greetings

[brasda91]

When you talk with the nco's at your armory, do you use your official title?  Example, you're at home and realize you need some supplies for your office, say a light bulb is out.  You know that the 1Sgt or admin NCO will have the bulb replaced.  So you give him a call.  If you don't know him on a first name basis, do you say "Hello Sgt._______, this is Maj (Lt Col, 1Lt, etc.) __________.  We have a light bulb that needs to be replaced."  Or do you just say "Hey, this is Bob Jones with the Civil Air Patrol......."?

Just curious what others do.  I know a few of the active duty NG guys, but not enough to call them by name.  Any time in the past I've talked with the admin NCO he always says"Sir".  It's nice and I appreciate it, but I don't expect the active duty guys to address me as "Sir".

[♠SARKID♠]

I usually do both, I say
"Hello, this is C/MSgt Turkal from the Civil Air Patrol...."

[dwb]

In general, I refer to them by rank, but leave mine off.  Especially if I "outrank" the person I'm writing to.

That said, I'll do a formal signature (with rank) if it is appropriate for the situation.

[JohnKachenmeister]

I use my rank.  I earned it, I use it.

[Pylon]

In general, I refer to them by rank, but leave mine off.

I agree with Dan here.  Use their rank and any appropriate titles.  I tend to leave my rank off, especially if I'm talking to: parents, ANG personnel and NHQ staff.  In all of those cases my rank is irrelevant and means nothing.

Parents: "Hi Mrs. Smith, this is Mike Kieloch from Civil Air Patrol calling about your son/daughter..."

ANG:  "Hi Capt Doe (or SSgt Doe or whatever), this is Mike Kieloch from Civil Air Patrol..."

NHQ Staff:  "Hi, this is Mike Kieloch from the NY-408 squadron..."

If I'm calling or talking to cadets, it's a different story.

[Eclipse]

^That's basically what I do...

[floridacyclist]

If I'm talking to NCOs like say AFRCC, I'll use my rank, but very informally....and have made jokes with them in the past about not being a real Captain or still being an enlisted guy at heart. At the same time, I take them seriously and want the same in return.  With parents, I usually use my rank because we're trying to build an atmosphere of authority and discipline and we need them to buy into it as well.

[MIKE]

NHQ Staff:  "Hi, this is Mike Kieloch from the NY-408 squadron..."

Blimey... That sounds positively British!

[Pylon]

Blimey... That sounds positively British!

That time with the RAF rubbed off on me, what can I say?    :angel:

[IceNine]

I agree with pylon with one addition.

If I'm dealing with GS Civilians on base or trying to get something that is easier for an officer I use my grade/rank/stuff I wear on my collar.

But if you're trying to get the local E-7 or O-2 calling yourself Capt. BagO'Donuts (or something less descriptive) will probably turn them off and make them think you're throwing around titles

[mikeylikey]

I use my rank.  I earned it, I use it.

I second that!

[CadetProgramGuy]

"Hello this is Capt McLaughlin with the Iowa Wing of the Civil Air Patrol......."

[JayT]

I use my rank.  I earned it, I use it.

I second that!

Yeah, but is that the best way to communicate?

[stillamarine]

I use my rank.  I earned it, I use it.

I second that!

Yeah, but is that the best way to communicate?

Why not? Seriously unless your trying to pull rank on a RM person I don't see any reason not to use it. When your on AD you get so used to using your rank in conversation that it becomes part of your name.

[mikeylikey]

I use my rank.  I earned it, I use it.

I second that!

Yeah, but is that the best way to communicate?

Why not? Seriously unless your trying to pull rank on a RM person I don't see any reason not to use it. When your on AD you get so used to using your rank in conversation that it becomes part of your name.

And when you reach a certain point in your military career, the title of rank stays with you for life.  The good Major above will always be allowed to write "Major John K", and freely use that title, just as Doctors and Lawyers do.

[Gunner C]

I will go ahead and say "Hi, I'm Col Pierce from the Civil Air Patrol.  How're ya doin' today?"  I treat the person on the other side of the conversation just like I would like to be treated and I don't put on any airs.

I use my rank just because it's my rank and that's how professionals deal with one another.  If you think for a second that a senior NCO is going to be intimidated then either you don't know NCOs or you've never been one.

Not using your rank makes us sound like a club.  If that's the impression you want to leave, that's fine.  But we should be professional in all our doings with the outside world.  If you earned it, as I assume you all did, then use it.  But NEVER abuse it.

Remember, these aren't honorary ranks.  They are your title of address. 

GC

[Pylon]

Remember, these aren't honorary ranks.  They are your title of address. 

They're not our Titles of Address for people actually in the Armed Forces.  I would not expect any member of Real Military to call me anything other than my name. 

I use my rank just because it's my rank and that's how professionals deal with one another.  If you think for a second that a senior NCO is going to be intimidated then either you don't know NCOs or you've never been one.

It's not how professionals deal with each other.  It may be how people in the Real Military deal with each other, but outside of that realm - that's not how it works.

I don't call the Finance Department and say "Hi, this is Marketing & Communications Specialist Mike Kieloch from the Public Relations & Development Department.  Is Accounts Payable Coordinator Patty Smith available?"

I don't introduce myself to people from other organizations with my job title or seniority in the agency thrown in there.  It's just "Hi, I'm Mike Kieloch from Arc of Onondaga".  Our Executive Director does the same thing.  Nobody thinks either of us are in a club.  Nobody thinks that we're not from a multi-million dollar organization.   Nobody assumes my Executive Director is not an important person because he didn't tell them his title.

"Hi, I'm [name] from [organization]" is an effective enough greeting for the outside professional world, I don't see why it's not good enough for civilian members of Civil Air Patrol. ...especially since grade in Civil Air Patrol means nothing without additional context.  A Lt Colonel in Civil Air Patrol could mean you're nothing other than the Assistant Testing Officer at the Podunk Composite Squadron and you've just been 'round for a really long time, or maybe it means you were a Lt Col in the Army and just joined CAP the other day.  Or maybe you're a Lt Colonel who's a National-level staff officer.  Throwing in the grade adds no value to the conversation - even to people in the organization.

People are "entitled" to use their CAP grade, I suppose, but whether it adds anything of value (and whether or not it actually damages your image by using it in your introduction) is subjective.  That's just my two cents. 

[MIKE]

It is the issue of not being a real captain, particularly when dealing with the RealMilitary.  It may be a bit different if you are using Lt Col, USAF (Ret.) versus Lt Col, CAP... Not the same.

[LeoBurke]

Remember, these aren't honorary ranks.  They are your title of address. 

They're not our Titles of Address for people actually in the Armed Forces.  I would not expect any member of Real Military to call me anything other than my name. 

I use my rank just because it's my rank and that's how professionals deal with one another.  If you think for a second that a senior NCO is going to be intimidated then either you don't know NCOs or you've never been one.

It's not how professionals deal with each other.  It may be how people in the Real Military deal with each other, but outside of that realm - that's not how it works.

I don't call the Finance Department and say "Hi, this is Marketing & Communications Specialist Mike Kieloch from the Public Relations & Development Department.  Is Accounts Payable Coordinator Patty Smith available?"

I don't introduce myself to people from other organizations with my job title or seniority in the agency thrown in there.  It's just "Hi, I'm Mike Kieloch from Arc of Onondaga".  Our Executive Director does the same thing.  Nobody thinks either of us are in a club.  Nobody thinks that we're not from a multi-million dollar organization.   Nobody assumes my Executive Director is not an important person because he didn't tell them his title.

"Hi, I'm [name] from [organization]" is an effective enough greeting for the outside professional world, I don't see why it's not good enough for civilian members of Civil Air Patrol. ...especially since grade in Civil Air Patrol means nothing without additional context.  A Lt Colonel in Civil Air Patrol could mean you're nothing other than the Assistant Testing Officer at the Podunk Composite Squadron and you've just been 'round for a really long time, or maybe it means you were a Lt Col in the Army and just joined CAP the other day.  Or maybe you're a Lt Colonel who's a National-level staff officer.  Throwing in the grade adds no value to the conversation - even to people in the organization.

People are "entitled" to use their CAP grade, I suppose, but whether it adds anything of value (and whether or not it actually damages your image by using it in your introduction) is subjective.  That's just my two cents. 

Uh, I have a different opinion in dealing with the military and in dealing with civilians. 

Not sure where you work.  I work for a very large (like fortune 15) company.  All our internal emails include a signature block, with a title or description of our role.  For instance:

  Larry Jones
  Program Manager
  Americas (or Specific Account)

This clearly lets people know at what level of authority the individual is making a request. 

On conference calls and in meetings, we always discuss our roles and authority.  Should I call someone, I do say "I'm Leo Burke, Program Manager for xxxx."  This sets their expectations of my authority to request something or make a decision. 

I have dealt with "The Real Military" and "The fake Military" and "the Wannabee Military".  Heck, I've even dealt with the US Coast Guard and I don't know what they are anymore. 

If I'm CAP, I introduce myself as "Lieutenant Colonel Leo Burke, with the Civil Air Patrol, I am the (fill in the blank)"  This sets your role, lets them know you are an experienced professional.  Can't think of a time when I haven't been addressed or introduced as (Lt) Colonel Burke or treated as an equal.  In fact, I can think of more than one time where I have politely said "Lt, Captain, Airman or seargent - I don;t think you have the authority to answer my question or solve my problem.  Can I speak to your supervisor/commander/etc?" And been politely handed off.   If you are an IC and interact with the AFRCC often enough, you see that they readily defer to the CAP IC's experience.  This includes shift supervisor and up into the command staff.

This thread is not about 'greetings'.   It's about respect.  Usually people give it out freely until you don't earn it anymore.

[Short Field]

I will go ahead and say "Hi, I'm Col Pierce from the Civil Air Patrol.  How're ya doin' today?" 

Your rank and title is "Lt Col", not Col.  When another person is addressing a Lt Col, it is ok to drop the Lt and call them Col.   However, it is never ok for a Lt Col to introduce themself as a Colonel.