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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SSG Ralph Moran
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Mostly called by rank, E3 and below by their last name, E4 and up by their rank unless they are Officers and the answer is yes Sir or no Sir. My men called me sarge others would say Sargent
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PV2 Infantryman
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In the army, E-1 through E-3 you can just call them by their name, E-4 has the lateral promotion so if the soldiers is a corporal you you call them corporal, if they are a specialist you dont have to call them by their rank u less they are a team leader. E-5 and up is just sergeant until you hit sergeant major, then you have officers which is just sir/ma'am.
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SSgt Aircraft Structural Maintenance
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I know in my unit it’s normal to call someone by their first name, as long as you out rank them and it’s within your work center. But technically, you should address people by their rank or abbreviations. Master Sergeant or Sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant or Chief, etc...
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SSG Fred Campbell
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I’ve always called em all by their rank, the only one I throw a “sir or ma’am” to is officers..
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SFC William Huse
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When they are going through training, as you did, it's a whole different world. As an E4, you greet those of other branches with the same respect you deserve.
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CPO Tom Kilgore
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I ark have people calling me Sir!! I tell that just because you’re my sons-in-law, you don’t have to call me sir. Chief is good
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
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While in training Boots call Their NCOs Sir
Or ma’am... only then.
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As an Air Force SNCO I preferred Master Sgt. In today's joint environment it's an excellent question.
PO1 Rick Serviss
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You are hearing NCO's being called sir/ma'am in boot camp so they get used to the word sir or ma'am. In the fleet, you call E-7 Chief.
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SGT Tom Burgess
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If I addressed my PSG as Sergeant, with him actually being a SFC. Ain’t no damn way I’d disrespect him by calling a marine of the same rank something different. My PSG deserves all the respect in the world and if he was fine with Sergeant then a gunny would have to deal with it too...
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TSgt Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman
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How about? "Hey man?" or ma'am. "I don't know how to address you but could you help me?
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SFC Richard Baerlocher
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As an E-4 in the Army to an E-7 would be Sergeant. To an E-8 Master Sergeant it would be Master Sergeant, to a First Sergeant it would be First Sergeant. To an E-9 it would be either Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major as appropriate. They are never addressed by their first names. Show respect where respect or due!
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SGT Joshua Bressel
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In the Army, in all seriousness, all NCO's, E-5 to E-7 are referred to as Sergeant, with E-8 1SGs referred to as First Sergeant or "Top", if they are ok with that, most are, and E-8 MSGs rendered to as Master Sergeant, though, often, you can get away with referring to a MSG as Sergeant, though it's respectful to add the "Master". Any Army E-9 is referred to as Sergeant Major. Period. End of story. Don't get that wrong.

Marine NCOs are referred to by full rank, i.e, Staff Sergeant. As stated above, you can call an E-7 Gunny, most of the time, or an E-8 Master Gunnery Sergeant, Master Guns, and an E-9 is Sergeant Major.

Navy E-5/E-6 are usually rendered to as Petty Officer, E-7 is Chief, E-8 is Senior Chief, and E-9 is Master Chief(with delusions of HALO, LOL).

Air Force, E-5 and E-6 are reffered to as Sergeant, E-7 is referred to as Master Sergeant, E-8 is reffered to as Senior, and E-9 is Chief.

Disclaimer: I'm an Army NCO, who spent a lot of time in JSOC, so if I have made any errors, please let me know, but I tried to be very diligent, in learning how to address fellow NCOs, from other branches, and that is how it was taught to me, I'm a Ranger, but I'm not COMPLETELY perfect, Lololol.
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SN Greg Wright
SN Greg Wright
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No. Just no. Halo has delusions of Master Chief. That rank and rating predates that video game by a significant amount of time. Do not denigrate it.
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PO2 Charles Hall
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While in boot camp, just about everyone is a sir or ma'am. I was in the USCG and our ranks are the same as the Navy. E-4 through E-6 are petty officers. E-7 is a chief, E-8 is senior chief, and E-9 is master chief. Do not and I repeat do not call a Chief petty officer , Senior Chief, or Master Chief "sir". They work for a living.
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Sgt Matt Gladden
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Sgt . Always worked for me . As for my thoughts on others . If I did not know you , I called you by your rank
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PO1 Raymond Sauter
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Enlisted in the Navy typically refer to each other by first name regardless of rate in informal, professional settings. When someone becomes a Chief Petty Officer, their first name is officially changed to “Chief!”
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Capt Chaplain
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It's been my experience that you're never wrong in the Air Force with using the rank. Having said that, for E-1 through E-4, Airman works, for E-5 through E-7, Sergeant works, for E-8, Senior is now an authorized form of address, and for E-9, there's Chief. Also, unlike in other branches, I see "sir" or "ma'am" used regardless of rank.
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SMSgt Frank Shaw
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Senior Thank You
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CPL Cat Crew
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Across my dealings with different branches it varies but not by much.
Marine enlisted full tank ie staff sergeant, gunnery sergeant...etc
Army enlisted E-5 to E-7 you call them Sergeant unless it’s an E-7 in artillery you call them smoke..E-8 either TOP OR FIRST SERGEANT E-9 Sergeant Major
Airforce enlisted sergeant until E-8 Master Sergeant E-9 Chief
Navy enlisted by the rank until E-5 chief petty officer is reached and you call them chief or until E-9 command master chief is reached then call them that
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SPC Greg Campbell
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NEVER EVER EVER call a Navy Captain Colonel
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