Posted on Oct 5, 2015
Who do you call sir [or ma'am] when you are out of uniform?
27.3K
479
141
12
12
0
In uniform most service members know who to salute and who to call sir or ma'am. Out of uniform some service members salute higher ranking officers while others show their respect for those they personally know and some do their best to avoid eye contact with higher ranking people.
Some of us have been trained to address people older than us as sir or ma'am but this seems to be becoming rarer.
Who do you address as sir or ma'am when you are off duty or a veteran?
Some of us have been trained to address people older than us as sir or ma'am but this seems to be becoming rarer.
Who do you address as sir or ma'am when you are off duty or a veteran?
Respect
Honor
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 81
26
26
0
When I am out of Uniform I will always use Sir and Ma'am.. That was the way I was raised..
(26)
(0)
SGT Tim Fridley
I was raised that way and will remain that way and I agree that it is getting very rare but I do know my children were raised that way and are raising my grandchildren that way as well
(2)
(0)
SFC Kenneth Hunnell
I was taught by my father that you said yes sir to everyone over 18, at that time I was about 5. I did for a long time until I realized that using that term reflected respect.
I give everyone the chance to prove me wrong.
Most of the Officers with any real high rank in the Military today are in my age bracket.
When someone says yes sir to me, I look around for my Father.
As the military goes, you say yes sir or maam to any Officer, that does not always equate to respect.
Respect is earned not given
I give everyone the chance to prove me wrong.
Most of the Officers with any real high rank in the Military today are in my age bracket.
When someone says yes sir to me, I look around for my Father.
As the military goes, you say yes sir or maam to any Officer, that does not always equate to respect.
Respect is earned not given
(1)
(0)
21
21
0
I refer to anyone I do not know as "Sir", until they no longer deserve it.
(21)
(0)
SSG Jesus Sijalbo
Until they deserve it, Thats a big Roger, TOP! Its the same here on the islands were you respect all your elders and a lot do appriciate that. Also with the long history of military service member who has ties to the Islands gets recognize for their service to our country when addressing someone ma'am or sir. Its a dying comment that we need to represent in hope of a better and respectable community."RESPECT ALL". God Bless.
(2)
(0)
(0)
(0)
10
10
0
Sir, growing up in Alabama, I was taught to respect my elders and address them as sir or ma'am. It was hard to shake that while going through basic. You can take the boy out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the boy. It is definitely rarer and rarer to see the younger generations showing these values of respect in other states that I've visited over the years, but it is still very much alive and well here in Alabama.
(10)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
I just said that in a post above. I also grew up in Alabama! Alabama for the win! *takes a bow* :D
(1)
(0)
(2)
(0)
Maj Mike Sciales
Good manners are alive as long as there are well bred children -- and some of us still believe in teaching our children manners and civility.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google