Sir or not

[beardo]

[Valkryja]

Smiley's don't count!

[sneaky beaky]

You know, I think Valkrija may have a good point.
Us old farts ought to cut these youngsters a bit of slack.

Perhaps a forum should be made purely for those who want to vent anger, or generally slag off civvies/walters/women/those less experienced than themselves. Delete as applicable or do all of them depending on how small minded you are feeling.

Atleast he asked, better to ask than to keep schtum and make a mistake right? You've just taught him that asking a question (even a stupid question) results in a slagging, lets hope the next he time he asks a question it isn't 'What happens if I pull the trigger?' with the barrel pointed in your direction

Perhaps we are getting to be like grumpy old men. Trouble is we've had so many walters etc. and "letsroles" first post was a bit of an inane question.
I wouldn't dream of taking the piss out of the ATC. I was one myself many, many, moons ago. Dreamt of being Biggles!!

Then I joined a real mob, learnt to play with Wrens and finished up marrying one.!! Still play with her now and again, (headaches allowing!)
Mind you she is now looking as though she should be in the Field Gun Crew!! Oops!, better post this before she looks over my shoulder to see what I've typed!"
Sneaky

[harry hackedoff]

Sneaks, "wind", "sailing" and "close to" mate
Let`s all be nice to Jenny, she`s only been here five minutes and yer already giving her the shit routine
Mind you, after comments like,

given the lack of local talent,

It`s not PMT, it`s the steriods wot dun it
Feel free to be vituperative, Jen

[Artist]

Just show the bloke some respect and call him Sir.

Whenever I meet a person who is thinking of employing me to paint his Canal Boat or whatever I always call them Sir or Madam. To me it's just common courtesy.

It don't cost you anything. If a few more people did it I reckon the country might start getting it's self respect back.

[Sully]

To be honest I had a bit of a problem calling anybody "sir" and with some it was a real problem - I still do but have not had to since I left. I don't like being called sir but I won't make a big thing about it if it's someones 'way'.

Never been a supporter of the class system and whilst I came across some outstanding bootnecks who happened to be officers, more often than not it was the NCO's who really impressed. I came across Sgt Majors (warrant officers who are entitled to be called sir) who didn't like it and were addressed as "Sgt Major" - some of course obviously got a thrill out of their new found status.

Good luck with your application - if you're like me (I'm not suggesting you are) you'll have to bite your lip a bit. Just play it safe mate - especially leading up to and during training. For the record I didn't have a particularly long or distinguished career in the Corps but I got by and had a great time.

[harry hackedoff]

Just scrub round the formality( most officers are threaders with it anyway) and call him "mate"
For some valuable advice, if you are considering joining, try this post from wayyyy back when. 16th May, 2002 actually


http://www.militaryforums.co.uk/cforums ... sc&start=0

Always glad to help, that`s me
Yours, aye.

[Hostage_Negotiator]

It's a good place to start and shows your affording him the proper respect from the outset. If he doesn't want you to he'll tell you otherwise! At least you'll have demonstrated the correct attitude!

[Artist]

Do you call an officer Sir!?

Well not if he's a she! Then it's Maam. I dunno.........the Yoof of today!

I used to call my Boss Sir, He used to call me........well lots of thing really! But when it was just him and me on our own It was Marty and Steve. Marty was a Young 2nd Lt whilst I was a young Mne when we first met up at CTC. I was doing my S3's, he had just started his YO course. Twas on the Rugby field, CTCRM versus the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary (we thrashed them bigtime!) that we first got to know each other. As it was I had and still have a lot of respect for Marty who is now a full Colonel. And he also has respect for me. Well thats what he said at me eldest daughters Wedding!

Another thing, when you go into the AFCO don't call the blokes/ladies with Stripes, Crowns, Anchors, Crossed Anchors, three Brass buttons or Royal Cyphers on their arms MATE or LOVE. You will discover that it is a very bad move on your part.

Once a young Matelot clocked me wearing number 8's (Matelots working rig) with three massive red stripes on my right arm. He ambled up to me with his hands in his pockets and asked "Err MATE , who's the f**king bloke in charge then? Only I've been sent err to do some f**king work for him" O I had fun with that young Lad!

NCO's do not take kindly to young lads calling them "Mate", Corpse, Sarge, Colours and suchlike. Older blokes with time under their belts sometimes can. First name terms between a Mne and say a C/Sgt can and does happen quite a lot. But only when both people respect and like each other. And then only when there are no Important Bods around to take umbridge at such familiarity.

As I said previously it don't cost ought to be polite with your possible future employer be he a Commisioned Officer in the Forces or the manager of the MacDonalds your hoping to work for until you get your joining instructions. It costs you nought and surely can only do good for yourself in the long run.

Artist

[Spence]

Artist, in your last post you said not to call c/sgts colour. I'm in the army cadets and a staff sergeant myself (the equivilent rank) and have always adressed the colour sgts in other companies as "Colour" (both cadets and adult instructors to which I didn't receive a beating!). Am I wrong or did I just misunderstand the post?

Spence

[Artist]

The Royal Marines are a wee bit different from the Army Cadets I think!

You earn your rank in the Royal Marines by passing Junior/Senior/Advanced Command Courses. They don't just hand the Stripes and Warrant Officer Crowns over to you in the Royal Marines, you have to work long and hard for them.

I never liked some Sprogg calling me Corpse/Sarge/Colours and I most definitely didnt like a chuffing 18 year old OD Matelot calling me bloody Mate!

In order to call someone Colours or Sarge you had to earn the right to call them that as far as I was concerned. Maybe I'm in a minority but thats my view on it.

Artist

[Doc]

Artist, in your last post you said not to call c/sgts colour. I'm in the army cadets and a staff sergeant myself (the equivilent rank) and have always adressed the colour sgts in other companies as "Colour" (both cadets and adult instructors to which I didn't receive a beating!). Am I wrong or did I just misunderstand the post?

Spence

So your a S/Sgt and you call other BOYS in other companies Colour??
I see you say other companies so I assume by your choice of words your within the same Regiment, so why are some of you S/Sgt and some C/Sgt?? Also why would you call a lad of the same age and rank by...... his rank??:o

[got1]

C/Sgt, Infantry. S/Sgt, Corp. Same rank [Crown over 3 Stripes] And I don't mean Marine Corp.
Remember the film Zulu, at the end the C/Sgt was calling the roll and someone said "Here C/Sgt" and he replied "Officer on parade, answer Sir".
For them that don't know, the C/Sgt was taking the parade but they were answering to the officer.

ps Hope that makes sense,have just downed a bottle of red after my evening pint.