Posted on Jun 25, 2021
When an E-4 calls me "hey" or "hey man" knowing that I am an officer, should I bother to correct him?
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This SPC calls me "hey man" outside work. I don't work with him directly; just happened to come across couple of times at work, and he did call me "sir". Not sure whether I should even bother to correct this SPC.
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 935
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If this SPC knows you, he/she should have already know how to address you properly. Even if he/she was trying too get your attention from behind. Should have been corrected on the spot!!
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Suspended Profile
I'm on a Space Force base and it seems like no one in the Air Force below E6 knows that they are supposed to salute Warrant Officers. Lucky for them I certainly don't care enough to pull them aside outside the PX. I get that maybe they don't know what my rank even is but I'd think that they would air on the side of caution when they see the bar. Maybe I'm a 1LT that has been in trouble a few times so the Army stamped holes in my bar.
When I was a SPC or SGT I saluted a Navy E4, maybe E6, as they have an eagle on their rank.
When I was a SPC or SGT I saluted a Navy E4, maybe E6, as they have an eagle on their rank.
CW3 (Join to see)
When I deployed to AFG, my unit did pre-mob at Fort Dix. I was a CW2 at the time. I was walking from the barracks to the DFAC, and passed two jr. enlisted. One was an A1C (USAF), and one was a PFC (USA). Lo and behold, it was the AIRMAN who saluted me, and the Army PFC pulled her arm down saying "Hey, we don't do that, he's not a real officer!". Oh hell to the no, I turned around and the NCO came out!!!! First words out of my mouth were "Come here, private!". It went downhill from there.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSgt Joseph Baptist I never wanted to make my Chief angry, because she would put that NCO hat on so fast
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MAJ (Join to see)
Warrants don't salute, up or down. They don't have supervisors either. It's written somewhere, I think at Fort Rucker, under a CW5's rock.
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Suspended Profile
I realize this conversation is from almost a year ago, but the web site decided to renew the conversation. That said, as I mentioned in a previous comment, I don't know about the modern Marine Corps, but back in my day, if you were an enlisted rank and you had even the slightest idea of what was good for you, you saluted Warrant Officers....period. And yes. I saluted a Navy CPO or two in my time, mistaking them for officers, or W.O's. But, as you stated, it was better to err on the side of caution.
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What a leader does not condemn, he condones. Have your NCO snatch a knot in his grommet.
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Spot Correction and then locate his 1st line supervisor to ream him out. That's the duty of NCOs to maintain unit discipline.
Duty: a task or action that a designated person is required to perform.
Duty: a task or action that a designated person is required to perform.
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Sir, I have been Retired for 15 years, and still to this day, Retired or Active, I call an Officer Sir/Ma'am even here on RP. It's respectful to do so, it's earned. If I'm asked to relax that because we are personal friends, I do, but only in private. In public function, it's back to standard. This is a moment for you to shine and be a leader and not a dick. Correct him firmly with your style, he obviously looks up to you, but he must be reminded you and him are not "homies on the block". By doing this quickly and without drama you will create a future leader in him as well.
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Hey! If you're asking on here, maybe you shouldn't be an officer. Go ask your unit 1stSgt.
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Outside of work but was it on or off base? You could life the kid out or address him by his rank and perform a low key check on him.It would force him to double take and would help confirm his intentions. It really depends on whether he was giving you a hey man because he didn’t know who/what you are or he was pushing the envelope. I wouldn’t life him out in front of god and everyone unless you knew for a fact his intentions but you should certainly say something. The fact you are asking the question tells me you said nothing and later questioned your response. You should do something but there isn’t a reason to go full Motard about it
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Hell yes, light him up. It not only shows disrespect for your rank, but you as well. Before I retired, if I caught a soldier disrespecting an officer or NCO, he would be standing outside the barracks/head shed saluting each officer as they entered, opening the door, giving them the greeting of the day, same with NCOs, except with the salute or they could face the CO for blatant disrespect. Called extra curricular training.
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1SG Joseph Dartey
MAJ David Bolender, Sir, with all respect, if the soldier recognized him to be an officer then he was blatantly in the wrong and should be fired up. And yes I was a hardcore 1SG when needed, called for and DAMN PROUD OF IT!!
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MAJ (Join to see)
1SG -- so, in other words, you're making Soldiers do what they should do already? Your punishment is to adhere to basic military standards?
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SGT (Join to see)
Did we miss the part that stated outside of work... and that at work the SPC calls him sir...
Reading comprehension seems to be a huge issue in these comments, that or the egos are too big to read those parts.
Reading comprehension seems to be a huge issue in these comments, that or the egos are too big to read those parts.
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You don’t become a civilian when you take off the uniform. If the SP4 recognizes you as an officer he should show at least the minimum of military courtesy. An informal greeting including your rank or at least “sir” is appropriate in my opinion. You should speak with him about it while you’re both in uniform and on duty.
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SSgt James Brasier
At issue is that this officer does not work directly with this individual. He knew the face. Saw him a couple of times. That means facial recognition. Without the uniform, the face might have lacked context.
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MAJ (Join to see)
LT COL -- SP4 is showing your age. Do you know what some Army troops do if you try to have a round-robin discussion about ethics and morals? They will immediately brace up and listen to every word you have to say. They will salute smartly, visit their mothers, put "From Here To Eternity" on NetFlix, and go to sleep snuggling their Teddy Bears.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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SGT (Join to see)
I live 45 mines from post on 5 acres purposely to ignore the Army when not at work. I don't live the army 24/7 if I see you at my Walmart, you're lucky to even get a hey man, I'll just pretend I didn't even see you.
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