An E-9 refusing to call a second luei "Sir"

From Quora

In the military, have you ever forgotten to salute an officer? Do all of them say something to you or do they let it go?
When you pass an Airborne officer you shout out “all the way sir!” To which he shouts back “Airborne!” I was walking to my car in the PX parking lot when I passed a female officer with Jump Wings. So per tradition I shouted “all the way ma’am.” As I passed her she called me over. She then wanted to know why I said, “all the way ma’am.” She looked really upset. I explained the process and then pointed out her Jump Wings and then my master blaster wings (Jump Master Wings, the top level of jumpers. She immediately calmed down and said that she was sorry but at Ft Sam Houston there weren’t very many Airborne troops. I smiled and again saluted the Major with, “all the way ma’am.” And she shouted, “Airborne.” We both smiled and she thanked me for reminding her of the tradition.

When my dad was the Signal Brigade CSM (Command Sergeant Major) in Munich, Germany he told me a story. The Colonel asked my dad to come into his office. Once inside the office the Colonel asked my dad to show a brand new West Point 2LT around the unit. My dad protested that he really didn’t have the time. The Colonel said please and my dad complied but he turned to the new 2LT and said, “I will not call you sir just yet, first you must prove to me that you deserve to be called sir.” He said the 2LT looked at the Colonel as if to protest. The colonel stopped him and said, “my CSM is the best CSM in the Army, he’s been in the Signal Corps sense 1936 and served three years in the OSS, plus he’s my CSM”., you’ll be learning from the best. Where upon my dad said, “OK mister follow me and learn.” He then told me that he was an outstanding 2LT and after 6 months he was promoted to 1LT and my dad saluted him and said, “well done sir.” The now 1LT smiled back and thanked my dad for keeping him from his lofty heights and teaching him well.

 

When I was in the NY Guard - We had a CSM (E-9) who never served in the US Federal Military.
(I was an E-7) He thought he knew it all - hard to have respect for him. In fact, he is the reason I
chose to resign from the Guard.