I am a Cadet in ROTC. Am I permitted to refer to my superiors by their rank (LT, CPT, MAJ, etc.) in email/in person or should I stick to sir?

Cadet PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 20:53:35 -0500

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 8:56 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 20:56:18 -0500

Go ahead and stick with Sir/Ma’am.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 9:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:03:07 -0500

If you use rank and name then yes. While in other services (USAF, USMC, USN) it is ok to use just the rank of a superior, e.g. "yes CPT", in the Army it is considered quite rude.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Nov 12 at 2020 9:21 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:21:50 -0500

Just an opinion: “Sir” and “Ma’am” should be the way to address seniors. Enlisted members should be addressed by Rank LastName. (You’re not that salty yet.) Best to let them tell you when it’s OK to be more familiar.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 12 at 2020 9:33 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:33:03 -0500

I would just use Sir and Ma'am

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Nov 12 at 2020 9:45 PM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:45:15 -0500

For you a cadet, everyone is a sir or ma’am

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 12 at 2020 10:19 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:19:34 -0500

Recommend linking rank with last name at beginning of email or conversation. For example: Captain Smith, what time is your special presentation on Iraq?

Sir or ma’m works as well, but in the world of uncertain pronouns rank may be safer.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 10:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:22:54 -0500

For now; rank and last name in correspondence and sir or ma’am in person.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2020 9:09 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 09:09:30 -0500

Rank, Sir or Ma'am all work. Get ready for Bill, Bob, Jane, and Joe once commissioned. Except with your seniors.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2020 9:14 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 09:14:51 -0500

My rule of thumb when in comes to writing to an Officer in email or letter...or what ever format, to begin the letter with their Rank and Name. After that, in the body, I would just use Sir/Ma'am where needed. In person, I would address them by their Rank and Name if I am needing to get their attention. Once I have it and conversation is engaged, then Sir/Ma'am when appropriate. For Enlisted, I always use their Rank and Name.

Response by SFC Michael McQuillen made Nov 13 at 2020 7:41 PM

SFC Michael McQuillen — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 19:41:41 -0500

Stick to Sir, can’t go wrong that way.

Response by 1LT Christopher Gonzales made Nov 13 at 2020 8:25 PM

1LT Christopher Gonzales — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 20:25:12 -0500

Officer’s Guide has information on correspondence

Response by SSG David Spooner made Nov 14 at 2020 9:46 AM

SSG David Spooner — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 09:46:09 -0500

Calling someone by their rank is never a bad thing when addressing them. Rank to open the email or get their attention. Sir after that.

Response by MAJ Albert McCaig made Nov 15 at 2020 8:34 AM

MAJ Albert McCaig — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 08:34:11 -0500

First, congratulations for being in ROTC. As an MS-1 you’re just beginning your military education. The answers I’ve seen are on the mark. But, talk to your cadre, especially the enlisted cadre, about military protocol. They have a vested interest in making you the best officer you can be.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2020 9:42 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 09:42:11 -0500

Addressing a senior officer by rank and name is a more formal approach. As you establish the relationship you are fine addressing senior officers by "Sir."

Response by Cadet 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2020 9:10 PM

Cadet 1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:10:06 -0500

Hello Zachary, at my ROTC program we address other cadets as c/(RANK), ie: c/LTC, c/MAJ, etc. This acknowledges the other as a CDT and their respected CDT rank, this is common when referring to the individual as well. When speaking to the cadet superior Sir or Ma'am is used, attention for CDT officers and parade rest for CDT NCOs. There are various mannerisms among ROTC programs, this is our way. Best of luck and enjoy your time in your program.

Response by LCpl Sidney Green made Nov 16 at 2020 12:25 AM

LCpl Sidney Green — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:25:16 -0500

Rank supersedes everything, and is always appropriate. Once established, you can then use Sir or Ma’am in the body of the text for simplicity.

Response by CAPT Michael Toleno made Nov 16 at 2020 3:44 PM

CAPT Michael Toleno — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:44:53 -0500

When I was a midshipman, I was taught to use the rank and name if you knew them. Unless you are using the rank exclusively in order to avoid saying "Sir" or "Ma'am," there's nothing wrong with it. You should definitely open a letter or e-mail with "{rank} {name}." When you first see Lieutenant Jones in the morning, you should say, "Good morning, Lieutenant Jones." In the cadet world, you could even tack on "Sir" at the end, though that would be a bit much in most other places. I find it off-putting—and somewhat disrespectful, though disrespect is likely not intended—when I get e-mails addressed to me as only "Sir" or even as only "CAPT" when I know that the writer knows my rank and name. A person's name is important to him or her. In the military, a person's rank is similarly important. That's why it is a mark of respect to address someone by his or her actual rank and name instead of by a generic term, even if that generic term is accurate. Not using the name and rank is kind of like saying, "Hey, you"—disrespect may not be intended, but the message is "I don't care to use your name and the rank that you have earned." I wouldn't do it to a subordinate. Good luck!

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 8:34 AM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 08:34:20 -0500

In an email directed to 1 person it should be Sir/Ma'am not their rank. In an email directed to multiple people it should be Gentlemen/Ladies, not their rank.

The only time you should be using a superiors rank and name is when they are in a group of people and you need to get their attention directly. Saying Sir when there are 10 staff officers creates too much havoc, a CPT X would be more appropriate in that situation.

If your email is directed to multiple parties, and you are trying to get several points across for different people. Then using Rank and Name is appropriate to draw their attention to the points that are directed for their action of SA.

Response by Cadet SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2020 10:32 PM

Cadet SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:32:42 -0500

Sir