Hey, I'm seriously considering joining the military after high school. I've been trying to learn as much as possible about the different branches, but I'm struggling with the ranking system. Can someone educate me about how I should address personnel from each branch based on their rank?
Sure, here's a crash course on military ranks and how to address personnel from different branches:
In the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Space Force - ranks for enlisted personnel range from "private/basic airman" for those lower on the hierarchy to "sergeant major/chief master sergeant" at the very top. If you're addressing sergeants of any kind, you use 'Sergeant' followed by their last name. Officers ranks range from second lieutenant at the lowest to general at the highest. When addressing officers, use their rank followed by their surname, like 'Lieutenant Smith' or 'General Stone'.
In the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard - enlisted ranks range from "Seaman Recruit" up to "Master Chief Petty Officer." For those who are petty officers, it's respectful to say 'Petty Officer' followed by their last name. Officers range from ensign to admiral. Just as in the Army and Air Force, you use their rank followed by their last name.
The U.S. Marine Corps uses the same rank structure as the Army for enlisted ranks, beginning with private and going up to sergeant major. To address enlisted personnel, it's the same as the Army – you call them by their rank and then by their last name. Officer ranks are the same as the Army and Air Force.
It's important to remember that some ranks have abbreviations, like sergeant first class (SFC) or Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col), but when speaking to them, you would use their entire rank: "Sergeant First Class Smith" or "Lieutenant Colonel Johnson."
Make sure to always use the correct rank when addressing someone in the military, as it's a sign of respect and acknowledging their earned position. It may take some getting used to, but will become second nature with time and exposure.
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