Posted on Mar 24, 2014

Should the Army continue regarding NCOs as Sergeant or by their actual rank title?

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The question is whether anyone has an opinion if the Army should continue regarding its NCOs as Sergeants or by their actual rank title. Army NCOs, from the time that they pin on E5/SGT are referred to as Sergeants. This continues until the NCO reaches E8/1SG as there are a few Army MSGs that I have seen referred to as "sergeant" and they were not offended. The other services (Navy, USMC, USAF) refer to each of their ranks by their actual rank title; the USMC E6/Staff Sergeant is referred to as a Staff Sergeant while a E6/Tech Sergeant in the Air Force is referred to as a Tech Sergeant. The Navy uses rates such as Master at Arms (MA) 1,2 or 3 to signify rate and rank but still, its not just MA. As I am not offended by being referred to as a Sergeant by others as a SFC, mostly out of years of repitition, does anyone think that the Army should enforce rank references that reflect the actual rank title (eg. Sergeant or Staff Sergeant for an E6 and so on)?

Although I do realize that when an Army NCO is in a ceremony or similar formation, they are referred to by their actual rank however; when a Soldier, another NCO etc. needs to speak with Staff Sergeant Doe, John/Jane, they are acknowledged only as Sergeant. What do you think?....

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Posted >1 y ago

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I think it's fine the way it is. Firstly because it's worked well for so long. Secondly, the difficulties imposed on communication would be infuriating. For example: let's say I'm walking into my Co building at the start of the duty day and I see my PSG. By the time I would be able to articulate "good morning, sergeant first class" he would be 10 paces past me. Third: even the other branches have their own unofficial titles. Examples: Marine SSgts are often referred to as "Staff", or Gunnery Sergeants referred to as "Gunny".

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PFC Jason Rodrigues

Posted >1 y ago

I would say leave it up to the individual soldier who is addressing the NCO, if PFC Snuffy wants to call SSG Bootstrap Staff Sergeant then no issue really should be made. If he just uses Sergeant then so be it as long as that NCO isn't a 1SG (then its either First Sergeant or Top) or a SGM or CSM.

Just my opinion on it.

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SGT Richard H.

Posted >1 y ago

If it goes to the point where NCO's are addressed by "actual" rank, E-7's will need something that sounds cooler that "Sergeant First Class"....marines have "Gunny". We need something cool like that.

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LTC Paul Labrador

>1 y

We could call it "First Class"....but that sounds too Navy....

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SGT Richard H.

>1 y

Yes Sir....Very Navy.

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CW3 (Join to see)

>1 y

I had a friend who was a SSG, married to someone who made SFC before her. Her nickname for him was 'Asshole'.

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SMSgt (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I'm currently stationed on a Navy base. The Sailors I meet typically call me Master Sergeant even though the in the AF Sergeant is fine E-5 to E-8. I don't say anything because it's correct and if that's what they have been told to say I don't want to undermine their leadership. I've been working with the Navy's Color Guard and the Sailors refer to themselves by rate, HM2 for example.

I'm curious if "Gunny" is an approved title. There are many in the AF that call E-8s "Senior", which isn't official. It's not that I don't think they are worth it; they are in the top two percent of the enlisted force. With logic, we come back to everyone is referred to by their full title...

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SGT Richard H.

>1 y

Gunny isn't "official", but unlike "sarge" or something, Gunny is generally accepted as a respectful term, much like calling a Master Sergeant "Top". Generally, both terms (at least in my experience) are ones you would use in a "familiar" setting, but not in a formal setting such as a situation where you are reporting to them in an official capacity.

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Sgt John Anderson

Posted >1 y ago

Ok, so I get it that it is in the Army regs to call everyone SGT, but what about "Sarge?" you soldiers really say that or is it a Hollywood thing? Sounds terribly unprofessional to me, but I guess you could make the same argument that as Marines, we call Gunnery Sgts "Gunny"

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SGT Richard H.

>1 y

Sgt John Anderson You don't really hear "Sarge" in the Infantry. Those that use the term usually find themselves doing impromptu upper body strength training.

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PFC Jason Rodrigues

>1 y

I've never heard or used "Sarge" but LOTS of people shorten Sergeant to"Sarnt" as if it is a contraction of Sergeant

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LTC Paul Labrador

>1 y

No self respecting NCO I know would ever tolerate being called "sarge." That's almost as bad as calling someone a "non-com"....

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Should the Army continue regarding NCOs as Sergeant or by their actual rank title?

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