How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

[MEJG]

At WMA the lecturers like to be called Sir, but i've been wondering if this is different onboard.

Do some officers like being called Sir?
Do you address people by their job titles? (e.g. Chief, 3rd Engineer, Bo'sun...)
Or is it casual, relaxed and just a simple "Call me [insert interesting nickname here], or when someone official is a around, call me [insert forename here]"?

[The H]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

I have been told, start with sir, then the person you are addressing can inform you that they wish to be called Chief or Jim or whatever. But I think starting with Sir is the best option.

[Malim Sahib]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

On most ships everyone will be on first name terms and introduce themselves as such with the probable exception of the Old Man and Chief. With those two, the Old Man is generally known as 'Captain' and the Chief as, well... 'Chief'.
When I was a cadet the C/O was also known to me as 'Chief', but that was quite some time ago.
It's been many many years since I've heard anyone else onboard addressed with a title, or indeed as Sir.
Cruise ships and RFA's are generally different, the former generally due to delusions of grandeur and the latter because of the 'grey funnel' aura, though even then about the only people who weren't addressed personally were the Old Man, Mate (known as 'Choff') and C/E (or Capt(E) as they are now!).
Most of the lecturers at my college were addressed as 'Captain', as they all had their Masters FG tickets and had sailed as Old Man, those few who hadn't (ex C/O's) were addressed as 'Mr Smith' etc. same applied on the Engineering side I think and even then we were on first name terms with a few of them, especially as you slid up the greasy pole to 'Senior Cadet'.
I think the only bloke I ever called Sir whilst at "college" was that gentleman who took me for my Orals exam.
Warsash has always liked to think of itself as different, at least from the uncouth types who went to the colleges up North.

[Steve]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

I have been told, start with sir, then the person you are addressing can inform you that they wish to be called Chief or Jim or whatever. But I think starting with Sir is the best option.

Who told you that? Some numpty at Britannia? You'll soon learn otherwise.

SOP on RFAs:

Captain: "Captain" or "Sir" (the only one ever addressed as such, though I leave it to your discretion how to deal with equivalent RN ranks you may encounter)
Chief Engineer: "Chief"
Chief Mate: "Choff"
Second Engineer/MEO: "Second" or "Sec" but a few of them like first name
Operations Officer: "Ops" or first name
Navigating Officer: "Navs" or first name
Everyone else: "Oi! You!" or first name

I occasionally use job titles when addressing POs, but that's only usually because I've forgotten their real name.

[Chiefy]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

Oi who you calling uncooth (/wipes nose on sleeve)?

But as Malim says, we answer to most things, but it is normal for cadets to call me Chief (to my face), 2nds and others call me what they are comfy with and may vary it depending on the occasion.....Offical or sitting by the pool watching the world go by.

Cadets usually call 3 stripes and down by thier name, unless taking with others when it can be usefull to use the job title like Choff etc, just to be clear about who has asked or said what etc. People will put you right, we dont tend to go in for keel hauling these days for such things.......which I think is a pity

[alistairuk]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

As a rule, in my experience (on cruise ships anyway)...

+ If in doubt call deck/engine officers by title or 'sir' unless they tell you otherwise - pretty much everyone will tell you to call them by their first name except usually captain / staff captain. (Also very useful when you forget their name )

+ Hotel 'managers' just call by name - because we all hate them

[Just Ben]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

I usually just call them sir or ma'am unless told otherwise.

[wholetmedrive]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

I'm a last phase cadet, and have found that, if you start by calling the officer by their title, for example the 3rd officer as 3rd and 2nd as 2nd, and captain and chief's. most will tell you to call them by thir first name but wait until they tell you!
Hope this helps

[north_sea_ninja]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

There's not really room for a great deal of formality Offshore, anyone except the old man and chief are on first name terms, and even then, mostly they will quickly wind down the formality. One or two of the old fishing captains like "skipper" but I reckon that's just them reliving their past a little.

A good indicator is when you introduce yourself, if they respond with their first name, there you are, or if it's captain or chief, the same is true.

[Martyboy]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

And we call the majority of our lecturers at STC by first names Never sir

[GuinnessMan]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

At my college I went with Sir. Helped stop me using all the other "descriptions" I had for them....

[secondmate]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

Call the Master " Captain" or you will regret it
Call the Chief Engineer " Chief"
Refer to the Bosun as the "Blocker" Generally

As for everyone else a first name is usually the way of it, as long as your polite and curtious then I wouldn't worry..

Can remember once having a few "pre joining" Shandys with the lads off a new ship whilst waiting for the launch, even having a couple of smokes and a laugh with someone I thought was the 3rd engineer maybe judging by his age and apperence, only to find out when I joined he was the skipper.

Looks can be decieving so be careful, oh and talkbacks dont have a light on when they are working so be careful who is listening!!! Always..

[btiratsoo]

Re: How do most officers like to be addreessed by cadets?

I second North Sea Ninja. Offshore is very relaxed.

We are first name terms on board except when you first join and are introducing yourself. Best to start with Chief or Captain. Soon I was just told "no, please just call me (insert first name here)."

Edit: I think when I finally qualify I will ask to be addressed as "His Excellency". Just to be different.