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Civilians often feel uncomfortable in social
gatherings when addressing enlisted personnel as
described in the preceding paragraph. Therefore,
those outside the service customarily address
enlisted personnel in the same manner they
address civilians. In other words they prefix their
names with “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Miss,” or “Ms.,”
as the case may be. When introducing enlisted
personnel to civilians, give their title and name,
then the mode of address, such as “This is Petty
Officer Smith. Mr. Smith will be visiting us for
a while.”
Only one response to an oral order is proper:
“Aye, aye, sir/ma’am.” This reply means more
than yes. It indicates, I understand and will obey.
Responses to an order such as “O. K., sir” or
“Alright, sir” are improper. A senior may
properly acknowledge a report made by a junior
by saying, “Very well,” but a junior never says
“Very well” to a senior.
Use “sir/ma’am” as a prefix to an official
report, statement, or question addressed to a
senior. Also use it when addressing an official on
duty representing a senior. For example, the
officer of the deck (OOD), regardless of grade,
represents the commanding officer; therefore,
address the OOD as “sir/ma,’am.”
Juniors addressing a senior should introduce
themselves unless certain the senior knows them
by sight.
Junior and senior officers observe certain
differences in phrasing. Senior officers send their
“compliments” to juniors. For example, “Admiral
Smith presents his compliments to Captain
Brown.” Juniors send their “respects.” When
making a call upon a commanding officer, the
junior is correct in saying, “Captain, I came to
pay my respects.” If an orderly or a secretary
presents guests to the captain, ask the orderly or
secretary to “please tell the captain that Ensign
Jones would like to pay her respects.”
In written correspondence, a senior officer
may “call” attention to something, but a junior
may only “invite” it. For many years, Navy
custom prescribed that a junior writing a
memorandum to a senior use the complimentary
close “Very respectfully” and a senior writing to
a junior use “Respectfully.” Some officers and
enlisted still follow that custom when writing
memorandums. However, the Department of the
Navy Correspondence Manual, SECNAVINST
5216.5C, states that “a complimentary close is not
desired or required.”
QUARTERDECK ETIQUETTE
Quarterdeck etiquette remains the same in
peace and war. The quarterdeck has always been
honored as part of the ship on which official
ceremonies are conducted. It still retains its
sanctity. Because of that sanctity, you cannot just
walk on and off a ship as you would enter and
leave your home; you must follow certain
procedures.
Quarterdeck Conduct
The watch officer should strictly enforce the
etiquette of the quarterdeck. The quarterdeck
should be kept immaculate and its ceremonial
character maintained. On the quarterdeck,
officers and enlisted persons alike must adhere to
the following rules of etiquette:
• Avoid appearing out of uniform.
• Never smoke.
• Refrain from putting hands in pockets.
• Don’t engage in recreational athletics
unless they are sanctioned by the captain,
and then only after working hours.
Boarding a Ship in Uniform
When in uniform and boarding ANY ship
flying the national ensign, salute in the following
order:
1. Halt at the gangway, face aft, and salute
the ensign.
2. Turn to the officer of the deck (OOD) and
salute.
When returning to your own ship, salute the
OOD and say, ‘‘I report my return aboard,
sir/ma’am.” The OOD returns both salutes and
responds with, “Very well,” or a similar
expression.
When you salute the OOD upon boarding a
ship other than your own, say, “I request
permission to come aboard, sir/ma’am . . .” and
then add the purpose of your visit; for example,
“. . . to visit a friend,” or ‘‘. . . to go to small
stores.”
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