Posted on Apr 6, 2015
Is it ever appropriate to address a fellow Service Member by last name alone?
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I must say that I am guilty of allowing my battles to address me as Burns or Burnsy, etc. in the work environment. But had a SPC done that, I'd probably lose my ever-loving mind. Why is that? Are they not just following the example we set? Is it disrespectful or not? Does it matter the rank of the other person?
If my CSM called me by Burns would I correct him? Probably not. Should I? Probably not. LOL I want to know your thoughts on this.
Is this just an Army thing? I know in the Air Force which is almost the same as military, that they address each other by first name quite often. Say it aint so.
Side Note: This picture is the best I could come up with to illustrate this question. Everyone knows the relationship between Forrest and Bubba.
If my CSM called me by Burns would I correct him? Probably not. Should I? Probably not. LOL I want to know your thoughts on this.
Is this just an Army thing? I know in the Air Force which is almost the same as military, that they address each other by first name quite often. Say it aint so.
Side Note: This picture is the best I could come up with to illustrate this question. Everyone knows the relationship between Forrest and Bubba.
Customs and Courtesies
Respect
Disrespect
Leadership
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 71
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When the blackhawks came in at zero dark thirty, I'd already have 3 black coffees in quart sized plastic bottles for the acft;one for the pilots, one for the crewdogs, and one for the paxs. I rarely knew who they were, I just wrote on the bottles a message of support/encouragement, and signed each one "God Bless, Uncle Mark." Mosul, became a popular stop for weary crews. Months pass,.......coffee starts getting dropped off from anonymous donors, and a coin is left by the 1st Armored Division's commander for "Uncle Mark." Without realizing it, I had been "refueling" Squadron/Brigade/Task force commanders from time to time. Uncle Mark became the Mosul FARP's nom de plume.
Other than that, If anyone called me Mark they had better been through some serious stuff with me. Officer culture permits them to call each other by their first name, and who am I to try and change officer-isms. Those traditions make the military unique. Hearing "Merino" made my skin crawl.....hearing "Uncle Mark" made me smile. It was just an anonymous nickname.
Other than that, If anyone called me Mark they had better been through some serious stuff with me. Officer culture permits them to call each other by their first name, and who am I to try and change officer-isms. Those traditions make the military unique. Hearing "Merino" made my skin crawl.....hearing "Uncle Mark" made me smile. It was just an anonymous nickname.
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SFC Mark Merino
I'm still hearing stories from pilots who said this Uncle Mark character brought them lifer juice at zero dark thirty. Practice those random acts of kindness. You may never know the extent of your actions, but it is contagious, and people pay it forward.
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I only ever found it appropriate when it was a peer or supervisor addressing me by my last name only. Even then, only when you know the person whose addressing you, say a person you work with or frequently associate with. A stranger should at least use your rank as well.
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PO1 (Join to see)
I concur. I would not hesitate to call a fellow coworker/peer by their last name but it would feel weird with someone I do not know around the base.
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SGT (Join to see)
Exactly. I would routinely refer to my peers within my unit by only their last name if they were the same rank as me or lower, but would always use the proper honorifics when addressing someone unfamiliar or of superior rank.
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Per The Bluejacket's Manual (Navy version), it states that you may call a fellow service member by their last name only if they are peers or below. My hard copy of the manual is at home or I would give you the exact page number. This is a common practice that I have seen since I have been in.
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PO1 (Join to see)
However, as PO3 (Join to see) mentioned...I would not hesitate to call a fellow coworker/peer by their last name but it would feel weird with someone I do not know around the base.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Per the centennial edition that I currently have (an older version mind you), under the section Courties, customs, and ceremonies is the section titled "The Address" where it breaks down the acceptable form of utilizing rank/rate with last name in a formal and informal setting to include casual conversations. Long story short last name use only is acceptable in an informal setting but highly frowned upon in a formal setting.
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SPC Marcus DeMatos
I would concur that was the practice in the unit I was with. But personally I always used rank and name with SPC and above... my reasoning is that from day one everyone is called Private, and it's the move from that to the next level that really should be acknowledged as an accomplishment. It showed the removal of the tone of "being talked down to". Treat others with dignity and you'll earn their respect.
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