I think I've solved the majority of problems people have on this thread:
P = Naval Ranks will have to be addressed by their rank, no more excuses if you get the rank wrong.
S = Try really hard to remember the naval rank. If you are in the navy and someone get's your rank wrong either ignore it, because no one actually makes a big deal of it. Or, if you feel you must, politely correct them. Don't take it personally.
P = But those sailors wear the same colour beret as me! It's an outrage.
S = The decison was made long ago and isn't going to reverse itself. It's probably worth moving on now. We all know you tankers just wanted to raise your LCF by copying Che Guevera and looking like the Croatian Military Police.
P = There is no reason for people to collect Field Pay just because they are serving in a field unit. They don't do field work!
S = Neither do the Ops, Canteen Queens, Kit shop guys, Perma duty Sgts, QMSI and a billion other people in my unit, but they still get the pay. At the end of the day one, someone who probably works just as hard as you do (I know, hard to beleive, but there are others who work just as hard as you) get's a little extra cash to buy the baby some diapers, familiy some food OR give a portion of their field pay to families of the fallen or troops in need.
P = The sailors are a bunch of fat asses.
S = True. So's the rest of the military.
P = This isn't going to help recruiting at all.
S = Nope. But some high up sailors were feeling bad about their job because "No one recognized them for their hard work. "(because like you, they think they're the hardest working people). Then they complained enough and someone disguised it as a recruiting initative. Lesson learned = complaining works.
Sorry, back on topic. Just wanted to get in on the dick stepping over an innocuous issue.