When do you go to a first-name basis with people?

CSM, for the 16 years I was in the Military the ONLY time did I ever use first name(s) were OFF duty to my peers only. During Duty Hours, it was by rank, last name, sir or ma’am, and not by their first name. To this day it still irks me sideways when I hear ALL ranks of Officers “Hi Bob”. What ever happen to Customs and Courtesies (FM 7-21.13, CH 5)? Did we as an NCO Corps keep this one JUST to teach, train and mentor our Soldiers correctly and not share with others? No disrespect to the Officers or Warrants, but RHIP should not and does not apply here. The Standard was set, and by having lower enlisted Soldiers hear Officers use their first names during the Duty Hours, now sets a new Standard. Why? The Soldiers think it’s right due to the fact an/the Officer(s) are doing it. Last, I have approached many Officers and have asked them not to use first names due to what I‘ve listed. Here again, the rank has it’s privileges was dropped and I was given a thank you for the concern.

CSM Blount,

I personally don't like the first name basis thing at all. But I will add before I was even in the Army all my friends called me by my last name. I will say I have been in a few situations where first name basis may not be the wrong answer. My first duty station was Korea and my first weekend the shop NCO took me and another private out to the town to show us around. You know places to go; places to definitely not go. He told us to call him by his first name. That has always stuck with me and he is not the first person that has wanted it that way out in the civilian world.

When I am in uniform though I don't want to hear it and I don't like to hear other people do it. I have noticed a trend amongst some of the younger Soldiers. They do it in the barracks and when they go out to drink together and then they come to work yelling first names up and down the hall. Its a peeve of mine.

CSM, "hey man" or "hey..." is used often,
but when we do that and we have subordinates in our AO and he or she observes
leaders doing this he or she assumes that is the standard. Unless we correct
it, and it isn't that hard to do, a "new standard" is set. It is hard
until everyone is onboard. The hard right (basic discipline) vs the easy wrong
(allowing it to go on).

CSM, I feel that the determination to use a first name with
someone is based off the situation you find yourself in at the time of the
conversation. I agree any time you address an officer Sir ,Ma'am, or rank
should be used regardless of the situation or location. Any time you address
another NCO in a work environment it should always be by rank.

However, if you’re talking to a peer or subordinate there
are times it is appropriate to use his or her first name. An example would be
you have a peer over for a function at your quarters and the setting is small
just his or her family and yours. Now if you have a peer and subordinates over
that is a different situation. Would calling your peer by his or her first name
and the other NCO by rank show a bias toward the him and make your subordinate
feel out of place?  This is assuming the
subordinate is able to comprehend the difference between “off time” and “work
time”.  If he or she is able to comprehend
the difference than you should be consistent.

Essentially you need to know your surroundings and the
people you’re talking with, and if the person outranks you always use the
appropriate title.