Where can I find the regulatory guidance for the proper way for a commissioned officer to address an NCO?

When I first arrived in sunny South East Asia, I was met by a CPO who asked me my name. I was in civilian clothes. I said Jim: he said well FU Jim. I was his new CO. We called each other by first names and neither of us were upset by that. The only time I used his rank was during quarters.

Depends on your operating environment, and I suspect that that's why the regs are vague. I and many others have worked in settings in which formal name and rank would have compromised our ability to get stuff done, and I'm not talking about super secret clandestine stuff. Operating in the interagency environment requires some flex, and I'm pleased to say that even among our junior enlisted Soldiers, they seem to be able to move between those settings and the garrison environment, which is obviously more formal, with ease.

First name basis, in my experience, was commissioned to commissioned. Commissioned to Non- Commissioned was by rank.
Seems unlikely professional to me.

https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-1308037R-bk this publication, though dated, serves to show a basic principle of Officer conduct. Using this as a guideline, the term familiarity breeds contempt would apply.

It is professional courtesy to address every individual by their rank, they have worked hard to earn that rank and the commissioned officer should respect that.

AR 600-20, Army Command Policy

SSG Wise,

First, these kind of officers are NOT leaders. They mistake (confuse) friendship or being "user friendly" with professionalism.

Before I go too far here is an interesting and useful site for addressing military personnel from a general sense (http://www.formsofaddress.info/USA.html).

Let me echo LTC Curlee's approach! It is simple, your LAST name and noticing your rank on you collar or sleeve is "self-evident"! You have to be a very STUPID officer to not be aware of this and the protocols required when working with enlisted people!

The VERY BEST Officers, especially those I worked with when I was more senior would never have addressed me by my 1st name when in uniform, but we did play golf or work together in Boy Scouting we both served in off duty hours. In those venues, I would ALWAYS refer to them by their rank and common military courtesy, until they gave me permission to do otherwise specific to those functions. Example: While stationed in Okinawa, I was a PO2 working for the Group Surgeon, and our office was just down the all from the Chief of Staff. He was the 3rd most senior Colonel in the USMC at that time. We were are active in Boy Scouting together on the island. Even at scout meeting when we were both in scout uniform, I called him Colonel.

One meeting he pulled me aside. Here is that exchange I remember over nearly 40 years later:
"Nate, I respect your position regarding my rank and position, but you have my permission when we are in scouting uniform at scouting event to call me Bob."
"Yes, Colonel" I responded.
"Nate, whats my name?"
"Colonel (Last Name)"
"Nate, do I have to give you and order?" he said with a gentle smile.
"No sir!"
"Nate, who am in the these kind of venues"
"Bob, Colonel"

Well, you see where I am going! Finally, I became comfortable ONLY referring to him by his 1st name in Scout Uniform, but always kept in the forefront of my thoughts he was a USMC Col and the Chief of Staff. No amount of time we spent doing scouting activities together gave me permission to abuse this privilege when in military uniform! Likewise, he always referred to me by my military rank and my last name, those also respecting my role as one of the many Hospital Corpsman under his command. Of course he like all Marines called me "Doc" on less formal occasions, but always lifted my spirits and confidence by referring to me in those critical times requiring professional decorum (e.g. meetings, etc.), thus setting the example of how to develop mutual respect (aka TRUST).

If your Officer is having difficulty with this go to your CSM and ask his/her advice. They have the ear of the Commanding Officer. The CO then has a responsibility to maintain "Good Order and Discipline". The BEST COs take the council of QUALITY CSM or in my case Command Master Chiefs and always get remind their Officers to display professionalism as outlined by military protocol and other guidance.

Finally, don't look for "regulations" so must as it is YOUR responsibility as an ENLISTED person, to appropriately challenge, what I assume is the behavior of a Junior or mid-grade Officer, via your ENLISTED chain of command (aka your CSM) to get such guidance! YOU set the example! It is tough, but your SELF-RESPECT is at stake!

Take Colonel Curlee's example. He is an Officer, (and we have never met in person), but his response is just that "Good Morning, Sgt Wise." is what military protocol requires for Officers worth a damn! Loot for them to RESPECT you as much as they require respect as a matter of their rank.

In closing, RESPECTING rank and RESPECTING the person are TWO different issues. I have respected rank of many senior to me, but is some cases I NEVER came to respect (aka TRUST) the person! Officers for me STILL HAVE TO EARN MY RESPECT at people! That is NOT automatic!!!

There was a regulation that addressed this. It was Reg- 35-10. I don't know what regulations you fallunder now.

CW2 (Join to see) I agree with the people posting references to the regulations which provide guidance on the proper forms of address and I disagree with the (non-Marine) people who think that full ranks should be used at all times.

Here's something I copy/pasted from my answer to a similar question about NCOs addressing each other...

Per the regulation, in the Army at least, I refer to all Army NCOs senior to me as Sergeant, First Sergeant, or Sergeant Major...no exceptions (well, occasionally "Top"). I don't call E8's Master Sergeant. I don't mind when other people do, but I won't.

My second biggest pet peeve with regard to these sorts of things is first names. Soldiers frequently like to say they can keep business and work separate and know the time and place for first names. My theory on that is "If from listening to you speak I know that you know SPC Smith's first name, you are failing at keeping things separate".

My biggest pet peeve with regard to things like this is as follows....

There are several titles or names "authorized" to refer to me and below are the ways to begin an interaction with me...

- Staff Sergeant Andrews
- Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant Andrews
- Sergeant
- Andrews (depending on your rank)
- Soldier
- establish eye contact or physical contact so that, per normal human interaction, it is understood that you are addressing me

...and those are what I will respond to.

No matter who you are, unless we have established eye/physical contact and there is literally no way you could have meant anybody else, if it's not on that list, I am ignoring you. I might not have heard you, I have no reason to think or assume that you're talking to me, and if you are you're doing it in a disrespectful manner.

Examples of this are...

- Douglas or variants on my first name (not necessarily disrespectful, but not professional either)
- Hey you
- Pssst
- Killer
- High Speed

It is inappropriate for a commissioned officer to call any enlisted personnel by first name.