Should a WO1, WO2, WO3, WO4, WO5 be address in an email by chief, sir or ma'am or with the exact rank?

2019-08-13T08:39:47-04:00

why am i asking this question? well it bothers me when I get different higher ranks telling me that i should address a warrant officer 4 as a CW4 in an email. That it's NOT proper to start with chief, sir nor ma'am and that goes with E-8. That in every email i must address a SFC, SGT, SSG, MSG,... go on... I never had an issue with any of the master sgt until now. Is there a regulation that states that i must type and address every higher rank by their rank.
Please someone help me, this whole military life is honeslty kicking my butt. In the civilian a Sir or Ma'am was fine, a proper welcoming was enough but not in the military. A soldier has to go above and beyond.
please someone elaborate me on this matter because I'm extremely confused. I had a previous chief who was OK.. with chief or sir and now i have a new chief that i need to address him with CW4 and is only him.

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Aug 13 at 2019 8:44 AM

2019-08-13T08:44:56-04:00

In correspondence his correct addressee title would be Mr.
Email has evolved to be a considerably less formal format and for most officers below GO, I start with Sir or Ma'am. For enlisted where I do not have personal relationship, I use the 3 letter rank followed by their name, eg MSG Jones.
However, since he has made his desire known, I would just use the CW4.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Aug 13 at 2019 9:01 AM

2019-08-13T09:01:15-04:00

Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms. according to AR 600-20.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 9:11 AM

2019-08-13T09:11:44-04:00

Chief is the generally accepted salutation or the exact rank. Mister or Mr/Ms/Mrs are in customs but I have rarely seen them used.

Response by LCDR Keith Trepanier made Aug 13 at 2019 11:19 AM

2019-08-13T11:19:20-04:00

Chief is accepted by some warrant officers but it is not their official title. In fact, if you call some chief, you will not like the outcome. The response will often be"Do I look like a Navy Petty Officer to you?" or the also famous "Do you see a feather headdress on me?" If you really want to get a WO1 spooled up, address them as warrant officer junior grade. That is always a fun time.

Mr. or Ms., Mrs. etc. is the official way to address them. Such as "Good morning Mr. Smith." Using Sir or Ma'am is also acceptable. If they want to be addressed as CW4 Smith, that is acceptable too and it sounds like it will cause you less heartache. One thing I learned as a private was that there is the right way, the Army way, and the way that keeps me from getting yelled at. I usually used the latter.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Aug 13 at 2019 12:04 PM

2019-08-13T12:04:03-04:00

Chief or mam

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Aug 13 at 2019 1:01 PM

2019-08-13T13:01:07-04:00

Look at AR 25-50, preparing and managing correspondence, Table C-4. It gives the proper manner to address military personnel from all branches of service by their rank in correspondence.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 13 at 2019 2:17 PM

2019-08-13T14:17:55-04:00

It depends on the correspondence media as to what applies and how you should address them.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Aug 13 at 2019 4:09 PM

2019-08-13T16:09:55-04:00

AR 25-20 will have your answer your questions use it always for Military Correspondence and you can never be wrong. Hang in there things will get better after you Learn. Thank you for your Service.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2019 9:19 PM

2019-08-15T21:19:10-04:00

CW3 Snuffy (or Mr. Snuffy),

Sir, this is how an email should be sent to someone in an official capacity. If you are familiar with them you can do chief. I'd you are ccing others go official.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2019 3:12 PM

2019-08-16T15:12:51-04:00

AR 25-50 and AR 600-20 cover how to address all ranks, whether in correspondence or in person.
Now, if you have a particular Chief Warrant Officer where you work, ask him or her how he or she would like to be addressed when you're talking to them. Go with that.

For Male warrant officers you do not already know, addressing one as Mr. Walker (for example) or Sir is not at all wrong. You can't go wrong doing that. For female warrant officers you do not already know, Ms. Lastname (since you may not know if they prefer Mrs. Lastname or if they're even married), is the way to go.

If a CWO tells you "It's okay to call me Chief and I prefer it", go with that.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2019 6:45 PM

2019-08-16T18:45:27-04:00

wo2/3/4 ETC is not proper. it would be CW2/CW3/4/5. WO1 would be "mrs/mr" all other would be chief.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Sep 13 at 2019 11:46 PM

2019-09-13T23:46:04-04:00

At your rank..I would stay far away from higher ups...unless you're part of the "In Crowd" or it's your job duties...I would filter through lower ranks... chain of command.