Titles And Address And So Forth

[Woodsy]

I recently gave a safety briefing at my job where several executive management types were visiting for a tour, including a retired Marine full bird Colonel.  There were 5 people in the room, and by protocol I had to name participants to certain rolls (CPR, 911 caller, runner, etc.)  This is a fortune 200 company so these are real power players (and I'm about as low of a union grunt as it gets, but happened to be the shift safety officer that day.) 

As I went around the table, it went something like this. 

Me- "Mr. X, you'll be our designated CPR provider. Mr. Y, you'll be our runner to meet emergency services at the entrance and escort them in and, sir, do you prefer to be called Col. or Mr. Z?" 
Col/Mr. Z-  "Col. is fine."
Me- "Very well, Colonel, you'll be our designated 911 caller." 

Don't be afraid to ask, but be smooth it.

Possible solution:  "Good morning, Sargent Major, is it?"

Pose it as a question, seem like you're genuinely curious and want to learn.

Ask other people you work with that may have dealt with him before for their advice/experience with him. 

[Майор Хаткевич]

Having limited, regular contact with Chaplains, when one transfered to our unit, I kept calling him Major as that was his grade on uniforms. At one point I simply stopped to talk to him and asked him sir, do you prefer I address you as Major or Chaplain? He said he preffered Chaplain, so that's what I call him now. Sometimes you just have to ask.

[Private Investigator]

This might be a CAP urban legend and I never met the legendary BG Chuck Yeager. But I heard from a gentleman that met him, when he said, "hello Mister Yeager." He was corrected by BG Yeager, "it is General Yeager!"

Which makes sense as my grandfather would correct people too, he was a retired Colonel and he would let you know he was part of the greatest generation.  :clap:

[PHall]

This might be a CAP urban legend and I never met the legendary BG Chuck Yeager. But I heard from a gentleman that met him, when he said, "hello Mister Yeager." He was corrected by BG Yeager, "it is General Yeager!"

Which makes sense as my grandfather would correct people too, he was a retired Colonel and he would let you know he was part of the greatest generation.  :clap:

That's not an urban myth with Yeager. I saw him do it in person at the Edwards AFB Open House a number of years ago.

[Jaison009]

I do it as a sign of respect. As a military brat it is a habit I picked up. My boss served as the director of programs and acquisitions for the Air Rescue Service  for the USAF so I hold his service in very high regard as does he. That is why I call him Colonel informally. Our volunteer who was a general was the Adjutant General for the state and was active duty. I address him as General as well. We do it internally within our disaster team but introduce them by name outside our team.   

I can't imagine many situations where I would address someone by a military rank in a private business-related context. 

I would if I went to see a speech by a retired officer about military issues and I had a chance to meet them later.  Then there would be some groundwork laid for using that title. 

Now, if its someone that I've developed a relationship with then I might use their former rank every now and again if it seemed appropriate.  But, in everyday conversation I would almost always use their first name. 

Frankly, you just don't always know how the other person feels about their military career and its importance in their current life.  Some value that part of their history very highly and might appreciate the consideration while others might think that what they're doing now is much more important and would prefer to be recognized for that.

[SarDragon]

My father-in-law is a retired Marine colonel. When I met him, I said something like, "Good afternoon, Colonel," and he said, "Where?" It's been Bob ever since.

[PHall]

Haven't met a retired Sergeant Major yet that didn't perfer to be greeted as Sergeant Major.
If they want you to call them something else they'll tell you.
But you can't go wrong by addressing them as Sergeant Major the first time you address them.

[Private Investigator]

This might be a CAP urban legend and I never met the legendary BG Chuck Yeager. But I heard from a gentleman that met him, when he said, "hello Mister Yeager." He was corrected by BG Yeager, "it is General Yeager!"

Which makes sense as my grandfather would correct people too, he was a retired Colonel and he would let you know he was part of the greatest generation.  :clap:

That's not an urban myth with Yeager. I saw him do it in person at the Edwards AFB Open House a number of years ago.

The General was mentioned at Region Staff College and attendees from various Wings said the same thing. 

[Private Investigator]

My father-in-law is a retired Marine colonel. When I met him, I said something like, "Good afternoon, Colonel," and he said, "Where?" It's been Bob ever since.

He must like you. My former son in law, I must say, is the handsomest retard I ever met. He calls me "sir" unless he desires to go in harm's way.