Do marines respond with "Aye, sir" or "Aye Aye, sir"?

Will Boyd — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 01:36:29 -0500

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 2:55 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 02:55:08 -0500

Will Boyd Marines respond to officers with Yes Sir. Aye Aye Sir would be the proper response from a Marine. Outside of Boot Camp, I never had occasion to use it. Navy sailors are taught to say Aye Sir. Are you planning on enlisting in the Marine Corps?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 2 at 2018 4:10 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 04:10:26 -0500

Navy always had an interesting question, when asking a superior commissioned, I'd read about it a few times, "By your leave, sir', just figured you might find thst of interest, I'm not sure of the etymology ormhidtory, I just know it existed or exists, I'm unsure if it's still used....

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 4:25 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 04:25:51 -0500

"Aye Aye, sir" according to the Blue Jackets manual, is a proper response to an officer and means "I understand and will comply". If responding to an Chief (E7) or above the correct response is "Aye Chief".

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 4:41 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 04:41:55 -0500

Marines lock their heels first.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Mar 2 at 2018 6:20 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 06:20:53 -0500

You use yes sir or no sir when responding to an inquiry/question etc. You use aye, aye sir when given an order to do something. It acknowledged that you are acting upon the order given. You don't use yes sir or no sir when responding to an order as it would imply you had a choice in the matter. Aye, aye sir is regularly shortened to aye sir, it has the same meaning.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 7:22 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 07:22:18 -0500

Aye aye

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Mar 2 at 2018 8:08 AM

CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 08:08:21 -0500

Kindly qualify your question Ted; are you insinuating that Marines answer different to the remainder of the Armed Forces?

Will Boyd accurately stated that Marines reply in the exact same manner as the rest; however, I have heard a Master Gunny reply to a Colonel with "aye, aye Sir" at the HQ, USPACOM on Camp H.M.S. Smith. Although, truthfully it is very confusing or people are simply confused.

I humbly request you Ted to kindly enlighten us here on RP.

Much-appreciated.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 8:50 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 08:50:24 -0500

Always capitalize Marines when you refer to one or the service. Mountain climbers for you until I'm tired. Begin!

Response by MSgt Gerald Orvis made Mar 2 at 2018 8:53 AM

MSgt Gerald Orvis — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 08:53:53 -0500

According to the Guidebook for Marines, "Aye aye, Sir" is the correct response when an officer directs a Marine to do something; it means "I understand and will comply." "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir" are used when an officer asks a question requiring an affirmative or negative response. In my career, I often heard Marines use "Aye aye, Sir", but never "Aye Sir" when responding to an order.
With regard to Capt Goodman's question about "By your leave, Sir", the phrase is used when a Marine approaches an officer from the rear and intends to pass him/her. The Marine says, "By your leave, Sir" as a formal request for permission to pass. The officer then says "Granted" or "Pass" and the Marine then salutes and passes on the officer's left (junior personnel always pass or walk on a senior Marine's left), snappily completing his salute after passing. The officer returns the Marine's salute as he/she passes and cuts it after the Marine has passed. Sounds stilted and many people think it's done only in boot camp, but I've done it many times and it reinforces discipline, respect and esprit de corps. It's one of the unique things about the Corps. I often wondered if an officer from another service would know what to do/say if I requested "By your leave" from them.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 3:12 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:12:11 -0500

For the Navy, those responses posted are correct. Not sure how other branches interpret these but from the other posts it would appear it is universal.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Mar 2 at 2018 9:10 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 21:10:21 -0500

I’ve used both but the normal ‘yes sir’ or ‘no sir’is common (as expected)... uh, no matter WHAT you use don’t forget the appropriate gender term :-)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 10:24 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 22:24:54 -0500

Aye sir

Response by PO1 James White made Mar 2 at 2018 10:37 PM

PO1 James White — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 22:37:57 -0500

A single "Aye" means "Yes" or "Affirmative" or "I Agree". When using "Aye, Aye" It means "I understand and will comply".

Response by LCpl Esteban Montoya made Mar 7 at 2018 12:45 AM

LCpl Esteban Montoya — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:45:02 -0500

The ladder - aye aye Sir. Oooooorrraaaahh

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 10:15 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 22:15:09 -0400

Aye, Aye, Sir

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 26 at 2023 2:16 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:16:20 -0400

Good afternoon Will Boyd. Excellent post. Thanks for sharing this. Excellent question. It all depends on the situation. For example, the Navy uses the term more frequently. For example, if a Navy "Butter Bar" gave an order to a lower enlisted or NCO, then the response would be "Aye Aye Sir" Not sure if that's the same casein the Marine Corps, but I would think thst would be the the appropriate response while in the Marine Corps.