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 George Smith
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I would say By Short Tittle...
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SGT Team Chief
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I’ll admit I was in the wrong in the following situation.

I had to go to al Assad air base in Iraq to train some marines. Cool fine whatever. I had an e-7 marine talk to me and I said Roger sgt. He then tried to chew me out and force me to call him gunnery sgt snuffy. I said Roger sgt. If he would have been polite and respectful, I was an nco and in the army, I would have done things differently
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PO2 Builder
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The E-9 Marine told me to just call him Top. I said that works for me.
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PO2 Builder
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For the Navy it's Petty Officer then Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief.
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SFC Francisco Rosario
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Just do what I have always done. I ask them what is their rank. It has worked well.
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SSG Squad Leader
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So, fun story. I’m a Marine that has switched to the Army. My last rotation we had a Marine unit stationed with us and my LT was the middle Man in dealing with them. This guy would constantly come to me “SGT Baswell, how to I talk to Marines” “ SGT baswell, why when I saluted a Captain in the field did he look at me like I had a dildo attached to my head”
It was fun to watch..

Also on the flip side, I came into the Army with no “welcome to the Army” OSUT or anything just arrived at fort hood grabbed a uniform and poof soldier. So SFC comes and asks me a question, and I accidentally called him gunnery Sgt. And was looked at weird. Definitely takes some getting used to with the culture shock
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Cpl Mark A. Morris
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In the Old Marine Corp, Cpl's are to be addressed as Sir by all other branches of service in the world. For example: Marine Cpl, "Are you eye ****ing me?" Everyone in the world, "No Sir!"
Have a great Marine Corp day. I'm having one.
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SSG Joseph VanDyck
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As a former US Army NCO and having worked with all branches, fall back onto what you were trained to do. When I worked with USMC Recon at Onslow Beach, Camp LeJeune NC we addressed the company gunny as SGT. His having done joint training before, he expected it. His marines about lost their shit over it though.
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SFC Alvin Miller
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I do have one good statement as a Sergeant First Class (E-7) I was at an U. S. Air Force Medical Center and the Tech that called me up and called me as a Senior Specialist. So at that I corrected the individual. He was very happy to informed of the correct rank.
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SPC Donald Moore
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Edited >1 y ago
I work as a civilian in a Navy facility where there are both active Navy and active Marine personnel working daily. The Marines are very particular about it and expect to be addressed by their full, correct rank even by civilians. Don't take shortcuts there, even an E-3 in the Marines will be insulted if you get it wrong or don't use it because they feel that they earned it.
All the other branches I have worked with are much more laid back and the Air Farce is almost like being a civilian with regard to rank. They really do call each other by first names.
It is best to use the rank until you know how the individual feels about it.
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