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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SCPO Frank Carson
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10
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The Air Force folks always used to call me sir, I told them "you can call me Senior Chief..." They said "Ok Sir..." I was like WTF, but you know it is still a sign of respect... Chief, Senior Chief, Master Chief! 789!
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SrA Aircraft Structural Maintenance
SrA (Join to see)
>1 y
Sorry to say, but I think I did that to a Coast Guard Petty Officer once. I think I corrected myself, but I was still trying to learn Navy/CG ranks.
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SGT Larry Holland
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8
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When in doubt, ask. When I met an E-6 from the Marines, I asked him what is his rank called & explain their enlisted ranks structure.
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CPT Gordon Berkstresser
CPT Gordon Berkstresser
>1 y
That has been my experience. When I ask, NCOs are HAPPY to instruct. There is nothing better than asking someone who knows something to convey knowledge.
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CPT Gordon Berkstresser
CPT Gordon Berkstresser
>1 y
Oh, and I went through OCS - same experience enlisted and officer...most NCOs are consummate professionals who love to teach those willing to learn.
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Cpl Richard Slusher
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8
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They were recruits. They are not Marines yet. They have not earned the privilege of calling enlisted personnel by their rank.
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
LCpl Stephen Arnold
>1 y
"You're not even human FUCKING beings!" Gunny Ermey
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LTJG Ansi Officer
7
7
0
Don't ever call anyone in the Navy "Sir" unless they are an Officer. Had an airman keep calling me "Sir" - drove me up the wall. I kept correcting him, and I swear, he kept doing it just to irritate me. Anyway, if you see chevrons in the Navy it is "Petty Officer" - if you see a Gold Anchor, it is "Chief".
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
PO1 Kevin Dougherty
>1 y
My favorite comment I ever heard was at a station a kid right out of boot camp called the ETC sir. The chief looked at him for a second, and said, I work for a living son, don't call me sir, call me Chief. Yea it's kinda standard, but it still tickles me when I think of it 40 years later.
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MSgt Security Forces
MSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Probably couldn't read the name on your ass! Ha ha
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Maj Marty Hogan
Maj Marty Hogan
>1 y
LTJG (Join to see) Go easy- I lived in the South for several years and started to adhering to call everyone sir or ma'am as a respect thing. Being prior enlisted it is even harder for me- but I will go with if I knew it irritated you defense... you know my sarcastic sense of humor anyway. Thanks for sharing
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AA Kurt Arnold
AA Kurt Arnold
>1 y
Dress uniforms chiefs have chevrons and a top rocker one star senior two stars master chief, been out thirty years and remember that
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CMSgt Tim Garland
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Here's what I found from my research and experience working in the joint world:
US Army
E-1 Address as “Private (last name)."
E-2 Address as “Private First Class (last name)."
E-3 Address as "Private (last name)."
E-4 Address as "Specialist (last name)."
E-5 thru E8 (non-First Sergeant) sergeants, staff sergeants, sergeants first class, and master sergeants: Address as "Sergeant (last name)."
E-8 First Sergeant (has diamond between upper and lower chevrons) Address first sergeants as "First Sergeant (last name)."
E-9 Address sergeants major as "Sergeant Major (last name)."

USMC
IAW GMK 1010…Speaking to enlisted Marines. Address them by rank and last name; avoid casual use of first name or nicknames. Senior enlisted Marines should also be addressed by their full rank and last name. Always refer to a Marine by rank, not pay grade.
E-1 Address as Private
E-2 Address as Private First Class
E-3 Address as Lance Corporal
E-4 Address as Corporal
E-5 Address as Sergeant
E-6 Address as Staff Sergeant
E-7 Address as Gunnery Sergeant
E-8 Address as Master Sergeant
E-8 Address as First Sergeant (has diamond between upper and lower chevrons)
E-9 Address as Master Gunnery Sergeant
E-9 Address as Sergeant Major (has star between upper and lower chevrons)

Navy
E-1 – E-3 Address as Seaman
E-4 Address as Petty Officer Third Class
E-5 Address as Petty Officer Second Class
E-6 Address as Petty Officer First Class
E-7 Address as Chief
E-8 Address as Senior Chief
E-9 Address as Master Chief

Air Force
E-1 – E-4 Address as Airman
E-5 thru E-8 Address as Sergeant
E-9 Address as “Chief”

Coast Guard
E-1 to E-3 Address as Seaman/Fireman/Airman and last name
E-4 to E-6 Address as Petty Officer and last name
E-7 Address as Chief
E-8 Address as Senior Chief
E-9 Address as Master Chief
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PO3 Cryptologic Technician
PO3 (Join to see)
7 y
Actually the Navy is the same as you have listed for the coast guard. E4-E6 is just Petty Officer normally. You usually dont address the class. The exception is if you know the Sailors job. Then you address them with their job abbrivation followed my 1 2 or 3 depending on class. So in my case I would either be Petty Officer or CTN3
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SP5 Rick LaJiness
SP5 Rick LaJiness
>1 y
have to correct you,..in the Army an E-3 is a PFC...E-2 is still Private....unless things changed since 1972
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SP5 Rick LaJiness
SP5 Rick LaJiness
>1 y
E-1...no stripe E-2 ...1 stripe E-3...1 stripe with rocker
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PO2 Electronics Technician (Et)
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Navy NCO's range from PO3 to MCPO, for PO3-1(E4-6) they are addressed as (rate abbreviation)3, 2, or 1. I am An Electronics Technician 2nd Class so ET2, below me would be ET3 and above would be ET1. Once a First Class Petty Officer makes Chief(E7) regardless of the rate they are referred to as Chief, E8 is Senior Chief, and E-9 is Master Chief. If you are going to shorten the addressing of any of the more senior pay grades it's Senior, and Master Chief (this one doesn't shorten)
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LCDR Operations Officer
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>1 y
Don't forget Command Master Chief. Same paygrade as a Master Chief but not the same.
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PO2 Electronics Technician (Et)
PO2 (Join to see)
>1 y
Sir, All my CMC's went by Master Chief Command Master Chief is not a pay grade or a rank title but a position, I have met a few CSC's (Command Senior Chief) and CC (Command Chief). Also the navy has again made the rates a thing, so I am once again an ET2 yay.
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LCDR Operations Officer
LCDR (Join to see)
>1 y
ET2: I agree with your point concerning shared paygrades but the question was how to address them. A Command Master Chief should be addressed as such. If your Master Chief's didn't say anything, you're lucky. I know a few who would've eaten part of your ear for the mistake. As a commissioned officer, I have apologized to a senior chief for calling him "Chief" when I failed to pick up the star above his fouled anchor on his cover or collar. In my opinion, chiefs who advance to E-8 and 9 really deserve the recognition. It is very difficult to make chief and even more difficult to a Command Master Chief.

Incidentally, a Command Master Chief is CMDCM. CMC is a Chief Construction Mechanic in the Seabees.

PS I am glad you were able to remain an ET rather than a PO2. Tot this day, I still consider myself a Gunner's Mate.

R/
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PO2 Electronics Technician (Et)
PO2 (Join to see)
>1 y
Sir, Command Master Chief is a billet not a rank. There are some unique qualifications to take a Command Master Chief position, however that does not change the fact that it is simply a billet.
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TSgt Desmond Gusimat
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5
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How about "understood" responses for each branch?
Marine = Hoo-rah!
Army = Roger that!
Navy = Aye-aye!
Air Force = Cool!
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LCpl Darrell J. Farley Jr.
LCpl Darrell J. Farley Jr.
7 y
Marines say Ooh Raaa
Navy Seals say Hoo Yaa
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Cpl John Porpora
Cpl John Porpora
>1 y
Marines - "understood" = Aye Sir....or Aye Aye
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MSgt Joseph Haynes
5
5
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In the Air Force it's Sgt until you see a Chief Master Sgt. You better address them as Chief. We only use full rank for formal occasions.
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PO1 Imagery Analyst
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A6bcb3c0
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SPC Greg Campbell
SPC Greg Campbell
7 y
LMAO
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SSG G Smith
5
5
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With respect even the wrong term won't cause an issue. Every branch is used to it. Just be respectful.
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LCpl Paul Messer
4
4
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Edited >1 y ago
In the Marine corps it's their full rank. sergeant. Staff sergeant. Gunnery sergeantetc.
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SSG Steven Smith
SSG Steven Smith
>1 y
In the Army we are using their full rank. They earned it and Sarge just doesn't cut it.
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CPO Charles Helms
4
4
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In the Navy it is Chief, Sr. Chief, and Master Chief!! It's the way I was taught!!
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CWO3 Retired
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In the Marine Corps we have a rank structure that we all adhere to. E-1 to E-3, are referred to as Privates, PFC's and Lance Corporals with their last names. E-4 & E-5 are called Non-Commissioned Officers and are referred to as Corporals and Sergeants. The E-6 through E-9's are referred to as Staff Non-Commissioned Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. Our E-6's are called Staff Sergeant, E-7's are Gunnery Sregeants, hence the name Gunny, the E-8's are either First Sergeants or Master Sergeants, depending upon what the individual chooses when eligible to be selected for the next rank. E-9's is our Senior rank, which they can either be a Sergeant Major or a Masrter Gunnery Sergeant. Both the First Sergeant and Sergeant Major are the Senior rank and they are administrative in general. The Master Sergeant and the Master Gunnery Sergeant are Technical MOS's in their field of expertise. Both th E-8's and E-9's are considered to be our Senior Staff NCO's. But the most senior rank is our Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. He is the Senior enlisted Marine who advises our Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Nellore. He out ranks all Enlisted personnel in the Marine Corps. I should know because I came up through the ranks from Private to Gunnery Sergeant before being selected as Warrant Officer 1, I retired as Chief Warrant Officer 3 after serving 21 plus years in the Marine Corps in 1994 and still serving our Country. Hopefully this would give you and insight of what we Marines, Past, Present and Future understand how important our rank structure is to us all.

Semper Fidelis,

Gunner K.
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CPO Charles Helms
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Edited 8 y ago
In the Navy it is Chief, Sr. Chief, or Master Chief!! Been Chief for over 100 years!! We are a proud group of men and women!! Our E4 to E-6's are addressed as Petty Officer!!
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SSgt John Carter
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3
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By their rank. That is always the proper way. Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Corporal, Petty Officer, Chief.
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SGT Tim Fridley
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Calling a Marine SGT., Gunny, SGM ect Sir will get the same response I gave when I have been called Sir " Don't call me Sir I work for a living" LOL
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MSG Michael McEleney
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3
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Edited >1 y ago
First of all learn the different grades and insignia of all the services, this should be taught in basic training.
When assigned to a Joint Command I was appalled at the number of long time service members, both Officers and NCO's who didn't know the grade systems.
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CWO3 Us Marine
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3
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In your scenario Gunny works or Gunnery Sergeant. I never met a Gunny that got uptight about being referred to as one. Enlisted are referred to as last name, rank, or Marine. Corporal, Sergeant and Staff Sergeant as rank and last name or just rank but never "Staff" for a SSgt unless you enjoy filling sand bags or burning shitters. Unlike the Army it's not wise to refer to any enlisted above Gunny as Top. I think that's how 1st Sgts are often referred to in Army and it is a term of respect as they are the Top Sergeant, or at least used to be when there were only 7 enlisted paygrades. I heard my oldest brother in Hawk Missiles in 70's at Key West use the term First Shirt a few times also. Try Top with a Master Sergeant USMC and stand by for heavy rolls. Some don't sweat it and it depends on the unit and individuals concerned. If it is the wrong guy it will likely be met with a comment like "do I look like a top, why don't you try to spin me a few times?". First Sergeants are referred to as one. Sgts Maj and MGySgts are referred to as just that except MGySgts are often called Master Guns or Master Gunny. You may have witnessed some "boots" fresh out of boot camp. Recruits first and last word out of their mouth are Sir or Ma'am and it takes awhile to get out of that habit. Folks checking into their school or first duty station are often locked up at attention and might address the Asst Duty NCO in boot camp fashion. In boot camp they might say "Sir, this recruit requests permission to speak with the Drill Instructor, Sir". Likewise a boot might report in to school or duty station at attention and address a LCpl as "Sir, Private Smuckatelli is reporting as ordered, Sir" - while at attention, staring at the bulkhead and extending his/her orders in hand. It's comical to watch but they quickly figure it out.
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CWO3 Retired
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Marine Corps Boot Camp, they are called recruits. As for our Drill Instructors, the recruits are taught to address their D.I.'s. as Sirs or Ma'am. Once the recruit passes all three phases of their training, then they are given the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor because of the rites of passage. You who once was a Marine or currently serving as a Marine would understand what I just said.
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LCpl Michael Cappello
LCpl Michael Cappello
>1 y
Semper Fi Devil Dog.
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PO3 David Pederson
3
3
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We had a master Chief (E-9) who once said, "Don't call me sir, my parents were married"
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