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 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 346
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In the Marines if your still in boot camp everyone is sir or ma'am but after that it's by rank.
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You're referencing Marine Recruits. Recruits are not yet Marines and Sir/Ma'am is used by recruits intentionally until they graduate. Fleet Marines identify NCOs and SNCOs by their full rank, not the Army ridiculousness of Sergeant for every SNCO or "Command" Sergeant Major. Marines only differentiate the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps...all others are simply Sergeant Major, no add Ins necessary.
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GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston
When I was in the corp we were a close unit, I was addressed as Gunny.
but that was back in the fourties,fiftys, Korea.Stateside it was Gunnery sergeant...
Lieutentant so,so..Capt,so and so.all formal. In the trenches,It was Gunny,LT. Cap'n.
but that was back in the fourties,fiftys, Korea.Stateside it was Gunnery sergeant...
Lieutentant so,so..Capt,so and so.all formal. In the trenches,It was Gunny,LT. Cap'n.
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SGT Anthony Shore
When I joined the Marine Corps in 1984, we were directed to refer to our Drill Instructors as Sir, and by rank. i.e. Sir, PVT Shore requests to speak to Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sargent Ledyard, Sir!. After graduation it's only by rank and generally you don't have to request permission to speak first however, it might be a good idea.
In the Army Basic Combat Training (which I was in from October 2007 to Feb 2008, you did not have to "formally" request permission to speak to a Drill Sargent but asking them if they had a moment to speak with you "respectfully" was always a good plan and, you addressed them as "Drill Sargent". After graduation, by "Sargent" only up to Master Sargent (they would get a little miffed for not including the "master" in their rank. Then, First Sargent, Sargent Major and Command Sargent Major. (and Plural of Sargent Major is "Sargents Major" not Sargent Majors.
In the Army Basic Combat Training (which I was in from October 2007 to Feb 2008, you did not have to "formally" request permission to speak to a Drill Sargent but asking them if they had a moment to speak with you "respectfully" was always a good plan and, you addressed them as "Drill Sargent". After graduation, by "Sargent" only up to Master Sargent (they would get a little miffed for not including the "master" in their rank. Then, First Sargent, Sargent Major and Command Sargent Major. (and Plural of Sargent Major is "Sargents Major" not Sargent Majors.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston - And don't forget... Those with that "one-in-a-million" CO, who was affectionately know as the "Skipper".
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When I went to boot camp back in the early 80's. We called our company commanders and other staff at recruit training Sir or Ma'am. It was because of their position not their rank. And we learned pretty quick afternoon boot camp we didn't have to call other enlisted sir or ma'am. So if these are recruits, that could be what's happening.
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In boot camp, Marine recruits are taught to call everyone sir/ ma'am. (Except other recruits obviously) Once they earn the title Marine and are no longer recruits, they call NCO's by their respective ranks.
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You are talking about recruits. Recruits are not yet Marines, so they address the drill instructors as Sir.
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The Marines rank is damn near identical to the army.
E5 SGT
E6 STAFF SGT
E7 GUNNY SGT OR GUNNY
E5 SGT
E6 STAFF SGT
E7 GUNNY SGT OR GUNNY
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I find the more stars,stripes,bars,eagles, or anchors they're wearing, the more they like being called "bro" or "dude"
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Marine recruits call all Marines (who have earned their Eagle, Globe, & Anchor) sir or ma'am until boot camp graduation, then they address them by rank. During my enlisted time if I saw someone from another branch and recognized their insignia I would address them by rank, if not I would call them sir (or ma'am).
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In the Old Corps you can call an E-7 and above, Sir in the USMC. The rank below that is you call them by their rank.
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Marine boots call everyone "sir/ma'am.
Do army guys actually call each other by their pay grades? "Good morning E-7," "Good morning, E-3." Don't they have ranks anymore?
Do army guys actually call each other by their pay grades? "Good morning E-7," "Good morning, E-3." Don't they have ranks anymore?
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Recruits in boot camp aren't Marines yet, so it's outta respect they call Marines sir and ma'am. Once they earn the title then you address them by their rank.
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So I've had this issue before and my go to move is to just call them by their rank. It's quick and you'll never be wrong.
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The proper form of address for a Marine E-7 is Gunnery Sergeant. For a Navy E-7 it's Chief; Army and USAF both apparently address their E-7s as just Sergeant. Call a Gunnery Sergeant, "Sergeant" and he or she will probably inform you in no uncertain terms they were a Sergeant 6 years ago and have been promoted twice since then. Formally, Marines do not shorten Enlisted Grades, e.g. an E-5 is addressed as Sergeant, NEVER "Sarge"; E-6 is addressed as Staff Sergeant; E-8 and E-9 are tricky for the non-initiated. E-8 can be either First Sergeant (diamond and three rockers) or Master Sergeant (crossed rifles and 3 rockers). E-9s are either Sergeant Major (star and four rockers) or Master Gunnery Sergeant (bursting bomb and 4 rockers).
You know how you NEVER call an Army Command Sergeant Major just Sergeant Major? Well that goes about ten times for never calling a Master Gunnery Sergeant "Gunny" or worse yet, Sergeant. I don't even want to be around to see the bloodshed if that happens.
Navy is pretty simple. E-4 to E-6 are addressed as Petty Officer; E-7s as Chief; E-8s as Senior Chief and E-9s as Master Chief.
You know how you NEVER call an Army Command Sergeant Major just Sergeant Major? Well that goes about ten times for never calling a Master Gunnery Sergeant "Gunny" or worse yet, Sergeant. I don't even want to be around to see the bloodshed if that happens.
Navy is pretty simple. E-4 to E-6 are addressed as Petty Officer; E-7s as Chief; E-8s as Senior Chief and E-9s as Master Chief.
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
MAJ Ronnie Reams - There was a brief proposal from the Navy to change to an MOS system similar to the other services for specialties. To say it was not well received was an understatement. The term Petty Officer (originally petit officer) dates back hundreds of years, as do some of the rates. Tradition dies hard, and when it is that old and hallowed, very hard.
The Commandant of the USCG flatly rejected the idea, understandably so, our relatively few ratings are much lest specialized than the other services. Most of the units I was at only had 10-20 people, so on any given day, you could find yourself filling any of a myriad of roles, from SK, to RM, to RD, the list goes on and on.
Personally, I feel the move would have been a mistake. The Navy ratings are much more specialized than the USCG, but from what I have seen, sill much less specialized than most MOS descriptions.
The Commandant of the USCG flatly rejected the idea, understandably so, our relatively few ratings are much lest specialized than the other services. Most of the units I was at only had 10-20 people, so on any given day, you could find yourself filling any of a myriad of roles, from SK, to RM, to RD, the list goes on and on.
Personally, I feel the move would have been a mistake. The Navy ratings are much more specialized than the USCG, but from what I have seen, sill much less specialized than most MOS descriptions.
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I think your first mistake was using Marine Corps Boot camp as your base of knowledge. Recruits refer to everyone as Sir/Ma'am because they are not yet Marines and have yet to earn the right to address them as a fellow Marine.
Here is the run down for actual Marines.
Basically Officers are Sir/Ma'am.
Enlisted call them directly by their Rank. A staff Sergeant is a Staff Sergeant. Gunnery Sergeant is a Gunnery Sergeant. No sarge, nothing like that. As a non Marine that is your left and right lateral limits.
Here is the run down for actual Marines.
Basically Officers are Sir/Ma'am.
Enlisted call them directly by their Rank. A staff Sergeant is a Staff Sergeant. Gunnery Sergeant is a Gunnery Sergeant. No sarge, nothing like that. As a non Marine that is your left and right lateral limits.
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You Have Address people to what they are And Sarge is not a Rank it is Fish it's in the dictionary. I was brought up that I called everyone sir Or by their names not in military before
that. But today Being around for almost 61 years Kid have No respect for there elders.
SSG MARK FRANZEN
VET
that. But today Being around for almost 61 years Kid have No respect for there elders.
SSG MARK FRANZEN
VET
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An E7 or any NCO?
As an E7 if they were in the Navy, you'd call them Chief, and at least between Navy and Marine Corps, we would call them Gunny. We never really dealt with senior NCOs from the Army or Air Force, though.
For the junior NCOs, we usually just called them Sargent or Petty Officer. Not the full rank, but the shortened version.
As an E7 if they were in the Navy, you'd call them Chief, and at least between Navy and Marine Corps, we would call them Gunny. We never really dealt with senior NCOs from the Army or Air Force, though.
For the junior NCOs, we usually just called them Sargent or Petty Officer. Not the full rank, but the shortened version.
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