# Presentation: 287386

## Service Etiquette Refresher

- Commissioned Personnel Center
- March 2007

## Preface

- This presentation covers some of the more common elements of service courtesy and etiquette practice.  It is not to be used as the all inclusive source on the topics covered.  All Corps officers have been provided a copy of Service Etiquette, by Oretha D. Swartz, and have access to NOAA Corps Directives at the url provided below.  These publications should be referenced as necessary.
- Chapter 12 of the NOAA Corps uniform regulations may be found at:
- _[http://](http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/cpc/procedures/directives.html)__[www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/cpc/procedures/directives.html](http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/cpc/procedures/directives.html)_

## Overview

-  Ranks
-  Communicating
-  Saluting
-  Etiquette “Must Knows”
-  Grooming
-  Setting the Standard...

## Officer Ranks  - Pay Grades

- Ensign
- Lieutenant (jg)
- Lieutenant
- Lieutenant Commander
- Commander
- Captain

- Second Lieutenant
- First Lieutenant
- Captain
- Major
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Colonel

- _NOAA,USN, PHS, USCG_

- _* Army, USAF, USMC_

- _Pay Grade_

- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06

*** See Notes Page**

**Notes:**
* Rank insignia for these services is slightly different than those for our category of services.  Specifically, the medal grade insignia for the other services (Army, USAF, and USMC) is constructed with beveled edges.  Be sure to recognize this nuance if shopping for insignia at Army or Air Force posts.  Navy and USCG exchange facilities usually have good stocks of the rank we wear. 

  NOAA, Navy, etc.	Army, etc.

## Rear Admiral (LH)
(RDML)

Rear Admiral
(RADM)

Vice Admiral
(VADM)

- (RDML)
- Rear Admiral
- (RADM)
- Vice Admiral
- (VADM)

- O-7
- O-8
- O-9

-  Flag Ranks  - Pay Grades[per 33 U.S.C. 3028(a)]

## How They Compare

- GS-7/9
- GS-9/11
- GS-12
- GS-13
- GS-14
- GS-15

- Ensign
- Lieutenant (jg)
- Lieutenant
- Lieutenant Cdr.
- Commander
- Captain

- Approximate Equiv.

## How They Compare (con’t)

- Senior Executive Service
- (SES)

- Rear Admiral (LH)
- Rear Admiral
- Vice Admiral

## Communicating with Officers

- Use Sir / Ma’am  when communicating with other officers along with rank:
- 		Admiral (Last Name) . . .
- 		Captain . . .
- 		Commander . . .
- 		Lieutenant Commander...
- 		etc. . .
- The commanding officer of a ship is always referred to as "Captain" regardless of rank to those under his/her chain while in command capacity.
- Always use rank of individual when referencing in a professional gathering (meeting’s, etc).  Do not use first/nicknames until person states, “Please call me ....”.
- No “Yeah”....think of it as a 4-letter word!

- See notes page

**Notes:**
Given the Corps size it is quite common for officers to work and socialize with a rather significant percentage of active and retired NOAA personnel.  As a result, undue familiarity is possible.  All officers, junior and senior, should be respectful of each others rank - especially in the work place.  Specifically, it is inappropriate for officers junior in rank to those above to communicate on first name basis in mixed company even when the more senior officer has extended the “please call me....” option.  This practice applies to our senior most officers as well.  For example, a Captain (06) should never refer/communicate with one of the Admiral’s by first name in the workplace.  Additionally, the senior officer (Captain in this example) should only use the first/nick-name outside the workplace after being extended “Please call me....”.

## Communicating with Warrant Officers

- 	Although there are no warrant officer or enlisted ranks in NOAA, we often work alongside or frequent military installations.  As such, it is important to recognize and communicate accordingly.
- Address a warrant officer (WO1) as “Warrant Officer ______ “, or chief warrant officer (CWO2, 3, or 4) as “Chief Warrant Officer ________.”   You may also refer to Warrant, or Chief Warrant Officer as  Mr. or Ms. (Last Name).
- Commissioned officers do not use Sir or Ma’am when interacting with WO’s or CWO’s.
- The following url contains insignia and rating on each of the services: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/officers.html

- See notes page

**Notes:**
Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The lowest ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant, but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2. These commissioned warrant officers are direct representatives of the president of the United States. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists. 
There are no warrant officers in the Air Force.

## Communicating with Enlisted Personnel

- Address enlisted personnel in the paygrades of E-7, E-8, and E-9 informally as“Chief______” prefixed by “Senior” or “Master,” if appropriate. Introduce them formally as “Chief Petty Officer __________” prefixed by “Senior” or “Master,” if appropriate.
- Introduce and address petty officers in paygrades E-4 through E-6 both formally and informally as “Petty Officer_____________.”
- You aren’t required to change the form of verbal address (by last name) of personnel in paygrades E-3 and below. However, when introducing them, precede their last name by “Seaman,” “Fireman,” “Airman,” “ Constructionman,” and so forth, as appropriate.
- Commissioned officers do not use Sir or Ma’am when interacting with enlisted.

- The following url contains insignia and rating on each of the services:  http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/officers.html

**Notes:**
Note the rank examples on this page refer to those services of seagoing nature.  Refer to the following url to reference appropriate rank names for Army, Marine Corps, etc.

## Hand Salute Execution

- 	"the right hand is raised smartly until the tip of the forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress or forehead above and slightly to the right of the right eye, thumb and fingers extended and joined, palm to the left, upper arm horizontal, forearm inclined at 45 degrees, hand and wrist straight; at the same time turn head toward the person saluted. To complete the salute, drop the arm to its normal position by the side in one motion, at the same time turning the head and eyes to the front”

- See notes page

**Notes:**
More common saluting practices:
Boarding and Departing vessels you must salute the national ensign (flag).  If the quarterdeck is on the pier, you will salute the officer of the deck and say "Request permission to go aboard". When permission is granted you may proceed onto the "Brow" (passageway) from the pier to the ship.  At the top of the brow you will stop and turn towards the national ensign (Usually located at the rear of the ship-stern), come to the position of attention and render a hand salute. After dropping your salute you may proceed aboard.  Leaving the ship, you will salute the national ensign, proceed onto the brow. 
Saluting a "Flag Officer's Vehicle" is an essential component of military courtesies. If you are on a military installation and a vehicle approaches carrying a flag with one or more stars on it, you must stop, face the vehicle, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute. You may drop your salute once the vehicle passes. The flag signifies that an Admiral or General is riding in the vehicle.
When overtaking an officer who is senior to you, tradition dictates that you must render a hand salute and say "BY YOUR LEAVE SIR or MA'AM" depending on the situation. The officer who is senior will return your salute and say "CARRY-ON ". You may then drop your salute and proceed.

## Saluting

- Salutes are usually rendered between 6 and 30 paces
- Salutes are exchanged when members first meet and again when the conversation is completed just prior to departing,
- Salutes must be rendered and returned to all members of the Uniformed Services,
- Confusion can arise if there are more than two people present and of different officer ranks.  (see notes page),

**Notes:**
Mixed Ranks - The junior person must salute the senior officer present. This is straight forward if there are only two individuals present. Confusion can arise if there are more than two people present and of different officer ranks. The general rule that applies is that you always salute the senior officer no matter how many other officers are present. If you are outdoors and with a group of officers an/or enlisted and an officer senior to all the officers present approaches, all of the members must stop what they are doing, face the senior officer, come to the - position of attention and render a hand salute.

## Saluting the Colors

- 	There are two daily ceremonies in which uniformed service personnel will salute the colors (national flag).  The first is at the beginning of the day (@ 0800). This ceremony involves raising the national flag while the national anthem is played.  The second is at "Sunset", and consists of lowering the national flag while "Retreat or the National Anthem" is played.
- 	During both situations if you are outdoors, you must stop what you are doing, face the flag or the direction in which colors are being held, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute. You must hold this salute until the last note of the music; then you may proceed.
- 	On Army and Air Force installations it is customary to stop your vehicle, get out, come to the position of attention, and render a hand salute if colors or retreat is sounded. On Naval or Coast Guard installations and colors or retreat is sounded, you must stop your vehicle and sit at attention until the last note of the music is sounded; then you may proceed. If you are in doubt as to sit at attention or exit your vehicle, it is better to be formal than disrespectful. Therefore it is recommended that you exit your vehicle, face in the direction where colors are being held, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute.
- 	Whether you are driving your vehicle or walking through a military installation, you** **should never dash under cover to avoid paying respect to the flag. Dependents and civilians should face in the direction where colors are being held and stand at attention (placing right hand over their heart is optional).
- 	Talking during colors or retreat is forbidden and considered disrespectful.

## Saluting the Colors (con’t)

- Honors to the national anthem at formal gatherings and civilian functions (e.g., BOTC graduation, Change of Command, sporting events, etc.)
- 	If indoors and in uniform:
- 		- Remain uncovered, stand at attention with
- 		  arms at sides during playing of anthem.
- 	If indoors/outdoors and not in uniform:
- 		- Stand at attention – remove any hat or cap
- 		  and hold them with the right hand over heart.

## 	              Covers (No such thing as a military “hat”)Cover refers to wearing of the headgear.  NOAA Corps only salutes when covered. Remove cover when indoors like in an office building, kitchens, libraries, dwelling, building lobby or airport. Covered walks and shelters open to the sides are considered outdoors, and thus you wear your cover. Remember, if you wear your cover, then the rules for engagement for saluting is in force.Never place a cover on an eating surface. 							

- Covers

- See notes page

**Notes:**
Note:
Saluting when not in uniform and uncovered is not usually performed by members of the Naval Services. You may see this practice in the Army and/or the Air Force. If you are saluted and you are not in uniform or in uniform and not covered, tradition dictates that you do not salute. Instead you may great the person saluting you with "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon", or "Good Evening" depending on the situation. If you approach someone who is senior to you and you are in civilian attire, you do not salute. Instead, you may say "Good Morning Sir or Ma'am" depending on the situation.

## Other Etiquette “Must Knows”

**Standing at Attention - Execution:**
- -	Head erect and staring straight,
- -	Heels together, feet turned out equally forming a 45 degree angle with the body weight resting equally on the heels and balls of the feet,
- -	Keep legs straight without stiffening or locking the knees,
- -	Hold body erect with the hips level, stomach in, chest lifted and arched, and the shoulders square and even,
- -	Arms hang straight along the sides/seams; curling the fingers as if holding roll of quarters and thumbs pointing downward in line with garment seam.

- See notes page

**Notes:**
Note:
Adhering to strict form, when being directly approached and/or addressed by a senior officer, subordinate personnel in uniform should come to attention and salute, or just stand at attention if in a covered area. After the salute is returned, the subordinate will complete his/her salute. The subordinate should remain at attention until otherwise instructed, and speak only in response to a question, or if given permission after making a request. 
A work party engaged in work will continue to work when approached by a senior officer. The leader of the work party, if junior to the approaching officer, will come to attention and salute. If the work party is at rest, the junior officer will call the party to attention before saluting by issuing the command, "Attention." The senior officer will normally return the salute and call out, "As You Were," to the group. 
When walking as a unit in formation, the unit leader, when nearing a senior officer, will call the unit to attention, if they are not already walking at attention (i.e., marching, walking in cadence), then the unit leader will initiate a salute.

## Other Etiquette “Must Knows”

**”****Attention on Deck”**
- When a senior officer (05 and above) enters a space where he/she out-ranks the senior officer present, the first person recognizing him/her will call "Attention on Deck”.
- 		(it is appropriate to extend this courtesy to the current NOAA 	Administrator and Deputy Undersecretary in NOAA Corps 	gatherings)
- Unless specifically entering the facility to address the group, the senior officer should immediately respond with, "As You Were," and then proceed with his/her business.

## Other Etiquette “Must Knows”

**When “caught”**
- If confronted by a senior officer about a remission in courtesy (whether true or not), it is usually advisable to stand at attention and receive the information offered without argument.
- When the senior officer has finished, the service member should salute (if wearing cover), and deliver an appropriate reply, e.g., "Thank you, Sir/Ma’am, I stand corrected," holding the salute until it is returned, or the senior officer departs.

- See notes page

**Notes:**
It’s best not to argue with a senior officer and avoid potential disrespectful words rather than risk embarrassment. If corrected by a junior officer, kindly and professionally thank them for their attention to detail. Never behave disrespectfully to subordinates when corrected, it damages future credibility.

## Other Etiquette “Must Knows”

- Handshake
- 	Shake hands upon being introduced or saying good-bye.  Always
- 	accept an extended hand.   If seated, rise when introduced to anyone and upon the departure of anyone.  Normally, the senior officer makes the first move in handshaking.  Your handshake should be firm and confident.  Look the individual with whom you are shaking hands directly in the eye.
- Riding: Riding in a car with other uniformed service members can be a common occurrence. The junior officer, enters first so the senior officer may enter last. If there are three persons traveling, the junior person will take the middle seat. The place of honor is always to the right, so the senior person will sit on the right. When it is time to disembark from the vehicle, the senior person gets out first followed by the next in rank and so on.

## Other Etiquette “Must Knows”

- Walking: When walking with two or more people (the senior person is always on the right).  It is the junior person who is responsible for lining-up on the correct side of the senior officer (to the left).
- A couple of the more common violations:
- Jackets must be zipped at least 3/4 up
- Cell phone, PDA or pager for official business, while in uniform - the device shall not be visible from the front, and must be worn on the belt, aft of the right or left elbow.
- Authorized Leather name tag contains:  NOAA Corps seal, last name, and “NOAA Corps”.
- Hands in pockets

## Grooming (Women)

- A sharp uniform looks tacky on an officer who does not meet proper grooming standards.
- Your uniform is only a part of your overall personal appearance. Listed below are excerpts
- from NOAA Corps Directives Chapter 12:
**Hair** will be clean and neatly arranged. When in uniform, back hair may touch but not fall below the lower edge of the collar.  No hair shall show under the front brim of the combination or garrison cap.
**Pins, combs or barrettes** similar in color to the individual's hair color may be worn. Hair ornaments such as ribbons are not authorized.
**Cosmetics**, if used, shall be applied in good taste so that colors blend with natural skin tone and enhance natural features. Exaggerated or faddish cosmetic styles shall not be worn with the uniform.
**Jewelry**, for both men and women, can include one ring per hand, plus a wedding ring (or  wedding ring set).  A necklace can be worn if it is not visible.  A  total of one wristwatch and one bracelet can be worn. One earring per ear, centered on the earlobe, is authorized.  Earrings shall be small gold-colored balls, pearls, or diamond stud as specified in the Directives.

**Notes:**
Conservative hairstyles are permitted, but exaggerated styles, including those of excessive fullness or extreme height, are not authorized. In no case shall the bulk of hair interfere with the proper wear of uniform headgear. 

Hair coloring must look natural and compliment the individual. Faddish or outrageous multicolor hair is not authorized. 

Hairpieces or wigs, if worn while in uniform, shall be of good quality and fit, present a natural appearance, and conform to the grooming standards set forth in these Directives. They shall not interfere with the proper performance of duty or present a safety hazard. Visible hair nets may be worn only if authorized for specific duty.

## Grooming (Men)

- A sharp uniform looks tacky on an officer who does not meet proper grooming standards.  Your uniform is only a part of your overall personal appearance.  Listed below are excerpts from NOAA Corps Directives Chapter 12:
- 	**Hair** will be neat, clean, and well groomed. Hair shall be no longer than 4 inches.  Hair above the ears and around the neck shall be tapered from the lower Hairline upwards at least 3/4 inch and outwards not greater than 3/4 inch to blend with hairstyle. Hair may not touch the ears or collar, extend below eyebrows when headgear is removed, or interfere with the proper wear of uniform headgear. The bulk of the hair (the distance that the mass of hair protrudes from the scalp) shall not exceed 2 inches. Hair in front shall be groomed so that it does not fall below the band of properly worn headgear.
- 	**Sideburns**, if worn, shall be neatly trimmed and tailored in the same manner as the haircut. Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the earlobe, shall be of even width (not flared) and shall end with a clean-shaven horizontal line.
- 	**Mustaches**, if worn, will be kept neatly and closely trimmed. The face will be clean shaven. No portion of the mustache shall extend below the lip line of the upper lip. In addition, it will not go beyond a horizontal line extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth. The length of an individual mustache hair fully extended will not exceed 1/2 inch. Handlebar mustaches, goatees, beards, or eccentricities are not permitted.
**	****Jewelry**, for men can include one ring per hand, plus a wedding ring (or  wedding ring set).  A necklace can be worn if it is not visible.  A total of one wristwatch and one bracelet can be worn.

**Notes:**
Faddish or outrageous multicolor hair is not authorized.  The unique quality and texture of curled, kinked, waved, and straight hair is recognized, and in some cases the 3/4 inch taper at the back of the neck may be difficult to attain. In those cases hair must present a graduated appearance and officers may combine the taper with a line at the back of the neck.  Varying hairstyles are permitted if these styles meet the criteria of maximum length and bulk, tapered neck and sides, and do not interfere with properly wearing military headgear.

"Muttonchops," "ship's captain,“ or similar grooming styles are not authorized.

## Setting the Standard

- The wearing of the NOAA Corps uniform should be a matter of personal pride to all NOAA Corps officers;
- 		placing hands in pockets, talking on a cell phone, smoking, eating, or 	drinking while in uniform as a pedestrian detracts from the appearance 	and is inappropriate.
- 		public display of affection (hand holding, embracing, etc.) while in 	uniform detracts from the appearance and is inappropriate.
- By setting the standards for honor, respect and commitment you set an example at your unit.
- An officer may be surrounded by people who have been allowed to become apathetic or unconcerned about their skill level or standards.  The challenge is to change things.  **Set the standard**.
- It is never easy to be willing to stand out and maintain the standards.  But, who else will?   The other guy is just that, the other guy.

## In Closing.......

- Impressions about the NOAA Corps are influenced by how we conduct
- ourselves both in and out of uniform.  When in uniform and dealing with
- those outside our agency always remember you very well may be the only
- Corps officer the individual has ever met.....and we all know the expression
- about first impressions.
- Always use common sense and professional courtesy......and always
- err on the side of caution.
- And remember, CPC is available to assist for any questions or concerns!!