Posted on Jul 12, 2021
Why do so many MSGs insist on being addressed as Master 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.
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.
Army Regulations
Customs and Courtesies
NCOs
MSG
Edited 4 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 307
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Call Him/Her "Top" (as in "Top Kick"), and wait for a response. No harm, no foul. I know an owner of a bowling center here. He is a Master Gunnery Sergeant (USMC). I address him as "Top", or "Gunny". No issues there.
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I can't recall an NCO I ever worked with in the military who wanted the name "master" attached to their rank except for two Master Gunnery Sergeants attached to my Brigade FECC (then doled out to the CAV Squadron) and a Master Chief who got attached to that same FECC during my first deployment. The ones who went to CAV and worked with me said "I'm Gunny useless I'm chewin' yer ass! THEN I'm MASTER GUNNY!" I'm still trying to figure out exactly why the Master Chief went to my FECC, but my other FECC NCOs straightened the f--- up while he was there! After he redeployed, my NCOs went back to their usual bullcrap.
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It was very rare for me to ever use the full rank for any Sergeant. When I did, it was for the same reason a mother will use the first middle and last name for one of their children. There was an ass chewing to follow.
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I'm old school, we didn't call the Master Sergeant. But, if you look at the Navy and Marine customs and courtesy, it'd be different.
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There’s only two sergeants in the Army that need to have a title on there rank First Sergeant ,Sergeant Major all the rest are just Sergeants Come on let keep it real
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In my experience, the subordinate soldiers (mainly squad leaders and platoon sergeants) were the "drivers" of insisting that full rank nomenclature be used. Only once did I have a MSG do that. My platoon leader happened to be with me, and he immediately intervened.
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My answer is simple those individuals who (presumably knowing better) INSIST on being addressed in a manner that is out of line with regulation. Are simply E8s. Like many Sgt. Maj are just E9s.
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I would suggest it's a matter of courtesy - and that the regulation should be updated. It has nothing to do with the self-confidence or otherwise of the MSG in question. And I doubt, with all due respect, that it is the place of a Sergeant to offer a correction to anyone - unless that Sergeant feels he/she is not being properly acknowledged...?
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