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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This is easy!
When I enlisted there were 2 answers Sir or Ma'am. Didn't matter if enlisted or officer. When I enlisted there were 2 genders. I hate to think the military wastes a 1-2 weeks explaining 66 genders. Transsexuals I have an issue with them on my back. Sorry to make political I feel so sorry for those serving now. Crazy times.
When I enlisted there were 2 answers Sir or Ma'am. Didn't matter if enlisted or officer. When I enlisted there were 2 genders. I hate to think the military wastes a 1-2 weeks explaining 66 genders. Transsexuals I have an issue with them on my back. Sorry to make political I feel so sorry for those serving now. Crazy times.
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I know this doesn’t answer your question but it’s a funny story. I retired on Fort Bragg(Airborne Infantry). As I was clearing I was walking towards the Soldier Support Center. There was a Full Bird Colonel walking towards me. In the 82nd I say “Airborne and the officer says “All the Way” when you salute. But this Colonel looked so damn young that my brain stopped working lol. I couldn’t reconcile his rank with how he looked, he literally looked 18. He’s staring at me waiting for me to salute him as I approach but instead I stop him and ask him his age lol. He laughed and told me 43 I believe. I apologized and he said he gets that all the time. I shit you not this guy could fucking pass as an E-1 easily. FYI, I question the type of NCO’s you have working in your unit if this is something that is said. Fucking with LT’s is commonplace but there is a limit and certain shit you don’t do.
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Courtesy doesn't stop outside of work. He should be pulled aside and corrected accordingly.
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No bueno, he should be addressing you as sir, even when off duty. While in the military you are on duty at all times and military courtesy and bearings must be maintained always.
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While Active Duty, I always corrected any soldier who failed to meet the military standards. I was separated as a CPL E4(P), you never let someone slide on the salute or addressing you properly. When deployed there can be a lack of decorum because the salute is not allowed but you always need to address a officer/NCO as deserved by rank (even if the service member wearing the rank does not deserve that level of respect)...
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SGT David Schrader
If you are both in civilian clothes and don’t really know each other there is no disrespect to an officer unless the officer is wearing a post it note on his/her civilian shirt or pasted on the forehead saying “I am an officer and demand respect” . That specialist probably didn’t really know the officer.
So what do you do in a case where both are in civies and don’t know one another?
Sounds like the majority of everyone passes the blame down to the Specialist.
If you’re all going to blame the Specialist for disrespect, you might want to take a close look at the leadership in that soldiers command or lack of.
Maybe the military should start handling out books or pamphlets with officer’s photos so that they (officers) can be recognized while wearing civilian clothes.
So what do you do in a case where both are in civies and don’t know one another?
Sounds like the majority of everyone passes the blame down to the Specialist.
If you’re all going to blame the Specialist for disrespect, you might want to take a close look at the leadership in that soldiers command or lack of.
Maybe the military should start handling out books or pamphlets with officer’s photos so that they (officers) can be recognized while wearing civilian clothes.
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CPL T.A. Nelson
SGT David Schrader if the officer knows that the soldier is a SPC then it is likely that the SPC knows him well enough to know his rank. "Hey Man," is not even respectful of a civilian. If it was an NCO, "sir" would have been a problem but otherwise "sir" is the proper way to address officers and civilians. I was pretty sure who all my unit officers were be their faces but I guess not everyone does that anymore...
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I would correct him. A soldier is always a soldier even off duty. I think the only time it is not warranted is if you are both drinking at a bar for example or if you are actually friends. Sounds to me you barely know him though, so him being so informal is inappropriate. Another note, if he knows you are an officer he should salute you and have all proper protocol when he sees you even out of uniform.
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We used to say "There's no rank in th bar." But that was a loose saying. However. Military courtesy is 24/7. No enlisted should ever disrespect their superiors, regardless of the situations.
The fact that this is even a question now, only validates my belief that the military has changed. Not for the better. You leaders better get your collective sh*t together, or you're doomed on the battlefield.
The fact that this is even a question now, only validates my belief that the military has changed. Not for the better. You leaders better get your collective sh*t together, or you're doomed on the battlefield.
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Definitely need to take action to correct the issue now. At this point I would condemn him and private and praise in public. If it continues then light him up and address his supervisor. Had a 2Lt light up a young troop for calling me Sarge instead of Sargent. After she walked away I just told him to watch how he addressed someone when she was around. She despised me because people had more respect for me than her. Of course she also got a Art 15 for fraternizing/relationship with our young male admin clerk.
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SGT David Schrader
Sgt Tim Greenwalt I do understand what you are saying.
If this behavior of the specialist or any enlisted rank shows disrespect to any officer while on duty then that individual should be counseled through his chain of command. If such behavior continues, UCMJ Article 15 should definitely happen. No excuses and end of story.
All I was trying to say in my earlier comments was that they were both off duty and in civilian clothes. It is possible that the specialist did not recognize the officer and meant it as a salutation such as “Hey man how’s it going” like he would greet anyone else. I had an officer greet me with a similar situation while off duty and in civilian clothes except he greeted me with “Hey Dude” It was harmless and I wasn’t offended by it. It was a friendly greeting.
Maybe I should have tried to have this butter bar crucified like the majority of everyone wants to do to this specialist. I guess that everyone talking like bad asses toward the specialist are all perfect and never made mistakes.
If this behavior of the specialist or any enlisted rank shows disrespect to any officer while on duty then that individual should be counseled through his chain of command. If such behavior continues, UCMJ Article 15 should definitely happen. No excuses and end of story.
All I was trying to say in my earlier comments was that they were both off duty and in civilian clothes. It is possible that the specialist did not recognize the officer and meant it as a salutation such as “Hey man how’s it going” like he would greet anyone else. I had an officer greet me with a similar situation while off duty and in civilian clothes except he greeted me with “Hey Dude” It was harmless and I wasn’t offended by it. It was a friendly greeting.
Maybe I should have tried to have this butter bar crucified like the majority of everyone wants to do to this specialist. I guess that everyone talking like bad asses toward the specialist are all perfect and never made mistakes.
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Sgt Tim Greenwalt
SGT David Schrader That was the point I was trying to convey. The Captain needs to just make sure the SPC understands that that comment is acceptable while in civilian clothes but to make sure it doesn't get used while on duty. Praise in public, Correct in private
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