[QUOTE=GiftofSchizo]
Hello, Straightdopers; Giftof Schizo here.
I retired from the AF in 2005 as an E-8, and I can speak authoritatively on rank and respect among enlisted personnel.
The relative difference between an E-3 and an E-4–at least in the Air Force–is somewhat minor. Most of the E-3s and E-4s I’ve known consider each other colleagues, use first names on and off duty, especially since the AF stopped affording E-4s an NCO option. I encourage that in the work setting (as long as the Airmen are mature enough to handle it, as they usually are) as it seems to contribute to the feeling of being a part of a family.
There might be a perception of real difference between, say, an E-2 and an E-4, under which the E-4 might be addressed as “Airman So-and-So” or even “Senior Airman So-and-So”, and certainly there is a good deal of difference between an E-1 and an E-4, but as E-4s aren’t NCOs as they previously might have been, from a functional point of view, it’s not that big of a deal.
Now in my units, I expected and required my E-5s to start drawing the line between themselves, as newly appointed NCOs, and the Airmen. I expected them to minimize their partying with the Airmen, and certainly to not party with Airmen in their chain of supervision. It can be a tough transition for them, but it’s absolutely necessary, especially when these E-5s start writing EPRs on their former party buddies. Under no circumstances would I ever allow any of my Airmen (E-1 thorugh E-4) address any of my NCOs (E-5 through E-8) by first name, on or off base, on or off duty.
Past E-5, the feeling of a horizontal relationship (instead of a vertical one) exists within the grades, mostly. As an E-8, I participated in a relaxed, first-name operating basis when alone with the other E-8s, and in the case of those whom I outranked, if it seemed appropriate and if we were out of hearing of any personnel who were lower ranking than the subordinate, I might refer to them by first name while they refered to me with grade-lastname. It isn’t nearly as awkward as perhaps it might sound, since those whom I outranked had always known me as Sergeant GiftofSchizo.
Now, in the Air Force, the E-9 grade is a whole separate univerise. My very good friend, whom I have known for years–we were staff sergeants together–made CMSgt last year, put the stripe on, and I would never–not in private, not at his house among his family, not at the club, not while running a marathon with him, not anytime ever, ever, ever–refer to him as anything other than Chief (despite his protestations for me to do so). It’s an AF enlisted thing. As they say, even in shower shoes, the chief is the Chief.
GoS
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..and from the Guard ranks, you get me, an E-6 enlisted aviator. What a different world I live in from the one described above. Not only do I have the ability to refer to everybody, including officers, by their first name (not that I do, mind you), but we all go out together as a crew. I cannot begin to tell you how many times my officers have bought rounds for the crew, and I cannot remember how many times an officer has challenged me to a, shall we say, endurance contest, which I usually win.
This sort of thing is pretty much unknown in the Active Duty, but is relatively common in the Guard. It’s a different world. My superior in the desert may be my subordinate at home. It does happen. We know our jobs, we respect authority, we respect rank, but when not on the clock we have very casual relationships.
My advice: play it by ear. Be respectful, but if they tell you to relax and introduce themselves as So-And-So, take your cue from that. We’re not all uber-authoritarians. And no, we can’t make you get us a beer. I will offer you one as I get up, though.