Posted on Nov 21, 2013
LTC Cavalry Officer
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<font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">In colloquial and informal use, lieutenant colonels are addressed
as colonel, however, when over the phone, when the two parties don’t know each
other, or can’t see each other, the use of colonel confuses the rank.</font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font>
Posted in these groups: Rank RankOfficers logo OfficersOrange button protocol md ProtocolEtiquette logo Etiquette
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CSM Command Sergeant Major
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We used to actually refer to those as "telephone colonels". It's very misleading. I normally answer the phone identifying myself as Sergeant. This is the appropriate address for a SGT through MSG. However, it has the same potential for misunderstand as a SSG may now think they're talking to a SGT when they're talking to a MSG and there are times where that SSG may overstep their bounds thinking they're senior to the person they're addressing. The key here is to treat everyone with the same amount of respect. Also, answer the phone with your full rank.
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LtCol Mac McCarty
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When I answered the phone, I always did so as "Lieutenant Colonel McCarty." However, I was saddened to see that SecNav finally caught on and recently mandated that when calling Navy phone numbers, Marine officers are now required to say "This is Marine Captain_____ calling." Boy, we used to get so much more cooperation when I was at, e.g., Subic Bay." I also really appreciated Captain Doc Lamb, USN, who, back in the day when Navy officers LCdr and below were referred to as Mr, required his officers in USS Newport, to call Marine officers above 2d Lieutenant by their correct title. (In the old Corps, 2dLts were Mister and 1stLts were Lieutenant.). But then, Captain Lamb had once held the much higher rank of PFC, USMC at a little flyspeck in the Pacific called Iwo Jima, so he understood.
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Lt Col Air Force Liaison
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I address myself as Lieutenant Colonel - I almost feel awkward when somebody addresses me as Colonel. There's a big difference between the two ranks and I never want to misrepresent that I'm the higher rank. Only thing is, I get irritated that my title is so long I feel like it takes forever to get to my name and I fumble sometimes trying to say it really fast.
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Lt Col Air Force Liaison
Lt Col (Join to see)
9 y
By the way, I just noticed my rank has not been updated on my profile but I AM a Lt Col.
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CPT Mike M.
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Sir, personally I think it depends on who's calling.  If they're calling your cell phone you've got the edge with caller ID coming in to play.  I'd say that if you know the caller, the abbreviated "Colonel ________" should work.  However, if the call was from a superior or an unknown number I'd probably up the formality and use full rank.
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COL Michael Freville
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He's a "telephone Colonel"! When I was LTC, that's how I self-identified. When I was O-6 then I was Col.
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Lt Col Residency Trained Flight Surgeon
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I think the main guiding principle is to show respect and consideration for the person with whom you are speaking on the phone, so as to not give him or her misinformation or make them look or feel foolish (regardless of relative rank).
It is a matter of both courtesy and professionalism.
I do (personally) feel it is bordering on misdirection to introduce yourself on the phone as "colonel" when you are a Lt Col. It may be simple pride, but it's a slippery slope.
When the rank is clear by context, such as in an in-person meeting of people who are acquainted, it probably matters little... But I always err on the side of "referring up" to others, not myself.
My 2 cents. That and $2.97 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks...
UNCLE
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Lt Col Owner/Founder
Lt Col (Join to see)
9 y
"I think the main guiding principle is to show respect and consideration..."
Hear, hear!

We do have customs and courtesies for a reason. I remember being put in an awkward position as a Capt - we had a lot of telephone meetings, and my boss would constantly refer to me by my first name in these meetings, which included multiple ranks. Very uncomfortable for the SSgt who would call me "Stacy" in the phone meetings - when he met me in person, he was embarrassed, though it was no fault of his own.
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CPT Endre Barath
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I appreciate your frustration Colonel aka LTC and I agree with you,on the other hand once you leave the military and join the civilian work force, the best advice I can give is such irritants that only offend the ego need to be left behing in the military. RLTW!
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LT Michael Watson
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And you all think the Navy is hosed up. Oh wait , we have Commanders, Lt. Commanders, Vice Admirals, Lieutenants, Lt. Junior Grade, and confuse everyone with our Captains and Lieutenants.
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Maj Security Forces
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Or how about being an Air Force Captain visiting a Navy installation and calling someone. If you just say Captain they assume your are a Navy O-6 instead of an O-3 in the Air Force.
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LT Michael Watson
LT Michael Watson
9 y
Was wondering when someone would chime in on the difference with the Navy and Coast Guard. It was interesting to see how messed up we could get everyone.
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CPT Tom Monahan
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Again we see the Army identity problem. Call a duck a duck. We call all ranks of Sargent "Sargent". All General are "General". 2LT and 1LT are LTs. The Corps is a bit tighter on using full rank when identifying Marines. And for all our sake, don't use pay grade!
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Maj Security Forces
Maj (Join to see)
9 y
For some reason you reminded me of an Airman we had at one base. His last name was General. People would pause when he called them or they called him and he would answer Airman First Class General.
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CPT Tom Monahan
CPT Tom Monahan
9 y
Going back to the late 90s who can forget "Sheep In The City" (I'd like to but the kids loved it) with PVT Public and General Specfic. Maj (Join to see) -
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MAJ Branch Chief Concepts&Experimentation, J85 E
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Edited 9 y ago
Sir,
IMO Etiquette has been well established: A LTC can be, and usually is, is addressed by others as "Colonel" but when referring to himself (especially over the phone but otherwise also) introduces himself as Lieutenant Colonel.
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COL Mike Walton
COL Mike Walton
9 y
Absolutely.
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LTC William Gilmore
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There's an old joke that a lieutenant colonel is a "telephone colonel" when answering the phone as "colonel". Personally, I always identified myself as lieutenant colonel.
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LTC Cavalry Officer
LTC (Join to see)
9 y
I've used this term many times, but lately I have been getting blank stares when I use it around more junior folks!
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CW3 Catherine Silvestri
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Sir, While i generally address LTCs I know as "Colonel," I believe it is always appropriate protocol to distinguish between the two when on the phone, given the ambiguity. My other half, a USMC LTC always answers as Lt. Col. (And I've not yet strayed from his great example in military protocol.) Just some thoughts from my small foxhole, with all due respect.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
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Being a lowly Sgt I would assume using ones correct rank would always be proper.
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SGT Infantryman
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This proves that all ranks have people with inferiority complexes. Misleading an equally ranked Officer is a subtle "my d*&^ is bigger" move, and reeks of a low self esteem.
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Capt Retired
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I agree with most. If the other person doesn't know you you should use LTC. And if I know you and you say Col you had better be bringing a cigar and buying at the club.
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CAPT Lyle Brown
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One should always refer to oneself by their full and proper rank. Calling a LTC by the name "Colonel" (or in the Navy a LCDR by "CDR") is a compliment when used by someone else, but is crass when used by the individual himself.
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Capt Retired
Capt (Join to see)
9 y
Yep, I do EVERY TIME I call the Navy.

I get so much respect than with the Army or Air Force.
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LtCol Mac McCarty
LtCol Mac McCarty
9 y
Then there is the issue of the many Marine officers who, over the years, have initiated salutes with Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs, deceived by the laser-like gleam of their collar devices. I finally learned a trick from that class of North American Bluejacket known as Seaman Recruit. I was stationed at Great Lakes where the uniform of the day was the barracks cover. The young SR strolled past me, happily licking his ice cream cone. I stopped him.

Maj, USMC: Hey, sailor, let's do something military.
Confused SR: Uh, OK.
M: Let's exchange salutes. You go first.
S (moving his cone to his left hand): OK
Salute rendered and returned.
.M: So, explain to me, lad, why you didn't salute.
S: I dint know you was a officer.
M: (fingering his oak leaves on his collar): Really?
S: Oh, I don't look at that sh*t, Sir. I look at the chin straps. If it's black leather, you're a Chief.
Grateful Major of Marines: Makes sense to me, old son. Carry on.

Never automatically initiated a salute with a Chief after that (although, as the son of a WWII CPhM, there have been many that I raced with to get the salute off first--backbone of the Fleet).
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LTC Paul Labrador
LTC Paul Labrador
9 y
Sir, Army tradition has been when you are addressing someone directly, the modifiers are dropped (all LTs are called lieutenant, all sergeants except 1SG or SGM are called SGT, etc). Only when you are talking about someone in the third person or introducing yourself for the first time (such as over the phone) would you use full rank.
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LtCol Mac McCarty
LtCol Mac McCarty
9 y
I would suggest that any Army officer or enlisted soldier who is being assigned to any billet in which he or she has any potential whatsoever to be addressing Marine NCOs will be forcefully cautioned that calling any enlisted Marine above the rank of Sergeant "Sergeant" can be a real problem. When I was a Major, an Army Major who was an exchange student at the Command and Staff College at Quantico referred to a Master Gunnery Sergeant as "Sergeant." I suspect that worthy never made the mistake again. I may have been a little over-wrought because he interrupted a conversation we were having and referred to the Master Gunnery Sergeant (who was wearing two Navy Crosses and a Silver Star) as a "mere sergeant," as in "in the Army, you would tell a "mere sergeant to step aside so that an officer would not be delayed," but I would have corrected him in the case of. Staff Sergeant, too. Those rockers are earned and warrant recognition.
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SSG Robert Burns
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Ar 600-20 is pretty clear on this matter.  Take a look at it.
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CPT Human Resources Officer
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See Sir, now you have me thinking, because I always just answer the phone 'Lieutenant Hooser" Hmm.
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LTC Cavalry Officer
LTC (Join to see)
>1 y

LT Hooser, I see no issue with that because the ranks of 2LT and 1LT are so close while there is a much bigger distinction between LTC and COL.

There is another discussion here somewhere that gets into the whole 2LT saluting/addressing 1LT thing as well.

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LtCol Mac McCarty
LtCol Mac McCarty
9 y
We always said that discussion of rank among lieutenants was much akin to discussing virtue amongst "ladies of the evening." Probably can't say that any more, either. Sigh
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LTC Operations
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AR 600–20 • 6 November 2014, table 1-1 on page 3.

Grade: Lieutenant Colonel
Pay grade: O-5
Title of address: Colonel
Abbreviation: LTC
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LTC Operations
LTC (Join to see)
9 y
However, when answering the phone, or phoning someone, I use my full rank..."Lieutenant Colonel Ott, may I help you?"
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