What is the proper way to address NCOs in different branches?

I would say By Short Tittle...

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

The E-9 Marine told me to just call him Top. I said that works for me.

For the Navy it's Petty Officer then Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief.

Just do what I have always done. I ask them what is their rank. It has worked well.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

When in doubt SGT or Sir are both respectful. They will correct you if you get it wrong. I had troops that switched to Army from Marines. Their conditioning meant that I was called Gunny pretty regularly. I was not offended, I just had to keep reminding them I don't eat crayons.

In the Marine Corps:
E-4s & E-5s are referred to as Cpl or Sgt
E-6s are referred to as Staff Sergeant
E-7s are Gunnery Sergeants but, if they if they allow, you can call them Gunny.
E-8s are either 1st Sergeants or Master Sergeants. At the co level the 1st is usually the senior enlisted and may be called Top.
E-9s are either Sergeants Major or Master Gunnery Sergeants. A SgtMaj is referred to as "Your Holiness" and a Master Gunnery Sergeant is referred to as "Your Majesty" with the appropriate bow rendered!

In Vietnam at 35 years of age I was one of the older First Sergeants in the Battalion. I was aware that even the Battalion Officers called me "Pops" behind my back. Secretly I kind of liked receiving the questionable respect for my age but had anyone said it to my face I may have invited them out behind the "hooch" for lessons in etiquette. When I worked closely with troops long hours of the day I had no qualms about being call Top or Sarge. It is easier and shorter than the title of First Sergeant therefor more efficient. I expected Officers and NCOs senior to me to call me by my rank as I did them when I addressed an Officer or NCO that was my senior. I think judgement of each situation is called for rather than written rules or regulations. Sometimes rigid rules can cripple a unit and prevent good judgment from prevailing.

In the Navy between E-6 and below on ships anyway it was last or nickname, we didn't say "hey leading petty officer" And E-7-E9 was their rank, CHIEF, SENIOR CHIEF, MASTER CHIEF, mostly but often their rank and last name. Now if you heard someone calling you by your rank and last name, that usually wasn't a good thing. Heard a sea-story once about an Ensign & a Master-Chief, supposedly, the Master -Chief was at a shore station eating lunch at an outside patio with some others, when he stood up and started walking away an Ensign walked up to him and said "Excuse me Master-chief but I believe you owe me a salute." to which the Master-Chief replied by taking a Quarter out of his pocket and flipping it to the Ensign "Here's a Quarter go tell you momma you met a real Sailor." Did it happen??? I don't know I wasn't there. Does it sound like it could have happened? Yes I can see this easily happening. It's funny when you think about addressing Officers, you can address them by rank or rank and last name, but a Lieutenant is almost always L.T. and of course in the Navy the CO. is always addressed as Captain regardless of his actual rank.

Navy is petty officer or chief/Sr chief/Master chief

By rank for Marine Corps. I did not like "top" Master Sergeant worked for me

Not really the answer to this question, but the following should shed light on how things really are:
The Image of Rank

General:

Leaps over tall buildings in a single bound, is more powerful than a locomotive, is faster than a speeding bullet, walks on water, and gives policy to God.

Colonel:

Leaps over short buildings in a single bound, is more powerful than a switch engine, is just as fast as a speeding bullet, walks on water if sea is calm, and talks to God.

Lieutenant Colonel:

Leaps over short buildings with a running start and a favorable wind, is almost as powerful as a switch engine, is as fast as a speeding b-b, walks on water in an indoor pool, and talks to God if special request is approved.

Major:

Barely clears quonset huts, loses tug-of-war with locomotives, can fire a speeding bullet, swims well, and is occassionally addressed by God.

Captain:

Makes high marks when trying to leap buildings, is run over by locomotives, can someimes handle a weapon without inflicting self-injury, can doggie-paddle, and talks to animals.

First Lieutenant:

Runs into buildings, recognizes locomotives two out of three times, is not issued ammunition, can stay afloat if properly instructed, and talks to water.

Second Lieutenant:

Falls over doorsills when trying to enter buildings, says "look at the choo-choo," wets himself with a water pistol, and mumbles to himself.

CADET:

UNAUTHORIZED TO DO ANY OF THE ABOVE WITHOUT RTO/BTO APPROVAL, BUT BE READY TO ASSUME THE JOB OF GENERAL IN A HEARTBEAT.

An NCO:

Lifts building and then walks under them, kicks locomotives off the track, catches speeding bullets in his teeth, and chews them, and freezes water in a speeding glance. He is God.

In the USAF if you don't know the individual, you would address them by their rank. Tech Sergeant Smith, etc... Once you know them and have a rapport, you could call them by their first name unless in a formal function... Then stick to rank to keep it professional.

Boot camp is entirely different. Using rank is always appropriate. Other "nicknames" like Gunny or Top are also OK.

When in the Air National Guard, as a Chief Master Sergeant, I was always called Chief. Because I was in fire protection as fire chief of my department, I was 2 or 3 times called Chief, Chief, which I kind of got a kick out of.