When an E-4 calls me "hey" or "hey man" knowing that I am an officer, should I bother to correct him?

I know this may be a crazy idea but have you thought of actually talking to the E-4, you don't have to even be nasty about it, he may have gotten the idea that you were ok with being spoken to in a less than formal manner and not know it bothers you. I remember a LT in our Co. that when we were out in public that preferred for us to call them by their name as long as it was away from others in our chain of command .

You have a duty to correct him!

If I can be so bold as to offer advise, this SPC believes in on the spot corrections when needed. I work as a Parole Officer and what I see is a series of seaming small but nevertheless poor decisions, that lead to larger problems. Just as you do not have to be disagreeable to disagree, but I would think a correction would have needed to take place.

Out of uniform and off duty, an enlisted man should still identify you as "Sir" or "Lt. Name" if they know you. Just remind them of that in private. I take it he was trying to be "friendly" and meant no disrespect, but you need to remind such people , military decorum is observed at all times*. Sure they don't have to salute you, out of uniform and off-duty but you are still a "Sir/Officer" and should be recognized as such to/by them , those are the rules/regs.


*(well almost all times)-there are exceptions in private situations;), I would advise to stay out of such things as an officer, as that is fraternization. Don't party, gangbang, drink, snort crank/meth, have sex with, or drink, hang out at concerts, etc. with your subordinates- again military decorum and regs should be observed at all times, while you're in. "Sir"
:)

SFC O'Malley hit the nail on the head!!

Having served in several communities in the USN and AFRC, your approach should fit the culture of the military component, BUT it must not allow a change of standards. You do a disservice when you fail to uphold traditional methods of respect, recognition, regimentation. If I were correcting a a reserve seabee I might share the reasoning or history or examples of when this failure had an extreme adverse effect, or how e'sprit de corps has strengthened and made more effective organizations. On the other hand if I was addressing anyone from the AFRC who wasn't SF or a pararescueman, I'd tailor the correction to something they could understand (as military examples are likely foreign to the USAF) and clearly state my expectations of future performance/ramifications of future personal failures.

Well, I must ask: Did you do something to give this SPC the idea that this was okay? If so, then no, you should say nothing. If not, then yes correct him.
I have had both senior officers and CSMs introduce themselves to me by their first names. And in truth, some of my seniors have developed into close friends.
If the SPC is speaking to you like this, its likely that he just likes you, maybe even thinks you are a friend, especially since at work he calls you "sir."

Although I functioned as a Air Force SSgt, I have the utmost respect for people who have attained officer or high enlisted ranks! When I got off of active duty, I went to work for the Federal Government (Department of Defense). My immediate supervisor was a retired Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) that I used to work with at Andrews AFB. I called him "Chief" until he told me that he preferred that we be on a first name basis. It is important to recognize people who worked hard for--and earned-- their ranks!

On the spot correction. (You don't have to be a jerk about it.) Then let his 1SG know. If the 1SG knows, it will never happen again.

No. Collect your check and move on.

I have to say if you do work in the military and in the same building I would have given him the EYE but let it go. If it happens again I would definitely say something.