Posted on Nov 22, 2016
Where can I find the regulatory guidance for the proper way for a commissioned officer to address an NCO?
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I have an Officer who insists on addressing NCOs by their first name. Several have professionally expressed that they feel this is unprofessional and the response is, "There is nothing stating that I can't call you by your first name." I have not been able to find anything specific outlining this.
Customs and Courtesies
Protocol
Professionalism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 85
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Its hard to say for sure why your Officer is calling people by their first name without knowing his/her background. I've seen a lot of this in the medical community while I was in and I understood it that they wanted to be more hospital like atmosphere. That said, as it has been pointed out, your first name is Sergeant, in fact, that is the only name you need when it comes down to it. Lastly I will leave you with this, there is a great different between a Sergeant and a Non Commissioned Officer, Sergeants are promoted everyday, just like Officers come from colleges, neither makes a leader, that is something you have that can be developed, or not. A Non Commissioned Officer will know and understand his/her place in the military structure and where their authority comes from, as a SSG you are both in the NCO Support Chain, but also in the Chain of Command, in that, you are in a Section Chief position (I assume) and that is the first position position that a LT can interact with the Enlisted through you. There are things that all NCOs must know in order to lead, you are the backbone of the Army in you know and enforce these things. When ever an Officer is telling troops what to do, there is a large lacking in NCOs in that unit. I have observed and corrected this in many a unit as a 1SG, you and your Soldiers are a weapon system, Officers need only point you at the target if you are doing what you are supposed to do, and yes, anyone regardless of rank that ever tried to address my by other than my rank would have a closed door meeting, had a few West Pointers try to challenge me on a few leader topics, unfortunately had to get them squared away at the COL level. So in a nutshell, pull that Officer aside, be tactful, explain that it undermines the units discipline and if it doesn't stop, use your chain.
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MCPO Kurt Stauff
The medical community in all services is unique. They have a closeness and job that is very different from all the rest of the various military subcultures. I know that I have been a bit peckish as to how a Hospital Corpsman treated my rank, and the easy way they had with commissioned doctors and nurses; but I understood, because my mother and my sister were both RN's, and I understood that job was life or death on occasion. After I became a Navy Chief, and started hanging around with Chief Corpsmen, I understood there was a special relationship between the officer and enlisted components of that branch. But that still did to stop me when I was a Senior Chief in Yokosuka, JA, when an E5 Corpsman could not start an IV after 4 attempts; I called for a nurse and the procedure went fine after that. A year later, I went back for the same procedure and was confronted with the same Corpsman with an IV in his hand; I just said, "Do it right this time, Sailor," and he did.
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1SG Jay Vanderford
MCPO Kurt Stauff - Please understand that I was not being demeaning in any way to the medical profession, and I think you said it right here, they are a special crew with a bond that surpasses most due to the nature of what they do. There are different levels of discipline in the Army for different jobs, makes sense to me really, I was in a combat arms so attention to detail and absolute no questions when a given task is to be performed, no time for it. Then we have a great deal of support elements, for the most part they were just a disciplined by nature of the unit they were attached to, there were some growing pains for some that hadn't been on the line but it all eventually worked out.
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This was just a quick search so validate that this FM is still current.
FM 7-21.13
4-4. Courtesy among members of the Armed Forces is vital to maintain discipline. Military courtesy means good manners and politeness in dealing with other people. Courteous behavior provides a basis for developing good human relations. The distinction between civilian and military courtesy is that military courtesy was developed in a military atmosphere and has become an integral part of serving in uniform.
4-6. Military courtesy is not a one-way street. Enlisted personnel are expected to be courteous to officers and likewise officers are expected to return the courtesy. Mutual respect is a vital part of military courtesy. In the final analysis, military courtesy is the respect shown to each other by members of the same profession. Some of the Army’s more common courtesies include rendering the hand salute, standing at attention or parade rest, or even addressing others by their rank.
FM 7-21.13
4-4. Courtesy among members of the Armed Forces is vital to maintain discipline. Military courtesy means good manners and politeness in dealing with other people. Courteous behavior provides a basis for developing good human relations. The distinction between civilian and military courtesy is that military courtesy was developed in a military atmosphere and has become an integral part of serving in uniform.
4-6. Military courtesy is not a one-way street. Enlisted personnel are expected to be courteous to officers and likewise officers are expected to return the courtesy. Mutual respect is a vital part of military courtesy. In the final analysis, military courtesy is the respect shown to each other by members of the same profession. Some of the Army’s more common courtesies include rendering the hand salute, standing at attention or parade rest, or even addressing others by their rank.
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I saw this more with Air Force and Army Personnel. So many officers used to be enlisted in those services that I think they forget who they are now.
Not in the Navy. Few Commissioned Officers were ever enlisted and there is strict discipline against fraternization. When I was jogging years ago on the base I had to go completely around the officer housing area. The excuse given was that I might see something that might demean my respect for them as if I didn't see enough of that at work. Or the night I was on duty and a call came in on the radio that a certain officer's wife was chasing him around the housing area with a butcher knife. He was in a pair of boxers. Their next door neighbor was the Captain. They were moved off base the next day.
Not in the Navy. Few Commissioned Officers were ever enlisted and there is strict discipline against fraternization. When I was jogging years ago on the base I had to go completely around the officer housing area. The excuse given was that I might see something that might demean my respect for them as if I didn't see enough of that at work. Or the night I was on duty and a call came in on the radio that a certain officer's wife was chasing him around the housing area with a butcher knife. He was in a pair of boxers. Their next door neighbor was the Captain. They were moved off base the next day.
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Fine Call Him By His 1st Name NCO'S Earn Their Rank That's Why We Say Sgt or Cpl 1st Before the Name Plus You Can Always Ask Him To Fetch a Level Bubble Calibration Kit
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In my opinion, this shouldn't be an issue. I would o as far as to consider it boarding on fraternization, so long as it remains a select group of individuals. All encompassing, it is extremely unprofessional.
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Look In FM 7-21-13 it has lot of Information that Might help You the Chapter would you are asking is in Chap 3
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