————–For a sergeant and spouse, see Couples, Military

Sergeant, various types,USA, USMC & USAF
There are many types of Sergeant in the U.S. Armed Services.

—-Use formula #1 for:
—-—-US Army: Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Staff Sergeant and Sergeant
—-—-US Air Force: Senior Master Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Technical Sergeant, Staff Sergeant and First Sergeant

—-#1) Envelope or address block on an email:
——–—-(Full rating) (Full Name), (Post Nominal for Branch of Service)
——–—-(Address)

——–—-Which looks like for a US Army Staff Sergeant:
——–—-—-Staff Sergeant Gene Winter, USA
—-——–—-(Address)

—-#1) Salutation:
——–—-Dear (Basic Rating) (Surname)

——–—-Which looks like:
—-——–—-Sergeant Winter

—-Use formula #2) for:
—-—-US Army: First Sergeant, and Master Sergeant
—-—-US Marine Corps: Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Sergeant

—-#2) Envelope or address block on an email:
——–—-(Full rating) (Full Name), (Post Nominal for Brach of Service
——–—-(Address)

—-—-—-Which looks like:
—-—-——–First Sergeant Gene Winter, USMC
—-——–—-(Address)

—-#2) Salutation:
——–—-Dear (Full rating) (Surname)

——–—-Which looks like:
—-——–—-First Sergeant Winter

NOTE: There is variation of use of (Full Rating) vs. (Basic Rating) in a salutation or conversation within the U.S. Armed Services.
—-E.g. ‘A First Sergeant, USA’ is addressed in a salutation as Dear First Sergeant (Surname):
—-A ‘Sergeant First Class, USA’ is addressed in a salutation as simply Dear Sergeant (Surname):

I cover all the detail in my book, service by service. But it’s a bit too complicated and there are too many types of sergeants to get into it all here.

– Robert Hickey

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

How to Address a Marine Gunnery Sergeant?

How would I address a Marine, Gunnery Sergeant Jim Wilson and his wife Anne?
——————–– Connie Clark

Dear Ms. Clark:
Marines always use (Full Rank) (Name): never the (Basic Rank) (Name) in correspondence or conversation. Marines never shortened ‘Gunnery Sergeant’ to ‘Sergeant’ as they do with some ranks in other services. So, the USMC forms are:

—-Envelope, social:
—-—-Gunnery Sergeant (Full Name)
—-—-and Mrs. (Surname)
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation:
—-—-Gunnery Sergeant (Surname) and, Mrs. (Surname)

For more options on writing a spouse’s name, follow the link at right ‘Couples: US Military’.

– Robert Hickey

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.