Posted on Oct 5, 2015
Who do you call sir [or ma'am] when you are out of uniform?
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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 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 81
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When I am out of Uniform I will always use Sir and Ma'am.. That was the way I was raised..
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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
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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
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I refer to anyone I do not know as "Sir", until they no longer deserve it.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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When I was a soldier I tried to show respect for every soldier and addressed everybody I knew had a higher rank than me appropriately when I was out of uniform. I have also tried to show respect to civilians I came in contact with. Since I left the military I address people older than me as well as people who serve me in stores, restaurants, and the people who pick up my trash as sir or ma'am. We never know when are entertaining an angel unawares.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs, LTC Stephen C., CPT L S, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", SGT (Join to see), SGT Forrest Stewart, SGT Randal Groover, SGT Robert Hawks, SPC (Join to see), SPC Margaret Higgins
COL Mikel J. Burroughs, LTC Stephen C., CPT L S, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", SGT (Join to see), SGT Forrest Stewart, SGT Randal Groover, SGT Robert Hawks, SPC (Join to see), SPC Margaret Higgins
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SGT Forrest Stewart
Any time I am address anyone I don't know personally will be addressed as Sir or Ma'am, unless, of course, the are children or very young adults.
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LTC Stephen F. I'm in the "trained" group, anyone I who's name I don't know, especially if they're older than me.
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Just about everyone, always those who are older, even some who are quite younger.
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SGT (Join to see)
So do I, SCPO Bowerman. It doesn't seem popular, but I believe that in order to get respect in general as a human being, you must give it FIRST. This is not military thinking, though. We come into a structure of a hierarchy where we are told the definition of respect that we must give before we ever hope to get. Sometimes, we never do get that same respect we have given for all our careers...
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SCPO (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - You have defined the military perfectly. We meet, serve with, and serve under the good and the not-so-good. I was extremely fortunate to serve on ships where I was in very close contact with officers from O-1s to Flags of all stars. Quite a number of them were John and Dave "on the Beach" because that is how they wanted it. When we returned to the ship, I didn't need to be told it was Sir, or Mister, or Commander. They earned my respect, they did not demand it because they had gold or silver on their shoulder boards. And they treated me with profound respect, as well. Those were the good men, the great days and nights, and the best memories I have over forty years later.
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SGT (Join to see)
At the end of the day, SCPO Bowerman, I believe we must remember that we are humans in uniform, rather than military individuals who also have names. I once told an Army Major that, "I am David. SPC is what I have earned, and not who I am." He disagreed with me, but part of the respect I learned is not to even argue. Sometimes silence is golden. It was at that moment. But this is how I think. :)
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I call everybody Sir or Ma'am; if I don't know their names. And sometimes even if I do.
That is something that I learned when I was stationed down south.
That is something that I learned when I was stationed down south.
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I call most everyone sir or ma'am in and out of uniform. It os how my parents raised me ans how I raise my children
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LCDR Margaret Trombley
Just a word of advice. My very first day of work after retirement at my first serious civilian job (GE) I called my boss "sir" in an email. I thought it was the executive thing to do. I had been there maybe two hours. He flipped out on me and said addressing him "sir" in an email was an insult. I thought I was going to be fired. From that point don't ever assume someone wants to be addressed this way. Use the salutation until you establish what they prefer .
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LTC Stephen F. I was raised to say it to everyone older than me, and I typically do. If I came across a military officer in person today, I'd address them by rank -- which is what I do here for the most part on RP, because I prefer that to random 0-6's (for example) calling ME sir -- it's weird. And yes, it happens because there's plenty of polite people here.
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