Are the Marines the only service that refer to their Battalion Commanders as "The Boss"?

2017-09-16T14:20:07-04:00

In the Marines is its customary to refers to the Battalion Commander as "The Boss" instead of his rank and name when referring to him. Do other services do this?

What is your opinion on this custom?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Sep 16 at 2017 2:23 PM

2017-09-16T14:23:53-04:00

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member, I don't know about the Army now, but I always called my Bn CO "Sir"! ;)

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 16 at 2017 2:36 PM

2017-09-16T14:36:31-04:00

Pretty common for the staff to refer to the BN, BCT, or DIV Commanders as the Boss in the Army

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Sep 16 at 2017 2:38 PM

2017-09-16T14:38:39-04:00

We used the term "old man" when referring to the BN and BDE commander..

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Sep 16 at 2017 2:41 PM

2017-09-16T14:41:11-04:00

I was not aware of that. But, I did not see him much and I talked to him even less. I did get an arse chewing once by the Regiment Commander. Full Bird.
After the arse chewing was over, the SGT'sMAJ chewed some more arse. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the line forming up with GYSgt's and a SSG. The SGT'sMAJ told me to now leave. A step back, an AYE SGT'sMAJ!, and a turn Lt. out the door.
I made a sharp left on the corner of the building (3 yards) as I could hear the other hard chargers coming out the door. I was at Mach 2 in the rivine between buildings moving north to the wood line. Before those killers figured out which direction I must have went, I was halfway to safty. The woods are dark and cool. A good place to hold up until the coast is clear.
Holy Devil Dog caca Batman!

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 16 at 2017 2:41 PM

2017-09-16T14:41:21-04:00

In my experience, the only person who called the Battalion CO "Boss," in his presence, was the Battalion Sergeant Major; and he never did it in front of a Sergeant or below. At Company Level the Company First Sergeant, Company Gunnery Sergeant, and if in the TO&E, Company MSgt called the Company Commander "Skipper;" no one else.

The officers and SNCO's commonly referred to the Battalion CO as the "six", not the same as "I got your six"; and the Battalion XO as the "five." (There was no peacetime S-5 in the Marines at Battalion and Regiment). Once again never in the CO's or XO's presence.

Response by LtCol Joe Waldron made Sep 16 at 2017 2:50 PM

2017-09-16T14:50:31-04:00

28 years in the Marine Corps and I never heard that term used for a battalion Commander. It was more common on the aviation side, and squadrons. And on the wing staff, the Colonel's would refer to the Commanding General as boss, but for me he was always sir. Now all that was to his face. In referring to the boss in an outside conversation I've heard that used in quite a few scenarios.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2017 2:57 PM

2017-09-16T14:57:11-04:00

We always referred to Company CO as Skipper and BN CO as The Old Man. Both were intended as a signs of respect and not age. Sir always worked as well. Most CWOs were on first name basis with Company CO, but never around enlisted. Different world in the Infantry but it seemed much the same for them during my time in 78-98. If an enlisted was going up for BN Office Hours he was going to see The Old Man.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 16 at 2017 3:05 PM

2017-09-16T15:05:41-04:00

if I was anywhere near BN HQ someone was already in deep kimchi. Luckily the only time I seen Company CO or above was just to visit and that was rare

Response by SFC Jerry Humphries made Sep 16 at 2017 3:05 PM

2017-09-16T15:05:45-04:00

No Rock and Rollers have been calling Bruce Springsteen The Boss for a long time now

Response by SFC Bob Chapman DEng made Sep 16 at 2017 3:34 PM

2017-09-16T15:34:58-04:00

Are we the only ones that refer to ours as the 6?

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Sep 16 at 2017 3:45 PM

2017-09-16T15:45:19-04:00

No. I've heard it in the Army too.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2017 5:38 PM

2017-09-16T17:38:50-04:00

I feel like it just depends on the environment. I've heard plenty of First Sergeants refer to the Squadron Commander as "The Boss" during formation speeches; However, it's more common in non-official environments when directing people to complete tasks, i.e. "The boss wants this done ASAP".

Honestly? I feel if someone's never heard of their Unit Commander being called "The Boss" and only referred to them in an official capacity; they are either full of it...or just a stellar troop, with a little brown on the nose. We're not all perfect; anyone can admit that. It's a matter of if the job gets done. We use a lot of short hand to refer to our uppers; "Top", "Shirt", "Boss". Just easier to say, but still carries the same weight.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Sep 16 at 2017 5:44 PM

2017-09-16T17:44:00-04:00

I never thought of using that term. It didn't become popular until its use on NCIS years later

Response by CPO Glenn Moss made Sep 16 at 2017 6:09 PM

2017-09-16T18:09:20-04:00

Nope.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_United_States_Navy_carrier_air_operations#Air_officer

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Sep 16 at 2017 6:56 PM

2017-09-16T18:56:09-04:00

It's pretty common in the Air Force to use the term "the boss" for a Group or Wing commander.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Sep 16 at 2017 7:39 PM

2017-09-16T19:39:21-04:00

While I was in the Army the only way I remember hearing the Battalion Commander referred to, aside from rank & name, was "the BC". That was in more informal settings and normally done for brevity.

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Sep 16 at 2017 7:54 PM

2017-09-16T19:54:21-04:00

It happens all over and for different reasons and at more than just the BN level. in the Army a 1SG is also referred to as "top". A platoon sergeant might be referred to as platoon daddy. In the navy a commander or above in command is a skipper. I have not experienced any pet names for the BC in the army but I am sure it happens.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2017 11:14 PM

2017-09-16T23:14:40-04:00

I referred to several different officers in the Navy as Boss, and even more of them in the Coast Guard.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Sep 17 at 2017 12:32 PM

2017-09-17T12:32:13-04:00

An MEU is formed around a Battalion. It's the smallest "independent" oprational unit. The Bn CO *IS* the boss. I dare you to call a Marine Battalion CO "the old man"

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 18 at 2017 8:21 AM

2017-09-18T08:21:06-04:00

Never head of this. Ones I respected I referred to as the commander or the BC. Ones I didn't well I wont repeat in public what I referred to them as lol.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2017 2:03 PM

2017-09-19T14:03:11-04:00

News to me. Never called him the boss in Artillery and never called him the boss with the ESB. What units do this? I know we call our Master Sergeants "Top" but I haven't seen that so much in other units. It's kind of interesting to see how other units have different cultures as well as customs and courtesies.

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Sep 22 at 2017 6:06 PM

2017-09-22T18:06:11-04:00

I have never heard that, but in infantry the CSM is the "Smadge" unofficially and never ever to his face.

Response by SGT Sunny Lalingua made Sep 22 at 2017 6:18 PM

2017-09-22T18:18:30-04:00

The image above indicates how the Army teaches the conceptual differences between the two words. No Disrespect intended, just the clearest example I can provide.

Response by LCpl Douglas Landrith Jr made Sep 23 at 2017 2:52 PM

2017-09-23T14:52:32-04:00

I remember one of my D.I.'s calling our Sr. D.I. boss. I remember this because he was Samoan and had a "little" accent. His "hey boss" sounded like "eyeballs" and we all would say "CLICK SIR". He thought we all were fucking with him so off to do a island hopping campaign we went.

I think he called SSgt H. boss because both of them served in Force Recon together and had been stationed in Hawaii with each other. They also boxed with each other as well so they had a good friendship. Other then that I never heard anyone else called "boss" while I was in the Corps. I always called people by their last name or their rank and last name.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Sep 23 at 2017 7:13 PM

2017-09-23T19:13:55-04:00

Who thought that high up? I didn't need to think higher than the company Gunny, Anyone over 1st LT we never really saw, I suppose they pushed paper all day.

Response by SSG Fin Jake made Sep 23 at 2017 10:34 PM

2017-09-23T22:34:10-04:00

from all the comments I've come to the conclusion that people use it in small groups.. it's more of a nickname apparently

Response by LtCol George Carlson made Sep 24 at 2017 7:34 PM

2017-09-24T19:34:00-04:00

All depends on the era. I think the only one that was universal when I was in was calling the Company (or Battery) commander, "Skipper." But it was also used informally with most every one whose rank was Captain. "Gunner" has become common for all Marine Warrant Officers, but it used to be the sacred preserve of only those with the bursting bomb that designated them as a "Marine Gunner." 1st Sergeants and Sergeants Major were always by full formal rank. Most (but not all) Master Sergeants were OK with "Top" but Master Gunnery Sergeants were either formal rank or (if you knew them WELL), "Master Guns." Of course Gunnery Sergeants were always "Gunny."

Response by SPC Scott Domogalla made May 11 at 2019 2:05 PM

2019-05-11T14:05:17-04:00

The Army doesn’t, it is by rank. But I did 29 years working in federal prison. I always referred to people as sir and ma’am, never could I break that habit nor did I want to. But now sometimes I will say boss. Convicts use the term and correctional staff pick it up and and answer higher rank with yes boss or what do you need boss.

Response by SFC Daniel Zelch made May 12 at 2019 8:02 AM

2019-05-12T08:02:17-04:00

I did 20+ years in the Army Infantry, the Bn. Commander was often refereed to as "The Old Man"

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made May 12 at 2019 5:00 PM

2019-05-12T17:00:52-04:00

Navy uses it too

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Oct 13 at 2019 7:21 AM

2019-10-13T07:21:55-04:00

I referred to my boss whether the Wing Commander or the Base Commander as Sir (or Ma'am)

Response by SGT Brian Black made Mar 27 at 2020 6:48 PM

2020-03-27T18:48:11-04:00

Often heard the Bn Commander called (respectfully) The Old Man. (Army)