Don't call me Sir...

I was Air Force, and the only time anyone called me Sir was right after I got my first stripe and was called that by Privates. Even as a sergeant I was never called Sir by anyone.

 

When I come across those in the military, I normally address all military men as "sir" simply out of respect. As a non-military person, I really have no idea what all those stripes mean and what the military protocol is. I simply appreciate their service to our country.

 

Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir.

 

:flower: You don't have to call me darling, darling. You never even called me by my name.
Now back to your regular scheduled thread. :smilewinkgrin:

 

Sir...is an insult to a working sailor, soldier, airmen , coast guardsdman, or marine.

Call us by rank...just like we call you !

 

My official rank in the Canadian Army was Captain. I was generally called Padre by all ranks. When addressing the ranks below Major, I addressed all by their first name. Higher officers were addressed by rank until they requested to be called by name.

In civilian life, I was just Jim to everyone. I did, however, address all people by Mr., Mrs. or Miss until they asked me to call them by first name. It was just a matter of showing respect.

In early schooling in England, it was proper to address someone by their family name until they gave you permission to use your first name.

I know who I am, so it never troubles me whatever someone wants to call me.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Seriously, being offended because someone calls you Sir, is ludicrous. It is not like they are calling you a derogatory name. Just because others may not know what the proper protocol is concerning how to refer to military personnel does not mean that they should be reprimanded with a petty response.

 

Well, in my time in the Army Reserves, I was called sir. I was a LT. But in the unit I was in I called more people sir than those who called me sir.

 

Cutter, you , obviously,were never a G.I. That was a bit of humor enlisted folks all shared.

 

Yes, you are correct. So my perspective is from the outside and being on the outside of the military fraternity, would you guys be disturbed by someone that isn't familiar with your little idiosyncrasies, ( like don't call me sir, I work for a living) calling you sir out of respect?

 

And this has, what to do with my question and the OP?
On second thought, forget I said anything about calling you sir out of respect.

 

Why, of course I did. I worked hard at staying out of the way and letting the NCO's do what they were trained to do. And we got along just fine!

 

And he was an an outstanding Officer........ because he acknowledged that NCO:s were "as smart" or smarter than himself................our military needs more junior officers that share your beliefs.

 

In the military, regarding senior personnel, is it a question of who is smarter, or simply obeying orders from above?

Obeying orders may be the key to survival in war. As the saying goes, "Yours is not to reason why, but simply to obey."

Cheers,

Jim