Posted on Nov 22, 2016
Where can I find the regulatory guidance for the proper way for a commissioned officer to address an NCO?
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I have an Officer who insists on addressing NCOs by their first name. Several have professionally expressed that they feel this is unprofessional and the response is, "There is nothing stating that I can't call you by your first name." I have not been able to find anything specific outlining this.
Customs and Courtesies
Protocol
Professionalism
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 85
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CW2 (Join to see), this really doesn't seem that difficult and why this officer is struggling is beyond me. The Army makes it really easy for everyone to address everyone else. You'll find everyone's "first" and last names right on their uniforms. The first name is rank and the last name is on the nametape! Easy! For example, were I to address you, I would simply say, "Good morning, Sergeant Wise." How hard is that?
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SFC Greg Bruorton
Should I happen to cross paths with LTC Curlee I would address him as "Colonel Curlee" and not "Lieutenant Colonel Curlee" no more than I would want anyone address me as Sergeant First Class Bruorton. Except in official orders, recommendations for awards and certificates, it would simply be "Sergeant."
"Colonel Curlee" has a nice ring to it.
"Colonel Curlee" has a nice ring to it.
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LTC Stephen C.
SFC Greg Bruorton, you are absolutely correct. That's why I would address Staff Sergeant Wise as Sergeant Wise, and he would address me as colonel. However, I think Marines always address each other by their complete rank.
I always thought that "Colonel Curlee had a nice ring to it also. However, I've been retired since MAY98, so those days are long since past!
I always thought that "Colonel Curlee had a nice ring to it also. However, I've been retired since MAY98, so those days are long since past!
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CW2 (Join to see) AR 600-20 tells you how to say each rank in the Army, TR350-6 shows new Soldiers how to address and how to be addressed, AR 600-25 covers salutes and visits. There used to be an FM that as called the Soldier's Guide that also covered customs and courtesies.
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MSgt Mike Briney
Nailed it. In addition, DA PAM 600-60, Table 6-1 provides a good overview from a protocol perspective. Always a good idea to cite to applicable publication as violations constitute a possible Article 92 infraction.
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Sgt Joseph Baker
Thanks for providing the regulations SSGT Wise can cite to gain compliance by this officer who obviously doesn't respect the NCOs that work for him. These NCOs have earned their rank just as he earned his and that deserves acknowledgement, especially in light of the fact it has been brought to his attention that they prefer him address them by rank. He may think that he is creating a 'relaxed' atmosphere, but the example he is setting will filter down through the ranks so that the enlisted personnel working for these NCOs may adopt the same attitude which may undermine their authority. It also sets up those same junior personnel for disciplinary action when they follow his example which is unfair to them.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
I was at Notfolk base terminal waiting for a flight down to Myetle beach and I acknowledged their presence as protocol
Calls for. These guys were absolutely snobby.. A Navy Chief who'd witnessed the exchange went into the back and came out with a Navy captain.. they both went over to those Lts and the Chief backed off
And the Capt. invited them into his office...
A few minutes later they came out and the Captain was with them.. they came over and apologized for their snobbery when I acknowledged them... I never expected that... it was cool !
Calls for. These guys were absolutely snobby.. A Navy Chief who'd witnessed the exchange went into the back and came out with a Navy captain.. they both went over to those Lts and the Chief backed off
And the Capt. invited them into his office...
A few minutes later they came out and the Captain was with them.. they came over and apologized for their snobbery when I acknowledged them... I never expected that... it was cool !
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When I was in the Marine Corps, to get the tension off of new people arriving in our squadron I would tell them that we had a relaxed shop and called everyone by their first name, and my first name was SGT.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
good answer, I've served a couple of times in Wing Engineers but not in a squadron, have heard that sometimes the pilots use first names with enlisted, maybe just a few such as their crew chief and only one on one, a little less strict, low stress
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SSgt Jw Guest
I was on embassy duty when a Army major addressed me by my first name so I said "Well good morning to you too, Don!" Needless to say he stripped a gear and I was quickly educated by my DetCmdr that it was an officer's prerogative to do that. Fortunately after a lengthy discussing in Army vs Marine expectations, he said he would never address anyone of us by or first names again and even promised to knock out 25 Marine count push ups if he continued to refer to our SNCOIC as "Sarge." Turned out to be one of the funniest military life lessons I ever received!
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GySgt William Hardy
When I went on Joint Service duty back in the mid 70s, I was told to study up on the customs and courtesies of the other branches. It was a bit difficult to remember to salute indoors when I had to report to the Air Force commander and then turn around and not salute the Marine deputy commander. If I heard an Air Force officer use a first name to an enlisted man, I just ignored it. That officer never called me anything except Staff Sergeant or Gunny so all was good between us. If anyone got upset with first names, it was the Navy Chiefs.
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Just tell him/her your first name is SSG.
Then remind him/her to be professional. You have soldiers under you.
Then remind him/her to be professional. You have soldiers under you.
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SPC Lucien Thomas
Or you could use those soldier's to remind him there is no rule saying you can't space out your troops so he has to spend his afternoon saluting each one individually. Nothing that is besides professional courtesy.
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CPO Henry Enterline
First names imply fraternization to juniors. Good thing my first name was Chief.
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
I have to agree. I did have a couple, well OK, more than a couple, where in private we would address each other on a first name basis. In public though it was always PO XXXXXX, Mr. XXXXXX, Ms. XXXXXX. The closest thing to an exception would be on Commander I served with. He was of Polish decent and had one of those names about as long as my arm that ended in Ski. It was a real tongue twister, and he insisted that officers and petty officers who reported to him call him "Mr. B."
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Staff Sargent, I'm sure you have heard "Respect is not demanded or granted, it is earned". An officer must earn the respect of those he or she works with by demonstrating respect to everyone. That is not done by calling them by their name with out stating their rank first. I only spent 20 years in the army and worked with the Navy for almost 30 years and never heard an officer address an enlisted by his or her first name.
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CW3 Christian Johnson
Thank you Sir.
I can answer the question. Go to FM-7-21 Chapter 4 I should have remembered it from when I attend the NCO Academy but that was in 1969.
I can answer the question. Go to FM-7-21 Chapter 4 I should have remembered it from when I attend the NCO Academy but that was in 1969.
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I have been off active duty for over 41 years. Last Reserve drill was 30 years ago. Here is my take.
The proper address for an NCO is Sgt (or completer rank e.g. SSG) and last name. Anything other than that can be acceptable if the NCO does not object. But, it should be rare that the first name is standard. Using the first name could show a lack of respect for the NCO who has earned the strips worn.
The proper address for an NCO is Sgt (or completer rank e.g. SSG) and last name. Anything other than that can be acceptable if the NCO does not object. But, it should be rare that the first name is standard. Using the first name could show a lack of respect for the NCO who has earned the strips worn.
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Sgt John de Nugent
I agree, and having been both Army and Marines, I agree with the Marines that senior NCOs should always be addressed by full rank: First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, etc.
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MSgt John McGowan
Capt. I have also been out 40 years. Sgt was usually used with the exception of E9. They were called Chief. My first name was Sgt. MSgt wasn't used.
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In my experience, officers in the Army address other officers of equal or lesser rank by their first names. They are expected to address those of greater rank appropriately regardless of how they are addressed. My guess is that this is a 1LT/2LT you're referring to and he or she does not realize their mistake. It could also be someone who just doesn't care. I would push the issue through the NCO support channel. As a battalion CSM, I would have been interested to know this was occurring in my unit and I am sure the Bn Cdrs I worked for would have supported me in making the correction.
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While I might have "slipped" once or twice in a private setting (just the other person and myself), I always made it a practice to address NCO's/Petty Officers properly according to their title. It is disrespectful to use first names in normal settings. Each of our subordinates should receive proper respect, as do each of our seniors. To do otherwise would be contrary to the morale of others and traditions of the services.
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MSG (Join to see)
in a private setting that should be ok, as a reservist in the medical field many of us work together in the civi world, but as reservists in uniform then that changes
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I can't locate anything specific, either. I would recommend letting the Officer know that addressing you by your first name (especially in front of your troops) feels and makes the appearance of being unprofessional.
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all of the officers I work for call me Dan. I am totally fine with it even though I refer to them as sir. This is a close community and I work very hard to be here. We are family and this is why we are so effective. These kind of questions makes me proud to have left the conventional Army.
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