How to Address Retired Military

It's always important to treat the men and women, who have served our country in the Armed Forces, respectfully. This is something that should be done even if the particular person you are speaking to is retired. Here is how to address a retired military person.

Instructions

1. Consider whom you are addressing before you do so. A retired infantryman, for example, could simply be addressed as “Sir,” or “Mr. So and So" or even by his first name if the person is your same age or younger than you. A five-star general, however, will have to be addressed in a much different manner.

2. Extend your hand to shake the hand of the retired person before he has the chance to do so. It's always polite to shake hands upon meeting somebody for the first time. Being the first to extend the hand, though, is a sign of respect as it shows that you are aware of who the person is.

3. State the rank of the retired person during the greeting. For example, instead of saying “Good to meet you, Mr. Smith” you would say “Good to meet you, General Smith.” You should repeat this practice at the end of the conversation. Using the above mentioned name, you would simply say something alone the lines of “It was nice taking to you, General Smith.” You should always remember this when speaking with a retired officer.

4. Use “Sir” or “Ma'am” during the conversation when answering a question from the retired person. Yes or no questions should always be answered with “Yes, sir” or “No, ma'am.” Avoid over-using this, because it can be annoying to the former member of the military even though you mean it as a sign of respect.

5. Place the rank of the retired person, as well as the fact that he or she is retired, when addressing that person in written form. For example, when writing a letter to a member of the military who has retired, you should address the envelope to “John A. Smith, Colonel USMC (ret).” You are not required to place the fact that the person is retired on all forms of written communication. If the person is married, for example, you can simply address the written piece of communication to “Colonel and Mrs. Smith.”

Tips & Warnings

• Speak with the person with the same respect you would any other retired individual. If you're polite in the same basic manner as you would be towards a friend's grandparents, for example, you shouldn't have any problems.

• Avoid making any types of military signs or motions (i.e. saluting) if you're a civilian. This is disrespectful and will not endear yourself to any retired military individuals.

• Remember that the tips listed above are for civilians addressing retired military personnel. If you are in the military, there will be an entirely different code of conduct to follow.