Posted on Jul 12, 2021
1SG First Sergeant
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AR 600-20 is clear. The title of address for a MSG is "Sergeant." My personal opinion is that the majority of MSGs that insist on it do so because of their ego. The remainder is just ignorance.

EDIT: There have been a lot of responses from folks of various services, so let me make it clear (if it wasn't already) that this question pertains to Master Sergeants in the United States Army. I don't hold any grudge with people who address them as "Master Sergeant" out of respect. I usually just make a gentle correction and move on. My question SPECIFICALLY addresses those individuals who (presumably knowing better) INSIST on being addressed in a manner that is out of line with regulation and what their motivation could be for doing so. Many responses are some variation of "They've earned it" but that doesn't hold much water with me. By the time an NCO makes MSG, they should be secure enough in their career and position to not need constant affirmation of their rank.
Edited >1 y ago
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Sgt Karen Schleif
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Ask them. The rest of us would just be guessing.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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Edited 3 y ago
My Guess Would Be "PRIDE" In Their Achievements And To Have Reached Such A High Enlisted Rank.

It Wasn't Very Easy Reaching That Height.
My Congratulations To Them ALL.

It Might Even Be Similar To An Officer Reaching The Rank Of "Full Bird Coronal"...
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CWO4 Miles Weaver
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It doesn't really matter that it doesn't hold water for you and the fact is, they DID earn it.
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1SG First Sergeant
1SG (Join to see)
3 y
They've earned the rank, for sure. What they HAVEN'T earned is the right to insist that people to address them in a manner that defies the regulation.
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CWO4 Miles Weaver
CWO4 Miles Weaver
3 y
It's a shame that the Army looks at rank that way, in my opinion, but y'all do what works for you. When in Okinawa I was with a Joint Service unit and was the Marine contribution. I lived in an Army barracks and my best friend worked for a Major who he addressed by his first name.
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SPC Edward Abney
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How about, just "Sarge"
/s
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MSgt Earl King
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As a Marine, 1stsgt, Master Sargent, Master Gunnery Sargent, Sargent Major, Sargent Major of the Marine Corps. Staff Sargent, Gunnery Sargent, so it's not affirmation , it's respect of a title earned, like the title MARINE. If a Sargent is standing next to you-E-5 and you are a Sargent E-8 and the Commanding Officer calls both of you into his office and treated both of you as equals, you two Sergeants get your butts in here and stand at attention. AR 600-20 is clear but not to you!!
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
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The proper address was always Sergeant before and that was fine. If someone's ego is so sensitive they need to have a fancier title to be addressed to it seems they have an ego problem. Respect of course is proper towards any member of our armed force and I tend to use Sir or Mam more than rank addresses including those I outrank, We are ALL members of the same team aren't We ? Other than First Sergeant or Sergeant Major even chief Master Sergeant which usually just the word "Chief" worked or the same for levels of rank within a tile for example, Lt. Colonel or Colonel to both be addressed as Colonel or Sir will work also. Respect involves a lot more than just the formal address for a sensitive ego or insecurity or someone that seems to need a royal title. Don't call Me late for chow though, I need My dinner !
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Capt Mark Miller
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I have called a CMSGT Chief as a sign of respect when I was on active duty.
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
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With that said, you might not get the same insistence from somebody who's family name is "Baiter."
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MSgt John Hamilton
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After viewing all the comments about to call an Army Master Sergeant, I am so glad that I was promoted to Master Sergeant as a Marine.

Top H
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CW3 Charles Morris
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Didn't happen in my days (1973-1998), is that a new thing? I will say, however, in the USMC, they view it differently, very differently.
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SGT John Overby
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I had an asshole First that wanted to be addressed as First Sergeant. Had another we called "Top". Had an NCOIC E-8 that was Sergeant Stroh. The last First I had was Sergeant Blue.
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Cpl Craig Howard
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This is one of the differences I see between services. In the Marines, we called all enlisted ranks by their entire proper rank. No SSGT wanted to be called SGT after working for years for that hard earned promotion. That was true up the Line. The main difference was it was fine to call a Gunnery SGT, Gunny. WO's were affectionately called Gunner, and 2nd and 1st LT's and LT COL and COL's were all LT's and COL's. No distinction.
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CPT Barry Kaufman
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In my last 2 positions, I had Master Sergeants in my battery or my operations section. I addressed them as Sergeant, though sometimes as Master Sergeant just for kicks (e.g., Good MORNING, Master Sergeant Jones!). I always referred to them, if I was referring to them to a 3rd party, as Master Sergeant (e.g., yes Bn Cdr, Master Sergeant Knox will be leading the wheeled vehicle convoy). Anyone who spends that much time earning the rank deserves to be addressed and referred to with respect for his or her rank.
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I never “demanded” to be called Master Sergeant. That said, my time as a Marine spilled over in to my Army service. I referred to MSGs as Master Sergeant unless they were a bag of trash. I looked at it as a courtesy. I preferred to differentiate between SSGs and SFCs as well. When I was a 1SG, I had a SGT try to call me out on it. What a tool. When he made SSG, I still referred to him as Sergeant.
SGT Daniel Merriman
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An E8 was TOP when I was in , 75-79 Ft Bragg !
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PO3 Jake Lucid
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I'll weigh in here - in the uscg it's the norm for petty officers to be called petty officer such and such. However informally we call each other by rate (job titles) shorthand. However when addressing senior ncos- "chief petty officer/senior cheif/master chief" get that title correct...your soul depends on it. To me I don't recall the exact by the book number but a chief was a chief and a senior cheif...well they didn't get there by being punks...so senior chief it was, and masters...those mysterious anchors with stars...they walk on water. They get called what ever that specific divinity wished to be called.
In polite working company we shortened it to chief or "senior"...but master chiefs...never. knew them or not, had beers with them or not at work it was master chief. Period.
I don't think it's an ego trip to most. It's a sign they worked hard, Sat their respective boards, put in their time, paid their dues and most often Ben there 20 plus years. If they feel being called master seargent is the price YOU will pay for their achievements...they've earned it.
Don't ha e to like the man in the collar but better not tread on the rank tabs on that collar.
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SFC Operations Sergeant
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That's the way I read the regulation. In the Army you are addressed Sergeant from SGT to MSG, until you earn 1SG rank. I can understand clarifying on phone calls what your rank is, but you shouldn't have to.
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CMDCM Mike Cisneros
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Perhaps it’s that way in the Army. Navy and Marine Corps is different. It’s either Chief, Senior Chief or Master Chief. Marine Corps is Gunnery Sergeant, Master Sergeant or 1st Sgt, and finally Sergeant Magor or Master Gunnery Sergeant.
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LTC Ernest Edge
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I’m a retired Army LTC. I’ve always done it out of respect. Not because I had to. I’d also call you over for a beer!
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SMSgt Mike Lage
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Didn't really care Master Sergeant or Sergeant but didn't like being called Master.
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