Posted on Nov 18, 2013
SFC Michael Boulanger
96.1K
395
140
23
20
3
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: Army usa or 08a.svg 1SG
Avatar feed
Responses: 62
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
SFC(P) Military Police
0
0
0
Now, if a Master Sergeant is working in a First Sergeant slot what would be the correct way to address them without insulting them?
(0)
Comment
(0)
SFC Information Technology Specialist
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
1SG. Your addressing the position/office and under normal circumstances they would be appointed and pinned 1SG rank either way.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Gary Fox
0
0
0
Each time I served as a First Sergeant, it was for at least 12 months.  Even my BDE CSM called me First Sergeant.  I'll have to give him a call and let him know he was wrong to do so.  LOL  He'll love hearing that.

I even served as the SGM of a Task Force while deployed to Iraq.  My TF CDR a LTC promotable (sorry but every time I put the P in () it changes it to some symbol)  called me SGM all the time.  Even my troops called me that.  The BDE CDR came to visit us one time from CONUS and even he called me SGM.  I guess they were all wrong as well.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG PATRIOT Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer
0
0
0
I remember when I first joined, I was waiting outside the Battery area awaiting SP time when a SFC comes up to me and corrected me on something. Corrected the deficiency, answered 'Roger, Sergeant!"and immediately got blown up. "HOW ABOUT ROGER, FIRST SERGEANT!?"
My gaze went to his chest, then back to him then to his chest. "Roger, First Sergeant!"
I was so confused. There was no way, with me being a day 3 PVT in a new unit to know who was acting 1SG for another Battery, let alone someone I had never seen before.
Point in case, I immediately looked up the regulation on calling someone by their Duty Position, and not rank. I cannot cite it, and I'm paraphrasing here, so bear with me: "The person holding the Duty Position of First Sergeant shall be addressed by their Position Title if more than 70 personnel fall under their supervision, otherwise, they shall be addressed by their rank."

Now, again, I definitely cannot cite, nor am I able to find it again, but maybe someone else has read/heard what I'm talking about?

Be a little more wizened in my career, I simply decided to forego what I had remembered and address anyone in the duty position of 1SG as First Sergeant, unless they're in my immediate NCO Support Channel, then they are simply Top.
  
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Maj Chris Nelson
0
0
0

When I was in the Army, 1SG was only for those wearing the diamond...however, we had a Services Battery that went for about a year-1.5 years without a diamond.  The Senior ranking SFC was assigned the duties of 1SG for that time period, and he was referred to 1SG as that is the position he was in. 


In the Air Force, I have never called someone that was not wearing a diamond 1SG.  What is different in the AF however, is that we do have official diamond wearing 1SG in the rank of E-7, E-8, and E-9.  Our E-9 is called Chief Master Sergeant.  I have asked a few of them that were diamond wearing, which they preferred to be called....1SG or Chief.....I have gotten mixed responses.

(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Recruiter
0
0
0
SFC Boulanger,
How I have handled this particular situation was fairly simple. If we had a 1SG in our unit that later became a MSG somewhere else in the BN when their 1SG time was up, I ALWAYS address them as "Master Sergeant", as a form of respect for them as a former 1SG. Now, in instances where I don't know the person, and I see MSG on their chest, many times I will just call them Sergeant. However, that being said, I feel as though the grade of E-8 should have the full rank stated when addressing the individual. It's a special rank to hold, and deserving of the extra quarter of a second to say "Master" or "First" before the "Sergeant" part of their title comes out. Just my $0.02 for what it's worth.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Christopher Horton
1
0
1
I would address any NCO in the position of 1SG as 1SG. It is giving respect for the position that the NCO holds, not the rank (unless that NCO is holding the rank of 1SG).
(1)
Comment
(1)
Avatar small
MAJ Jim Woods
0
0
0

I always called the First Sergeant " First Sergeant" and the other E-8's  "Top".  It seemed to work and disrespected no one. 


I once commanded a Division Headquarters Company where E-9's (including a Command Sgt. Maj.) and E-8's abounded throughout the Company.  Now THAT was interesting.  As a lowly O3 I felt like I had woken up in a land of Giants.  These guys had more time in the latrine than I had in the Army.  And, don't get me started on their bosses. 


Have you ever been "braced" by a Lt. Col. who didn't like our version of "clean sheets"?  I had reminded him, apparently in a voice he didn't appreciate (I was on my 2nd tour - he was on his 1st and a Chemical Officer to boot) that we WERE in Vietnam and it really was a combat zone.  Another story for another time.

(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Aaron Kletzing
0
0
0
I've seen this happen both ways -- where a SFC or MSG is called by their actual rank, and where they are called by the position they are holding ("1SG" or "Top" in the Army).  Not sure which is better.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Retired!!!
0
0
0
A detachment Sergeant is referred to as Sergeant, they are not in a 1SG slot.....nor are they the senior NCO in the company, because it's a detachment.....not a company
(0)
Comment
(0)
SSG Retired!!!
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
Well, nevermind. Just looked it up AR 600-20. Learned something new.
(5)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Ncoic
0
0
0
Well said.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

How are you connected to the military?
  • Active Duty
  • Active Reserve / National Guard
  • Pre-Commission
  • Veteran / Retired
  • Civilian Supporter