When NG or Reserve soldiers address each other by first name...

SSG (ret) William Martin — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:01:28 -0500

When NG and Reserve soldiers are not on orders or on drill status, do they call each other by their first names? I am simply curious. Note- this is a much cleaned up version of the discussion question. My original was created after working 5 days of MIDS on LEO duties and in my tired stupor this question came to mind.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 9:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:18:32 -0500

I am not really certain of your question because you first mention working with Senior NCO in a civilian work place and then backtrack to what happened to you at drill. Therefore, I will gave both answers.

1) If I was working with a Senior NCO in a civilian capacity I would refer to him by what ever is most professional at whatever place I am working, or what my employer prefers. If I am working a civilian job I would not refer to my 1SG by rank or call him top. First, this brings attention to his being in the military. Second, it would likely make things awkward for my co-workers. Again, I would call him by whatever my employer dictates.

2) In the Guard I personally do not call anyone by first name. I have worked with the same SSG in my Military Honors function for the past 3-4 years, and even though I am also a SSG and we are good friends, I still refer to him by rank on the job.

In my unit I refer to everyone by rank who E5 or higher. I generally call junior enlisted by rank as well, and if not I use last name.

More specifically, I think your question is not really possible to answer as a whole. This is going to change from person to person and unit to unit. It is not a generally accepted practice for the National Guard to refer to each other by first name and I don't see it happening very often myself.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Feb 24 at 2014 9:42 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:42:12 -0500

One thing to keep in mind with the Guard and Reserves....they are often HOMETOWN units.  MOST (but not all) the people live in the same town or close by...they work and play with each other the rest of the month NOT in the military.  'Jim' runs runs/owns the hardware store, 'Bob' is a local contractor....'Bubba' has a great job at the local bar.  The list goes on.  that "one weekend a month" will be harder for them to break the habits of the other 28 days in the month...  This does not make it more right....but is simply a concept to understand.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Feb 24 at 2014 9:49 AM

MSG Gene Potocki — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:49:36 -0500

Yes, why not. They have to be able to distinguish between military duty and civilian status. In SMU's they call each other by their first name, and their leader is referred to as "Boss" NG / Reserve are a different breed as the unit comes mostly from the same town / city and now many of the same people and possibly run in the same social circles. It all boils down to good discipline when your on the clock to the government, and remembering who they are when not on drill.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Feb 27 at 2014 3:08 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:08:39 -0500

There is some personallity to the guard and reserves. I try not to call my subordinates by there first name or Superiors, But the same rank or Possition unless an NCO I do. Only because of the fimilarity out of the guard. Some don't like it and want to be addressed by there Rank and Last name which is appropriate.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 3:38 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:38:23 -0500

To answer your question, yes. While we are still soldiers, the NG has the unique situation of being not in the military most of the time. Many officers have full time jobs subordinate to their senior officers.

One of the founders on Rally Point told me once "the only diversity is our MOS" refering to an active component unit. A national guard unit with a 100 people has a wide varietry of jobs, ranging from politicians to janitors, to businessmen, to police, fire, and every single job inbetween. So if you are not in uniform, depending on the context of the situation, of course you call them by their first names. If I call on militiary business I use ranks but any other time its not a big deal.

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Feb 27 at 2014 3:40 PM

1SG Frank Rocha — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:40:45 -0500

That all depends on who your talking to. I started out active army and went into the guard afterwards. Living the active army life day in and day out gave me a perspective and degree of discipline I may or may not have achieved had I gone straight into the guard but then that depends on the person as well.

As far as I know military customs and courtesies are the same whether your active/reserve/guard and regardless of branch. To that end I normally always use rank and last name (or just rank where its appropriate). The only ones I use first names with are those that I have known for a long time and interact with outside of duty or training (I still refer to them by rank and last name while on duty).

When two guard or reserve members are working together in a civilian occupation they are not representing the military in any way and are not supposed to use their rank or position in that circumstance (for all intents and purposes it doesn't exist for the time they are working "on the clock" for that civilian employer). This is especially tricky if you are a civilian contractor working on a military contract and are also a guard or reservist. You cannot present yourself in any military way using your rank or position. because of this type of separation, some soldiers get accustomed to referring to each other by first name. make no mistake though this is not the "norm".

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2014 11:03 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:03:22 -0500

It's strange to get off the last name basis when we're off the clock. Most peoples' nicknames are a variation of their last, in my case anyway. I'll introduce section members to my friends or family as their first name but last name is what I'm personally more familiar with. Might just be a local thing though. Even when I was in the Boy Scouts some guys were always called by a last name.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2014 9:13 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:13:28 -0400

SSG Martin...It's not only the NG/Reserve Soldiers that call each other by their first names. Maybe not all the active duty units allow it...but I'm here on Ft. Bragg and I hear it all the time....from AC Soldiers. Guard and Reserve Soldiers are unique in the aspect of familiarity. Most of them are from the same town, city, work site, and it's natural to call each other by their first name....that's all they've done their whole life! I do think that when they put the uniform on to do their monthly drills or do their 2 week annual training...then they should transition into that roll as a Soldier...and use the proper protocol. It's way better now than it used to be. Time changes a lot of things. Nearly every NG/Reserve unit in the US has been deployed...some MULITIPLE TIMES...and that mindset has changed the way Guard and Reserve units perform.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Oct 1 at 2014 2:04 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:04:00 -0400

This begs the question what is DA policy on GS and WGs using rank in their Technician jobs? I know it is a no no for retired military to use their rank in their GS/WG jobs. Also, I know that AFRTs, refer to their GS Grade as in: " COL, don't bug me. I'm as GS-15, the AF makes me wear this flight suit, when I fly!" so as to make it clear they are not on AD and not subject to his/her whim.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2014 1:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 13:34:36 -0400

My two or three cents here. I am a duel status Mil-tech and am required to wear my uniform as part of my job. 98% of who I come in contact with think that I am AGR and even the folks I work with "forget" that I am a civilian employee of the Department of the Army.

As a civiilian I don't mind being called by my first name or even "Mr.". In fact I would prefer if all mil-techs wearing uniforms wore the Army Civilian rank tab in place of stripes - but then I digress and that is another topioc.

I work in a school house where in front of students we strictly follow the customs and courtesies and never use first names. In private, or at PT, lunch, etc with the group that I work very closely with - first names are common with the exceptions of senior NCO's and Officers.

Serving in the Guard I often run into people I know out in the civilian world, depending on how close we know each other and who is around will dictate how we address each other.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 9:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:45:13 -0400

I see it among junior enlisted and officers of equal rank. However, I generally don't see it among the NCO ranks. The familiarity that you are talking about does exist though. There are times when M-Day Soldiers work together in a civilian capacity as well.

One example: My company commander, CPT Smith is a Police Lieutenant for a medium sized department in the Dallas area. Our Brigade Operations (S3) Officer, LTC Redhair, is a Police SGT for the same department. This inversion can be overcome as long as both members remain professional. Usually it is the case, but there are times when it doesn't work out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 9:47 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:47:10 -0400

I reply to all Soldiers by their rank and last name. But a lot of my fellow National Guard unit members do refer to each other by first name. I am not comfortable with this practice, but then again, I am not on active duty any longer.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2014 11:22 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:22:56 -0400

Me personally as a SSG, I do not mind other NCO's calling me by my first name. Also, even though most people find it disrespectful, but most of my soldiers call me by my first name. I tell them straight up that when other NCO's are not around and we are working as a section, that if they call me Tyree, it will not offend me. My soldiers in my section know that we have that close relationship, and as long as they respect the rank and do what is asked, they will be well rewarded. As a NG Unit, my S6 Section always exceed standards in the unit and other soldiers see that and has asked to reclass because they see that I bend over backwards for my soldiers and they respond by exceeding standards. And also as long as my LES states the correct rank and pay, I can care less about a title. A title in front of a name doesn't earn the respect, but the leader's actions does.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2014 3:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 15:44:51 -0400

Its weird at first- but given the nature of the NG/Reserves, I can understand. The key thing is to know when it is ok and when to be professional.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2014 2:46 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 14:46:53 -0400

Just to put my .02 in, I attended a schoolhouse where using all military courtesies and custom was required and strictly followed. I also work in a unit where we address each other by rank or title. Outside of my uniform, when I meet with any of my leadership, I still use terms of respect (Ma'am, Sir) in conversation, even when we're out in a social setting. I have never been accused of being "too respectful", whereas you can be disrespectful by skipping the courtesies.

On the other hand, my classmates and I will occasionally address each other on a first-name basis, but normally use last names or rank. It's a hard habit to break.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2014 11:59 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:59:39 -0400

I tend to see it when soldiers are of equal rank. I came from active duty and I didn't hear it as much. I address all of my subordinates by rank and last name and follow the same practice with my superiors.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Sep 18 at 2015 12:32 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:32:15 -0400

I prefer by first name, and for the record, during missions with my team I also prefer first name, I discovered that it made for good small team cohesion, plus it kept me alive; you can't shoot the officer if you do not know who he/she is!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 4:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:25:57 -0400

I call them by both honestly, in my non-military day job people call me by my last name so it doesn't bother me. Senior NCOs and Officers call me by my first name on occasion and it doesn't bother like it would in active duty, there is a clear difference.

Response by SSG Samuel Sohm made Jan 5 at 2016 5:45 PM

SSG Samuel Sohm — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:45:08 -0500

In all honesty I thought I would hear this all the time when I came to the guard from AD. I have never seen it in my unit. The BC slipped and called the XO by his first name one time, and subsequently corrected himself immediately. And for the record, my AD infantry battalion had most officers calling each other by their first names so it is an interesting dichotomy...