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“If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And if we have the effrontery to talk to anybody with less than courtesy, we tell ourselves and the world we are not very intelligent.” Maya Angelou |
A3. Addressing People (Title/Sir)
TITLES
One military courtesy is the use of titles to show respect. When you are talking to someone in the Cadet Corps or the military, address that person by his or her rank. This form of a courtesy is not only a standard greeting, but it shows respect for the responsibility that person has earned.
Displayed below are the correct titles by which you should address most individuals in the Cadet Corps or the US Army:
- All Generals: “General”
- Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels: “Colonel”
- Majors: “Major”
- Captains: “Captain”
- Lieutenants: “Lieutenant”
- Officer Candidate: “Candidate”
- Warrant Officers: “Mister” or “Miss”
- Sergeants Major: “Sergeant Major”
- First Sergeants: “First Sergeant”
- All other Sergeants: “Sergeant”
- Corporals: “Corporal”
- All Specialists: “Specialist”
- Recruits, Cadets and Cadets First Class: “Cadet”
- Privates and Privates First Class: “Private”
SIR/MA’AM
If you do not know the person’s name, you may address them by their rank, or male officers as “Sir” and female officers as “Ma’am”. Conversation with others in the Cadet Corps should be formal and correct. Use proper titles to show respect and indicate rank. Senior CACC cadets may address junior CACC cadets by their first name, but not the other way around.
If you do not know the person’s name, you may address them by their rank, or male officers as “Sir” and female officers as “Ma’am”. Conversation with others in the Cadet Corps should be formal and correct. Use proper titles to show respect and indicate rank. Senior CACC cadets may address junior CACC cadets by their first name, but not the other way around.
Addressing military members
Commissioned officers (and to a lesser extent, warrant officers) run the U.S. Military. They are the top dogs. As such, they're always addressed politely, using sir or ma'am.
Responses to Questions
When answering an Officer’s yes or no question, all responses will be answered with a “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am” for affirmative answers or “No Sir” or “No Ma’am” for negative answers. When an NCO asks a yes or no question, all responses will be answered with a “Yes Sergeant/First Sergeant/Sergeant Major” for affirmative answers or “No Sergeant/First Sergeant/Sergeant Major” for negative answers. And finally, when the cadet in charge is a Recruit, Cadet, or Cadet First Class, the correct response is “Yes Cadet” or “No Cadet”. Remember, do not call NCOs or Cadets “sir” or “ma’am”.
When answering an Officer’s yes or no question, all responses will be answered with a “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am” for affirmative answers or “No Sir” or “No Ma’am” for negative answers. When an NCO asks a yes or no question, all responses will be answered with a “Yes Sergeant/First Sergeant/Sergeant Major” for affirmative answers or “No Sergeant/First Sergeant/Sergeant Major” for negative answers. And finally, when the cadet in charge is a Recruit, Cadet, or Cadet First Class, the correct response is “Yes Cadet” or “No Cadet”. Remember, do not call NCOs or Cadets “sir” or “ma’am”.
Answering a “why?” question can be tricky when one considers the military custom of not offering excuses. For example, if your female Commandant asks you why you forgot your cover today, an appropriate initial response may be “No excuse Ma’am!” If the Officer really wants to know why, she may follow up with another question asking for an explanation.
| "Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place." Tecumseh |