addressing military officers re: rank

[tom d. friedman]

why is it that officers of the army, air force, & marines are always addressed by their rank or grade?? (for example good morning major jones, take care of that detail lieutenant smith) but in the u.s. navy officers are often addressed as mr ( mister) smith not captain smith, mr jones instead of ensign jones. i don't understand the double standard why the navy is allowed to do so & not the other military branches.

Last edited by tom d. friedman on Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

[CAPFlyer]

It's not so much as being "allowed" as being a different set of Customs and Courtesies. The US Air Force, US Army, and US Marine Corps use a set of Customs and Courtesies developed by the Armies of the past. The Navy (and the Coast Guard and US Merchant Marine for that fact), use Customs and Courtesies developed by the Navies of the past. It's that simple. It's not a double standard at all, it's a reflection of their histories.

[p51]

You pretty much ref to an Army officer by their rank only if you outrank them or are a civilian. If not, you generally call them, “Sir” or “Ma’am”. Only in the movies and TV shows do enlisted people ref to an officer by their rank and nobody ever uses the full rank. Ant type of Sergeant (expect for a Sergeant Major or First SGT), Lieutenant of Colonel is just addressed as that. Other than official notifications, such as introductions or public presentations, people don’t call them 1st or 2nd LT or LtCol, they’re just “Sergeant,” “Lieutenant” or “Colonel” and that’s that.

[tom d. friedman]

i understand those facts, i just don't get where in the navy you can call a male officer mister. what about women naval officers?? are they miss, mrs, ms?? i know a lt. colonel is called colonel etc...... no wonder i can't sleep at night!!

[The Inspector]

mam-that keeps it respectfully neutral without screwing up and referring to the Officer as Mrs. when she isn't or Miss when she isn't and won't cross the line of 'familiarity' issues.

[Randy Haskin]

i understand those facts, i just don't get where in the navy you can call a male officer mister. what about women naval officers?? are they miss, mrs, ms?? i know a lt. colonel is called colonel etc...... no wonder i can't sleep at night!!

It's actually only junior Naval officers (Ens, LTJG, and LT) that are referred to as "Mister". More senior grades are addressed by their rank. Female junior officers are referred to as ma'am. BTW, it's not that you can't call those junior Naval officers by their rank, it's that you can ALSO call them Mr/Ma'am.

And if you find that confusing, then it'll really blow your mind that Army Warrant Officers are also called "Mr"....unless they're CWOs, in which they're "Chief".

Again, there are different customs and courtesies between the services because of their differing heritages.

[p51]

And if you find that confusing, then it'll really blow your mind that Army Warrant Officers are also called "Mr"....unless they're CWOs, in which they're "Chief".

Generally, we pretty much called all Warrant Officers, "Chief". I had four in my company on my last active duty assignment. It's hard enough explaining the difference between Officers and Enlisted to a civilian with no idea of the context, but explaining a Warrant is darned near impossible!

[B-17 guy]

Agreed, I was a specialist, so to me all officers were "Sir" or "Ma'am". Unless you were addressing a specific officer in which case you would say, "excuse me, Captain Jones, may I have a word?".
Sergeants, E-5, E-6 and E-7's were "Sergeants", E-8's and above, you address'd them by there specific rank. God help you if you call a Command Sergeant Major anything other than that! No matter where I was in the army (active, reserve or guard), a master sergeant was a "Master Sergeant" etc...
Warrant officers, as said above, you were supposed to call them "Mr. Smith", but like has been said, we pretty much called all of them "Chief", unless more than one was around. Honestly, the only exception I've ever seen to this rule, is regular commissioned officers, they had to call warrants by "Mr.". Most warrants I knew hated regular officers.

[Invader26]

....you can call me Sir!

[jmkendall]

Actually in the Army according to the regs, All SGTs even a Master SGT are addressed as SGT. Only 1SG and SGM are addressed by their rank. And, contrary to what some CSM's say, the reg only requires you to address them as SGT Major, not Command SGT Major.

The correct form of address for a Warrant Officer is Mr or MRS/MISS. In this case you do not address them by their rank.

The term Chief is commonly used for Warrant Officers, but is not supported by regulation. In fact it could be construed as violating 600-20; showing undue familiarity between enlisted and senior officers. It is commonly forgotten that NCOs are Junior Officers.

The only OFFICIAL Chief in the Army is a Crew Chief. That being the said individuals official Title.

And yes, I am a currently serving NCO of 31 years.