ol softy. Look forward to seeing more of your input down the road.
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SFC (Join to see)
I'm a bit of a smart ass too David. I've lasted 20plus years because I learned when to "hold fire" and when to "unleash Hell" Usually NOT a good idea to unleash on someone who outranks you, regarless if they fire the first volley. :)
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