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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PO1 David M Burns
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the army nco ranks start with Sgt E-4 and go up from there. so when you get to Master Sergeant E-7 it is a RANK.don't you have anything better to do?
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CPL Thaddeus Humiston
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Thanks old man, glad to hear there's still one of you out there. Loved (94B) my job didn't care much for the army, took ten years to figure that out.
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My answer is simple, just make the correction and move on. In my eight years in the Army, I met most that were okay with "srgeant" and a few who were a little "high-minded" about themselves. I just mentally remember then to call him Master Sergeant. Worked for me, anyway.
Capt Ken Bergeron
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It is simply an ego thing.
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PO2 Mike Vignapiano
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Same as in the Navy with a Master Chief vs a Senior Chief vs a Chief. No one who is an E4 thru E6 (3rd class to 1st class petty officer) gets bent out of shape when you address either as “Petty Officer” but don’t you dare call out to the E7-E9’s “Hey Chief”
You’ll get reamed & told their correct rank.
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Because they think their ego supersedes the regs
1SG First Sergeant
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Have noted to my troops there's three SGTs. SGT, 1SG, Seargants Major. Was a board question so it must be true!
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LCDR Jerry Maurer
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Huh, this brings back a memory. I was the company clerk at an infantry unit and got a call from the Battalion Master Sergeant. I addressed him as Sergeant and he got royally pissed off. "Do you know what my rank is"? "Master Sergeant", I replied. "So try again". "Okay, Master Sargent" "That's better". He was pissed. I was an E-3 know nothing with no intention of staying past my 2 year enlistment. I'll call you "whale shit at the bottom of the ocean" if that's what you prefer. Always addressed everyone with whatever they wanted to be called. But I did lose a lot of respect for him because of that conversation.
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SPC David Giffen
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Because when they where in basic training they where taught that MSGs are addressed as MSG and SMs and CSMs are addressed as Sergeant Major. Mind you this would been the 1980s and 1990s. Not sure if this is still taught.
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LtCol Will Wickun
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As a Marine, I address MSgts that I know as Top. But, NEVER, EVER refer to a 1stSgt as Top!!
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