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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SFC Ralph E Kelley
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Edited 4 y ago
You are probably correct though you can't say for certain without asking them all.
You have a long project ahead of you if you want to thoroughly research this issue.
I am sure that there are most likely better things for a MSG to do with their time.
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MSG Ron Radar
MSG Ron Radar
4 y
CSM David Porterfield - Exactly , being a MSG was the best time I had . Folks left you alone and I got to pretty much set the training schedule for the troops to keep them well up to par ( and over ) , First Sergeant's never really bothered me as they were happy to have someone else keep training going while they dealt with the REMF's ...LOL...! I loved training the troops as it kept them occupied and improved their moral not to mention having high fitness scores for the Company . Well trained troops are happy troops is what my first MSG who trained me as a lowly buck sergeant always told me . Plus helping to teach the new guys just starting on their NCO path was rewarding . Sergeant's are and always will be the backbone that makes the Military work ! AATW
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SPC John Tacetta
SPC John Tacetta
>1 y
CSM David Porterfield - Good analogy. I like it.
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MSgt Earl King
MSgt Earl King
>1 y
SPC John Tacetta - I'm quoting this from my notes: The First Sergeant and Sergeant Major ranks are command-oriented Senior Enlisted Advisors, with Marines of these ranks serving as the senior enlisted Marine in a unit, charged to assist the commanding officer in matters of discipline, administration, and the morale and welfare of the unit. Master Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational specialist in their specific MOS. A First Sergeant can go to any command, a Master Sergeant can't, [MOS]. I would never be sent to a rifle platoon.
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SPC John Tacetta
SPC John Tacetta
>1 y
MSgt Earl King - That would be in line with my experience. I never saw a MSG in any platoon I served with. Semper Fi to you!
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1SG Intelligence Analyst
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"Sup Top...lots of good comments over the months. If I were to call the two MSGs in our BDE-Lvl HQ "Sergeant..." I think one would not care; one would greatly care and feel insulted, harassed, degraded. My perspective: Regs say "Sergeant". IF a MSG is in a leadership billet (what we used to call "green-tab" positions") like a Detachment NCOIC or a Senior Enlisted Advisor to a commander, then calling them "Top" is appropriate, and Master Sergeant is a sign of positional authority and respect. If they are a HQ Section NCOIC, then follow the regs and wait for a "Hurt Feelings Report" or EO complaint because some of these NCOs think they are peers to the First Sergeant. I prefer to keep the peace and show respect to all...until someone starts crap. P.S. Be nice to everyone...it is a small crowd at the top.
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SFC Edward Sneed
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Well, if the situation calls for it, like in a professional environment and to show some respect, which is what this world is lacking, I'd say ANY senior NCO should be called be his/her rightful ranking! There's really nothing hard about that and it doesn't take anything away from anyone for doing or saying it! My banking representatives call me by my full rank, and I don't have a problem with it at all! I just feel that people are too uptight about things and think their freedom of speech has no consequences!
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MSgt Thomas O'Rourke
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Achieving MSG is a career milestone and out of deference and military courtesy that title should be honored.
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SFC Larry Jones
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I'm 68, been retired for 27 years and in my 20+ years of Army service, I never once had a MSG correct me when I addressed him/her as Sergeant. I venture those who are now insisting on it are considerably younger than I am and are quite ignorant as to how the Army does things. That is to say, they need to familiarize themselves with AR 600-20 and quit wasting people's time on trivialities.
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SPC Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
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As I read it the only MSG by rank allowed to be called anything but Sgt. are the ones in position of 1st Sgt. and only when in the position of 1st Sgt. Otherwise they are to be called Sgt.. Period. So in my opinion its ego and they need to be corrected. Wouldn't technically be Stolen Valor for them to claim to be a rank they are NOT.
Where I live we have a gov. that claimed just that.
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SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
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The rank of Master Sergeant does not the prestige of the rank of First Sergeant.
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SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
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It's just that Master Sergeant don't have as much prestige as First Serhesnt in the
US Army.
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Sgt Stephen Chiles
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Edited 3 y ago
Having been out of the military for so long, the only time I recall having to do that was first in basic training or formal gatherings when introducing someone and using their proper rank. Even with LTC or Full Bird, unless it was a formal circumstance, they were Col. But hey, my memory of those days has begun to fade a bit, lol.

What I do find funny is that my youngest brother attained CMSgt and different times I visited him at Wright-Patterson AFB and Warner-Robbins AFB. Those that worked for him, as well as the Col. and Maj. Gen. he worked for just called him Chief in less formal settings.
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SGT Ira Johnson
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Master Sergeant is too awkward to say, especially in a long conversation.
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