My background is all Air Force, with 30+ years in Civil Service at an AF Base. In day to day work, when someone was a tech or staff or master sergeant, we called him Sgt Brown or whatever. In awards ceremonies, introductions, etc, they'd be called by their whole rank, like Staff Sgt Brown, but not in conversation. A Chief MSgt was the exception, called Chief instead of Sgt. In TV shows these days they'll use the whole rank, like "Hello, Staff Sergeant". Do any services really do that or is it just a TV thing?

When I was in the Army in the early 70's, we called any Sergeant "Sarge" or "Sergeant" + last name. Exceptions were First Sergeants who were address as "Top" which is a shortcut for "Top Sergeant" and "Sergeant Majors" who were customarily called by their full title.

The only time we called a sergeant by his full title (except for formal situations) was when we wanted to convey our disrespect for him. (I say "him" because there weren't any female soldiers in our unit).

There were two Staff Sergeants in my unit that were really very poor soldiers. They were alcoholics who really should not have been in the Army at all. We called them "Staff Sergeant" when addressing them to convey our disrespect in a manner that we could not be formally punished.

The full title thing is, I think, a TV thing.

Dwight

Funny things about female sergents...In the late 1990's I sat across the aisle from a female AF Senior MSGT (E-8) and one day a middle aged man came in and was astounded that a woman could get to that high a rank. Now and then someone would call her "Sarge" but I think of "Sarge" as William Bendix in a fox hole chewin' on a cigar.

"...but I think of "Sarge" as William Bendix in a fox hole chewin' on a cigar."

What a revolting development this is!

quote:

Originally posted by Cindycat:
Funny things about female sergents...In the late 1990's I sat across the aisle from a female AF Senior MSGT (E-8) and one day a middle aged man came in and was astounded that a woman could get to that high a rank.

Not as strange-seeming as it was:

"BRITISH WOMEN AT WAR : A British woman officer or non-commissioned officer can, and often does,give orders to a man private. The men obey smartly and know it is no shame....British soldiers respect the women in uniform; they have won the right to the utmost respect. When you see a girl in khaki or air-force blue with a bit of ribbon on her tunic, remember that she didn't get it for knitting more socks than anyone in Ipswich". [ Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain 1942,issued by War Department,Washington D.C. ]

That seems more odd than anything else in the Instructions, by the way. Of course, Americans had little experience of the Great War. In that war there were so many British men on the battlefields, and so many being killed, that women were soon extensively employed in jobs which had been jobs for men, so gaining respect and appreciation, and in the aftermath many, of necessity, remained so.

I don’t know what TV shows you are referring to. If you are referring to some of the programs on The History Channel, or The Military Channel the full rank of the Sergeant is always acknowledged. (In the Marine Corps) The only time it is acceptable for a lower ranked enlisted person to call a Staff Sergeant (Or the like) “Sarge” is in private, or in a non formal setting with only fellow Marines present. Then again this depends on the “Sarge”. Back in my day I strictly enforced anyone ranked as an E-4 or below (And some E-5’s) to address me as “ Gunnery Sergeant ” at all times.

Have pity the Private that called me “ Sarge ” or “ Gunny ”, he needed it .


Here is a joke that has some basis in truth:

Protocol:

• Marines : Will address all officers as "Sir," and refer to the rank of all enlisted members when speaking to them (i.e., Staff Sgt. Smith).

• Army : Will address all officers as "Sir," unless they are friends, and will call all enlisted personnel "Sarge."

• Navy : Will address all officers as "Skipper," and all enlisted personnel as "Chief."

• Air Force : All Air Force personnel shall be on a first name basis with each other.

Air Force, well nuf’ said .

Dwight is right,using the full title except in ceremonies or official functions is just TV.


Hey Koz.OOHRAH! Semper Fi, Gunny.

For those youngsters in the audience who don't understand DorianGreyed's comment: "What a revolting development this is!".


William Bendix (born January 14, 1906, New York, New York) as
CHESTER A. RILEY ("...what a revoltin' development this is...")

"The Life of Riley" ran as a radio show in the late '40's with William Bendix playing Riley. It moved to TV in 1949 with Jackie Gleason playing Riley.

In 1949 the show became a movie with William Bendix playing Riley. In 1953 Bendix turned the show into a TV sitcom that ran until 1958.

"What a revoltin' development this is!" became a catch phrase. "Riley" said this when one of his schemes failed.

Dwight