# Is a Sergeant Ever a "Sir"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-sergeant-ever-a-sir/346137 "2006-02-26T02:40:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 36
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-sergeant-ever-a-sir/346137/36 "2006-02-26T23:29:46Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Yes, I’ve heard this said on TV, but what does it mean? What is the difference between a Non-Commissioned and Commissioned Officer??? Is like hourly vs. salaried employees? - Jinx 😕 There’s a joke, but it pretty well illustrates the difference. At a West Point physics class, the instructor said he’d give them a problm, and ask for oral solutions. He said there was a 25-foot flagpole laying on the ground. It weighed 300 lbs. There was a cement block in the ground with a hole for the base of the pole. As an officer, you have a sergeant and five privates at your disposal. How would you erect the flagpole? Each cadet offered various ideas from block and tackle to a rope with a truck, etc. After all had spoken, the instructions said, "Gentlemen, you are all incorrect. What you do is say, ‘Sergeant, get that flagpole up.’ " As a Sgt. many, many years ago in the Army, I can vouchsafe for the accuracy of that policy. 😃 --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-sergeant-ever-a-sir/346137)._