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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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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LtCol J W
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don't you people have any thing serious to debate? Who really cares what the LtColonel says or doesn't say? We have some serious shooting going on in this world and a presidential election in a few months. That seems a lot more important than an O-5 being called Colonel!
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CSM Mike Maynard
CSM Mike Maynard
9 y
this was a conversation started 3-yrs ago. some folks like to take a break from all the seriousness and discuss some things that are not quite so serious. if you want the serious debates, there are hundreds of other posts on here that should meet your requirement.
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LtCol J W
LtCol J W
9 y
3 years ago- how much bullshit can you discuss in 3 years?
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CSM Mike Maynard
CSM Mike Maynard
9 y
LtCol J W - that's the great thing about this site, you can avoid the forums that you don't care for and participate in only the ones you want to. We allow folks to choose what topics they want to discuss and their level of involvement. We especially appreciate comments and participation that actually add to the discussion instead of just criticizing the topic or comments of posters.
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Personally, sir I like it when my boss answers the phone with, "yo?"
Col Rex Tallent
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This is always awkward, but it is easier for everyone for the 0-5 to use his or her full title.
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LtCol J W
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You can call me anything except late for supper!
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COL Mike Walton
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When in doubt, say "Sir." I'm a "telephone Colonel" myself, and when other LTCs call me they ID themselves right off as "LTC Richard Halftrack" or whatever his name is...so now, I can call him "Richard" instead of "Sir" or "Colonel". But if Halftrack doesn't give up his rank, call him "Sir.". That's the polite thing to do, and the worst thing to happen is you'll a CSM or MSG who will firmly but proudly inform you that "I'm a (Sergeant Major) Master Sergeant...I work for a living..." *smiling*

(You just made a friend at that point, unless he or she's calling you to eat your lunch! *heheheehee*)
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Capt Joseph Olson
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In my 29 years of AF contact, LTCs were known as "telephone Colonels".
Whenever I dealt with the Navy I used my proper rank 'Captain".
I got respect and good service. ;-)
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COL Mike Walton
COL Mike Walton
9 y
That is, until you see them in person. They would probably want to kick your butt then. *smiling*
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Col Jeffrey Swegel
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Yeah. We call these clowns "phone Colonels". It's inappropriate unless in person.
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SGT Charles Tittl
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HMFIC always works in a pinch
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SSG Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
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Does a brigadier general specify brigadier on the phone? I doubt it, but I have never spoken to a General on the phone. Does a private say PV1? Does a lieutenant specify first or second? I really don't think it is necessary, sir.
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COL Mike Walton
COL Mike Walton
9 y
I can tell you that the BG I worked for as an aide addressed himself as "General"; and the three BGs I worked for as their public affairs officer all were addressed as "General" and so were the two MGs who were their bosses.
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LCDR Aerospace Engineering Duty, Maintenance (AMDO and AMO)
LCDR (Join to see)
9 y
Once they've reached General or Flag level, I pretty much assume that they're all one rank. Sure, there are different ranks, but it's like trying to tell the difference between a billionaire and a trillionaire.
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LTC Paul Labrador
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Technically it's supposed to be "Lieutenant Colonel". However, that is an awful lot of syllables.....
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