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
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 346
They (Marines) do NOT call "them" sir. You do NOT under ANY circumstances call a Marine Sir / Mam if they are not an officer. We work for a living. An E-7 would be called Gunnery Sergeant or Gunny. When in doubt address them (any military member) by their rank.
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In the navy you call e-7 and above chief, senior chief, or master chief. E-4 to E-6 petty officer is okay. Although most would prefer to be called by their rate. For example AT2 or AD1.
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You address any NCO regardless of the branch at parade rest, followed by their prospective tittle. If you’re talking to an E7 (Marines), you refer to him as Gunnery Sergeant. Regardless of the trolls, if you are lower enlisted, (NON NCO) every NCO in the Armed Forces outranks you and deserves the respect they’ve earned by achieving the rank of an NCO.
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Stop calling yourself an E-4. THAT is a pay grade and not a title or a rank. You are either a CPL or SPC in the Army. Call people by their proper rank in other services until they correct you.
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Saying "Hey fucker!" while using a knife hand usually works... but I only recommend this to Veterans. Anyone in active duty is sure to get them ass reamed.
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The reason you hear Recruits in USMC Boot camp address EVERYONE as sir and ma'am is, they haven't graduated Boot Camp yet and they are instructed to address everyone as Sir or Ma'am.
Once they earn the Eagle Globe and Anchor , only Officers, Warrant Officers and the general public are addressed in this fashion .
It is part of the Marine Corps. Customs and courtesies.
Once they earn the Eagle Globe and Anchor , only Officers, Warrant Officers and the general public are addressed in this fashion .
It is part of the Marine Corps. Customs and courtesies.
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There are plenty of charts on the inter webs about rank structure. As a Marine I know all Army and Navy ranks as well as ours. I don't know the Air Force ranks very well but I don't not interact with them. If you plan on being a career Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airmen it is not a terrible idea to learn them all. DoD is a joint venture and as such you will be working with all shapes and sizes.
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This should be required learning for every recruit while still in boot camp, maybe handed out on a small wallet card, etc. Knowing these simple protocols will go a long way in showing respect and knowledge to members of other branches and will be greatly appreciated by someone when their rank and position is correctly referred to rather than unknowingly butchered by someone of another branch.
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Recruits are required to call their Drill Instructors "Sir". But after boot camp all enlisted marines are addressed by their rank
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Personal experience: As a Marine, I was trained to use full rank. I was on an Air Force base for tech school and even though I didn't have to, I used full rank. The AF NCO's seemed to really like that.
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I started out as an enlisted soldier in the Army. We only addressed officers as sir or ma'am. The NCOs, we called them Sargent from E-5 through E-8, unless you were a First Sargent. E-9s were addressed as Sargent Major. We didn't dare call any enlisted sir or ma'am. When switched to Air Force, I was shocked to hear the enlisted being called sir or ma'am. Being that I am a soldier airman, I call the NCOs Sargent, E-5 through E-8. The E-9s I address as Chief. I never address any enlisted person sir or ma'am, only by their rank.
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SSgt John Carter
I was in the Air Force for quite a while and never heard an enlisted person being called sir or m'aam. We called Officers by their rank and name Lt. *** and NCO's by their rank unless you were a fellow NCO then we addressed them by their first name.
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MSgt Joseph Haynes
Not sure what AF you were in. First names were used only if you were in private and you knew each other. Publicly it was Sgt, especially around junior ranks. The full rank was more of a formal title used during ceremonies.
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SSgt John Carter
I don't recall that. I actually got written up for telling a buck Sgt to call me Sgt
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Sgt Zach Gibson
Being in the Air Force Sgt. and above were just Sergeant unless it was in a formal area. But I made the mistake of calling a Gunny a Sgt. and got a whole month full. I just replied sorry I'm in the Air Force and that's what I'm used to. Probably not the best answer.
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Recruits address every Marine enlisted or Officer as sir or ma'am until they have earned the title of Marine. After they have become Marines they address fellow Marines by their rank and last name.
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Recruits in Marine Corps boot camp call everyone Sir. If they didn't, they would be destroyed by their Drill Instructors. Once tte Recruit earns his Eagle, Globe and Anchor, they call eeveryone who is a higher rank than them by there respective rank. As a soldier addressing a Marine who is higher rank than them is the same way. It's all about respect. Marines do the same thing.
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Marine recruits use sir to address an any Marine only in recruit status. Once Marines earn their E.G.A s they are taught to address Marines by their rank or rank and last name. In the Marines we usually just learn the ranks of other branches to make fewer headaches in the future. At first it can be some rough seas not knowing the ranks but after a while you have issue addressing any service member by their correct title. Even foreign troops.
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I didn't realize Gunney was a "only when you know each other" kind of term. Thanks for the lesson on that.
I remember working in an office setting with two Army E7s (SFCs) when I was a 1LT. They always referred to each other as Sergeant Jones and Sergeant Smith. I finally asked them..."If I wasn't here, would it be Jill and Melissa" (I used their actual first names when I asked the question, but I don't remember them now). They told me yes. I thought that was interesting.
I worked very closely with a CW3. He was adament about being called Chief. We'd occasionally get soldiers from other units in our area who were not sure what to call him and they'd start with Sir. He always told them (in a fatherly way, not a butt-chewing way) that the LT (me) was Sir, but he was Chief. His other peeve was when he'd hear of a WO1 being called Chief instead of Mr.
I remember working in an office setting with two Army E7s (SFCs) when I was a 1LT. They always referred to each other as Sergeant Jones and Sergeant Smith. I finally asked them..."If I wasn't here, would it be Jill and Melissa" (I used their actual first names when I asked the question, but I don't remember them now). They told me yes. I thought that was interesting.
I worked very closely with a CW3. He was adament about being called Chief. We'd occasionally get soldiers from other units in our area who were not sure what to call him and they'd start with Sir. He always told them (in a fatherly way, not a butt-chewing way) that the LT (me) was Sir, but he was Chief. His other peeve was when he'd hear of a WO1 being called Chief instead of Mr.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Major Frankart, we Gunnery Sergeants are referred to a Gunny's. We Chief Warrant Officers are either referred as Chief Warrant Officer Last Name or Gunner. A term that is used lightly because this refers to our Weapons Infantry Officer Chief Warrant Officers rank as the Bursting Bomb, sometimes referred to as an upside down pineapple but I personally wouldn't go around calling them that unless you want your six handed to you on a silver platter. Warrant Officers are just called Warrant Officer with their name last name. Hopefully when you do run into a Gunny, just call him Gunny. They'll understand.
Semper Fi, Major Frankart.
Semper Fi, Major Frankart.
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A Marine recruit is not a Marine. In fact, a recruit is nasty, worse than a civilian because they have the audacity to aspire to be a Marine. Therefore they address all as sir or ma'am.
Once a Marine actually becomes a Marine, then enlisted Marines are addressed by rank.
Once a Marine actually becomes a Marine, then enlisted Marines are addressed by rank.
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Years ago when I was and army E5, I was assigned to the ID card section. A USMC Staff Sergeant came in to get an ID card. I addressed him politely as 'Sergeant' and he proceeded to correct me in a very derogatory tone, "that's Staff Sergeant'. Now I was a good NCO being respectful in my office. Perhaps I should have know how to properly address this NCO, but I made a mistake. I felt his tone was out of line and within moments my system 'crashed' and I could no longer help him. Moral of the story: do your best and be respectful and if you do make a mistake, the other party should have the decency to either let it go or politely correct you.
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that in training, the cadre are called sir by the trainees.
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PVT Mark Brown
Back in the 60's calling a drill sergeant "Sir" would always be worth and ass chewin and a couple dozen push ups.
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SSG Ruben Montiel
I think that is in the Army, and to this day also. The Marines; however, are different I think, they are sir in training. I think...
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