re: "12 Things for 2012"

OSB at The OpSec Blog ("Security and privacy information and advice at home and abroad.") shared 12 thoughts about living abroad in the Foreign Service.

Read them all.

My favorite?

Number 5, of course:

"5. No matter how hard you think you are working, your Marine Security Guard detachment is working much harder. Give them the respect and kindness they deserve. Address them as “sir” or “ma’am” (until you learn their names, of course), invite them to your happy hours (even if it’s just for snacks), and go out of your way to ensure that they are invited to your social functions."

Actually, don't call them "sir" or "ma'am" (which is something of an exception to my rule-of-thumb* in this matter); as enlisted and non-commissioned officers (which most MSGs will be), they are not addressed as "sir" or "ma'am."

Commissioned (and warrant) officers are addressed as "sir" and "ma'am." Very few (if any) overseas missions will have MSG detachments whose members are either commissioned or warrant officers. MSG detachment commanders will often be USMC gunnery sergeants and other detachment members will be varying grades of sergeants and corporals.

Don't know what that means? Well, then that's a great "area-for-improvement" to improve upon.

My advice, for those who haven't learned USMC rank insignia: if they're on guard or standing watch in your embassy or consulate, and you don't know their names or ranks, see if they have any chevrons (or "stripes") on their shirt sleeves. And just call them "Sergeant."

If they are sergeants, in any of the several pay grades that encompasses, then they won't take offense that a civilian wasn't able to guess their precise rank; and if they're one of the enlisted or non-com ranks below sergeant, they probably won't be offended by an unintentional promotion.

12/31


* CAA's rule-of-thumb about terms of address comes from the perspective of customer service (and Southern gentility and manners). Treat everyone respectfully, addressing gentlemen as "sir" and ladies as "ma'am." And referring to them each, in the third person, as "gentlemen" and "ladies."

The exception (there's always an exception) to that are those folks who rate a more specific term of address. Such as ambassadors, many government officials, the clergy, certain academics, and members of the military and naval services.

Entire books have been written on how such persons should be addressed. As commissioned officers of the U.S. Foreign Service, people will be looking to you for leadership and guidance in such, and other, matters of protocol and etiquette. A good start is learning, at least in a general way, the various rank structures and insignia of our own armed forces and how to correctly refer to and address such fine people.