Couple of Q's

[Raptor2216]

I will starting PTAD at the local office here on the 2nd and it just so happens that the office is located at Moffet Field in mountain view. The entire building is nothing but recruiting offices. This will the first time that i'm going to be around a military facility that houses every branch. I'm not familiar with the enlisted ranks outside of the Marines and the Navy. I don't want to offend anyone or embarrass myself so i'm just wondering how one would go about this if you don't recognize the rank?

 

[HAL Pilot]

Maybe doing a google search to learn them?

http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html

 

[TheBubba]

Army ranks are similar to USMC rank... differences, but similar. Coastie rank is identical to Navy. I've given up on USAF rank.

My advice: Find a rank/rate chart and familiarize yourself with it.

For Army NCO's, most E-5 and up can be safely called sergeant... I think the same goes for all of the USAF's sergeants too. That has never failed me.

 

[HAL Pilot]

For Army NCO's, most E-5 and up can be safely called sergeant... I think the same goes for all of the USAF's sergeants too. That has never failed me.

Unless of course they are First Sergeants, Master Sergeants, Sergeant Majors or Chief Master Sergeants - tean they might get a little upset (and rightfully so). Very unprofessional to not address them properly. It probably never failed you because you were an officer and they bit their tongue. Inside they were probably either pissed off or laughing at you.

Learn the other services' ranks. It's the professional thing to do and it is not be that terribly difficult.

I even saved you the trouble of doing the google search. Once again: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html

 

[Raptor2216]

Maybe doing a google search to learn them?

http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html

Why would I do that when its all printed in my OCS books? I should have been more clear with my question. The AF and army seem to have some very long ranks and I don't know if you have to use it word for word or if you can just call someone a Sgt. as long Sgt. is a part of the full rank or what? As I said, this is going to be my first time around in a military environment outside of OCS, which was a very long time ago. No one is born with this knowledge, you live and you learn. Call me crazy but things aren't always done by the book. There is the book way of doing things and then there is the way its actually done.

 

[TheBubba]

Unless of course they are First Sergeants, Master Sergeants, Sergeant Majors or Chief Master Sergeants - tean they might get a little upset (and rightfully so). Very unprofessional to not address them properly. It probably never failed you because you were an officer and they bit their tongue. Inside they were probably either pissed off or laughing at you.

Actually... no.. I was not an officer at the time. This is as explained to me by an Army Master Sergeant and who knows how many SSgt's and SFC's. However, Sergeants Major will rip you a new one if you call them "sergeant". Made that mistake once.

I also worked with an Army Staff Sgt for a few weeks this summer, and he looked at me funny when I called him by his proper title. All of the jr. enlisted guys we worked with (both Army and Navy) referred to him as "sergeant". And he was fine with it.

I've been dealing with Army folks off and onfor the past 10 years or so. Just sharing my experience.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Sorry I misunderstood your question.

You are never wrong using the full rank.

Good rule of thumb - use the full rank for any E-7 and above in any service (E-6 and above for USMC). Some of these can be abbreviated, for example:
Command Sergeant Major = Sergeant Major
Sergeant First Class = Sergeant
Senior Chief Petty Officer = Senior Chief
Master Chief Petty Officer = Master Chief
Chief Master Sergeant = Chief (not 100% sure on this one)

Be careful, the Army and Navy like to have subtle differences to trip you up. For Example, a USAF First Sergeant can be an E-7, E-8 or E-9 or these guys can be Master, Senior Master or Chief Master Sergeants.

Again, if not sure use the full rank. They will respect you more for this than for just calling them Sergeant.

Once you report in, pull aside the senior enlisted guy in the office and ask him.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Actually... no.. I was not an officer at the time. This is as explained to me by an Army Master Sergeant and who knows how many SSgt's and SFC's. However, Sergeants Major will rip you a new one if you call them "sergeant". Made that mistake once.

I also worked with an Army Staff Sgt for a few weeks this summer, and he looked at me funny when I called him by his proper title. All of the jr. enlisted guys we worked with (both Army and Navy) referred to him as "sergeant". And he was fine with it.

I've been dealing with Army folks off and onfor the past 10 years or so. Just sharing my experience.

I was enlisted in the Army once upon a time many years ago. I also grew up as an Army brat.

If you are enlisted, an Army E-8 First Sergeant will also rip you a new one for calling them "Sergeant". They expect to be called First Sergeant where you can probably get by calling an Army E-8 Master Sergeant just Sergeant.

Army E-6s go just by Sergeant and not Staff Sergeant. on the other hand, Marine E-6s go by Staff Sergeant. Army E-7s also go just by Sergeant where a Marine E-7 would except to be at least being called "Gunny" (although I would call him Gunnery Sergeant if I did not know him).

P_ubhi18 actually had a very good question once I understood where he was coming from. It is confusing.

 

[TheBubba]

... on the other hand, Marine E-6s go by Staff Sergeant.

Yeah... yet another lesson I learned the hard way. After that little run in, I've always used the full rank, unless that specific person told me otherwise.

Looks as though the Master Sgt I knew went the odd way out on that one.