E5 - E8 rank names USA vs. USMC. Why are they so different?

2019-03-08T12:55:33-05:00

Why is E5 - E8 are referred as SGT (1SG is the exception) in the Army while in the Marine Corps the same group are referred by their full rank name (Sgt, SSgt, GySgt, MSgt, 1stSgt)?

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 8 at 2019 12:59 PM

2019-03-08T12:59:45-05:00

Because of 244 years of mindless traditions ;^). I like the Marine Corps way of calling NCO's by their full title. Shows more respect IMO.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2019 1:03 PM

2019-03-08T13:03:44-05:00

Others may know better than me, but a Staff Sergeant, Sergeant, Master, and Top are the same. However, some of the variations come from the Marines being a naval service and the influence of the British Royal Marines. Gunnery being important on a sailing man-of-war with cannon, beyond what an average gun crew could ordinarily achieve. Marines from the Constitution to the Missouri have manned the guns alongside sailors. Why use the complete rank in conversation? I dont honestly know, other than respect and, I guess, Marines being Marines. Maybe same cultural reason as to why they wear Service Uniforms instead of MARPATs in many instances where the Army wears ACUs; just a cultural thing.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Mar 8 at 2019 1:52 PM

2019-03-08T13:52:15-05:00

SN Private RallyPoint Member In Marine basic you are taught that your rank IS your first name and protocol demands using the terms.After you become a Marine --in some instances a Marine may refer to a GySgt as "Gunny" or a MGySgt as "Master Guns",but is usually not excepted because of showing familiarity or lack of respect.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 8 at 2019 2:05 PM

2019-03-08T14:05:07-05:00

Tradition codified by regulation.
Pre WWI Marines had a slightly different Rank & Grade structure than the Army. In 1923~ we aligned our ranks and created the "Pay Grade" (7 pay grades structure). That was further refined after WWII causing a bit more confusion when we (all the services) added two addition Pay Grades expanding the ranks and formalizing a few of them.
But as for why we use full ranks, the simple answer is "because they're different." A Sgt is different than a Master Sgt. Just like a 1stSgt is different than MSgt. There are certain things we "formalize" like progression (from GySgt to EITHER MSgt to MGySgt OR 1stSgt to SgtMaj) whereas the Army "billetizes" SPC to CPL or MSG to 1SG (gross oversimplification). Calling people by rank is just one of those things. Much like Navy folks being called by their Rating.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 8 at 2019 2:21 PM

2019-03-08T14:21:07-05:00

Mostly due to tradition. IMHO, the Corps is more formal in just about everything they do, which is why they use the more formal "full" rank. The Army is a little less formal, and uses "SGT" to show respect, but doesn't stand on the formality of the "full" rank title.

Of course, I could also say that in the Army we assume that our Privates are smart enough to know the difference between a SGT and a SFC, so we will accept a simple "Sergeant." In the Corps, it cannot be assumed the Privates know the difference, so they have to address by full rank just to make sure.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 8 at 2019 3:07 PM

2019-03-08T15:07:31-05:00

Because Uncle Sams Misguided Children have over 200 yrs of being neither fish nor fowl!

Response by SFC Steven Borders made Mar 8 at 2019 3:29 PM

2019-03-08T15:29:26-05:00

MSG in the Army are sometimes referred to by their full title of Master Sergeant. I use it out of respect, but I don't use it all the time. Because in the req's we only have to refer to them as SGT, I use it very selectively.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2019 12:44 PM

2019-03-09T12:44:04-05:00

The really Question is why is the Navy so screwed up..I never knew what rank I was talking too because they tend to use rate like Master at arms or Boatswain first.