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The whole thing about rank seems to have changed in the past 20 years. I went through BMQ 8641 at Cornwallis and was taught that senior rank people were to be treated with utmost respect. That served me well right up until I pulled the plug and left for civvie street and back to school. Actually that served me well on civvie street too, knowing that people deserved my respect. In my few years in reg force what I was taught served me well: I stood up when an officer came in the room. I was terrified of the Base CWO. On the rare occasions that I’d run into the Base CO I’d snap a nervous but sharp salute. I remember the times when I had to be Duty Private I’d be worried that I’d snag the flag lines or something.
Fast forward to now and I’ve rejoined as a reservist. Things seem to be quite different. And my experience says that it isn’t the fact that it is the reserves, but things have changed.
Last month I had the privilege of being given a tour of one of the frigates. There were about 20 of us, and as a captain (not navy) my rank was the junior rank on the tour. The group was 80% reg force and 20% reserve. The senior officer on the tour was a BGen. We entered one part of the ship and there was a young OS (no-hook private) sitting there with his feet up. He didn’t move when we entered – with a BGen. If that was me in 1987 or so, I’d have been on my feet in record time and been standing to attention. I commented on this to another guy on the tour and his take was “at least I’d make it look like I was busy.”
Another example is how RSMs/CSMs/CWOs/MWO and even warrant officers are treated. I treat everyone from the BMQ recruit to the CO with respect, but I always, ALWAYS extend the highest deference to the WO/MWO/CWO ranks. I call CWOs ‘sir’ and justify it by being a sign of respect. Only one CPO1 in Halifax insisted that I drop the sir and call him Chief.
Here’s a third example: a close personal friend of mine is CO of a regiment with the rank of LCol. Even if I’m just making a social call I come to attention at his door and wait to be addressed. Friendship be damned, protocol requires certain things.
Fourth example: in Ottawa last fall I saluted a Major who I ran across on a public street. The look on his face was “what the crap is a captain saluting me for?” and then he hesitantly returned the salute.
Fifth example: I was in a reserve unit once last year and the CO, the RSM and I left an office and headed outside to go to another area. We went through a gaggle of junior rank troops who didn’t even flinch. 20 years ago if I’d have heard the CO and the base CWO were coming by I’d park myself in the crapper for an hour or three. Failing that, I’d have stood to attention with a sharp salute. Not today. No worries it seems.
Look, I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a nut, but I’ll go to my grave thinking (and knowing) that CWOs sit at the right hand of God, so I might as well treat them with that respect now.
Cheers
Fast forward to now and I’ve rejoined as a reservist. Things seem to be quite different. And my experience says that it isn’t the fact that it is the reserves, but things have changed.
Last month I had the privilege of being given a tour of one of the frigates. There were about 20 of us, and as a captain (not navy) my rank was the junior rank on the tour. The group was 80% reg force and 20% reserve. The senior officer on the tour was a BGen. We entered one part of the ship and there was a young OS (no-hook private) sitting there with his feet up. He didn’t move when we entered – with a BGen. If that was me in 1987 or so, I’d have been on my feet in record time and been standing to attention. I commented on this to another guy on the tour and his take was “at least I’d make it look like I was busy.”
Another example is how RSMs/CSMs/CWOs/MWO and even warrant officers are treated. I treat everyone from the BMQ recruit to the CO with respect, but I always, ALWAYS extend the highest deference to the WO/MWO/CWO ranks. I call CWOs ‘sir’ and justify it by being a sign of respect. Only one CPO1 in Halifax insisted that I drop the sir and call him Chief.
Here’s a third example: a close personal friend of mine is CO of a regiment with the rank of LCol. Even if I’m just making a social call I come to attention at his door and wait to be addressed. Friendship be damned, protocol requires certain things.
Fourth example: in Ottawa last fall I saluted a Major who I ran across on a public street. The look on his face was “what the crap is a captain saluting me for?” and then he hesitantly returned the salute.
Fifth example: I was in a reserve unit once last year and the CO, the RSM and I left an office and headed outside to go to another area. We went through a gaggle of junior rank troops who didn’t even flinch. 20 years ago if I’d have heard the CO and the base CWO were coming by I’d park myself in the crapper for an hour or three. Failing that, I’d have stood to attention with a sharp salute. Not today. No worries it seems.
Look, I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a nut, but I’ll go to my grave thinking (and knowing) that CWOs sit at the right hand of God, so I might as well treat them with that respect now.
Cheers