Posted on Sep 16, 2016
SPC(P) Information Security (Is) Analyst
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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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Responses: 346
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SFC David Pope, MBA
21
21
0
Address him as Gunnery Sgt! If he was Air Force then it would be Master Sgt or First Sgt, depending on the position. If they are Navy, then Chief or Chief Petty Officer. I worked JTF many times in my career, and I highly recommend studying the rank structure and insignias of the other branches. The first time I addressed a Navy Commander properly based on his sleeve stripes, my life went from Hell to Heaven, especially when I found out he was going to be my new boss. Some will call it kiss ass, I call it cover ass!
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LCDR Operations Officer
LCDR (Join to see)
>1 y
F736c597
Haha. Good advice
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SSgt Crew Chief
SSgt (Join to see)
7 y
First Sgt is a duty not a rank in the Air Force.
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SFC David Pope, MBA
SFC David Pope, MBA
7 y
First Sgt duty is usually an E-7 thru E-9 in the Air Force. I have addressed an Air Force E-7 as both while in a JTF role.
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PO2 Builder
PO2 (Join to see)
>1 y
CYA always!
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CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter
20
20
0
I liked to be call by my first name"chief"
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
LCpl Stephen Arnold
>1 y
Aye, Aye Chief.
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SrA Aircraft Structural Maintenance
SrA (Join to see)
>1 y
Hooyah Chief!
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CPO Clifford Henry
CPO Clifford Henry
7 y
Yep! Earned them anchors!
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Sgt Paul Mason
17
17
0
In basic training (boot camp) everyone is "sir" or "ma'am". After that, the only time you'd address an E-7 (Gunnery Sergeant) as "Sir" is if he is holding a command position that is normally held by an officer....however, being raised by a Marine, if someone who out-ranks me is yelling at me, it's "Sir" or "Ma'am" no matter their rank ;-) Usually we'd address him as "Gunny".
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SSG Elmer Boutin
16
16
0
If you know, then call them in the form that would be courteous to them - as many have illustrated here.

I did have one incident where I was outproccessing from a school at Ft. Huachuca and the mail room was in the Marine barracks. I addressed the Staff Sergeant at the front desk as "Sergeant," as we would in the Army. The PFC that was on duty with him started to dress me down for not addressing him properly. The Staff Sergeant "very strongly" corrected the PFC for being disrespectful to an NCO from another service who obviously didn't know better.
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CMSgt Gary Fichman
13
13
0
Quick story, I was an AF Independent Duty Medic assigned to a Aid Station that took care of US folks at a NATO base-anyway an Army Sgt Major showed up for my sick call with something in his eye, said it hurt like hell. I said "no problem sir, I'll fix you right up" -anyway after getting the worst ass chewing of my life (I was a Air Force MSgt) I took care of his eye & never called any enlisted Army folks sir. Oh yeah, his boss a Major called to apologize, I told him it was my fault.
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Kenneth Danley
Kenneth Danley
>1 y
QUESTION CHIIEF MASTER SERGEANT THERE ARE TWO IN EVERY RANK FROM E7 TO E9 WHY IS THAT
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MSgt Jim Flanagan
MSgt Jim Flanagan
>1 y
That's because people in those ranks can serve as First Sergeants, which have a diamond within the blue field on the senior NCO chevrons. Both types are shown in rank charts.
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Cpl George Crab
13
13
0
With fear and trembling?
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SPC David McPherson
SPC David McPherson
>1 y
You are right Cpl. Crab! Anytime I had to address ANYONE from a different branch I did so with the fear of getting it wrong. Actually, I don't think I ever actually got it right! However, since I only dealt with other branches while I was in school, I was corrected in a mild but stern way, and I never made the same mistake with that rank again!
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MSgt Gerald Orvis
12
12
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I'm a retired Marine who retired at the grade of MSGT. In the Corps, recruits have customarily addressed anything above whaleshit at the bottom of the sea as "Sir" or "Ma'am." After they put on the EGA, they address all officers as "Sir/Ma'am" and other enlisted Marines (especially NCO's/SNCO's) by their correct rank title. As mentioned elsewhere, Gunnery Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants can be addressed by less formal titles (Gunny/Master Gunny) if they allow it. Staff Sergeants are always addressed as "Staff Sergeant" and never as "Staff" or "Sergeant." Master Sergeants can be addressed as "Top" when they allow it. NEVER address a First Sergeant or Sergeant Major by anything but their full title. We used to address our Sergeant Major as "Sir" out of respect. Sometimes it was appropriate to address an NCO/SNCO in formal settings as "Sir/Ma'am," such as when they were acting as Officer of the Day while on guard duty, or in a parade setting ("Take your post, Sir.") . When I was Sergeant of the Guard at Marine Barracks, my sentries would address me as "Sir," which was acceptable as a formal way of showing respect. It used to be customary to address junior company officers and warrant officers as "Mister" (if working in frequent/close proximity). That seems to have passed away, however. It used to be that Marine warrant officers/chief warrant officers would be addressed as "Gunner," despite not being Marine Gunners. Now that the rank of Marine Gunner has been revived, that seems to be going away. We customarily referred to USMC captains in command as "Skipper" (although not generally to his/her face, or in formal settings). Lieutenant Colonels can informally be addressed as "Colonel," and general officers as "General" (no matter how many stars). As to the other branches, I'm most familiar with the Navy, so I generally call non-rates by their last name, petty officers as "Petty Officer" and chiefs by their proper full title. Lieutenant Commanders can be called "Commander" and LTJG's are "Lieutenants."
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
LCpl Stephen Arnold
>1 y
MSGT this probably isn't the forum but, I'm out so screw it. While embarked on a naval vessel during Desert Storm, we had a two second lieutenants, one a PAO from Brigham Young University, the other a "Ring knocker" from Annapolis (who had a severe Napoleonic complex.)

We learned, early on, that the ring knocker was sensitive to being called "Lieutenant' and would demand that we call him "Sir.' It was immature of us, but we would fuck with him and always call him "LT" just to piss him off. Our officers were pretty chill so we'd call them by their rank, which actually made for a pretty cool atmosphere (we'd still do it at parade rest, report accordingly, etc.)

One day we were in liberty port in Haifa, Israel at the USO, and drunker than shit. The "LT's" walked up, and Napoleon asked us what we were drinking. When he got to me I said, "I'll take a Budweiser, Sir". Taken back, he said, "LCPL Arnold, that's the first time you've ever called me 'Sir'", to which I replied, "Well, Fuckin A, Lieutenant, it's the first time you ever offered me a beer." We all had a good laugh, and the LT actually became a pretty cool guy. He had a promotion ceremony to first lieutenant, and we celebrated by picking him up like we were going to throw him overboard, which cracked up our BDE Commander.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Sgt Dale Briggs
>1 y
Master Sgts we’re Top, I’d dare anyone call our 1st anything but, he wouldn’t complain or reprimand, he’d close the door and drill you right in the mouth. Dude was a first rate hardass, but a straight up Marine, more salad than any man I’ve seen up close and personal. No doubt earned in Nam.
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Sgt Charles Welling
12
12
0
Marines do NOT address NCOs or Staff NCOs as sir, who told you that nonsense? A Corporal is addressed as Corporal, all other Sgt levels are addressed as Sgt except a First Sgt or a Sgt Maj and they are addressed as just that. An E-7 may be addressed as Gunny by tradition. At least that was the case when I was on active duty pre-Obama, hell, who knows what may be the case now.
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LCpl Richard Barnhart
LCpl Richard Barnhart
>1 y
All Marine Recruits refer to everyone as "Sir & Ma'am".
Only AFTER earning the title of MARINES, do they refer to military personnel by their rank.
Amy NEVER do you call an E-6 or higher, 'Sarge' E6 is Staff Sargeant, etc. Gunney, Master, 1st, & Sgt Maj.
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Sgt Michael Betts
Sgt Michael Betts
>1 y
When I went through Parris Island (over 50 years ago) ANYBODY who wasn't another recruit was addressed as "Sir". That included even another slick-sleeve who had "earned the title". Once you graduated the "Sir" was reserved for officers/warrant officers. BTW, WO's were addressed as "Mister" unless they were WO-4's and had the bursting bomb on their collar, in which case they were addressed as "Gunner".
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Sgt Richard Sprague
Sgt Richard Sprague
7 y
Sgt Charles Welling, if you would of paid attention to detail you would of realized he stated He was watching recruits from the USMC boot camp calling NCO's Sir/Ma'am. He was just wonder if Marines always addressed NCO's Sir/Ma'am, because in the Army they call their NCO's in boot camp Drill Sergeants not Sir/Ma'am.
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LCpl Darrell J. Farley Jr.
LCpl Darrell J. Farley Jr.
7 y
Third Generation Marine here. 1983-85
Son of a retired GunnerySergeant,1950-1976
Grandson of a retired Sergeant of Marines 1914-1937
From Woodrow Wilson through Ronald Reagan
Marines of ALL ranks have been addressed as Private Schmuckateli to Sergeant Major Murphy you address that Marine by the rank he or she has EARNED!!! You may hear a lower rank called by last name only by a higher rank in an informal setting, but in a formal setting it’s “Full Rank and Last Name!”
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SN Greg Wright
12
12
0
E-4 - E-6, 'Petty Officer'
E7 - 'Chief'
E8 - 'Senior Chief' or 'Senior'
E9 - 'Master Chief'. That's it. Just 'Master Chief.' Do NOT EVER call one 'Master', even though you can call E8's 'Senior'.
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PO1 Watch Officer
PO1 (Join to see)
>1 y
CWO4 Gene A. - The Senior's on my boat don't mind a bit when it's an informal address. I.E. Passing in a P-way or something, Infront of the division/officer of dept head or better, of course it's Senior Cheif.
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LTJG Ansi Officer
LTJG (Join to see)
>1 y
You can say "Senior Chief," but for the most part it's just "Senior". Don't let anyone tell you differently. Unless a specific Senior Chief tells you to call him or her "Senior Chief", just use "Senior". I assure you, no one will get on your case. Working at NCTAMS I have seen 30-40 E7 and above come and go, and at one point there was a Senior Chief for each division. They all went by "Senior".
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MCPO Top Snipe
MCPO (Join to see)
7 y
As an active duty Senior Chief, I have no issue with anyone calling me Senior or Senior Chief on a day-to-day basis. In a formal setting (i.e. DRB, SOQ/SOY Board, etc...), I'll only accept Senior Chief.
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PO3 Cryptologic Technician
PO3 (Join to see)
7 y
With in my unit my senior chief preferred "Senior". It's still respectful however the slightly less informal name helps unit morale and make us feel more like a team. It's always senior chief in a formal setting however. Sometimes tradition and "regs" actually hurt morale and I dont see how having a stick up ones ass at all times helps anyone. One can be professional and hardworking while being slightly relaxed.
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SFC Motor Transport Operator
11
11
0
Gunnery SGT for E7 and you better say it LOL
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GySgt Ken Norwood
GySgt Ken Norwood
9 y
In 1984 a young Army Captain was at my unit. He called me Sergeant. I gave him a quckt class. He later called Sergeant again & I reminded him of the class. The 3rd time I said "What would the 2nd Lieutenant like." Thereafter he only refered to me as Gunny.
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SFC Motor Transport Operator
SFC (Join to see)
9 y
awesome lol
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PO2 Skip Kirkwood
PO2 Skip Kirkwood
9 y
Strong work, Gunny!
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Sgt Charles Welling
Sgt Charles Welling
>1 y
Not so, our shop Gunnery Sergeant was addressed as Sgt Frost unless he gave you permission to call him Gunny. The boss, MSgt Williams was addressed as Sgt Williams and he called GySgt Frost just as Frost.
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