Posted on Jan 20, 2014
Would you prefer to be addressed as 1SG or Top?
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This discussion goes out to everybody but mainly to E-8’s. My question is how do you prefer to by addressed as. I have had several 1SG, and some of them have flipped out on soldiers when they were called Top. I myself try my hardest to always address my 1SG by his or her name and rank, but I see others on a daily basis doing both.
Rank
Disrespect
1SG
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 67
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Ok, history lesson. Some are close on this. TOP dates back to our Army forefathers. I believe around the Civil War time frame. TOP stands for "Trainer ofPersonnel". This title was given to the senior enlisted Soldier in the unit. It has become interchangeable with 1SG. Remember that NCOs have not always been the technical experts, no laughing, that we are today. Remember the "profession of arms" campaign. The reason it is used primarily for 1SGs is NCOs are more or less "functional". This is a dated term, but some 1SG positions require them to be SME in their field. Disclaimer here, all jobs in the Army are important. The difference lies in the consequences that occur if mistakes are made. Example: I am an EOD guy, I will stay in EOD organizations for most of my career. So I would not be the 1SG of a Medical unit or a Combat Arms unit. I don't know anything about them. Me being in a leadership position in those type of units would not be pretty! LOL Our Officer counterparts used to be functional, but now when they reach a certain grade, they become multifunctional. Like ORD Soldiers become Logisticians. I digress. Point I am making is TOP is a term of respect. It's not a given in my book. It has to be earned. I have had several 1SGs and few Tops.
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SGM (Join to see)
Here is what I found so far. The paper was writen by an Air Force guy. Thttp://http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/au-24/ball.pdf. This shows use of TOP prior to the start of the Air Force in 1947. So it was used way before the Civil Rights era, but it could been a resurgence. As to the highest rank African Americans can hold, in1920 the Army standerize the enlisted pay grades, SGM ceased to be a title of rank or grade. However, it survived as the job title of the senior NCO of a battalion and was re-introduced as a rank in 1958 when Congress authorized the the pay grade. So prior to 58, all Soldiers were limited to E-8.
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SSG Justin Nellums
SGM, thank you for that info. I'm glad you were able to find something out because I've been running in circles trying to find out anything. That's info makes much more sense. Thanks again.
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SGM (Join to see)
No problem. Another good resource for info is the USASMA library. They have papers written by NCOs and Officers in their collection. The papers are good, but I also use their reference information. Reading papers by our past leaders is also a good way to learn from others mistakes. My eyes were opened wide to the lack of preparedness the US military has been at the intial on set of almost every conflict/hostilities. The story reads the same just change the dates. The common denominator is huge cuts in defense at the end of conflicts. The ultimate cost is Service men and woman's lives. Perfect example is Task Force Smith at the beginning of the Korean War. Look it up and see what you think. I will tell you that sending a TF to stop or even slow a colum of tanks with out tanks, anti tank weapons,or landmines is not a solid plan!
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MSG (Join to see)
when I grew up in the military the sm wearing the diamond was 1sg and the one without was top
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I prefer it when my Soldiers call me Top and everyone else addresses me as First Sergeant. I am your Top, therefore that is the priveledge given solely to you. That is, of course, after I have "earned" that Soldier's respect and confidence.
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SGT Patrick Reno
Thank you 1st Sgt. that's the best answer I have seen. I had several 1st Sgt's but only had one TOP.
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For me it was situational based. Obviously, if it was a formal setting like UCMJ or boards, or reporting, it was always 1SG. But down in the motor pool, or walking through training, or on a road march, either Top or 1SG was fine with me.
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