Posted on Sep 16, 2016
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As an E-4 in the Army, how would I go about addressing an E-7 in the Marine Corps or another branch? They call them Sir, do we as well?

Reason I asked I'm watching recruits from the USMC boot camp calling NCO's Sir/Ma'am, and for the Army we would call the cadre by their rank... But it was clarified below
Posted in these groups: Rules and regulations RegulationCustoms and courtesies logo Customs and Courtesies
Edited >1 y ago
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Navy = Chief
USMC = full rank title
Army = Sarge, or big sarge
USAF = first name
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>1 y
True story: a Marine sees a spider in his tent, pulls his KBar, stabs it and eats it!
A Soldier seed a spider in his tent, grabs a rock and kills it.
A sailor sees a spider in his tent and shoos it away.
An airman sees a spider in his tent and calls the consigere to ask why is there a tent in his room! MSgt Chandos Clapper
SFC Platoon Sergeant
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
You call an infantry nco “sarge” he might get real emotional.
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SGT Squad Leader
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
"Sarge" is a "fuck you"
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Sgt Dale Briggs
>1 y
SFC (Join to see) - especially being out of branch and he doesn’t know you. Even in unit he’d be Gunny, never Sarge, I was Sarge at E5. If you don’t know the rank, sir will always work.
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LtCol Mac McCarty
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Edited >1 y ago
As most have said here, learn the service etiquette. When I was fresh caught lieutenant in RVN, the Company Gunny was giving me some necessary advice, to which I replied "Yessir...I mean, yes, Gunny." The Skipper heard me and said, "Oh, it's OK to call him "Sir", lad. He's old enough to be your father!" (I judiciously did not hear the Gunny's reply.)

On a more serious side, an Army Major at Quantico (he was an exchange student at Command and Staff College) once interrupted a conversation I was having with a Master Gunnery Sergeant by saying "In the Army, we do not keep an officer waiting for a conversation with a sergeant to en...." The Master Gunny politely excused himself and I had the rare privilege of throwing a fellow major out of my office for embarrassing me, himself, and the Army.
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SPC Mike Davis
SPC Mike Davis
7 y
SGT (Join to see) - You left out "superior" which applies.
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LTC Larry Davis
LTC Larry Davis
>1 y
As an Army officer, I'm glad you tossed that Major out on his ear! I've dealt with some who needed to bounced.
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SSgt Owner/Operator
SSgt (Join to see)
6 y
We referred to our Master Gunnery Sergeant as Master Guns. Maybe once or twice as Top Gun - but that did not fly as well.
An E-7 - Gunnery Sergeant or Gunny.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Sgt Dale Briggs
>1 y
Master Guns was always Top, 1st Sgt by rank. No idea why the difference, but I assure you if you called out 1st Sgt Top, he’d... correct you.
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CWO4 Personnel Officer
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For Marines, full rank. Gunny and Master Gunny / Master Guns are acceptable for Gunnery Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants, respectively, in informal settings and if they allow it, which most do. Outside of that, full rank for everyone else. NCOs and SNCOs are addressed as sir by recruits during boot camp. Once the recruits receive their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, they are then Marines and will call them by their ranks.
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
SP5 Jeannie Carle
>1 y
MSgt Jose Hernandez - I've not seen this in forever! I intend to keep this one TY for the memory!
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SGT Jay Costanzo Sr
SGT Jay Costanzo Sr
>1 y
MAJ John Douglas -77-83 I never had a problem with enlisted referring to me as sarge.
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SSgt Owner/Operator
SSgt (Join to see)
6 y
It was certainly weird calling any of my DIs by their rank on graduation day - after graduation.
I served with many Tops (E-8/crossed rifles) and 1st Sergeants (E-8/diamond) as well as one Master Guns (E-9/bursting bomb) and a few Sergeant Majors (E-9/star). I also had a WO as my Platoon Commander, a great personal friend who had just made Gunny when I transferred into the unit. Gunner was on the way out unless they had that bursting bomb. Saw one my entire time in. 1984-1996.
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PO2 Brad Broerman
PO2 Brad Broerman
>1 y
I called my senior CC Chief in boot camp, and the other one as MS1... I don't ever remember calling them Sir... As a Gator sailor, I'm definitely familiar with how to address Marines. I'm currently learning Army traditions as my son is now in the Army.
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What is the proper way to address NCOs in different branches?
SGT Jerrold Pesz
48
48
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Does "Hey Dude" work?
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PO2 Athen Dailey
PO2 Athen Dailey
7 y
to be fully honest though, in the Navy depending on the NCO and the setting, I do remember many a time referring to my sailors as dude, and them often referring to me as such, I would also occasionally do it to directed towards my E-6. but, I think the Navy is way different in this respect
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PO3 John Priest
PO3 John Priest
7 y
You could, but you might wake up in the med bay wondering what truck hit you, depending on rank and whether they were old school E7-E9 or not.

As I clearly remember my Basic Training from 1984, you did use Sir/Ma'am a lot. After graduation, you are expected to have memorized ranks by uniform/across the branches. And woe betide if you screw up.
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SGT Ernest Huerta
SGT Ernest Huerta
>1 y
How about walking into an office full of people whose ranks are undetermined and being ignored? "Who is the MFIC?" ,asked in a loud tone, usually worked.
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Sgt Jopes Ncoic
Sgt (Join to see)
>1 y
When I was a PFC checking into my first unit, a Corporal told me to relax and not to stand at parade rest when greeting him. I complied and just said "Morning, Corporal". He thought for a second, still said to be "more relaxed", and so I replied, "Yo, what up dawg!"

Definitely do not recommend that as a greeting!
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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47
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In the Marines, I can tell you that you address them by what their rank is. If you come across a E-6 Marine, you address them as Staff Sergeant. E-7 Gunnery Sergeant (unless they tell you that you can call them Gunny) and so forth going up. I have seen bad juju come to those that addressed a Marine Staff Sergeant as Sergeant once. Not pretty.
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SSgt Travis Bach
SSgt Travis Bach
>1 y
Well in all fairness I went through artillery school (Marine Det). I had a SFC lay into me for calling her sergeant first class... I was a boot trying to respect... It's always funny though to see a marine gunnery sergeant get called a sergeant though!!
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CWO3 Us Marine
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>1 y
GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston - Thanks for your service Gunny, that's some USMC history there, best I can do is say that the area that former Commandant USMC Clifton B. Cates was from is about an hour from here and some of his descendants still live there, other than that my older brothers served in Army and Navy in early 70's, my Dad was in Big Red One in WWII as a grunt, later was watch-stander at Nuremberg, got called back for Korea again as grunt Sergeant with 19th of 24th ID, got hit but survived New Year's Offensive 12/31/50 - 1/1/51, buried him in 90 with his PH, Semper Fidelis
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SSG Squad Leader
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
The army is kinda going that way now. Most of my younger soldiers address me as Staff Sergeant vs the older ones that just say Sergeant. They say that's what's taught to them in basic now.
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SPC Wanda Vergara-Yates
SPC Wanda Vergara-Yates
>1 y
SSG (Join to see) - I imagine that is the way the Army is helping to avoid confusion between services. A most remarkable thing I've noticed is that those in the Army are more likely to fully capitalize their rank abbreviations where those in other branches don't really. My first Army job was typing ID cards, and it took some time for me to absorb all that into my own personal culture. WoW, that was 20 to 30 years ago!
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LTC Database Administrator
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45
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You will never be wrong if you refer to them by their rank. But follow the lead of their peers/subordinates in that branch. If you are consistently working with that person, in a respectful way, ask them what they prefer. That shows respect for them and their branch and reflects well on you and your branch.
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MAJ John Vertido
MAJ John Vertido
>1 y
Great advice, especially if you work at a Joint HQ.
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
43
43
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First of all, "E-4" is a pay grade; you are either a Corporal or (most likely) a Specialist.

I was a Marine Lance Corporal, got out and joined the Army National Guard. I always heard guys talking about "Getting my 5", which always pissed me off. You don't "Get" your 5, you 'Earn" sergeant stripes. Every boot Private, Airmen, Seamen, whatever the fuck, no rank numb nuts troop has done what 95 % of their graduating classes will never do, WORN THE UNIFORM of his or her nation. If you're a private in the Army, be fucking proud of that, your dipshit classmates aren't. And, if you start climbing the rank structures, be damned proud to "Earn" private first class, Lance Corporal, Petty Officer 3, Senior Airman, whatever and however you rise.
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
LCpl Stephen Arnold
8 y
SPC Todd Rhoades - Guess I never bucked hard enough! Thanks for the historical lesson Specialist.
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SPC Todd Rhoades
SPC Todd Rhoades
8 y
@LCpl Stephen Arnold SFC Stephen P.
Not a problem Lance Corporal, just thought I should live up to the advice I gave in my response on the post. I'm funny that way, if you're gonna talk it, you damn sure better walk it.
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SPC Todd Rhoades
SPC Todd Rhoades
8 y
Don't know how I did that, apologies, SFC Stephen P.
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
LCpl Stephen Arnold
8 y
SPC Todd Rhoades - No worries, brother. Beer always flows for a brother my friend.
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MSG Dan Castaneda
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38
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Unless they are an E-9, I call them all "buddy." I call all E-9s "Sergeant Major." I go by Dan.

This shit is easy.
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SGT Robert Wager
SGT Robert Wager
>1 y
Since I am wrapped in my 214 blanket I go by Rob....
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SFC Andras Yaghjian
SFC Andras Yaghjian
>1 y
In my 22 years never called some one BUDDY , that was a fighting word........due you know what is a BUDDY?
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GySgt Eric Morland
GySgt Eric Morland
>1 y
Lol
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MSG Dan Castaneda
MSG Dan Castaneda
>1 y
SFC Andras Yaghjian - I guess I don't. If I call you " buddy" it's not meant in a derogatory way. However you don't want to fight me.
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GySgt William Hardy
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37
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After I left the Marines and joined the Army National Guard, I had to give up 2 stripes and entered as a Sgt. A lot of the men started calling me Gunny and it sort of stuck. Even after making it back to SSG, I was still Gunny. I retired as a SFC. When I came out of retirement for duty in Iraq, I once again had to go back to Sgt. While I was in Kuwait, I ran into some Marine platoons and a few of my soldiers heard them calling me Gunny. Some of them started calling me Gunny after that. When I retired the second time I was promoted back to SFC for retirement. As a SSG doing a 3 three week training session in Reforger many years back, even the active duty Army called me Gunny. My OIC introduced me to the active duty counter-parts as SSG Hardy and said I was a former Gunny in the Marines. That's all it took. I was Gunny again.
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Cpl Scott Jarrett
Cpl Scott Jarrett
>1 y
Once a Gunney always a Gunney!! YUT YUT!!!
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CPT Dion Francis
CPT Dion Francis
>1 y
Thanks for your service "Gunney"!
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SGT Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
Wow what an amazing career you've had!
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SrA Aircraft Structural Maintenance
SrA (Join to see)
>1 y
I guess it's just kind of fun to say. Lol.
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SSgt Frank Lanford
26
26
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OK now I got out of the Air Force in 1994, so what they do now days is likely something I don't even want to hear about, but since Air Force Cops, dealt with ALL branches AND even foreign countries military members, it was usually easier to just go with Sir or Ma'am, regardless of whatever their rank was.
Now understanding the Marine Corps better than most, since my older brother was a Gunney and he of course set me straight, I "tried" to address Marines properly by Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major etc., but since most of my contact with Marines as a Cop, was not necessarily on the best terms, as I was usually only called in when they were in need of handcuffs, sometimes I would simply address them as "Marine" which sometimes would get through their "drunken" mind that they in fact ARE a Marine and maybe they should behave like one, or his (or her) "Gunney", or whoever they report to, is gonna have their fanny.
This did not always work, and even if the suspect was an Officer (of any service), drunk and disorderly at the Officer's Club etc, well sometimes they didn't even get a Sir out of me as I wrestled them into handcuffs :-)
AND on a side note: YES it was NOT that uncommon to hear and Airman, address his or her Sergeant. and yes sometimes even "some" officers, by their first names, but that was NOT, and I repeat "WAS" not the case in the Air Force Police career field, which WAS the most "Military" of the Air Force career fields :-)
AND NO, I did not EVER allow my subordinate cops to call me by my first name while in uniform :-)
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SSgt Frank Lanford
SSgt Frank Lanford
>1 y
SSGT Tyler Bloodworth, I am VERY glad to hear that in today's Air Force, that proper courtesy and adherence to regulations is still in place, I know that out of uniform it is easy for service members to "try" to slip back into "civilian" style relationships with their supervisors, and that "some" of those superiors will get lack in this regard as well, but to hear from former and "more importantly" current Air Force members, that this is not a problem, gives me hope for the future of OUR Air Force and of course OUR Country.
God Bless The United States Air Force !!!!!!
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TSgt Charles Turnipseed
TSgt Charles Turnipseed
7 y
Yet, you have not correctly identified as Security Forces. I wouldn't call that career field the "most military" in the USAF, whatever that means. There are pararescue, combat control and special ops in the Air Force. Quite military and likely fewer axes to grind.
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TSgt Jerry Clemens Jr
TSgt Jerry Clemens Jr
>1 y
Try this one... I was in from 1987 to 2008. In the Still Photographic career field. I was a "Cop Augmentee" when I was a young Airmen stationed in the UK. EVERYONE was Sir/Ma'am or their rank. The quintessential Sergeant... Up to Chief. I didn't serve with other branches until I was back in the States at Malmstrom, then it was mostly Montana Army National Guard. I had the decency to ASK about their rank. I had a couple of Navy folks come into my Photo Lab... Had to ask them about their ranks. Navy enlisted rank/rate confuses me to this day. Someone mentioned Air Force Members using first names... Not from subordinates.
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SSgt Tom Canning
SSgt Tom Canning
>1 y
I agree with your assessment of Air Force rank and how each individual was addressed. In the aircraft maintenance field all enlisted called each other by first name or nickname unless you were addressing Air Police, the First Sergeant or the NCOIC. In that case it was by rank. All officers were addressed as sir or ma’am, no exceptions.
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