Posted on Mar 24, 2014
Should the Army continue regarding NCOs as Sergeant or by their actual rank title?
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The question is whether anyone has an opinion if the Army should continue regarding its NCOs as Sergeants or by their actual rank title. Army NCOs, from the time that they pin on E5/SGT are referred to as Sergeants. This continues until the NCO reaches E8/1SG as there are a few Army MSGs that I have seen referred to as "sergeant" and they were not offended. The other services (Navy, USMC, USAF) refer to each of their ranks by their actual rank title; the USMC E6/Staff Sergeant is referred to as a Staff Sergeant while a E6/Tech Sergeant in the Air Force is referred to as a Tech Sergeant. The Navy uses rates such as Master at Arms (MA) 1,2 or 3 to signify rate and rank but still, its not just MA. As I am not offended by being referred to as a Sergeant by others as a SFC, mostly out of years of repitition, does anyone think that the Army should enforce rank references that reflect the actual rank title (eg. Sergeant or Staff Sergeant for an E6 and so on)?
Although I do realize that when an Army NCO is in a ceremony or similar formation, they are referred to by their actual rank however; when a Soldier, another NCO etc. needs to speak with Staff Sergeant Doe, John/Jane, they are acknowledged only as Sergeant. What do you think?....
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 35
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Leave it be, we are the Army, we do not need to change how we conduct business merely because the other branches of service do it a different way. I only met a few NCOs over the course of my career that were, let's say so full of themselves, that wanted lower ranking NCOs/Soldiers to refer to them by their full rank title. As I was subordinate in rank to them I complied just so that I didn't have to spend any more time with/around them than required; usually they were oxygen thieves and I would leave their presence a lot more light headed than when I arrived!
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SFC (Join to see)
I actually agree but because, for my first time, I am deployed to a joint environment with all of the services (but not my first deployment), I had a chance to see and interact with the other services in one location and wondered if anyone ever considered the question. Thanks
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In the USMC, you all know it would be like spitting in a gunny's face to call him sgt. but I tell you the WORST is when you see some old angry looking Marine walking your way with dark green digi's on and so much black chevron on his collar that you can't tell what the hell his rank is. most of the time you could get away with a motivated oohrah, but I have pulled out the "good morning gunnerymasterfirstsgtmajor sir" that usually covers all the bases.
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Sgt John Anderson
surprisingly, calling someone "Marine" is almost a derogatory statement while you are in. it's kind of like when a parent uses their child's first, middle, and last name when they get in trouble. the last thing you want to hear is "Hey there Marine!"
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LCpl Jr. Berdon
i look at it like this you worked hard to obtain your rank and you deserve the respect that comes with whatever rank you obtained like you said about the Marines calling a Gunny just sergeant my company gunny would rip the poor soul a new asshole he served in Vietnam ( yes he admitted to me he did something wrong got disciplined and was a carrier gunny for it ) but every morning while i was his police sergeant it was Good Morning Gunny and when the company commander came in it was good morning Sir and fill them in on my monkeys ( i called them my monkeys being they were trying to get out of the marines or had done something and was being administratively separated ) pt we did in the morning maybe a 3 mile run then go to the gym play basketball( the company gunny was due for knee replacement surgury so to keep him in to finish his 20 years i took the monkeys out for pt to give the gunny a break on his knees i seen him cry during physical fitness tests to finish within the time allowed but he did it )then cut for showers and chow get my morning orders hand out my work orders to my monkeys then go to my desk and start filling out work orders for things i could do to repair the barracks but was told to let the public works to do it and they took months to replace burnt out light bulbs when our bulbs burnt somehow the navys barracks had lights go out all the time and somehow our lights would work again lol but you earned the rank so you should be addressed by your proper rank the marines used to tell your first name is your rank and your last name was your last name
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I agree and paractice this myself. I got chewed out by a Gunnery Sergeant (E7) when I was a SPC. A much more proffessional Marine SSG explained to me thier coutesies and why. Basically as you go up in rank, you have more time, more experience , and more rsponsibility. Think about it, as an SFC you are considered a SENIOR NCO, but to just be referred to as "SGT", its like being demoted. A SGT/E5 generally has 5 yrs TIS, a SSG/E-6 has 6-10, andan SFC/E-7 has at least 11-15yrs TIS. So after tha Gunny incident, I refer to everyone by thier Rank, do I shorten it, sure I address my Master Sergeant by just that or 'MSG" for short. I told my platoon to adress me as no less than 'SFC". This just might instill some more respect and discipline into these Soldiers.
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SSG Douglas Espinosa
I understand that the USMC and other branches do it that way, however by US Army Customs and Courtesies we are still addressed as Sergeant until we either make 1SG or SGM/CSM
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SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS
1SG (Join to see) SSG Douglas Espinosa While I know AR 600-20 directs all NCOs of E-5 through E-8 grade to be referred to as SGT, I remember the old Marine in me being quite envious of GySgt's being called "Gunny" or Gunnery Sergeant. Also, a US Navy Chief Petty Officer is referred to as Chief not Petty Officer. Yes, history has made us what we are and I also abided by regulation as a Soldier, NCO, and SNCO, but recognition by subordinates and superiors alike of not only the time in service, but life experience of a Senior NCO is not a bad thing. Sergeant First Class is a lot to muster out, but perhaps it is time in our shrinking NCO corps to revisit this issue and look for a way to suggest change to AR 600-20 and this policy. The honor and responsibility of NCOs should be recognized, perhaps this is one small way.
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