Posted on Sep 16, 2016
What is the proper way to address NCOs in different branches?
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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
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: 
Regulation
Customs and Courtesies
Regulation Customs and Courtesies
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 346
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Back in the day - 1990's - when I was a Gunnery Sergeant, shortly before I retired, a sailor on board the USS Nassau called me "Sarge" .... I leave it to your imagination as to the response - and he was a Senior Chief.....
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PVT Mark Brown
So - He was E-8 and you were E-7, is that correct?
If so what was your response, imagination is slowing down with age.
If so what was your response, imagination is slowing down with age.
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
I imagine the Senior Chief pissed his pants while getting his ass chewed by a Gunny!
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GySgt Carl Rumbolo
My response was direct and to the point - that if as a Marine I couple understand the navy rating system and address sailors appropriately it was reasonable to expect a minimal level of courtesy and intelligence from a beer belly slob of a chief who couldn't was both personally and professionally incompetent....
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PO2 Robert Moore
That reminds me of a time in "A" school. Our classes were both Marines and Sailors. This one sailor kept referring to one instructor as " Staff".....period. As in "Hey, Staff, whats' this?" IOne day the "Staff Sgt" had just about enough. When the sailor referred to him as "Staff"......he let loose and dressed him down good. Starting with "IT"S STAFF SERGEANT, NOT STAFF!!!!!! Do I look like some kind of disease? Are you saying I am a disease? Would you like to see what a disease can do to you? .......... and much much more. LMAO. I had all I could do to keep from cracking up.
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If your looking at a senior NCO, it's by Title. But if your looking at E4-E6, the naval ranks (Coast Guard and Navy) are the most difficult since they don't have a rank like Sargent. Instead they identify rank by position. So if they are a cook you'll call them one thing, and if they are a cryptanalyst, you'd have to call them something else. A simple what of addressing them is calling the Army, Air Force and Marines as Sargent and the Navy and Coast Guard by Chief until they correct you. Then call them by the title they tell you to address them by.
Also remember, there are two other services, US Public Health Service and NOAA. These services don't have enlisted, but their officer ranks are the same as Naval Ranks. You should address them as such.
Also remember, there are two other services, US Public Health Service and NOAA. These services don't have enlisted, but their officer ranks are the same as Naval Ranks. You should address them as such.
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You address an E-7 in the Marine Corps as Gunnery Sergeant. There is no other officially authorized term of address. Unlike in the Army where you would call an E-7 Sergeant in address and Sergeant First Class or Sergeant when talking about them in 3rd person...
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Address them as Gunny Sgt., MSgt., Chief (Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard), etc.
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Lol, you call a Marine E 7 properly as Gunnery Sgt, especially being out of unit. You know him he’s Gunny.
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The DoDI (50110-04-M) has the way to address each rank of each branch. The Salutation for a written letter corresponds to the service etiquette of verbal address.
https://execsec.defense.gov/Portals/34/Documents/511004m_v2.pdf?ver=2013-03-02-045134-443
https://execsec.defense.gov/Portals/34/Documents/511004m_v2.pdf?ver=2013-03-02-045134-443
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Marines: Full Rank, according to MCO 5060.20. It wouldn't be a bad thing to call him "sir" out of politeness unless he's extremely salty. Gunny and Gunnery Sergeant are preferred forms of address for the GySgt.
Army: SGT - MSG may be addressed as "Sergeant" or by their full rank, according to AR 600-20.
Air Force: SSgt - SMSgt may be addressed as "Sergeant" or by their full rank, according to AFI 36-2618.
Navy is a little different. Petty Officers from 3rd through 1st class are referred to as "Petty Officer" or by their rating ("CTR1" for a Cryptologic Technician Receiver 1st Class Petty Officer). Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief Petty Officers are generally referred to as Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief respectively. The Coast Guard, PHCC, and the NOAA, since utilizing Naval Rank structure (though some do not have enlisted, like the PHCC and the NOAA), follow suit.
Army: SGT - MSG may be addressed as "Sergeant" or by their full rank, according to AR 600-20.
Air Force: SSgt - SMSgt may be addressed as "Sergeant" or by their full rank, according to AFI 36-2618.
Navy is a little different. Petty Officers from 3rd through 1st class are referred to as "Petty Officer" or by their rating ("CTR1" for a Cryptologic Technician Receiver 1st Class Petty Officer). Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief Petty Officers are generally referred to as Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief respectively. The Coast Guard, PHCC, and the NOAA, since utilizing Naval Rank structure (though some do not have enlisted, like the PHCC and the NOAA), follow suit.
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