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I am going to beak it down for everyone how to address these spacific individuals: If a Master Sergeant has the diamond he is a First Sergeant and addressed as such or TOP because he is the highest enlisted Soldier in your unit. If there is a Master Sergeant without a Diamond they are addressed as Sergeant (not MSG, only if you are talking to someone else and specifying them by rank held). If there is a Sergeant First Class and they are acting as a First Sergeant they are addressed and Sergeant, not First Sergeant because they do not hold that specific rank, also acceptable for SFC is TOP because he is the highest enlisted Soldier in your unit if they are acting in that position. This Military Customs and Courtesies class is complete.
Posted in these groups: 
1SG
1SG
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 62
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Thank goodness I was navy. I don't think there's any way I'd remember all those exceptions.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
As a Navy Command Master Chief, I am addressed simply as Master Chief by other Sailors. Teh same holds true for a Command Senior or Command Chief. We try to keep our address a little simpler.
When addressing Petty Officers, it is simply Petty Officer Hicks, almost never would we SAY Petty Officer Third Class Hicks or Complicatate it by including the Petty officer's speciality in verbal address. But what is easy for Navy might be harder for our Sister Services.
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This is good professional development! I like the Air Force method of call everyone by their rank, and 1SG being a position more than a rank, they have 3 grades of 1SG if memory serves.<br>
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1SG Shane Hansen
Sir, I think the problem is that in AR 600-20 it lists 1SG as a rank and then it also lists it as a position in the NCO support channel paragraph.
I read it to say if they are wearing the rank of 1SG then their title of address is "first sergeant". If they are a SFC serving in a first sergeant position then they should be addressed as "sergeant". Why, because we are required by table 1-1 to address them as such. We are not supposed to address someone by their position, but by their proper title of address listed in that table. I do not address my Platoon Sergeant or Squad Leader by their position. I call them "sergeant". It could be simple (like the Air Force as you say), but there is some grey area that needs clarification in AR 600-20.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
1SG Hansen
THANK YOU for making this decipherable. I was sincerely confused by all of these comments until I came upon your comment here.
*Let me add that as a SSG, I won't fight a senior NCO who tells me to call him 1SG even if he is a SFC or a MSG.
"Roger that FIRST SERGEANT!"
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Maj Chris Nelson
Lt Hooser, you are correct. Master Sergeant (E-7), Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), and Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) may all be diamond wearing 1SG. As in the Army, they must go through a course to become 1SG and they wear the diamond as long as they are in a 1SG position.
As to calling everyone by their rank in the AF.... I generally don't call a Tech Sergeant (TSGT/E-6) by that. It is simply Sgt, much like the Army.
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I had a SFC for a 1SG while deployed (wasn't even frocked) and he chewed us out left and right when we didn't address him as 1SG. Sad part was we were technically a detachment combined with a NG unit to create a makeshift Battery down range. Our UIC was the same as the unit we deployed from stateside, we deployed a platoon+. The actual 1SG and commander were back in the rear and a captain and a SFC created their positions downrange. So I technically had two. He was rated as a 1SG too....
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SFC Michael Boulanger
An SFC can only be frocked to MSG if they are promotable which means thet have been boarded and are awaiting orders. They make E7 pay until being promoted to E8. If they leave the position for some reason before getting promotion orders then they go back to SFC until reciept of orders for MSG.
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SFC Gary Fox
An SFC(P) can be frocked to 1SG according to AR 614-200:
8–24. Frocking of sergeant first class promotable to first sergeant
a. SFC(P) who are assigned to an authorized 1SG position may wear the grade of 1SG.
b. Commanders (LTC and above) may authorize and approve frocking of SFC(P) to be assigned as 1SG within their
command.
c. Frocking will not be approved to provide an interim fill for a 1SG position.
d. Frocking will not be accomplished until assumption of duties as a 1SG.
e. Identification cards, official records (ERB) will not be changed to show a frocked grade.
f. Frocking may be announced by using an informal memorandum.
g. Soldiers who have been frocked as 1SG, subsequently promoted to MSG, and reassigned will retain the grade of
1SG or be laterally appointed to MSG.
8–24. Frocking of sergeant first class promotable to first sergeant
a. SFC(P) who are assigned to an authorized 1SG position may wear the grade of 1SG.
b. Commanders (LTC and above) may authorize and approve frocking of SFC(P) to be assigned as 1SG within their
command.
c. Frocking will not be approved to provide an interim fill for a 1SG position.
d. Frocking will not be accomplished until assumption of duties as a 1SG.
e. Identification cards, official records (ERB) will not be changed to show a frocked grade.
f. Frocking may be announced by using an informal memorandum.
g. Soldiers who have been frocked as 1SG, subsequently promoted to MSG, and reassigned will retain the grade of
1SG or be laterally appointed to MSG.
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A word to the wise... in a a joint command, or when visiting a Marine command, Army practice is not Marine Practice. Use of "Sergeant" by itself for an E-6 or senior, at a minimum, is going to get you the stink eye. Marine version of addressing Marine SNCO's and NCO's (at least it was 24 years ago)
Pay Grade E-9
Formal - Sergeant Major, Informal - Sergeant Major
Formal - Master Gunnery Sergeant, Informal - Master Guns or Top (be real careful that she/he considers you part of the inner circle. Never in front of someone outside the unit )
Pay Grade E-8
Formal - First Sergeant, Informal - First Sergeant
Formal - Master Sergeant, Informal - Top (be real careful that she/he considers you part of the inner circle. Never in front of someone outside the unit )
Pay Grade E-7
Formal - Gunnery Sergeant, Informal - Gunny (Never in front of someone outside the unit.)
Pay Grade E-6
Formal - Staff Sergeant, Informal - Staff (Never in front of someone outside the unit.)
Pay Grade E-5
Formal - Sergeant, Informal - Sergeant, Looking for a thumping - Sarge
Pay Grade E-9
Formal - Sergeant Major, Informal - Sergeant Major
Formal - Master Gunnery Sergeant, Informal - Master Guns or Top (be real careful that she/he considers you part of the inner circle. Never in front of someone outside the unit )
Pay Grade E-8
Formal - First Sergeant, Informal - First Sergeant
Formal - Master Sergeant, Informal - Top (be real careful that she/he considers you part of the inner circle. Never in front of someone outside the unit )
Pay Grade E-7
Formal - Gunnery Sergeant, Informal - Gunny (Never in front of someone outside the unit.)
Pay Grade E-6
Formal - Staff Sergeant, Informal - Staff (Never in front of someone outside the unit.)
Pay Grade E-5
Formal - Sergeant, Informal - Sergeant, Looking for a thumping - Sarge
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Ask what they are doing by. They know then go from there. But you have to assume until then.
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As a SFC I served in both a First Sergeant position and then a Sergeant Major position. While serving in the First Sergeant position, the company commander and platoon leaders called me "First Sergeant." The Battalion Sergeant Major and the Brigade Sergeant Major called me "Top." While serving in a Battalion Sergeant Major position for 8 months, my Battalion Commander and everybody else always called me "Sergeant Major" except for the Brigade Sergeant Major who called me "Top."
When I was put in both those positions (in the same brigade), the Brigade Sergeant Major told me, "You are where you sit and there's no acting about it. You are expected to live up to the responsibilities."
When I was put in both those positions (in the same brigade), the Brigade Sergeant Major told me, "You are where you sit and there's no acting about it. You are expected to live up to the responsibilities."
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My thoughts are if you have the rank of First Sergeant you should be called 1SG. If not the title of Top (as in top NCO) would be appropriate. Those who get upset about not being called a rank they are not need to put their egos to the side.
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Oh - as a retired first sergeant I would recommend not addressing a first sergeant as top unless you know him or her very well
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Even simpler still - if the person is wearing three up, three down and a diamond in the middle that individual is addressed as first sergeant. Period, end of discussion
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Totally agree. Had an acting 1SG in Iraq we were both SFC at the time and he was going around telling the unit they had to call him 1SG. I explained to him he's not a 1SG whether acting or not. Although referring to him as top could be appropriate 1SG was not. The idiot went to the SGM to complain and was promptly shown the door while being told to get off his power trip. 2 days later I was told I would be the new acting 1SG.
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