When is calling a fellow service member by their first name acceptable and unacceptable?

I never really thought this was an issue. If two soldier want to call each other by their first names, then go for it, but I usually only experienced this when me and my battle buddies were conducting missions alone.

Sgt Butler, When I retired, people would call me Sir, or Mr. or some nickname. I had to adapt to the fact that I have a name, and it still bugs me when people call me by my first name. Not so much now because I have been in a long term and continuous civilian transition. Long term....and I observe that many veterans have similar challenges. Some of these habits will never change in some people, because we are creatures of habit. Change comes slower to others. I see it every day with young and old vets alike, because we have been conditioned in our responses.

But what happens when the setting changes and Service members enter civilian life?

They soon realize that they have a name.

The advantage of working with a dual role is favorable to veterans for a more productive life style while acclimating to a civilian setting. I believe that DoD downsizing strategies are moving more toward organizations that complement this duality.

We were on a first name bases with I worked with a Special Forces Major doing Civilian/Military Operations.

There are some special occasions where calling them by their first name is more appropriate.  I forgot that most of the Spec. Ops. side of the house mostly deals with first names.  Worked with them a couple of times and had a CSM who was always correcting me when I called SGM and John.

SSG Todd, I agree with your social skills in and out of the office. We live in a great State with lots of opportunity to work in diverse settings. I prefer the upper Midwest culture, especially here in MN, dual roles are flexible while in other States may not seem flexible or reasonable. We are heavy on military/civilian duality job assignments within the Guards and Reserves; Governor is Chief. This one may not know or agree with his dual role but it is real here. Also, in this State, the Federal government assignments are State controlled for CMF or career slots, yet jobs have a Federal component for medical /dental and pay compensation.

Many duality jobs, personnel in this State have obtained higher educational achievements and degrees. Dual Fed jobs are wired in with higher educational benefits and modest compensation.