How to Address a Salvation Army Officer

How does one address an officer of The Salvation Army? For example, William Bailey, who holds the rank of General? Or Donald Neville who is a Commissioner and Territorial Commander? How do ranks in the Salvation Army compare with ranks in the Armed Services?
——-–—-–-–– N.N.

Dear N.N.,

—–#1) Salvation Army’s ranks are based on armed services ranks: General, Colonel, Lt. Colonel, Major, Captain, etc. The Salvation Army’s officers are addressed in writing or identified as:
—–—–(Rank)+(Full Name)

—–And in a salutation or conversation:
—–—–(Rank)+(Surname)

In the Salvation Army there is also an office called ‘Commissioner’ and ‘Territorial Commander’. Territorial Commanders are identified as such, but the title is not used before the name. These officials are both addressed as:
—–—–Commissioner (Name), (Office)

—–Which looks like:
—–—–Commissioner (Full Name), National Commander
—–—–Commissioner (Full Name), Territorial Commander

—–#2) At official events the Salvation Army is grouped with community groups, not the armed services. The order is:
—–—–(A) Government
—–—–(B) Armed Services
—–—–(C) Community … religious groups fall into the community category.

Thus at a government event which include U.S. Armed Services personnel, the Salvation Army officers are addressed and identified by rank — but are seated with community leaders.

– Robert Hickey

Related Posts:
——–—Couples: Private Citizens
——–—Couples: Christian Clergy
——–—Couples: Rabbis
——–—Couples: Military
——–—Couples: U.S. Officials
——–—Couples: Same Sex

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.

How to Address a Salvation Army Officer