OT-Question for US Military Personnel - Current or Former
 

Just a quick question

Should a US Army Captian who I do not know, call me "Bro" vs my rank which I work hard to get?

Calm down, bro.

No, a US army captain who you do not know should not call you bro. I am a US army captain. I do call my soldiers (ones that are reliable who I have known for some time) by their first name. Sometimes I do joke with them or call them something like "bro" in a joking fashion. I do not use it as a way to address them nor do I do it to strangers.

I was an NCO for 10 years. I would not look at that situation as an affront to my rank. Rather I would look at it as the captain does not know how to handle himself as his own rank.

:cool:

Usually, if you don't know the person, you address another by their rank, even if you're of the same rank as them. Once you know the person, informal addresses can be used.

What he did was unprofessional if equal or higher in rank than you. If he was a lower rank, inexcusable.

It's pretty much the same in the military of all other nations too. Even if you don't respect the person, a soldier (or officer) is taught to at least respect the rank they hold.

Is it possible that perhaps he wasn't sure of the Canadian rank and what address was appropriate?
Not saying that his usage of 'bro' was appropriate but maybe he just wasn't sure of the correct title and 'winged' it?

If this officer was working with NATO forces, then he should have had at least a working knowledge of his counterparts insignia, there were enough posters taped up around the barracks to id uniforms and ranks of NATO and WP...but then I am a dinosaur!

:p

Doesn't seem right for a US Army captain.

Now, if it was someone from the San Francisco army, it might be appropriate. I believe "Bro" is a junior officer rank in the Frisco army, and "Dude", is some senior NCO ranking. ;)

Now, I may be a bit off with this. It seems they have a more fluid rank structure than any other force that calls itself organized.

Agreement with those who've stated it's weird. It's not uncommon to hear "brother" used informally by US military personnel (i.e. "take it easy, brother") when addressing peers or maybe unit members they know, depending on context and situation. Emphasis on the informal, however, and not something you would hear when addressing someone of lower, equal, or higher rank in any sort of official capacity or setting. Even more off to hear an officer use it.

I'll agree with the posters here - that would be best described as "conduct unbecoming an officer."

It was at the shredder he turned around and said you need the shredder bro, and he had an 82nd patch, I hope that dose hurt you you too much Paul

I agree with Paul on the conduct unbecoming an officer. Look at the impression is left on you. Officer are 'suppose' to be a sep above the norm. He probably didn't stop think, in fact I'm SURE he didn't. There's a time and place for everything, and it must be kept in perspective, but that was neither the time nor place. Even with the officers I knew well, their name was always L-T at the least formal, or maybe Cap, but that was bottom up. I was always addressed by Rank, last name or perhaps first name as we worked together longer. I NEVER had one address me with 'slang' per se. Even to be called Sarge by an officer was something I never heard.

Have we heard an opinion from any actual officers other than Ed yet? I bet I can scare up a few.

[QUOTE=The Rifleman;51323]No, a US army captain who you do not know should not call you bro. I am a US army captain. I do call my soldiers (ones that are reliable who I have known for some time) by their first name. Sometimes I do joke with them or call them something like "bro" in a joking fashion. I do not use it as a way to address them nor do I do it to strangers[QUOTE]

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[QUOTE=StainlessSteelCynic;51562][QUOTE=The Rifleman;51323]No, a US army captain who you do not know should not call you bro. I am a US army captain. I do call my soldiers (ones that are reliable who I have known for some time) by their first name. Sometimes I do joke with them or call them something like "bro" in a joking fashion. I do not use it as a way to address them nor do I do it to strangers[QUOTE]


LOL thanks. I wasn't going to point that out tho. I guess I should add to that a National Guard US army captain.

Ha! Missed that one. My bad. That's what I get for reading forums on my phone. Carry on.

I can't read them on my phone, its screen is too small... at least that's what I tell everyone so that I don't have to admit that really, I'm getting old and fuzzy-eyed!

Tell the truth, the blindness is from something else entirely separate to getting old... ;)

Well how else am I supposed to check my prostate? :p